Publications

The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) prototype building models (prototype models) were developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), in support of DOE's Building Energy Codes Program (BECP), to simulate energy savings associated with changes in energy codes and standards. For residential buildings, PNNL utilized two base prototypes to simulate both Single-family detached house, and Multi-family low-rise apartment building types. Energy models for the recent versions of the IECC are available for each climate.

The State Savings Calculator provides a means of further tailoring state-level cost-effectiveness analysis. This interactive tool mimics the overall DOE methodology, but allows for customized economic assumptions and other parameters that may vary on a state-by-state basis. These include parameters such as local cost adjustments, energy prices and escalation rates, inflation and taxes, loan terms, and the overall study period used for the analysis. A report can also be generated that summarizes results in a format similar to the official PNNL state analysis reports.

This Executive Summary provides a high level review of the results for the Rhode Island Energy Code Compliance Baseline Study. In this section, we state the study objectives, summarize the evaluation approach, and present key findings, conclusions and recommendations.

Sample Kickoff Materials include Kickoff Meeting Presentations for Alabama, Arizona, Idaho TAG, Idaho, Iowa,  and Utah. A Stakeholder Kickoff Draft Agenda for Alabama is also included.

NOTE: These files are also available for download individually. 

Sample Recruitment Materials include:

• Alabama Sample FOIA Request
• Georgia Field Study Representative Badge Sample
• Alabama Phone Script (Builders)
• Alabama Phone Script (Jurisdictions)
• Pennsylvania Phone Script (Builders)
• Sample Kentucky Press Release
• Sample Digital Ads
• Sample Idaho Email Text (Code Officials)
• Recruitment Flyers for Iowa, New Mexico, and South Carolina
• Recruitment Letters to Code Officials, Builders and/or Jursidictions for Alabama, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania
• South Carolina Recruitment Rack Card
• Colorado and Nevada Request for Proposals for Field Data Collection Services
• Kentucky Request for Proposals for Residential Energy Code Compliance Evaluation

NOTE: These files are also available for download individually. 

Presentation slides from the 2019 National Energy Codes Conference that provided an overview of the U.S. Department of Energy Building Energy Codes residential field study Phase III data collection and findings.

State-level analysis results behind the DOE Status of State Energy Code Adoption Map for commercial buildings.

State-level analysis results behind the DOE Status of State Energy Code Adoption Map for residential buildings.

State-level analysis results behind the DOE Status of State Energy Code Adoption Map for commercial buildings.

State-level analysis results behind the DOE Status of State Energy Code Adoption Map for residential buildings.

The primary method for creating a population of homes from which to derive a random sample, as explained in the methodology, is to contact sample jurisdictions to obtain lists of homes. These lists are then sorted randomly to fulfill the sample. While this method has had success, it is not always possible to obtain a list of permits from a jurisdiction. In addition, even when permit data is available directly through a jurisdiction, it can be difficult to ascertain information on the construction status of sample homes. Knowing the phase of construction can be used to inform the timing of site visits to improve data collection efficiency.

For these reasons, alternative or supplemental methods of creating a home population for random sampling may be necessary. Alternative methods that may be used to build a list of recently permitted homes include target searches using jurisdictional inspection schedules, online real estate services, and general internet searches. The same alternative sources of data used to generate the population of homes may also help in scheduling site visits to arrive during phases of construction that maximize the number of observations per site visit.

Facilitated by Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL), in coordination with the six Regional Energy Efficiency Organizations (REEOs) and additional technical assistance providers, the Network will utilize regional code professionals, building science experts, and experienced trainers to customize technical assistance to states and jurisdictions.

Facilitated by Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL), in coordination with the six Regional Energy Efficiency Organizations (REEOs) and additional technical assistance providers, the Network will utilize regional code professionals, building science experts, and experienced trainers to customize technical assistance to states and jurisdictions.

To meet states where they are and better understand specific needs and priorities related to building energy codes, BECP is expanding proactive, individualized engagement with states and local jurisdictions. BECP continues to offer a robust and ever-evolving collection of information and technical assistance resources available online to help all states, territories, jurisdictions, and tribes save energy and improve their buildings.

This technical support document (TSD) is designed to explain the technical basis for the COMcheck software as originally developed based on the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-1989 (Standard 90.1-1989). Documentation for other national model codes and standards and specific state energy codes supported in COMcheck has been added to this report as appendices. These appendices are intended to provide technical documentation for features specific to the supported codes and for any changes made for state-specific codes that differ from the standard features that support compliance with the national model codes and standards. Beginning with COMcheck version 3.8.0, support for 90.1-1989, 90.1-1999, and the 1998 IECC and version 3.9.0 support for 2000 and 2001 IECC are no longer included, but those sections remain in this document for reference purposes.

This report describes solutions to the common PRM adoption challenges, including calculating energy savings by fuel type and electricity demand savings relative to current code and avoiding “fuel switching” when reporting savings of the proposed design relative to the current code. The calculations described in this technical support document are automated in the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 Performance Based Compliance Form and the Compliance Form Companion Tool