Preliminary Analysis Regarding Energy Efficiency Improvements in the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 26710-26712 [2021-10291]

Download as PDF 26710 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 93 / Monday, May 17, 2021 / Notices information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Duncan, 571–372–7574, or whs.mc-alex.esd.mbx.dd-dodinformation-collections@mail.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Personnel Security Investigation Projection for Industry Census Survey; OMB Control Number 0704–0417. Type of Request: Revision. Number of Respondents: 7,999. Responses per Respondent: 1. Annual Responses: 7,999. Average Burden per Response: 40 minutes. Annual Burden Hours: 5,333. Needs and Uses: Executive Order (E.O.) 12829, ‘‘National Industrial Security Program (NISP),’’ stipulates that the Secretary of Defense shall serve as the Executive Agent for inspecting and monitoring the contractors, licensees, and grantees who require or will require access to classified information; and for determining the eligibility for access to classified information of contractors, licensees, and grantees and their respective employees. The Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence assigned Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) the responsibility for central operational management of NISP personnel security investigation (PSI) workload projections, and for monitoring of NISP PSI funding and investigations. The execution of the collection instrument is an essential element of DCSA’s ability to plan, program and budget for the PSI needs of NISP personnel security investigations. Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit, not-for-profit institutions, state, local or tribal governments. Frequency: Annually. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. OMB Desk Officer: Ms. Jasmeet Seehra. You may also submit comments and recommendations, identified by Docket ID number and title, by the following method: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, Docket ID number, and title for this Federal VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:56 May 14, 2021 Jkt 253001 Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the internet at https:// www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information. DOD Clearance Officer: Ms. Angela Duncan. Requests for copies of the information collection proposal should be sent to Ms. Duncan at whs.mc-alex.esd.mbx.dddod-information-collections@mail.mil. Dated: May 12, 2021. Kayyonne T. Marston, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 2021–10348 Filed 5–14–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001–06–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY [EERE–2021–BT–DET–0010] Preliminary Analysis Regarding Energy Efficiency Improvements in the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is announcing the availability of a Preliminary Energy Savings Analysis of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (Preliminary Analysis). DOE welcomes written comments from interested parties on any subject within the scope of this Preliminary Analysis. DATES: DOE will accept written comments and information on the Preliminary Analysis no later than June 16, 2021. ADDRESSES: A copy of the Preliminary Analysis is available at https:// www.energycodes.gov/sites/default/ files/documents/2021_IECC_Preliminary Determination_TSD.pdf. Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Alternatively, interested persons may submit comments by email to the following address: 2021iecc2021det0010@ee.doe.gov. Include docket number EERE–2021–BT– DET–0010 and/or RIN number 1904– AF15 in the subject line of the message. Submit electronic comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, PDF, or SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ASCII file format, and avoid the use of special characters or any form of encryption. Although DOE has routinely accepted public comment submissions through a variety of mechanisms, including postal mail and hand delivery/courier, the Department has found it necessary to make temporary modifications to the comment submission process in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. DOE is currently accepting only electronic submissions at this time. If a commenter finds that this change poses an undue hardship, please the parties listed below to discuss the need for alternative arrangements. Once the Covid-19 pandemic health emergency is resolved, DOE anticipates resuming all of its regular options for public comment submission, including postal mail and hand delivery/courier. Public Docket: The docket, which includes Federal Register notices, comments, and other supporting documents/materials, is available for review at https://www.regulations.gov. All documents in the docket are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index. However, some documents listed in the index, such as those containing information that is exempt from public disclosure, may not be publicly available. A link to the docket on the https://www.regulations.gov site can be found at: https://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=EERE-2021-BT-DET0010. The https://www.regulations.gov web page will contain instructions on how to access all documents, including public comments, in the docket. See section III for further information on how to submit comments through https://www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeremiah Williams; U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, EE–5B, Washington, DC 20585; (202) 287–1941; Jeremiah.Williams@ee.doe.gov. Mr. 