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In cases a) and b), it might be most useful to estimate the savings by comparing the codes scenario with the EIA Annual Energy Outlook (AEO) reference case. This reference case includes assumptions about energy efficiency improvements independent of codes progress, so if AEO is used as the baseline, the estimates show the expected savings in addition to business-as-usual efficiency progress. This is useful for seeing what difference a codes policy can be expected to make. In cases c) and d), it might be most useful to compare the codes scenario with current practice. While current practice isnt likely to continue unchanged even in the absence of stronger codes, this comparison allows us to see what benefits can be reaped from codes that might increase construction cost. In cases where the estimated cost of stronger codes is based on comparisons to current practice, it makes sense to also estimate the benefits of codes compared to current practice. The code savings estimator allows you to either use the AEO reference case or current practice as the baseline, and estimates the energy, cost and emissions savings from a codes scenario relative to the chosen baseline. What the codes scenario looks like is up to you. You can choose which version of the IECC/ASHRAE 90.1 or any code that goes beyond the IECC/ASHRAE 90.1 gets adopted in which year and what the rate of compliance is in any given year. The estimator estimates the annual savings out to 2035.
Code scenarios In a code scenario, we assume the implementation of codes that improve energy efficiency relative to current practice by a percentage depending on the code. By what percentage do codes improve energy efficiency? Depends. For example, we assume that a state without a residential energy code can improve energy efficiency by 6% if with the 2006 IECC or by 18% with the 2009 IECC. Nationwide, current practice consists of a mix of different codes. For the code savings estimator, we assume that the 2009 IECC, if fully complied with, would improve efficiency by 12% over the national mix of current practice. What does X% improvement over current practice mean? If a code offers X% improvement over current practice, the end uses covered by code are X% lower than with 2010 practice. In residential construction, this means that the efficiencies of the building shell, lighting and water heating are each X% better than their respective 2010 efficiencies in the AEO. In the commercial sector, where the code impacts heating and cooling through HVAC as well as shell requirements, a code scenario improves the combined efficiency of HVAC and shell by X% compared to their 2010 efficiencies in the AEO (i.e. shell and HVAC dont improve by X% each on their own). Code scenarios vs. baseline So an X% better code means X% better efficiencies for shell, lighting, etc. compared to 2010 practice. To calculate savings from this, we must calculate energy use based on these code-improved efficiency levels and compare the results to the baseline (AEO reference case or current practice). If current practice is the baseline, code-improved efficiencies of X% over current practice remain X% better than baseline over the years. If the AEO reference case is the baseline, baseline efficiencies improve over time and may catch up with the code-improved efficiencies unless the code keeps improving.
How do we calculate energy use and savings based on code efficiency levels?
Energy codes improve the efficiency levels of the shell, lighting, etc. If we ignore other factors for now, an X% improvement in efficiency means X% savings in the associated energy use (e.g. a 10% improvement in lighting reduces lighting energy use by 10%). This improvement applies only to new construction, additions and renovation. To translate this into savings, we need to calculate the baseline energy use of new construction and additions (renovations are more tricky). The AEO gives us projected baseline energy use for the whole building stock as well as projections for construction activity. The energy use intensity of the stock and new construction in the AEO is based on RECS and CBECS. So in principle, increasing the floor space of the stock by the amount projected by AEO should increase energy use for heating, cooling, etc. by the added floor space times the RECS/CBECS energy use intensities minus demolished floor space. If the changing efficiencies of shell, equipment, etc. are taken into account, this is roughly the case. The code savings estimator replicates the AEO projections in a simplified manner, including some fudge factors so that it allows us to replicate the results of the more sophisticated AEO calculations. This is the principle behind the formulas of the code savings estimator: if the AEO efficiency levels for shell, lighting etc. are used, the results match those of the AEO. With different efficiency levels, we can calculate alternative scenarios. For instance, we can freeze the efficiencies at their 2010 levels for the current practice baseline. Or we can ramp up the efficiencies by X% beyond their 2010 levels to reflect improved codes. Comparing different scenarios based on different efficiency levels is the basic approach for estimating savings. A few further considerations somewhat complicate the calculations: taking into account the impact of renovations, compliance levels, and the efficiency rebound (higher propensity to use energy services due to greater efficiency). Renovations and the rebound are taken into account by AEO. 2
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Efficiency rebound 15% for each 10% energy efficiency improvement in building design or equipment, people increase their use of energy services (lighting, cooling, etc.) by 1.5%, so that the resulting energy savings are 8.5% instead of 10%. Share of different end-uses among code efficiency improvements If a given code improves energy efficiency by, say, 30%, this doesnt necessarily mean that all end-uses are affected equally (i.e. that heating and lighting energy use are both equally reduced by 30%). For instance, residential codes may have a bigger impact on heating and cooling than on water heating because a much larger portion of the code deals with the building shell and ducts than with pipe insulation. Here is how we assume the improvements are weighed among the different end uses: Residential: Which end-use gets improved how much by a given code improvement? Improvement by end-use Share among end-uses Share of improvement End use relative to overall in 2010 from code improvement from code Heating 34% 120% 40% Cooling 30% 120% 36% Water heating 25% 50% 13% Lighting 11% 100% 11%
As an example, if a code improves residential efficiency by 30%, the heating efficiency gets improved by 30% x 120% = 36% and accounts for 40% of the overall improvement induced by the code. Commercial: Which end-use gets improved how much by a given code improvement? Improvement by end-use Share among end-uses Share of improvement End use relative to overall in 2010 from code improvement from code Heating 10% 110% 11% Cooling 30% 110% 33% Ventilation 17% 50% 9% Water heating 8% 75% 6% Lighting 34% 110% 38%