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2008 Building Energy Efficiency StandardsCalifornia Energy Commission

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The Warren – Alquist Act 1974 – Section #25402 of the Public Resources

Code creates the California Energy Commission Gives the CEC the authority to maintain energy

efficiency standards for new buildings This act directs the commission “Prescribe” by regulation to

increase the efficiency in the use of energy for new construction in residential and non-residential buildings:

Lighting Insulation Climate control (HVAC) Construction standards

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The Warren – Alquist Act Requires that the “standards” be cost effective

“when taken in their entirety and amortized over the economic life of the structure”

Periodically update the Standards (every 3 years) Develop manuals to support the standards Directs local permit jurisdictions to withhold

permits until the building satisfies the Standards

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A Brief History

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A Brief History These standards were called Title 24 Part 6

Building Energy Efficiency Standards All “new” construction had to meet these standards

during the planning stage prior to approval for construction by local enforcement agencies

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A Brief History Over 55% of California’s 13 million residential

homes were built prior to any energy standards! Over 40% of California’s non-residential buildings

were built prior to any energy standards! Energy costs since 1978 have increased steadily

making it more attractive to build energy conservation standards into buildings saving $$$

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A Brief History Energy efficiency is defined by the CEC as the

cost effective use of energy relative to the size of the building

Calculated in thousands of btu’s per square foot of conditioned floor area per year (kbtu/sq. ft. yr)

Heating, cooling, water heating, electrical usage is divided by the conditioned floor area of the home

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A Brief History The first “HERS raters” in California were

performing whole house tests and measurements in the early 1990’s.

By mid to late 1990’s the energy codes started encouraging and giving “prescriptive building credits” under new construction energy laws for installing certain measures that required more & more sophisticated inspections methods

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A Brief History Building departments enforcement personnel

decided that many of these inspections were outside of their expertise

Enforcement of the energy code took too much time away fro the enforcement of health and safety codes

Development of “special inspectors” was needed to help field enforcement of more complicated aspects of the energy codes

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A Brief History HERS rater’s (special inspectors) primary function

shifted from energy auditing to code enforcement in 2001

October 1, 2005 codes took a major increase in scope where they were applied to HVAC alterations in existing homes

HERS (Home Energy Rating Services) verify certain energy features that require special equipment and training

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A Brief History In 2001 new Energy Standards were created

through legislation In 2005 a report [AB 549 Report to the Legislature]

Options for Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings was made with a series of recommendations by the CEC [California Energy Commission]

These recommendations expanded efforts through Standards and requirements to existing building

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A Brief History 2005 Residential Standards included

Existing building alterations to meet new standards Disclosures of home energy usage at point of sale Expansion of “whole – building diagnostic” testing and

repair Quality Installation & “tune – up” of HVAC equipment

These changes lead to a comprehensive program mandate by AB 758

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A Brief History In 2006 AB 2021 required the CEC to develop a

plan to improve the efficiency of air conditioners in the state

This resulted in a report completed in June 2008 that identified a major failure within the HVAC industry to obtain permits for replacement of equipment

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A Brief History AB 2021 report

Indicates that mechanical contractors pull permits less than 10 percent of the replacement of HVAC equipment

Installed equipment uses 30% to 50% more energy than it should due to poor quality installations

In 2010 close to 420,000 replacements Local agencies denied resources necessary to enforce

Health and Safety codes because of revenue short fall

Source: CEC report AB 758 & AB 2021

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A Brief History AB 32 [Enacted by Governor Schwarzenegger]

Global Warming Solutions Act capped California’s greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by 2020

The CARB [California Air Resources Board] Scoping Plan identifies energy use in buildings as the 2nd largest contributor to greenhouse gases. Almost one quarter of California’s greenhouse gas total emissions

Improving the energy efficiency of existing residential and non residential buildings is the single most important activity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in electricity and natural gas sectors.

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Residential Compliance Manual2008

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Residential Compliance Manual2008

Dictates how and when energy measures are installed in Residential buildings

What forms are used to “verify” 3rd party inspections by HERS raters

What measures (tests or verifications) are required

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HERS Technical Manual

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HERS Technical Manual Give definitions to energy diagnostics Explains procedures for testing Explains procedures for certifications Used by HERS Raters to verify system integrity

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Non Residential 2008 Used for commercial installations Give definitions to energy diagnostics Explains procedures for testing Explains procedures for certifications

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BenefitsAre the savings real?

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Benefits Economics

Good investment Cost less to operate buildings Saving $$$$ creates a more stable economy statewide

Environment Reducing environmental pollution Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through lower

energy use Comfort

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HERS VerificationThird party verification

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HERS Verification New Construction

Custom Homes Individual case by case basis Every home is tested

Track / Multiple Homes (alike builds) Sample testing rather than every single residence Contractor must test every house

Existing Alterations Individual case by case basis Sampling of a-like installations [same measures]

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HERS Verification New Non-Residential Construction

Testing can be either “sampling” for alike installations or individual for systems serving less than 5,000 square feet.

Existing Alterations Non-Residential Testing is performed individually on systems serving

less than 5,000 square feet.