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 II. Discussion of Findings III. Public Participation I. Background Title III of the Energy Conservation and Production Act, as amended (ECPA), establishes requirements for building energy conservation standards, administered by the DOE Building Energy Codes Program. (42 U.S.C. 6831 E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM 17MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 93 / Monday, May 17, 2021 / Notices et seq.) Section 304(a)(5)(A), as amended, of ECPA provides that whenever the CABO Model Energy Code, or any successor to that code, is 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. In addition, on January 20, 2021, the President issued Executive Order 13990, ‘‘Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis.’’ 86 FR 7037 (Jan. 25, 2021). The Executive Order directed DOE to consider publishing for notice and comment a proposed rule suspending, revising, or rescinding the final technical determination regarding the final technical determination regarding the 2018 IECC by May 2021. Id. at 86 FR 7038. In response, DOE has conducted this preliminary analysis of the 2021 IECC so that DOE’s determination under section 304(a) of ECPA reflects the most recent version of the IECC, and to facilitate State and local adoption of the 2021 IECC, which will provide greater energy savings for the nation’s residential buildings. The 2021 IECC (2021 edition), the most recent edition of the IECC, was published on January 29, 2021, triggering the statutorily required DOE review process. The IECC is developed through an industry consensus process administered by the International Code Council (ICC). The ICC has an established program for regular review of the IECC, identifying whether proposed changes have energy and cost impacts, and incorporating changes approved by public officials making up the ICC governmental voting body. Updated editions of the IECC are typically published every three years. More information on the ICC code VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:56 May 14, 2021 Jkt 253001 development process is available at: https://www.iccsafe.org/codes-techsupport/codes/code-developmentprocess/code-development-2/. II. Discussion of Findings To meet the statutory requirement, DOE conducted a Preliminary Energy Savings Analysis of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (Preliminary Analysis) to quantify the expected energy savings associated with the 2021 IECC. The Preliminary Analysis indicates, of the 35 proposed code changes which directly impact energy use, 29 changes resulted in a reduction of energy use, with 6 changes projected to increase energy use. DOE’s Preliminary review and analysis of the 2021 IECC identified 11 key changes which are expected to have a significant and measurable impact on energy efficiency in residential buildings. These changes are expected to increase energy savings, impact a significant fraction of new homes, and can be reasonably quantified through the established methodology. More information on these changes and their expected energy savings impacts are presented in a separate technical analysis, Preliminary Energy Savings Analysis: 2021 IECC for Residential Buildings.1 Review of the 2021 IECC indicates the updated model code will increase energy efficiency in residential buildings. Residential buildings meeting the 2021 IECC (compared to the previous 2018 IECC edition) are expected to incur the following annual savings on a weighted national average basis: • 9.38 percent of site energy; • 8.79 percent of source energy; • 8.66 percent of energy costs, and; • 8.66 percent of carbon emissions. The full Preliminary Analysis, including an assessment of the expected energy and energy cost impacts, is available via the DOE Building Energy Codes Program: https:// www.energycodes.gov/sites/default/ files/documents/2021_IECC_ PreliminaryDetermination_TSD.pdf. DOE welcomes written comments from interested parties on this preliminary determination and supporting technical analysis. States can experience significant benefits by updating their codes to reflect current construction standards, a total estimated $74.34 billion in energy cost savings and 435.43 MMT of avoided CO2 emissions in residential 1 https://www.energycodes.gov/sites/default/files/ documents/2021_IECC_PreliminaryDetermination_ TSD.pdf. PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 26711 buildings (cumulative 2010 through 2040), or $3.14 billion in annual energy cost savings and 18.38 MMT in annual avoided CO2 emissions (annually by 2030).2 III. Public Participation DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding the Preliminary Analysis no later than the date provided in the DATES section at the beginning of this notice. Interested parties may submit comments, data, and other information using any of the methods described in the ADDRESSES section at the beginning of this notice. Submitting Comments via https:// www.regulations.gov The https://www.regulations.gov web page will require you to provide your name and contact information. Your contact information will be viewable to DOE Building Technologies Office staff only. Your contact information will not be publicly viewable, except for your first and last names, organization name (if any), and submitter representative name (if any). If your comment is not processed properly because of technical difficulties, DOE will use this information to contact you. If DOE cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, DOE may not be able to consider your comment. However, your contact information will be publicly viewable if you include it in the comment itself or in any documents attached to your comment. Any information that you do not want to be publicly viewable should not be included in your comment, nor in any document attached to your comment. Do not submit to https:// www.regulations.gov information for which disclosure is restricted by statute, such as trade secrets and commercial or financial information (hereinafter referred to as Confidential Business Information (CBI)). Comments submitted through https:// www.regulations.gov cannot be claimed as CBI. Comments received through the website will waive any CBI claims for the information submitted. For information on submitting CBI, see the Confidential Business Information section below. DOE processes submissions made through https://www.regulations.gov 2 https://www.energycodes.gov/about/results. Financial benefits are calculated by applying historical and future fuel prices to site energy savings and by discounting future savings to 2016 dollars. Historical and future real fuel prices are obtained through EIA’s AEO 2015 report (EIA 2015). A real discount factor of 5% is applied to discount future energy cost savings. E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM 17MYN1 26712 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 93 / Monday, May 17, 2021 / Notices before posting. Normally, comments will be posted within a