Final Determination Regarding Energy Efficiency Improvements in the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 67435-67437 [2019-26550]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 10, 2019 / Notices
• Recommend and/or review
continuity, sensitivities, and uncertainty
evaluations.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during this meeting. Action will
be restricted to those issues specifically
identified in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice
that require emergency action under
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, provided the public has been
notified of the intent to take final action
to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is accessible to people
with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary
aids should be directed to the South
Atlantic Fishery Management Council
office (see ADDRESSES) at least 5
business days prior to the meeting.
Note: The times and sequence specified in
this agenda are subject to change.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 5, 2019.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–26591 Filed 12–9–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XV147
Pacific Fishery Management Council;
Public Meeting
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr.
Kris Kleinschmidt (kris.kleinschmidt@
noaa.gov, (503) 820–2412) at least 10
days prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
Dated: December 5, 2019.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
The Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Pacific Council)
will convene a meeting of the Southern
Resident Killer Whale Workgroup
(Workgroup).
DATES: The meeting will be held
Wednesday, January 8 through
Thursday, January 9, 2020. The meeting
will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Pacific Standard Time (PST) on January
8. The meeting will continue on January
9 at 9 a.m. (PST) and will end at 2 p.m.
The meeting times are an estimate; the
meetings will adjourn when business for
the day is complete.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in
the Cedars Room, Embassy Suites by
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
AGENCY:
SUMMARY:
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Hilton Portland Airport Hotel, 7900 NE
82nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97220;
telephone: (503) 460–3000.
Council address: Pacific Fishery
Management Council, 7700 NE
Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland,
OR 97220–1384.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Robin Ehlke, Pacific Council; telephone:
(503) 820–2410.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
purpose of the meeting is to discuss data
needs, document development, work
plans, and progress made on assigned
tasks. The Workgroup may also discuss
and prepare for future Workgroup and
Pacific Council meetings. This is a
public meeting and not a public hearing.
Public comments will be taken at the
discretion of the Workgroup co-chairs as
time allows.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in the meeting agenda may be
discussed, those issues may not be the
subject of formal action during this
meeting. Action will be restricted to
those issues specifically listed in this
document and any issues arising after
publication of this document that
require emergency action under section
305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act,
provided the public has been notified of
the intent to take final action to address
the emergency.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:08 Dec 09, 2019
Jkt 250001
[FR Doc. 2019–26592 Filed 12–9–19; 8:45 am]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[EERE–2018–BT–DET–0014]
Final Determination Regarding Energy
Efficiency Improvements in the 2018
International Energy Conservation
Code (IECC)
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of determination.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) has reviewed the 2018
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
67435
edition of the International Energy
Conservation Code (IECC) and
determined the updated edition would
improve energy efficiency in buildings
subject to the code compared to the
2015 edition. DOE analysis indicates
that buildings meeting the 2018 IECC (as
compared with buildings meeting the
2015 IECC) would result in national site
energy savings of 1.68 percent, national
source energy savings of 1.91 percent,
and national energy cost savings of
approximately 1.97 percent of
residential building energy
consumption. Upon publication of this
affirmative determination, each State is
required by statute to certify that it has
reviewed the provisions of its
residential building code regarding
energy efficiency, and made a
determination as to whether to update
its code to meet or exceed the 2018
IECC. Additionally, this notice provides
guidance on state code review processes
and associated certifications.
DATES: Certification statements provided
by States shall be submitted by
December 10, 2021.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the final analysis,
as well as links to the Federal docket
and public comments received, are
available at: https://
www.energycodes.gov/development/
determinations.
