Improving Building Energy Efficiency: Adoption, Enforcement, and Compliance with Energy Standards and Codes

1. Improving Building Energy Efficiency: Adoption, Enforcement, and Compliance with Energy Standards and Codes Minjoo Lee ASHRAE Summer Fellow Bucknell University ‘12 August 4, 2011

2. 68% of nation’s electricity • 39% of total energy consumption • 12% of water usage • 38% of CO2 emission Commercial Building Facts http://www.dep.state.fl.us/central/Home/DrinkingWater/ http://amazinggirlz.com/articles/the-invention-of-electricity/ http://www.dezeen.com/2009/02/19/westerdok-apartment-building-by-mvrdv/

3. Why the focus on building energy efficiency? “When it comes to saving money and growing our economy, energy efficiency isn't just low hanging fruit; it's fruit laying on the ground.” - Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu Lower energy bills for consumers Creates jobs Better working environment Raises the value of property Less GHG Limited supply of natural gas and coal http://casa-diseno-blog.com/category/decorating-ideas/sustainable-eco-design/ http://speedlaces.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/the-money-tree/

4. Adopting, enforcing, and complying with existing standards and codes is the cheapest and the most effective way to make buildings energy efficient Adoption Enforcement Most Cost-Effective Method of Achieving Energy Efficiency: Standards & Codes Compliance http://www.themiamilaw.com/ http://www.clipsahoy.com/occupations/police/police7.htm http://tallyhypnosis.com/?attachment_id=184

5. Standard: • Voluntary until adopted into a code • More general and has more purposes in terms of use • ASHRAE develops standards, not codes Code: • Only one purpose – to be adopted into law • ICC develops codes Standards & Codes http://www.ashrae.org/technology/page/548 http://www.lasergrade.com/sbc.shtml

6. Who is involved?

7. History of Energy Policies http://www.city-data.com/articles/U-S-Capitol-Capitol-Hill-Washington-D-C.html

8. Energy Code Status Within the U.S.

9. Out-of-Date Data • Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) • Conducted by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) of DOE since 1979 • Currently using 2003 data because 2007 CBECS was invalid; not enough funds for 2011 CBECS • Building Rating Systems • Cause confusion in the market • US Green Building Council: Leadership in Energy and Environment Development (LEED) • Green Building Initiative: Green Globes certification Main Concerns in Achieving Energy Efficiency http://www.crownci.com/drupal7/?q=content/customers http://harrisconstruction.com/leed.html http://www.rapidchange.com/Home/RapidReport/RAPIDREPORTMay2009/RAPIDREPORTMarch2009/RapidReportArchive/QADec08/tabid/133/Default.aspx

10. Training for Code Officials • Different between jurisdictions • Inconsistent structure of training • Upfront Cost • Misconception of high cost; not thinking about payback • Vancouver example: moderately high-performance building was 9% less expensive and consumed less energy • No Statewide Energy Policy • Up to state and local jurisdictions to adopt codes • No urgency in energy savings Main Concerns… http://www.mpnj.com/mp_building_dept.asp http://www.myrecipes.com/healthy-diet/eat-healthy-for-cheap-tips-10000001867714/ http://www.layoutsparks.com/1/122455/city-lights-building-skyscrapers.html

11. Target Commercial Buildings Development of Standards & Codes 2) Up-to-Date Data Collection Focus on Standards of Certain Building Subsystems Adoption 4) Support a National Building Code More Energy Disclosure Laws Enforcement & Compliance 6) Revise Current Programs 7) Training for Code Officials Recommendations http://www.changeyourlifetips.com/articles/

12. 2. Up-to-DateData Collection • Best to first look at short term goals rather than tackling both residential and commercial • Easier because it is more leveraged and businesses can afford to be involved • More professionals involved in the projects, more willing to follow codes • Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS): • Need new data to use as reference for current technology • Energy Star, ASHRAE, and other organizations use CBECS to set benchmarks • Need to continue CBECS; more funding needed • Relatively inexpensive: $4 million 1. Target Commercial Buildings

13. Important to have standards that address all components BUT overwhelming to fix every element of building at once => focus on certain standards, take smaller steps • Standards focused on lighting, heating and cooling systems • Lighting: 25%-50% • Heating: 33%-50% • Increase daylight • Daylighting can help energy savings by • 30%-80% annually • Better insulation in walls, ceilings, basement, and windows minimize heat loss 3. Focus on Standards of Certain Building Subsystems http://modernfurniturepics.com/living-room-designs/bathroom-with-big-window-and-outstanding-view-318 http://www.ingeniosus.net/archives/2010/02

14. 4. Support a NationalBuilding Code • Hard to establish building policies at federal level because regulated locally • Should be flexible enough to match different climates; advancement in technology should make it easier today • Should not mandate methods but set minimum benchmark, outcome is more important • Waxman-Markey Bill, 2009 • Included national building energy code • Perceived as overly ambitious: 50% reduction in energy consumption by 2014 • Building should compare its performance to its own past performance

15. Common in Europe and Australia • Similar method to labeling appliances with Energy Star • Adopted in Washington, D.C., Austin, Texas, New York City, San Francisco, and the state of Washington – quickly gaining popularity • Has created jobs in sustainability services firms • Stimulate states to adopt energy codes • Benefits: • More occupants, higher lease, higher sales • Competition in the marketplace • Influence building owners to retrofit their building to have higher ratings compared to competitors 5. More Energy Disclosure Laws http://www.njcleanenergy.com/residential/programs/energy-star-product-rebates/new-jersey-energy-star-product-rebates

16. PACE: Property Assessed Clean Energy • Special type of property loan for retrofitting – financing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects; stays with property, not the owner • Popular idea in the beginning • Federal government provided over $150 million in grant money to help originally • Was intended for residential and commercial • Lack of support from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac discouraged many states • Currently 4 active PACE programs and 9 programs in the design process • Need to be revised to only address commercial buildings 6. Revise Current Programs http://blog.harschrealestate.com/the-berkshires/you-have-decided-to-sell-your-berkshire-home-now-what/

17. Training needs to be more consistent and similar between jurisdictions • Overall structure of the training should be similar • Becomes easier for jurisdictions to figure out what training methods work or what methods do not work when structure of training is similar • Communication between jurisdictions can become more widespread in search of better ways to make changes in the training 7. Training for Code Officials

18. Following energy standards and codes is the most cost-effective way to achieve high energy efficiency of buildings • Better for economy, create jobs • To continue having comfortable lifestyle, changes need to be made to reduce energy consumption • Quicker depletion of fossil fuel – limited supply • Preemptive In Summary… http://imagesgellery.blogspot.com/2011/06/buildings-images.html

19. Questions?