Nine Codes

August 11 was an exciting and emotional day. After many (and I mean many) stakeholder comments and poignant speeches from the Commissioners, the California Energy Commission unanimously approved the 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. The adopted codes included nine prescriptive changes for existing homes that my team and I proposed.

It’s important to understand a little about how a proposal becomes a code.

For six years, I’ve worked on California energy codes with the Frontier team in Davis. For any proposal to be adopted, the benefits of each measure over its lifetime must be greater than the costs. It also must be technically feasible and market ready. To assess this we conduct background research, market analysis, and energy modeling. Our team estimates costs and impacts on statewide energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. We develop code language and meet with stakeholders in public meetings and one-on-one interviews to vet the proposal and collect valuable industry feedback. Detailed cost and feasibility evaluations balance aspirations for increased energy efficiency with the realities of construction industry practices and capabilities. Through all this we are continuously refining the proposal, giving it robust legs to stand on through code adoption and implementation.

Once our final proposals are submitted, the Energy Commission brings them through their rulemaking process. This involves more vetting, public meetings, stakeholder comments, and multiple iterations of code. Measures that make it through all of this go to Commissioners for adoption.

Graphic credit: California Energy Commission

Code work requires considerable effort and support from a large team of smart and dedicated people. It pays off for California by having the most-aggressive energy codes in the nation. Over the next 30 years, the 2022 Energy Code is estimated to provide $1.5 billion in consumer benefits and reduce 10 million metric tons of GHGs, equivalent to taking nearly 2.2 million cars off the road for a year. Expanded adoption of new energy-efficient technologies will help reduce costs of the technology over time. The new and revised code requirements are all cost effective and will make California buildings more energy efficient and better equipped to deploy advanced load management strategies.

And these nine codes? They will apply to 13 million existing homes, almost 60% of which were built before 1978 when the first Energy Code was adopted.

So, what’s next? Well, the 2022 Energy Code will become effective January 1, 2023. To prepare and learn more, reach out to me. We are already thinking about appropriate measures for the 2025 Energy Code. If you have ideas, let me know!

View the California Energy Commission’s executive summary and learn more at https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/building-energy-efficiency-standards/2022-building-energy-efficiency.

Frontier’s Nine Prescriptive Existing Home Code Proposals

1. Expand the climate zones where cool roofs are required for steep-sloped roof replacements.
2. Expand the climate zones where cool roofs are required for low-sloped roof replacements.
3. Add a roof deck insulation requirement for low-sloped roofs at time of roof replacement in certain climate zones.
4. Prohibit electric resistance space heating replacement equipment under certain conditions in most climate zones.
5. Reduce the duct sealing target for altered duct and space conditioning systems in all climate zones for single family buildings.
6. Increase the prescriptive duct insulation requirements in certain climate zones.
7. Reduce the 40-foot trigger for prescriptive duct sealing and insulation requirements in all climate zones for systems serving existing zones and eliminate the trigger for systems serving additions.
8. Add a prescriptive requirement for attic sealing and insulation for altered ceilings and when an entirely new or complete replacement duct system is installed in certain climate zones.
9. Increase prescriptive attic insulation requirements for additions of 700 square feet or less in certain climate zones.

Originally written by Alea German, Frontier Energy — https://frontierenergy.com/blog/#nine-codes