Certification Statements must be
addressed to the Building Technologies
Office—Building Energy Codes Program
Manager, U.S. Department of Energy,
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, 1000 Independence
Avenue SW, EE–5B, Washington, DC
20585.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeremiah Williams; U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, 1000 Independence
Avenue SW, EE–5B, Washington, DC
20585; (202) 441–1288;
Jeremiah.Williams@ee.doe.gov. For legal
issues, please contact Matthew Ring;
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the
General Counsel, 1000 Independence
Avenue SW, GC–33, Washington, DC
20585; (202) 586–2555; Matthew.Ring@
hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Title III of the Energy Conservation
and Production Act (ECPA), as
amended, establishes requirements for
building energy conservation standards,
which are administered by the DOE
Building Energy Codes Program. (42
U.S.C. 6831 et seq.) Section 304(a)(5)(A),
as amended, of ECPA provides that
whenever the 1992 CABO Model Energy
Code, or any successor to that code, is
E:\FR\FM\10DEN1.SGM
10DEN1
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
67436
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 10, 2019 / Notices
revised, the Secretary of Energy
(Secretary) must make a determination,
not later than 12 months after such
revision, whether the revised code
would improve energy efficiency in
residential buildings, and must publish
notice of such determination in the
Federal Register. (42 U.S.C.
6833(a)(5)(A)) If the Secretary
determines that the revision of the
CABO Model Energy Code, or any
successor thereof, improves the level of
energy efficiency in residential
buildings then, not later than two years
after the date of the publication of such
affirmative determination, each State is
required to certify that it has reviewed
its residential building code regarding
energy efficiency, and made a
determination as to whether it is
appropriate to revise its code to meet or
exceed the provisions of the successor
code. (42 U.S.C. 6833(a)(5)(B))
The International Energy
Conservation Code (IECC) is the
contemporary successor to the CABO
Model Energy Code specified in ECPA.
The IECC is revised every three years
through an established code
development and consensus process
administered by the International Code
Council (ICC). Code change proposals
may be submitted by any interested
party, and are evaluated through a series
of public hearings. As part of the ICC
process, any interested party may
submit proposals, as well as written
comments or suggested changes to any
proposal, and make arguments before a
committee of experts assembled by the
ICC. Proposals are presented to
interested parties, and ultimately
decided by a vote by the ICC
Governmental Member Representatives,
with the collection of accepted
proposals forming the revised edition of
the IECC. More information on the ICC
code development process is available
at: https://www.iccsafe.org/codes-techsupport/codes/code-developmentprocess/code-development-2/.
The ICC published the most recent
revision of the IECC, the 2018 edition of
the IECC (2018 IECC or 2018 edition),
on August 31, 2017, triggering the
statutorily required DOE review process.
To meet its statutory obligation, DOE
conducted a preliminary analysis to
quantify the expected energy savings
associated with the 2018 IECC relative
to the 2015 edition. Notice of this
preliminary analysis was published in
the Federal Register on May 2, 2019 (84
FR 18833), and is available at: https://
www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE2018-BT-DET-0014.
DOE reviewed the 2018 IECC to
identify changes that have a direct
impact on energy efficiency, and which
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:08 Dec 09, 2019
Jkt 250001
could be reasonably quantified in
estimating national average savings
impacts. In total, 47 individual changes
were identified, and of these changes:
• 11 were expected to reduce energy
use;
• 3 were expected to increase energy
use, and;
• 33 were considered administrative
or not energy related.
A more detailed discussion of each of
the 47 changes may be found in the final
energy savings analysis, which is
available at: https://
www.energycodes.gov/development/
determinations.
In its preliminary analysis, DOE
found that many of the code changes are
anticipated to have a neutral impact on
energy efficiency, while a small number
of code changes are anticipated to yield
improved energy efficiency, and a
smaller number of code changes are
anticipated to be detrimental to energy
efficiency. DOE’s preliminary analysis
identified two key changes that
compose the bulk of the energy savings
associated with the updated code:
• RE31 (Fenestration): Lowers
(improves) fenestration U-factors in
climate zones 3 through 8, and;
• RE127 (Lighting): Increases highefficacy lighting from 75% to 90% of
permanently installed fixtures in all
homes.
These changes are expected to have a
significant and measurable impact on
energy efficiency in residential
buildings because they increase energy
savings, and impact a significant
fraction of new homes. Overall, DOE’s
preliminary analysis found that the
revisions in the 2018 IECC will yield
annual aggregated site energy, source
energy, and energy cost savings of 1.68
percent, 1.91 percent and 1.97 percent,
respectively.
Together, the key impacts identified
above are expected to result in life-cycle
cost savings ranging from a low of $398
in climate zone 1 to a high of $1071 in
climate zone 8. Expected payback
ranges from 0.0 years (immediate
payback) in climate zones 1 and 2 to 1.8
years in climate zone 3. National
average savings are $480 with a payback
of 1.1 years.
determination. Responsive public
comments and associated DOE answers
are described below.