few days of being submitted. However, if large volumes of comments are being processed simultaneously, your comment may not be viewable for up to several weeks. Please keep the comment tracking number that https:// www.regulations.gov provides after you have successfully uploaded your comment. Submitting Comments via Email Comments and documents submitted via email also will be posted to https:// www.regulations.gov. If you do not want your personal contact information to be publicly viewable, do not include it in your comment or any accompanying documents. Instead, provide your contact information in a cover letter, including your first and last names, email address, telephone number, and optional mailing address. The cover letter will not be publicly viewable as long as it does not include any comments. Include contact information each time you submit comments, data, documents, and other information to DOE. No facsimiles (faxes) will be accepted. Comments, data, and other information submitted to DOE electronically should be provided in PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or text (ASCII) file format. Provide documents that are not secured, that are written in English, and that are free of any defects or viruses. Documents should not contain special characters or any form of encryption and, if possible, they should carry the electronic signature of the author. Campaign Form Letters Please submit campaign form letters by the originating organization in batches of between 50 to 500 form letters per PDF or as one form letter with a list of supporters’ names compiled into one or more PDFs. This reduces comment processing and posting time. 18:56 May 14, 2021 Jkt 253001 Signing Authority This document of the Department of Energy was signed on May 10, 2021, by Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the Federal Register. Signed in Washington, DC, May 12, 2021. Treena V. Garrett, Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy. [FR Doc. 2021–10291 Filed 5–14–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY [Case Number 2020–020; EERE–2020–BT– WAV–0035] Energy Conservation Program: Decision and Order Granting a Waiver to Ningbo FOTILE Kitchen Ware Co. Ltd. From the Department of Energy Dishwashers Test Procedure Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notification of decision and order. AGENCY: Confidential Business Information According to 10 CFR 1004.11, any person submitting information that he or she believes to be confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via email two wellmarked copies: One copy of the document marked confidential including all the information believed to be confidential, and one copy of the document marked non-confidential with the information believed to be confidential deleted. Submit these documents via email. DOE will make its own determination about the VerDate Sep<11>2014 confidential status of the information and treat it according to its determination. It is DOE’s policy that all comments may be included in the public docket, without change and as received, including any personal information provided in the comments (except information deemed to be exempt from public disclosure). The U.S. Department of Energy (‘‘DOE’’) gives notice of a Decision and Order (Case Number 2020–020) that grants to Ningbo FOTILE Kitchen Ware Co. Ltd. (‘‘FOTILE’’) a waiver from specified portions of the DOE test procedure for determining the energy and water consumption of specified dishwashers. Under the Decision and Order, FOTILE is required to test and rate the specified basic models of its dishwashers in accordance SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 with the alternate test procedure set forth in the Decision and Order. DATES: The Decision and Order is effective on May 17, 2021. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lucy deButts, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, EE–5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585–0121. Email: AS_Waiver_ Requests@ee.doe.gov. Ms. Amelia Whiting, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, Mail Stop GC–33, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585–0103. Telephone: (202) 586–2588. Email: Amelia.Whiting@hq.doe.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Decision and Order will terminate upon the compliance date of any future amendment to the test procedure for dishwashers located at title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (‘‘CFR’’), part 430, subpart B, appendix C1 that addresses the issues presented in this waiver. At such time, FOTILE must use the relevant test procedure for this product for any testing to demonstrate compliance with the applicable standards, and any other representations of energy use. In accordance with section 430.27(f)(2) of title 10 of the CFR, DOE hereby provides notice of the issuance of its Decision and Order as set forth below. The Decision and Order grants FOTILE a waiver from the applicable test procedure at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix C1 for specified basic models of dishwashers, and provides that FOTILE must test and rate such products using the alternate test procedure specified in the Decision and Order. FOTILE’s representations concerning the energy and water consumption of the specified basic models must be based on testing according to the provisions and restrictions in the alternate test procedure set forth in the Decision and Order, and any such representations must fairly disclose the test results. Distributors, retailers, and private labelers are held to the same requirements when making representations regarding the energy and water consumption of these products. (42 U.S.C. 6293(c)) Consistent with 10 CFR 430.27(j), not later than July 16, 2021, any manufacturer currently distributing in commerce in the United States products employing a technology or characteristic that results in the same need for a waiver from the applicable test procedure must submit a petition for E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM 17MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 93 (Monday, May 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26710-26712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-10291]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[EERE-2021-BT-DET-0010]


