Building energy codes offer an attractive energy savings opportunity for utility efficiency programs, particularly now that there are new approaches to quantify the savings from code compliance efforts, according to Building Energy Code Advancement through Utility Support and Engagement, a report issued by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The report recommends ways to overcome the common barriers to utility involvement in energy code-related efforts and details pilot program concepts that can help utilities in playing a meaningful role in promoting building energy codes and in receiving credit for their efforts.
The latest national model building energy codes are about 30% more efficient than their predecessors of even six years ago, and there is a large opportunity for savings from new construction efficiency upgrades. These savings can go a long way in helping the utilities meet their energy efficiency resource standards (EERS) targets and in helping states comply with the requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Under ARRA funding, recipient states committed to adopting national model codes along with implementing a plan to reach at least 90% compliance by 2017.
Typically, utilities have faced barriers to implementation of code-based programs as they have not been historically viewed as part of their core activities. Additionally, uniform protocols for the measurement of code compliance and calculation of savings from code compliance have not been fully developed. This report recommends a framework based on adapting the new Progress Indicator methodology used by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for calculating savings from improved code compliance.
The report also provides an overview of the states that are leading in energy code implementation efforts with utility support.
Check out the report here.