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Climate Zones

State is divided into 16 different “climate zones”

CEC provides a downloadable list of all cities in zone boundaries by alphabetical order

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Climate Zones Zones 2 and 9 through 15

Tight Duct testing required Refrigerant Charge verification Minimum airflow for refrigerant charge verification @

300 cfm per ton Zones 14 – 16 + (above verifications except 16)

Minimum R-8.0 duct insulation Zones 10 – 15 + (above verifications)

Minimum airflow verification @ 350 cfm per ton Fan watt draw verification

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Climate Zones Zone 1 and 3 through 8

Currently exempt from duct tightness testing although beginning January 1, 2014 will be required.

Currently exempt from refrigerant charge testing although beginning January 1, 2014 will be required.

Airflow testing exempt for RCM, but will change January 1, 2014

After January 1, 2014 all zones will be required to meet minimum airflow @ 350 cfm per ton and fan watt draw verification

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Climate Zones All zones verified will require:

Registration with State Database Verification through HERS program Certificate Final delivery to:

Building official Building owner HER field inspector Installing contractor

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Duct Tightness Testing

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Duct Tightness Testing

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Duct Tightness Testing All existing / new duct sealing

All registers must be sealed between register box and wall cut

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Duct Tightness Testing UL approved 181 tape Mechanical zip ties in combination with rubber backed

tape & mastic

Photo provided by CEC

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Duct Tightness Testing HERS verification using pressure testing

Seal all supply grilles with tape

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Duct Tightness Testing Connect pressure blower at return and measure

using 2 channel manometer

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Duct Tightness Testing The manometer will display the amount of airflow

entering the pressure blower in CFM using the static pressure and area of the blower opening.

This measurement determines how much airflow is ‘leaking’ outside of the duct system.

Is generally representative in a percentage of the system total airflow [i.e. 6% air leakage of the system flow].

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Duct Tightness Testing New duct installation exceeding 40 feet of duct in a

unconditioned space = 6% maximum loss of system rated airflow.

Existing duct systems with equipment only replacement = 15% maximum loss of system rated airflow.

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Duct Sealing Advantages Increased comfort because airflow is getting to the

rooms where it’s needed Indoor air quality is better because the return is not

sucking in household cleaners, garden chemicals or attic dust

Leaking ducts may have caused backdrafting of vents and appliances

Reducing heating and cooling costs because the conditioned air is now getting into the spaces

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Problems with duct sealing Existing systems may have so many leaks that

after sealing the duct system: Insufficient airflow through equipment causes coil icing

(less than 300 cfm per ton) because of poor design Return leakage caused the building to stay positive in

pressure relative to the outdoors and now has a negative pressure when exhaust fans are running causing backflow through existing flu vents and chimney

Insufficient airflow will increase cycle run time and raise utility costs as well for both heating and cooling

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It’s all about the $$$$$$$ Approximately 20% – 30% of the conditioned airflow is lost

by not getting into the conditioned space through duct leakage

40% of the existing homes have leaking ducts Refrigerant charges in error by 20% (either too much or not

enough) can cause as much as an increase in utility cost of 40%

Insufficient airflow will increase cycle run time and raise utility costs as well for both heating and cooling

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Refrigerant Charge Measurement

Proper refrigerant usage

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Refrigerant Charge Measurement

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Refrigerant Charge Measurement

STMS Saturated Temperature Measurement Sensor

TMAH Temperature Measurement Access Holes

CID Charge Indicator Display

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Refrigerant Charge Measurement

STMS Thermistor type sensors statically placed to measure

the [actual] temperature of a condensing / evaporator coil sensing the saturation temperature [same as the saturation pressure temperature measured by gauges].

Placed by the installing contractor for the HERS rater to use during RCM

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Refrigerant Charge Measurement

TMAH Located at the supply and return plenums for

measurements Used to verify temperature and system static pressure

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Refrigerant Charge Measurement

CID A display next to the thermostat to indicate system

charge. Not currently in production

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Refrigerant Charge Measurement

TXV – systems Must meet the manufacturer's specification of sub-

cooling with – in plus or minus 3 degrees [generally around 10 degrees]

Must meet the manufacturer’s specification of superheat [generally 3 – 26 degrees]

Must meet airflow verification to check refrigerant charge accurately

Must be a minimum of 70 degrees indoor temperature and 55 degrees or warmer outdoors to verify.

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Refrigerant Charge Measurement

Non-TXV systems Measurement of superheat following generic

“approach” chart for verification. Must be with-in 4 degrees of chart for verification. Must meet airflow verification to check refrigerant

charge accurately Must be a minimum of 70 degrees indoor temperature

and 55 degrees or warmer outdoors to verify.

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Airflow verificationIs there really enough air?

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Airflow verification Approved methods

Flow Hood Plenum pressure matching Temperature difference verification

Wet bulb & dry bulb return air temperature Supply air dry bulb temperature

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Airflow verification Must use one of three approved methods Must meet 300 cfm per ton for refrigerant charge

verification – all zones Must meet 350 cfm per ton for zone 10 – 15

verification.

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CertificationThree documents required

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Certification CF1R –

Document filed by the installing contractor or homeowner describing the intended work or installation.

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Certification CF6R

Filed by installing contractor certifying installed system meets or exceeds state criteria.

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Certification CF4R

Document filed by HERS verifiers

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Certification CF [certificate final]

One form required for each verified measurement from installing contractor and HERS verifier

Generally 9 pages Four copies of each required

Certificate Final delivery to: Building official Building owner HER field inspector Installing contractor

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New Standards 2013Coming January 1, 2014