80 FR 59757 - Updating and Improving the DOE Methodology for Assessing the Cost-Effectiveness of Building Energy Codes

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 191 (October 2, 2015)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or Department) has updated its methodology for assessing the cost-effectiveness of building energy codes. The Department relies upon this methodology in evaluating both potential code changes and entire new editions of model codes, such as the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1. DOE developed its methodology through a public process, and reviews its methods regularly to ensure its underlying analysis and assumptions remain valid.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59757-59758]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25031]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

[EERE-2015-BT-BC-0001]


Updating and Improving the DOE Methodology for Assessing the 
Cost-Effectiveness of Building Energy Codes

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or Department) has updated 
its methodology for assessing the cost-effectiveness of building energy 
codes. The Department relies upon this methodology in evaluating both 
potential code changes and entire new editions of model codes, such as 
the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and the American 
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers 
(ASHRAE) Standard 90.1. DOE developed its methodology through a public 
process, and reviews its methods regularly to ensure its underlying 
analysis and assumptions remain valid.

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) 287-1941; 
[email protected].
    For legal issues, please contact Kavita Vaidyanathan; U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW. GC-33, Washington, DC 20585; (202) 586-0669; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE issued a recent request for information 
(RFI) to seek public input on proposed updates to its methodology, and 
as part of a regular effort to ensure its analysis and underlying 
assumptions remain valid (80 FR 19974).\1\ The Department reviewed and 
considered each comment received, and has revised its methodology based 
on feedback resulting from the RFI. Updated methodology reports for 
residential and commercial buildings, respectively, are available on 
the DOE Building Energy Codes Program Web site:
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    \1\ Recent request for information published in the Federal 
Register on April 14, 2015 (Docket No. EERE-2015-BT-BC-0001).
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     Residential: https://www.energycodes.gov/development/residential/methodology.

[[Page 59758]]

     Commercial: https://www.energycodes.gov/development/commercial/methodology.
    A summary of the changes to the DOE methodology is available in the 
associated public docket (EERE-2015-BT-BC-0001).\2\ This summary 
provides a discussion of relevant issues considered in updating the 
methodology, including:
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    \2\ See DOE Cost Summary of changes responding to RFI comments 
(09022015) found at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EERE-2015-BT-BC-0001-0021.
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    1. Comments which prompted revisions to the DOE methodology; and
    2. Comments not resulting in a revision to the methodology, but 
which raised legitimate issues for which DOE wishes to provide its 
rationale for leaving the methodology unchanged.
    In addition, a `redline' document is provided in the public 
docket.\3\ This document illustrates specific changes to the DOE 
methodology reports in underline and strikethrough formatting. The 
combination of documents is intended to ensure transparency and make 
the update more easily understood.
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    \3\ See Methodology for Evaluating Cost-Effectiveness of 
Residential Energy Code Changes (REDLINE Version) August, 2015 
(PNNL-21294 Rev 1) found at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EERE-2015-BT-BC-0001-0022.
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    More information on the methodology, including the resulting energy 
and cost analysis, is available on the DOE Building Energy Codes 
Program Web site: www.energycodes.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 14, 2015.
David Cohan,
Manager, Building Energy Codes Program, Building Technologies Office, 
Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2015-25031 Filed 10-1-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P