23 January 2009
[Federal Register: January 23, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 14)]
[Notices]
[Page 4169-4172]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23ja09-33]
[[Page 4169]]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Public Meeting on Analysis of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy is in the process of making a
determination as to whether ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007 would
save energy in commercial buildings. In doing so, we are performing a
comparative analysis of the 2007 edition of that standard to the 2004
edition and seeking input on our considered approach to carrying out
that analysis.
DATES: The Department will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, February
18, 2009, in Washington, DC. Please send requests to speak at the
meeting so that we receive them by 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 11,
2009. DOE must receive a signed original and an electronic copy of
statements to be given at the public meeting no later than 4 p.m.,
Friday, February 13, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Requests to make statements at the public meeting and copies
of those statements should be sent to Brenda Edwards-Jones at the
following address: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585-0121.
You should identify documents as either, ``Request to Speak,'' or
``Statement,'' followed by, ``Public Meeting on Analysis of Standard
90.1-2007''.
The public meeting will begin at 9 a.m., on Wednesday, February 18,
2009, in Room 1E-245 at the U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal
Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. You can read
copies of the transcript of the public meeting in the Freedom of
Information Reading Room (Room No. 1E-090) at the U.S. Department of
Energy, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
You may obtain copies of the reference standard ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA
Standard 90.1-2007 by request from the American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc., 1791 Tullie Circle,
NE., Atlanta, GA 30329, (404) 636-8400, http://www.ASHRAE.org. A copy
of the ``Draft Methodology for a Comparative Analysis of ANSI/ASHRAE/
IESNA Standard 90.1-2007 and Standard 90.1-2004'' may be downloaded
from Building Energy Codes Program Web site at http://
www.energycodes.gov/implement/determinations_com.stm. The latest
information regarding the public workshop is available on the Building
Energy Codes Program Web site at http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/
determinations_com.stm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald B. Majette, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, EE-2J, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-7935, e-
mail: Ronald.majette@ee.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
A. Authority
Section 304(b)(2) of title III of the Energy Conservation and
Production Act (ECPA), as amended, requires the Secretary of Energy to
determine whether the revisions of the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-
Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)/Illuminating Engineering Society of
North America (IESNA) Standard 90.1 will improve energy efficiency in
commercial buildings. (42 U.S.C. 6833(b)(2)(A)) A notice of the
determination is required to be published in the Federal Register. (42
U.S.C. 6833(b)(2)(A)) If the Secretary makes an affirmative
determination, each State is required to certify to DOE within two
years of the determination that it has reviewed and updated the
provisions of its commercial building code regarding energy efficiency
and that its State commercial building code meets or exceeds the
revised standard. (42 U.S.C. 6833(2)(B)(i)).
B. Background
Standard 90.1 was revised by ASHRAE in 2007. In preparation for
making a determination as to whether the recent revision would improve
energy efficiency in commercial buildings, DOE is doing a comparative
analysis between the 2004 edition and 2007 edition of Standard 90.1.
DOE's determination for ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 was
conducted using the same methodology as the previous determination for
ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999. The analysis used in the
determinations for both the 1999 and 2004 versions was discussed in
detail at 67 FR 46464 (July 15, 2002). DOE is considering modifying the
methodology used in the determination associated with Standard 90.1-
2007. DOE is holding a meeting to obtain comment on the new approach
prior to analyzing ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2007 and to identify any
issues. This meeting is the subject of today's notice.
C. Summary of Draft Methodology for Comparative Analysis of ANSI/
ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007 and Standard 90.1-2004
DOE is considering both a qualitative and quantitative comparison
of the Standard 90.1-2004 and Standard 90.1-2007. The considered
analysis would provide qualitative comparisons of the stringencies
between the two editions of Standard 90.1 in the scope of the standard;
the building envelope requirements; the building lighting requirements;
the building mechanical equipment requirements; and the paths to
compliance. The quantitative comparison of energy codes would be done
on whole building energy simulations of specific building prototypes
compliant with each standard. For the determination, DOE is considering
to simulate several representative building types in 16 representative
U.S. climates. The detailed methodology for the quantitative comparison
is presented in ``Draft Methodology for a Comparative Analysis of
ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007 and Standard 90.1-2004.'' DOE is
considering a new methodology for two reasons. First, DOE is
considering use of the EnergyPlus building energy simulation software
in place of the BLAST building energy simulation software used in
previous determinations. EnergyPlus is the newest simulation software
developed by DOE and most DOE buildings-related analysis is now being
conducted with EnergyPlus. Second, DOE is considering the use of a DOE
benchmark building for the building models. The Benchmark buildings are
a set of prototypical buildings developed by DOE for evaluation of
commercial building energy programs, including codes and standards.
II. Discussion
A. Draft Methodology for a Comparative Analysis of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA
Standard 90.1-2004 and Standard 90.1-2007
DOE is considering both a qualitative and quantitative comparison
of the Standard 90.1-2004 and Standard 90.1-2007.
Qualitative Comparisons
The draft analysis would provide qualitative comparisons of the
[[Page 4170]]
stringencies between the two editions of Standard 90.1 based on
examination of the differences between the editions in each of the
following areas:
Scope of the standard,
Building envelope requirements,
Building lighting requirements,
Building mechanical equipment requirements, and
Paths to compliance.
The emphasis of the qualitative comparison would differ between the
envelope, lighting, and mechanical sections. In the building envelope
section, the comparison would focus on the impact of the different
building envelope requirements on the building heating and cooling
loads for different building types and climates. The envelope
comparison would examine requirements for all envelope components,
including roofs, walls, floors, and fenestration, as well as explore
variations in construction types and in the window-to-wall ratio.
