By Allison Webster |
Live updates from the Comment Hearings 10/8/2013:
The big news is that RE-166, the mechanical equipment trade-off proposal constituting a massive energy code rollback, was disapproved 76-52, overturning committee action.
The rest of the changes have been more mild:
Gains:
RE-63 approved, deleting footnote “h” wall bracing insulation exception, which stops its use as a…
By Allison Webster |
Everyone knows that one way to judge the performance of a car is by its fuel efficiency, and car manufacturers love to crow about cars with high 'miles per gallon' ratings. But, what if there was a way to assess “MPG” for buildings that gave potential owners or renters a sense of how much it would cost to operate their building over time? The idea is gaining traction in cities and states around…
By Allison Webster |
As of July 9, the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) voted to approve the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1-2010, with non-weakening amendments. The Board had previously voted for a one year concurrency period where either the 2009 or 2012 IECC can be used. Starting July 2014, 2012 IECC for residential and ASHRAE 90.1-2010…
By Allison Webster |
The benefits of building energy rating and disclosure far outweigh the negatives. Any opposition can almost be considered... well, you get the point...
It’s amazing how one report, when branded with one of the biggest names in academia (Harvard) and funded by a well-heeled special interest opposition group (the Greater Boston Real Estate Board), can cause so much misinformation to be spread…
By Allison Webster |
On February 22, the Boston Globe published an article on Boston's new building energy disclosure ordinance. Here is NEEP's response, submitted as a letter to the editor:
"We, at NEEP, were delighted to see the article regarding Mayor Menino's proposed building energy reporting ordinance [Menino takes on Boston buildings' energy use, 2.22.2013] featured on the front page of the…
By Allison Webster |
Last week, a damaging bill (HB 5749) for building energy efficiency was heard in Connecticut. The bill describes itself as attempting to “save resources” for the Nutmeg State and creates a “more consistent State Building Code,” when in fact it would accomplish neither! Here is NEEP’s written testimony against the bill.
HB 5749, if passed, would have Connecticut revise the State Building Code…
By Allison Webster |
BAR pilot participant – Cambridge City Hall Annex
Determining a commercial building’s asset rating (see sidebar) is a time-consuming process involving multiple site visits, meticulous data collection, engineers and energy modeling, and can cost anywhere from $15-30,000 per building! All of this begs the question: Is there a faster, cheaper, more effective way of evaluating a building’s energy…
By Allison Webster |
Buildings are our nation’s biggest energy guzzlers, using 40% of our energy and 70% of our electricity.
As the nation makes strides to improve the energy performance of its building stock, one effective method of doing this is with building energy codes. Building energy codes play a central role in creating a sustainable energy future by significantly reducing building energy use and ensuring…