ASHRAE Journal - February 2009 - (Page 60) New Interest in Buildings By Ryan M. Colker W ith questions on the economy and energy use looming, members of Congress have new interest in buildings issues. Infrastructure projects could provide a much needed economic boost while helping to reduce energy use. Schools, hospitals, state and local government buildings, public housing, and universities are being examined for retrofit and new construction opportunities. Members of the building community, including ASHRAE, have developed documents outlining potential policies and programs that can help the new Congress and presidential administration achieve their economic, energy, environmental, and educational goals. ASHRAE’s Achieving National Goals for Buildings: Challenges and Opportunities Facing a New President and Congress is available at http://tinyurl.com/ashraetransition. The High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition also has developed a joint statement of principles— Supporting Policymakers in Building the Future—available at http://hpbccc.org/HPBCCCPrinciples.pdf. Caucus Coalition Plans Monthly Briefings As buildings become a major theme in Congress and the Obama administration, the building community will help frame the issues. The High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition (HPBCCC) will be hosting monthly briefings on Capitol Hill. The briefings will focus on all aspects of high-performance buildings from energy use to accessibility to historic preservation. ASHRAE organized the first briefing as an Introduction to High-Performance Buildings on January 13. Other topics include achieving new energy requirements for federal buildings and opportunities to incorporate buildings into economic stimulus legislation. For a schedule of congressional briefings and further information on the HPBCCC, visit www.hpbccc.org. Federal Agencies Take Actions In the final days of 2008, the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency announced programs to advance high-performance buildings and protect the ozone layer, respectively. DOE also released its energy savings determination for ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004. DOE issued a call for Partnership Consortium to provide input under Section 421 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) (73 FR 73311). Section 421 is part of the formation of the Net-Zero Commercial Building Initiative which is intended to develop a research, development, and deployment strategy toward achieving net zero energy commercial buildings. 60 ASHRAE Journal ASHRAE is leading the formation (and will serve as the secretariat) of the High-Performance Commercial Green Building Partnership (HPCGBP) to serve as an advisor to the Department. Nine other leading organizations are serving on the Partnership’s steering committee. Although the formal letter of Partnership members was due to DOE by Feb. 2, additional members are being solicited. For more information on the Partnership, its membership, and the initial DOE notice see www.hpcgbp.org. The EPA proposed new rules to limit emissions of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) (73 FR 78680) and ban the sale or distribution of precharged equipment containing HCFCs (73 FR 78705). The proposed rule would decrease the consumption and production of HCFCs for the years 2010 to 2014. Consumption and production will be reduced by at least 75% in 2010. Production and importation of HCFCs will cease by 2030. This action also will amend provisions concerning HCFC production for developing countries’ basic domestic needs and would clarify a ban on the sale and distribution of HCFCs through interstate commerce under the Clean Air Act. The EPA also would ban the sale or distribution of air-conditioning and refrigeration appliances containing HCFC-22, HCFC-142b, or blends containing these substances, beginning Jan. 1, 2010. These requirements also would extend to appliances and precharged appliance parts suitable only for use with newly produced HCFCs containing HCFC-22 or HCFC-142b as the refrigerant. The ban would cover appliances that are imported, for export, or manufactured in the U.S. for domestic use. Public comments on the rules will be accepted through March 9 and Feb. 6 respectively. As required by the Energy Conservation and Production Act, DOE has determined that Standard 90.1-2004 would achieve greater energy efficiency in buildings subject to the code than the 1999 edition (73 FR 79868). The quantitative analysis of the energy consumption of buildings built to Standard 90.1–2004, as compared with buildings built to Standard 90.1–1999, indicates national source energy savings of approximately 13.9% of commercial building energy consumption. Site energy savings are estimated to be approximately 11.9%. As a result of this positive determination regarding Standard 90.1–2004, each state is required to certify that it has reviewed the provisions of its commercial building code regarding energy efficiency, and updated, as necessary, its code to meet or exceed Standard 90.1–2004. State certifications or requests for extensions are required on or before Dec. 30, 2010. Ryan M. Colker is ASHRAE’s Manager of Government Affairs in Washington, D.C. Up-to-date information on ASHRAE’s Government Affairs activities is available at www.ashrae.org/ advocacy. ashrae.org February 2009 http://www.hpcgbp.org http://tinyurl.com/ashraetransition http://tinyurl.com/ashraetransition http://hpbccc.org/HPBCCCPrinciples.pdf http://www.hpbccc.org http://www.ashrae.org/advocacy http://www.ashrae.org/advocacy http://www.ashrae.org
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