II. Public Participation
DOE accepted public comments on
the Notice of Preliminary Determination
for the 2018 IECC until June 3, 2019,
and received submissions from a total of
three commenters. DOE received
responsive comments from two
commenters. DOE received a comment
from a third commenter; however, this
comment was not responsive because it
was outside the scope of this
Edison Electric Institute (EEI)
Comment: EEI commented that
keeping the site-source conversion
factor used in the preliminary analysis
static going forward ignores regional
variations, and ignores overall trends
from a previous DOE report that gives
alternative, generally lower, ratios based
on a methodology that is responsive to
future deployment of renewable
electricity generation. EEI indicated that
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Responsible Energy Codes Alliance
(RECA)
Comment: RECA commented that it
agrees with DOE’s affirmative
determination, supports DOE’s dual
qualitative/quantitative approach to
assessing the 2018 IECC, and agrees that
the improvements in fenestration
efficiency and lighting efficiency will
likely have the most directly positive
impact on energy conservation. RECA
also agrees with DOE’s split qualitative
assessment of the Energy Rating Index
(ERI) changes, noting that higher
thresholds will reduce energy efficiency
while enhanced envelope backstops will
help maintain or increase energy
efficiency.
RECA also commented that the
consideration of costs and cost
effectiveness metrics are not referenced
in 42 U.S.C. 6833(a)(5)(A), and suggests
they are therefore not appropriate to
include in either the preliminary or
final determination. RECA further noted
that inclusion of cost information in the
preliminary determination departs from
the precedent of previous
determinations. RECA urged DOE to
either eliminate the cost discussion
from the final determination or, at a
minimum, clarify that the cost
effectiveness and payback information
is provided for informational purposes
and does not play a role in the
determination. RECA noted that DOE’s
work to provide technical assistance,
including cost effectiveness information
to states and local jurisdictions, is part
of its statutory directive in 42 U.S.C.
6833(d), but that such information
should be provided through channels
other than this determination.
Response: DOE notes that energy
savings is the deciding factor in making
its preliminary and final
determinations. Cost and payback
information is included for
informational purposes only. DOE also
intends to continue to conduct
comprehensive cost-effectiveness
analysis as a state technical assistance
function in the future.
E:\FR\FM\10DEN1.SGM
10DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 10, 2019 / Notices
national source factors for electricity
should decline over a 30-year period, or
a projected value representing the 2030
or 2040 timeframe should be selected, to
account for the increased prevalence of
renewable energy on the utility grid.
Response: DOE acknowledges that the
primary energy sources for electricity
generation are changing and agrees in
principle that renewable energy will
likely result in lower site-source ratios
in the future. However, DOE’s
determination methodology is based
simply on a comparison of the first-year
energy cost savings of the 2018 IECC
(relative to the previous 2015 IECC). The
calculation relies on current factors and
does not make projections beyond the
first year, as would be necessary to
apply the site-source conversion factors
suggested by the comment. The out-year
approach would also further introduce
risk associated with future uncertainties
regarding fuel prices, the shares and
distribution of heating fuels among new
residences, the regional distribution of
new residences, or the mix of primary
energy sources for electricity generation.
DOE therefore elects not to incorporate
the suggested change, although it notes
that declining factors may be
appropriate for other forms of analysis
where building energy code impacts are
projected into the future or assessed
relative to changing grid conditions.
III. Determination Statement
Residential buildings meeting the
2018 IECC (compared to the previous
2015 IECC edition) are expected to incur
the following savings on a weighted
national average basis:
• 1.68 percent of annual site energy;
• 1.91 percent of annual source
energy, and;
• 1.97 percent of annual energy costs.
DOE has rendered the conclusion that
the 2018 IECC will improve energy
efficiency in residential buildings, and,
therefore, receives an affirmative
determination under Section 304(a) of
ECPA.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
IV. State Certification
Based on today’s determination, each
State is required to review the
provisions of its residential building
code regarding energy efficiency, and
determine whether it is appropriate for
such state to revise its building code to
meet or exceed the energy efficiency
provisions of the 2018 IECC. (42 U.S.C.