Preliminary Analysis Regarding Energy Efficiency Improvements in 
the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is announcing the 
availability of a Preliminary Energy Savings Analysis of the 2021 
International Energy Conservation Code (Preliminary Analysis). DOE 
welcomes written comments from interested parties on any subject within 
the scope of this Preliminary Analysis.

DATES: DOE will accept written comments and information on the 
Preliminary Analysis no later than June 16, 2021.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Preliminary Analysis is available at https://www.energycodes.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2021_IECC_PreliminaryDetermination_TSD.pdf. Interested persons are 
encouraged to submit comments using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments. Alternatively, interested persons may submit comments by 
email to the following address: [email protected]v. Include 
docket number EERE-2021-BT-DET-0010 and/or RIN number 1904-AF15 in the 
subject line of the message. Submit electronic comments in WordPerfect, 
Microsoft Word, PDF, or ASCII file format, and avoid the use of special 
characters or any form of encryption.
    Although DOE has routinely accepted public comment submissions 
through a variety of mechanisms, including postal mail and hand 
delivery/courier, the Department has found it necessary to make 
temporary modifications to the comment submission process in light of 
the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. DOE is currently accepting only 
electronic submissions at this time. If a commenter finds that this 
change poses an undue hardship, please the parties listed below to 
discuss the need for alternative arrangements. Once the Covid-19 
pandemic health emergency is resolved, DOE anticipates resuming all of 
its regular options for public comment submission, including postal 
mail and hand delivery/courier.
    Public Docket: The docket, which includes Federal Register notices, 
comments, and other supporting documents/materials, is available for 
review at https://www.regulations.gov. All documents in the docket are 
listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index. However, some documents 
listed in the index, such as those containing information that is 
exempt from public disclosure, may not be publicly available. A link to 
the docket on the https://www.regulations.gov site can be found at: 
https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2021-BT-DET-0010. The 
https://www.regulations.gov web page will contain instructions on how to 
access all documents, including public comments, in the docket. See 
section III for further information on how to submit comments through 
https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Mr. Jeremiah Williams; U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, EE-5B, 
Washington, DC 20585; (202) 287-1941; [email protected].
    Mr. 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
II. Discussion of Findings
III. Public Participation

