could meet just the 2012 IECC, annual energy savings would be more than 0.35 quadrillion Btu by 2030—the equivalent of powering 9 million U.S. homes for a year or the amount of energy generated every year by eight nuclear power plants. Unfortunately, businesses and house-
holds commonly avoid making such energy upgrades because of the seemingly high costs. Although an initial investment is needed, it is clear the resulting profits the building owners see will be worth any risk. Even though many companies often prefer growth investments that expand production and product offerings instead of cost-savings investments, these energy investments offer greater and more im- mediate returns.
The Challenge Although buildings undergoing reno- vation are likely to trigger mandatory energy-efficiency provisions under the IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1, they are often overlooked or ignored because of low
awareness about how and when to apply the codes to renovations. There are four major categories that dictate whether a project must meet an adopted energy code: additions, historic buildings, renovations or alterations, and changes in occupancy. Although all historic buildings are
exempt from meeting the code, the other three categories have stipulations that can trigger energy-code requirements. For additions, all new work must comply
with the provision of the IECC as it relates to new construction. This, however, does not require the remaining portions of the building to comply. When an existing building undergoes
renovation, alteration or repair, there are several factors that will determine the scope of how to follow the energy code. As with additions, any new construction must
conform to the code. Any unaltered portion of the building does not have to comply. With occupancy changes, building
owners must pay attention to whether the change will result in an increase in demand for energy. If it does, then the building must comply with the adopted code. If the energy demands do not increase, then the change of use will not trigger new requirements.
Continued Improvement Recent improvements in the stringency of the model energy codes—not to mention the development of the first green con- struction codes addressing water efficiency, materials use and project location—contin- ue to raise the floor and ceiling for energy- efficient design to levels unimaginable just a few short years ago. Meanwhile, the American Recovery and
Despite all their recent progress, energy codes are still falling well short of their potential.
Circle No.18 Untitled-3 1 May-June 2013 // RETROFIT 27 10/28/2012 12:55:44 PM
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