6833(a)(5)(B)) This action must be made
not later than 2 years from the date of
publication of a Notice of
Determination, unless an extension is
provided.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:08 Dec 09, 2019
Jkt 250001
A. State Review and Update
The State determination must be: (1)
Made after public notice and hearing;
(2) in writing; (3) based upon findings
and upon the evidence presented at the
hearing; and (4) made available to the
public. (42 U.S.C. 6833(a)(2)) States
have discretion with regard to the
hearing procedures they use, subject to
providing an adequate opportunity for
members of the public to be heard and
to present relevant information. The
Department recommends publication of
any notice of public hearing through
appropriate and prominent media
outlets, such as in a newspaper of
general circulation. States should also
be aware that this determination does
not apply to IECC chapters specific to
nonresidential buildings,1 as defined in
the IECC. Therefore, States should
certify their evaluations of their State
building codes for residential buildings
with respect to all provisions of the
IECC, except for those chapters not
affecting residential buildings. Because
state codes are based on a variety of
model code editions, DOE encourages
States to consider the energy efficiency
improvements of the 2018 IECC, as well
as other recent editions of the IECC,
which may also represent a significant
energy and cost savings opportunity.
DOE determinations regarding earlier
editions of the IECC are available on the
DOE Building Energy Codes Program
website.2 Further national and state
analysis is also available.3
B. State Certification Statements
State certifications are to be sent to
the address provided in the ADDRESSES
section, or may be submitted to
BuildingEnergyCodes@ee.doe.gov, and
must be submitted in accordance with
the deadline identified in the DATES
section. If a State makes a determination
that it is not appropriate to revise the
energy efficiency provisions of its
residential building code, the State must
submit to the Secretary, in writing, the
reasons for this determination, which
shall be made available to the public.
(42 U.S.C. 6833(a)(4))
The DOE Building Energy Codes
Program tracks and reports State code
adoption and certifications.4 Once a
State has adopted an updated
residential code, DOE typically provides
1 For information regarding nonresidential
buildings based on ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard
90.1 see https://www.energycodes.gov/
development/determinations.
2 Available at https://www.energycodes.gov/
regulations/determinations/previous.
3 Available at https://www.energycodes.gov/
development/residential/iecc_analysis.
4 Available at https://www.energycodes.gov/
adoption/states.
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
67437
software, training, and support for the
new code, as long as the new code is
based on the national model code (i.e.,
the 2018 IECC). DOE has issued
previous guidance on how it intends to
respond to technical assistance requests
related to implementation resources,
such as building energy code
compliance software. (79 FR 15112)
DOE also recognizes that some States
develop their own codes that are only
loosely related to the national model
codes, and DOE does not typically
provide technical support for those
codes. DOE does not prescribe how each
State adopts and enforces its energy
codes.
Requests for Extensions
Section 304(c) of ECPA requires that
the Secretary permit an extension of the
deadline for complying with the
certification requirements described
above, if a State can demonstrate that it
has made a good faith effort to comply
with such requirements, and that it has
made significant progress toward
meeting its certification obligations. (42
U.S.C. 6833(c)) Such demonstrations
could include one or both of the
following: (1) A substantive plan for
response to the requirements stated in
Section 304; or (2) a statement that the
State has appropriated or requested
funds (within State funding procedures)
to implement a plan that would respond
to the requirements of Section 304 of
ECPA. This list is not exhaustive.
Requests are to be sent to the address
provided in the ADDRESSES section, or
may be submitted to
BuildingEnergyCodes@ee.doe.gov.
Signed in Washington, DC, on November
20, 2019.
Alexander N. Fitzsimmons,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy
Efficiency, Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2019–26550 Filed 12–9–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[OE Docket No. EA–480]
Application To Export Electric Energy;
Engelhart CTP (US) LLC
Office of Electricity,
Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of application.