I. Background

    Title III of the Energy Conservation and Production Act, as amended 
(ECPA), establishes requirements for building energy conservation 
standards, administered by the DOE Building Energy Codes Program. (42 
U.S.C. 6831

[[Page 26711]]

et seq.) Section 304(a)(5)(A), as amended, of ECPA provides that 
whenever the CABO Model Energy Code, or any successor to that code, is 
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.
    In addition, on January 20, 2021, the President issued Executive 
Order 13990, ``Protecting Public Health and the Environment and 
Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis.'' 86 FR 7037 (Jan. 25, 
2021). The Executive Order directed DOE to consider publishing for 
notice and comment a proposed rule suspending, revising, or rescinding 
the final technical determination regarding the final technical 
determination regarding the 2018 IECC by May 2021. Id. at 86 FR 7038. 
In response, DOE has conducted this preliminary analysis of the 2021 
IECC so that DOE's determination under section 304(a) of ECPA reflects 
the most recent version of the IECC, and to facilitate State and local 
adoption of the 2021 IECC, which will provide greater energy savings 
for the nation's residential buildings.
    The 2021 IECC (2021 edition), the most recent edition of the IECC, 
was published on January 29, 2021, triggering the statutorily required 
DOE review process. The IECC is developed through an industry consensus 
process administered by the International Code Council (ICC). The ICC 
has an established program for regular review of the IECC, identifying 
whether proposed changes have energy and cost impacts, and 
incorporating changes approved by public officials making up the ICC 
governmental voting body. Updated editions of the IECC are typically 
published every three years. 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/.

II. Discussion of Findings

    To meet the statutory requirement, DOE conducted a Preliminary 
Energy Savings Analysis of the 2021 International Energy Conservation 
Code (Preliminary Analysis) to quantify the expected energy savings 
associated with the 2021 IECC. The Preliminary Analysis indicates, of 
the 35 proposed code changes which directly impact energy use, 29 
changes resulted in a reduction of energy use, with 6 changes projected 
to increase energy use.
    DOE's Preliminary review and analysis of the 2021 IECC identified 
11 key changes which are expected to have a significant and measurable 
impact on energy efficiency in residential buildings. These changes are 
expected to increase energy savings, impact a significant fraction of 
new homes, and can be reasonably quantified through the established 
methodology. More information on these changes and their expected 
energy savings impacts are presented in a separate technical analysis, 
Preliminary Energy Savings Analysis: 2021 IECC for Residential 
Buildings.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ https://www.energycodes.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2021_IECC_PreliminaryDetermination_TSD.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Review of the 2021 IECC indicates the updated model code will 
increase energy efficiency in residential buildings. Residential 
buildings meeting the 2021 IECC (compared to the previous 2018 IECC 
edition) are expected to incur the following annual savings on a 
weighted national average basis:
     9.38 percent of site energy;
     8.79 percent of source energy;
     8.66 percent of energy costs, and;
     8.66 percent of carbon emissions.
    The full Preliminary Analysis, including an assessment of the 
expected energy and energy cost impacts, is available via the DOE 
Building Energy Codes Program: https://www.energycodes.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2021_IECC_PreliminaryDetermination_TSD.pdf. DOE 
welcomes written comments from interested parties on this preliminary 
determination and supporting technical analysis.
    States can experience significant benefits by updating their codes 
to reflect current construction standards, a total estimated $74.34 
billion in energy cost savings and 435.43 MMT of avoided CO2 
emissions in residential buildings (cumulative 2010 through 2040), or 
$3.14 billion in annual energy cost savings and 18.38 MMT in annual 
avoided CO2 emissions (annually by 2030).\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ https://www.energycodes.gov/about/results. Financial 
benefits are calculated by applying historical and future fuel 
prices to site energy savings and by discounting future savings to 
2016 dollars. Historical and future real fuel prices are obtained 
through EIA's AEO 2015 report (EIA 2015). A real discount factor of 
5% is applied to discount future energy cost savings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Public Participation

    DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding the 
Preliminary Analysis no later than the date provided in the DATES 
section at the beginning of this notice. Interested parties may submit 
comments, data, and other information using any of the methods 
described in the ADDRESSES section at the beginning of this notice.

