New California building standards raise bar
for efficiency measures
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| Updated building standards will require
all new commercial buildings with low-slope roofs to be
fitted with highly reflective "cool roofs." A study by the
Florida Energy Center
found that buildings with light colored, more reflective
roofs use up to 40 percent less energy for cooling than
darker roofs. (artwork courtesy of California Energy Commission) |
The California
Energy Commission recently voted unanimously to update Title
24, Part 6, the state's Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential
and Nonresidential Buildings, incorporating new measures and
technology to reduce energy use, including peak use.
The latest round of revisions
are projected to cut the state's peak energy use by more than
180 MW annually after they go into effect in 2005. Utilities,
window manufacturers, the California
Building Industry Association and the Natural
Resources Defense Council were among those applauding the
approved changes.
"For utilities like the Sacramento
Municipal Utility District that produce part of their power
and buy the rest, the changes mean we will have to buy less
power in the future," commented Jim
Parks, SMUD program manager for energy efficiency and customer
research and development.
Revisions target peak use
To develop the new standards, the energy commission conducted
a public process, soliciting ideas, proposals and comments from
all interested people. Staff contacted representatives from
affected industries and citizens who signed up with the commission
to receive notification. A consulting firm and a number of nationally
recognized lighting experts also helped with the project.
The most significant changes focused on reducing
peak energy use. Air conditioning loads on hot summer days can
cause the state's need for power to nearly double. The new code
requires residential buildings to install cool roofs —
highly reflective, insulated roofing. In California, nine out
of 10 rooftops reach summer peak temperatures of 150 degrees
to 190 degrees. A cool roof can reduce those temperatures by
as much as 50 degrees. That large temperature difference translates
to a 20-percent reduction in air conditioning costs.
Ductwork, particularly in residential buildings,
also received attention. Standards for new heating, ventilation
and air conditioning equipment will require ductwork to be inspected
and sealed to correct the inevitable large leaks in existing
ducts. Also, several changes make space heating, cooling and
ventilation systems more efficient in both residential and nonresidential
buildings.
Standards address both indoor
and outdoor lighting
Major improvements in efficient lighting technology made their
way into the standards, too. The revisions require "big
box" nonresidential buildings to be equipped with skylights
and sensor controls to turn off electric lighting when natural
daylight is sufficient. Also, all permanent fixtures must use
state-of-the-art fluorescent lighting. Parks noted that the
commission incorporated a recommendation by SMUD and a lighting
manufacturer that the requirement for electronic fluorescent
lighting ballasts be lowered from 18 watts to 13 watts, thus
saving energy and improving performance.
Outdoor lighting and indoor and outdoor signage—areas
building standards rarely cover—feature prominently in
the new standards. Requirements for control, efficacy and maximum
power densities for indoor lighting have been on California's
books for more than 20 years. Acting on the directive of Senate
Bill 5X, the energy commission extended those requirements to
encompass outdoor lighting applications.
Training and resource materials
bring building industry up to speed
The commission will work closely with building officials, builders
and utilities to provide training on the new standards, educating
everyone to the changes before they go into effect. CEC sponsors
training centers at SMUD, Pacific
Gas and Electric Company, Southern
California Gas Company, San
Diego Gas Company and Southern
California Edison. The centers offer hands-on training for
building officials and builders on construction techniques for
complying with the standards. Each training center is equipped
with displays of energy-efficient equipment and techniques,
and labs and mock-up facilities for demonstrating diagnostic
equipment.
Ongoing workshops and seminars reach a wide audience.
"The building industry has to be apprised of changes in the
standards," said Parks, "and utilities need to know how the
standards are going to affect their energy efficiency programs.
For example, rebate plans have to be adjusted to meet the changes."
Manuals play a big part in the education process
as well. Legislation specifies that training materials must
be updated no later than 180 days after the adoption of new
standards. The CEC also produces design suggestions for meeting
or exceeding the standards and a computer program for calculating
energy consumption in residential and nonresidential buildings.
Building officials, energy consultants, builders,
contractors and homeowners can get answers about specific applications
of the standards from CEC's Energy Hotline. The toll-free service
puts callers in direct contact with code specialists on the
commission staff. Hotline staff also answer queries by e-mail.
Professionals and consumers outside the state
can benefit from the CEC's expertise through the on-line Consumer
Energy Center. The Web site offers consumer tips, videos,
case studies, useful links and a glossary of energy terms. Visitors
can download commission reports and manuals free of charge.
While most documents pertain specifically to California, builders
and utilities everywhere must deal with the same issues of environmental
protection and wise energy use, and may gain valuable insight
from California's experience.
Ongoing commitment to energy efficiency
rewards Californians
The CEC adopted the first Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential
and Nonresidential Buildings in 1978 to control electricity
use that had been growing at an annual rate of 8 percent. The
standards apply to new construction, including requirements
for entire new buildings, additions and alterations and repairs
to nonresidential buildings.
Periodic updates allow for the incorporation
of new energy-efficient technologies and conservation methods.
The 2000 energy crisis prompted an emergency update of the code
with substantial changes aimed at reducing summer peak demand.
Immediately after completing those revisions, the commission
began the public process to consider more extensive requirements
that could not be developed within the 120-day timeframe of
the emergency proceeding. These changes make up the 2005 Standards
the commission adopted on Nov. 5, 2003.
Title 24 sets an example for progressive
energy conservation policy and drives California utilities to
develop new strategies to save energy. "When the standards tighten,
last year's energy savings become this year's norm, and we have
to identify new measures to increase the savings," explained
Parks.
The CEC estimates that from its inception
to 2003, the code, along with standards for energy efficient
appliances, saved Californians $56 billion in electricity and
natural gas costs. In addition, it improved outdoor air quality
by reducing emissions from powerplants and from natural gas
combustion in furnaces, boilers and water heaters.
A recent study by the RAND Corporation
found that energy efficiency has helped the state economy, too.
California's Standards and other investments in energy efficiency
have resulted in the state having very low energy intensity
(energy consumption per economic output) compared to the rest
of the United States. This led to a 3-percent increase in the
state's economic growth, the equivalent of putting between $875
to $1,300 in the pocket of every Californian, creating jobs
and increasing California's business competitiveness.