AGENCY:
Engelhart CTP (US) LLC
(Applicant or ECTP) has applied for
authorization to transmit electric energy
from the United States to Canada
pursuant to the Federal Power Act.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\10DEN1.SGM
10DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 10, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67435-67437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26550]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[EERE-2018-BT-DET-0014]
Final Determination Regarding Energy Efficiency Improvements in
the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of determination.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has reviewed the 2018
edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and
determined the updated edition would improve energy efficiency in
buildings subject to the code compared to the 2015 edition. DOE
analysis indicates that buildings meeting the 2018 IECC (as compared
with buildings meeting the 2015 IECC) would result in national site
energy savings of 1.68 percent, national source energy savings of 1.91
percent, and national energy cost savings of approximately 1.97 percent
of residential building energy consumption. Upon publication of this
affirmative determination, each State is required by statute to certify
that it has reviewed the provisions of its residential building code
regarding energy efficiency, and made a determination as to whether to
update its code to meet or exceed the 2018 IECC. Additionally, this
notice provides guidance on state code review processes and associated
certifications.
DATES: Certification statements provided by States shall be submitted
by December 10, 2021.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the final analysis, as well as links to the
Federal docket and public comments received, are available at: https://www.energycodes.gov/development/determinations.
Certification Statements must be addressed to the Building
Technologies Office--Building Energy Codes Program Manager, U.S.
Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy,
1000 Independence Avenue SW, EE-5B, Washington, DC 20585.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeremiah Williams; U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue SW, EE-5B, Washington, DC 20585; (202) 441-1288;
[email protected]. For legal issues, please contact Matthew
Ring; U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, 1000
Independence Avenue SW, GC-33, Washington, DC 20585; (202) 586-2555;
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Title III of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (ECPA), as
amended, establishes requirements for building energy conservation
standards, which are administered by the DOE Building Energy Codes
Program. (42 U.S.C. 6831 et seq.) Section 304(a)(5)(A), as amended, of
ECPA provides that whenever the 1992 CABO Model Energy Code, or any
successor to that code, is
[[Page 67436]]
revised, the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) must make a determination,
not later than 12 months after such revision, whether the revised code
would improve energy efficiency in residential buildings, and must
publish notice of such determination in the Federal Register. (42
U.S.C. 6833(a)(5)(A)) If the Secretary determines that the revision of
the CABO Model Energy Code, or any successor thereof, improves the
level of energy efficiency in residential buildings then, not later
than two years after the date of the publication of such affirmative
determination, each State is required to certify that it has reviewed
its residential building code regarding energy efficiency, and made a
determination as to whether it is appropriate to revise its code to
meet or exceed the provisions of the successor code. (42 U.S.C.
6833(a)(5)(B))
The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is the
contemporary successor to the CABO Model Energy Code specified in ECPA.
The IECC is revised every three years through an established code
development and consensus process administered by the International
Code Council (ICC). Code change proposals may be submitted by any
interested party, and are evaluated through a series of public
hearings. As part of the ICC process, any interested party may submit
proposals, as well as written comments or suggested changes to any
proposal, and make arguments before a committee of experts assembled by
the ICC. Proposals are presented to interested parties, and ultimately
decided by a vote by the ICC Governmental Member Representatives, with
the collection of accepted proposals forming the revised edition of the
IECC. More information on the ICC code development process is available
at: https://www.iccsafe.org/codes-tech-support/codes/code-development-process/code-development-2/.
The ICC published the most recent revision of the IECC, the 2018
edition of the IECC (2018 IECC or 2018 edition), on August 31, 2017,
triggering the statutorily required DOE review process. To meet its
statutory obligation, DOE conducted a preliminary analysis to quantify
the expected energy savings associated with the 2018 IECC relative to
the 2015 edition. Notice of this preliminary analysis was published in
the Federal Register on May 2, 2019 (84 FR 18833), and is available at:
https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE-2018-BT-DET-0014.
DOE reviewed the 2018 IECC to identify changes that have a direct
impact on energy efficiency, and which could be reasonably quantified
in estimating national average savings impacts. In total, 47 individual
changes were identified, and of these changes:
11 were expected to reduce energy use;
3 were expected to increase energy use, and;
33 were considered administrative or not energy related.
A more detailed discussion of each of the 47 changes may be found
in the final energy savings analysis, which is available at: https://www.energycodes.gov/development/determinations.