Submitting Comments via https://www.regulations.gov

    The https://www.regulations.gov web page will require you to provide 
your name and contact information. Your contact information will be 
viewable to DOE Building Technologies Office staff only. Your contact 
information will not be publicly viewable, except for your first and 
last names, organization name (if any), and submitter representative 
name (if any). If your comment is not processed properly because of 
technical difficulties, DOE will use this information to contact you. 
If DOE cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and 
cannot contact you for clarification, DOE may not be able to consider 
your comment.
    However, your contact information will be publicly viewable if you 
include it in the comment itself or in any documents attached to your 
comment. Any information that you do not want to be publicly viewable 
should not be included in your comment, nor in any document attached to 
your comment. Do not submit to https://www.regulations.gov information 
for which disclosure is restricted by statute, such as trade secrets 
and commercial or financial information (hereinafter referred to as 
Confidential Business Information (CBI)). Comments submitted through 
https://www.regulations.gov cannot be claimed as CBI. Comments received 
through the website will waive any CBI claims for the information 
submitted. For information on submitting CBI, see the Confidential 
Business Information section below.
    DOE processes submissions made through https://www.regulations.gov

[[Page 26712]]

before posting. Normally, comments will be posted within a few days of 
being submitted. However, if large volumes of comments are being 
processed simultaneously, your comment may not be viewable for up to 
several weeks. Please keep the comment tracking number that https://www.regulations.gov provides after you have successfully uploaded your 
comment.

Submitting Comments via Email

    Comments and documents submitted via email also will be posted to 
https://www.regulations.gov. If you do not want your personal contact 
information to be publicly viewable, do not include it in your comment 
or any accompanying documents. Instead, provide your contact 
information in a cover letter, including your first and last names, 
email address, telephone number, and optional mailing address. The 
cover letter will not be publicly viewable as long as it does not 
include any comments. Include contact information each time you submit 
comments, data, documents, and other information to DOE. No facsimiles 
(faxes) will be accepted.
    Comments, data, and other information submitted to DOE 
electronically should be provided in PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or 
Excel, WordPerfect, or text (ASCII) file format. Provide documents that 
are not secured, that are written in English, and that are free of any 
defects or viruses. Documents should not contain special characters or 
any form of encryption and, if possible, they should carry the 
electronic signature of the author.

Campaign Form Letters

    Please submit campaign form letters by the originating organization 
in batches of between 50 to 500 form letters per PDF or as one form 
letter with a list of supporters' names compiled into one or more PDFs. 
This reduces comment processing and posting time.

Confidential Business Information

    According to 10 CFR 1004.11, any person submitting information that 
he or she believes to be confidential and exempt by law from public 
disclosure should submit via email two well-marked copies: One copy of 
the document marked confidential including all the information believed 
to be confidential, and one copy of the document marked non-
confidential with the information believed to be confidential deleted. 
Submit these documents via email. DOE will make its own determination 
about the confidential status of the information and treat it according 
to its determination.
    It is DOE's policy that all comments may be included in the public 
docket, without change and as received, including any personal 
information provided in the comments (except information deemed to be 
exempt from public disclosure).

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on May 10, 
2021, by Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary 
and Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. 
That document with the original signature and date is maintained by 
DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with 
requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE 
Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit 
the document in electronic format for publication, as an official 
document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no 
way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the 
Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, May 12, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-10291 Filed 5-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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