In its preliminary analysis, DOE found that many of the code
changes are anticipated to have a neutral impact on energy efficiency,
while a small number of code changes are anticipated to yield improved
energy efficiency, and a smaller number of code changes are anticipated
to be detrimental to energy efficiency. DOE's preliminary analysis
identified two key changes that compose the bulk of the energy savings
associated with the updated code:
RE31 (Fenestration): Lowers (improves) fenestration U-
factors in climate zones 3 through 8, and;
RE127 (Lighting): Increases high-efficacy lighting from
75% to 90% of permanently installed fixtures in all homes.
These changes are expected to have a significant and measurable
impact on energy efficiency in residential buildings because they
increase energy savings, and impact a significant fraction of new
homes. Overall, DOE's preliminary analysis found that the revisions in
the 2018 IECC will yield annual aggregated site energy, source energy,
and energy cost savings of 1.68 percent, 1.91 percent and 1.97 percent,
respectively.
Together, the key impacts identified above are expected to result
in life-cycle cost savings ranging from a low of $398 in climate zone 1
to a high of $1071 in climate zone 8. Expected payback ranges from 0.0
years (immediate payback) in climate zones 1 and 2 to 1.8 years in
climate zone 3. National average savings are $480 with a payback of 1.1
years.
II. Public Participation
DOE accepted public comments on the Notice of Preliminary
Determination for the 2018 IECC until June 3, 2019, and received
submissions from a total of three commenters. DOE received responsive
comments from two commenters. DOE received a comment from a third
commenter; however, this comment was not responsive because it was
outside the scope of this determination. Responsive public comments and
associated DOE answers are described below.
Responsible Energy Codes Alliance (RECA)
Comment: RECA commented that it agrees with DOE's affirmative
determination, supports DOE's dual qualitative/quantitative approach to
assessing the 2018 IECC, and agrees that the improvements in
fenestration efficiency and lighting efficiency will likely have the
most directly positive impact on energy conservation. RECA also agrees
with DOE's split qualitative assessment of the Energy Rating Index
(ERI) changes, noting that higher thresholds will reduce energy
efficiency while enhanced envelope backstops will help maintain or
increase energy efficiency.
RECA also commented that the consideration of costs and cost
effectiveness metrics are not referenced in 42 U.S.C. 6833(a)(5)(A),
and suggests they are therefore not appropriate to include in either
the preliminary or final determination. RECA further noted that
inclusion of cost information in the preliminary determination departs
from the precedent of previous determinations. RECA urged DOE to either
eliminate the cost discussion from the final determination or, at a
minimum, clarify that the cost effectiveness and payback information is
provided for informational purposes and does not play a role in the
determination. RECA noted that DOE's work to provide technical
assistance, including cost effectiveness information to states and
local jurisdictions, is part of its statutory directive in 42 U.S.C.
6833(d), but that such information should be provided through channels
other than this determination.
Response: DOE notes that energy savings is the deciding factor in
making its preliminary and final determinations. Cost and payback
information is included for informational purposes only. DOE also
intends to continue to conduct comprehensive cost-effectiveness
analysis as a state technical assistance function in the future.
Edison Electric Institute (EEI)
Comment: EEI commented that keeping the site-source conversion
factor used in the preliminary analysis static going forward ignores
regional variations, and ignores overall trends from a previous DOE
report that gives alternative, generally lower, ratios based on a
methodology that is responsive to future deployment of renewable
electricity generation. EEI indicated that
[[Page 67437]]
national source factors for electricity should decline over a 30-year
period, or a projected value representing the 2030 or 2040 timeframe
should be selected, to account for the increased prevalence of
renewable energy on the utility grid.
Response: DOE acknowledges that the primary energy sources for
electricity generation are changing and agrees in principle that
renewable energy will likely result in lower site-source ratios in the
future. However, DOE's determination methodology is based simply on a
comparison of the first-year energy cost savings of the 2018 IECC
(relative to the previous 2015 IECC). The calculation relies on current
factors and does not make projections beyond the first year, as would
be necessary to apply the site-source conversion factors suggested by
the comment. The out-year approach would also further introduce risk
associated with future uncertainties regarding fuel prices, the shares
and distribution of heating fuels among new residences, the regional
distribution of new residences, or the mix of primary energy sources
for electricity generation. DOE therefore elects not to incorporate the
suggested change, although it notes that declining factors may be
appropriate for other forms of analysis where building energy code
impacts are projected into the future or assessed relative to changing
grid conditions.
III. Determination Statement
Residential buildings meeting the 2018 IECC (compared to the
previous 2015 IECC edition) are expected to incur the following savings
on a weighted national average basis:
1.68 percent of annual site energy;
1.91 percent of annual source energy, and;
1.97 percent of annual energy costs.
DOE has rendered the conclusion that the 2018 IECC will improve energy
efficiency in residential buildings, and, therefore, receives an
affirmative determination under Section 304(a) of ECPA.
IV. State Certification
Based on today's determination, each State is required to review
the provisions of its residential building code regarding energy
efficiency, and determine whether it is appropriate for such state to
revise its building code to meet or exceed the energy efficiency
provisions of the 2018 IECC. (42 U.S.C. 6833(a)(5)(B)) This action must
be made not later than 2 years from the date of publication of a Notice
of Determination, unless an extension is provided.
A. State Review and Update
The State determination must be: (1) Made after public notice and
hearing; (2) in writing; (3) based upon findings and upon the evidence
presented at the hearing; and (4) made available to the public. (42
U.S.C. 6833(a)(2)) States have discretion with regard to the hearing
procedures they use, subject to providing an adequate opportunity for
members of the public to be heard and to present relevant information.
The Department recommends publication of any notice of public hearing
through appropriate and prominent media outlets, such as in a newspaper
of general circulation. States should also be aware that this
determination does not apply to IECC chapters specific to
nonresidential buildings,\1\ as defined in the IECC. Therefore, States
should certify their evaluations of their State building codes for
residential buildings with respect to all provisions of the IECC,
except for those chapters not affecting residential buildings. Because
state codes are based on a variety of model code editions, DOE
encourages States to consider the energy efficiency improvements of the
2018 IECC, as well as other recent editions of the IECC, which may also
represent a significant energy and cost savings opportunity. DOE
determinations regarding earlier editions of the IECC are available on
the DOE Building Energy Codes Program website.\2\ Further national and
state analysis is also available.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For information regarding nonresidential buildings based on
ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 see https://www.energycodes.gov/development/determinations.
\2\ Available at https://www.energycodes.gov/regulations/determinations/previous.
\3\ Available at https://www.energycodes.gov/development/residential/iecc_analysis.
_____________________________________-
B. State Certification Statements
State certifications are to be sent to the address provided in the
ADDRESSES section, or may be submitted to
[email protected], and must be submitted in accordance
with the deadline identified in the DATES section. If a State makes a
determination that it is not appropriate to revise the energy
efficiency provisions of its residential building code, the State must
submit to the Secretary, in writing, the reasons for this
determination, which shall be made available to the public. (42 U.S.C.
6833(a)(4))
The DOE Building Energy Codes Program tracks and reports State code
adoption and certifications.\4\ Once a State has adopted an updated
residential code, DOE typically provides software, training, and
support for the new code, as long as the new code is based on the
national model code (i.e., the 2018 IECC). DOE has issued previous
guidance on how it intends to respond to technical assistance requests
related to implementation resources, such as building energy code
compliance software. (79 FR 15112) DOE also recognizes that some States
develop their own codes that are only loosely related to the national
model codes, and DOE does not typically provide technical support for
those codes. DOE does not prescribe how each State adopts and enforces
its energy codes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Available at https://www.energycodes.gov/adoption/states.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requests for Extensions
Section 304(c) of ECPA requires that the Secretary permit an
extension of the deadline for complying with the certification
requirements described above, if a State can demonstrate that it has
made a good faith effort to comply with such requirements, and that it
has made significant progress toward meeting its certification
obligations. (42 U.S.C. 6833(c)) Such demonstrations could include one
or both of the following: (1) A substantive plan for response to the
requirements stated in Section 304; or (2) a statement that the State
has appropriated or requested funds (within State funding procedures)
to implement a plan that would respond to the requirements of Section
304 of ECPA. This list is not exhaustive.
Requests are to be sent to the address provided in the ADDRESSES
section, or may be submitted to [email protected].
Signed in Washington, DC, on November 20, 2019.
Alexander N. Fitzsimmons,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2019-26550 Filed 12-9-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