In the lighting requirements comparison, the focus would be
primarily on the impact the different lighting requirements have on
lighting energy use, as well as on building loads. The comparison would
look separately at the whole building and space-by-space lighting
requirements in both standards in a variety of commercial building
types, as well as examine the effect of any ``additional lighting power
allowances.''
The mechanical requirements comparison would be divided into
comparisons of equipment efficiency requirements and system design
requirements. The system design requirements affect both the system
efficiency, system load, and may have direct energy impacts due, for
instance, to fan design. Tables of relative stringency and estimated
positive or negative national energy impact would be prepared based on
practical application of the system design requirements in each
standard.
Each standard has multiple ways to demonstrate compliance. DOE
would enumerate the multiple paths to compliance, but is not
considering a detailed comparison of the relative stringency of
alternate paths within a single standard or between standards. The
large quantity of variables among the alternative compliance paths
would make such analysis prohibitive to undertake. Further, we know of
no data on which to base the selection of representative requirements
for such an analysis. Assignment of requirements would be arbitrary.
Rather we would focus on what we believe is the most common approach to
using the standard in question for particular building types.
The qualitative comparison methodology proposed for the Standard
90.1-2007 determination is identical to that used for the Standard
90.1-2004 determination.
Quantitative Comparison
We are considering basing the quantitative comparison of energy
codes on whole building energy simulations of buildings built to each
standard. The simulated buildings would utilize EnergyPlus prototype
buildings developed within DOE as reference buildings for tracking and
predicting the energy impacts of DOE programs. (These prototypes are
known as DOE's Benchmark Buildings.) The use of EnergyPlus prototypes
represents a significant change from past determinations where the
BLAST simulation tool was utilized and where a scaling process was used
to represent buildings of varying size within a specific building type.
DOE is developing 17 building prototypes under its Benchmark
buildings effort. Each benchmark prototype is being developed through
support of DOE national lab staff at Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory (LBNL), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), as well as being reviewed
by members of ASHRAE Standing Standard Project Committee (SSPC) 90.1,
with the purpose of being as representative of current building designs
as possible. However, not all of these prototypes are expected to be
completed in sufficient time for DOE to meet its statutory deadline for
the 90.1-2007 determination on December 31, 2008. DOE expects to have
between five and ten prototypes completed in time for use in the
quantitative aspect of the determination. DOE intends to simulate the
available prototypes over a range of climate locations (16 versus 11 in
previous determinations).
For the 90.1-2007 determination, DOE plans to develop weighting
factors by climate zone for each building prototype simulated based on
historical construction data. These weighting factors would be based on
historical construction square footages by building types assigned to
each climate zone. DOE intends to weight simulated building energy use
intensities (EUI) across the climate zones by building type to
determine the relative change in efficiency by building type and will
report these results as was done in previous determinations. In
previous determinations, a national estimate of relative energy
improvement was provided by weighing the resulting improvements across
building types. If the available building prototypes can represent a
sufficiently large percentage of the commercial building market, DOE
intends to publish in the determination an estimate of relative
national improvement in energy efficiency based on weighting EUIs
across building types. If not, DOE may choose not to publish a national
estimate of relative improvement, but will make relative weighting
factors available.
As more benchmark prototypes become available, DOE plans to
complement its 90.1-2007 determination analysis with simulation results
from other prototypes and intends to make this additional data
available on the Energy Codes Program Web site at the address provided
above. The 17 benchmark building types being developed by DOE are:
Large Office, Medium Office, Small Office, Stand-Alone Retail, Strip
Mall, Primary School, Secondary School, Outpatient Health Care,
Hospital, Small Hotel/Motel, Large Hotel, Public Assembly, Fast Food
Restaurant, Sit-Down Restaurant, Mid-Rise Apartment, High-Rise
Apartment, and Non-Refrigerated Warehouse. These buildings (minus the
two apartment buildings) together account for approximately 82 percent
of commercial building energy use, according to the Commercial
Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS). Mid Rise and High-Rise
residential buildings are also within the scope of ASHRAE 90.1, but are
not represented in CBECS. DOE envisions that at a minimum that Medium
Office, Large Office, Mid-Rise Apartment, Warehouse and Hospital
building prototypes will be available for the Determination.
The 16 climates considered for the analysis represent the 15
distinct climate zones identified in the United States and utilized in
Standards 90.1-2004 and 90.1-2007. One location per climate zone would
be included in the determination with the exception of Zone 3B, for
which two climates are being considered. The climate locations selected
are: Miami, Florida (Zone 1A); Houston, Texas (Zone 2A); Phoenix,
Arizona (Zone 2B); Atlanta, Georgia (Zone 3A); Los Angeles, California
(Zone 3B-California), Las Vegas, Nevada (Zone 3B-other than
California); San Francisco, California (Zone 3C); Baltimore, Maryland
(Zone 4A); Albuquerque, New Mexico (Zone 4B); Seattle, Washington (Zone
4C); Chicago, Illinois (Zone 5A); Denver, Colorado (Zone 5B);
Minneapolis, Minnesota (Zone 6A); Helena, Montana (Zone 6B); Duluth,
Minnesota (Zone 7); and Fairbanks, Alaska (Zone 8).
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Note that only changes to new buildings would be considered in this
quantitative analysis. The scopes of both Standard 90.1-2004 and 90.1-
2007 also address additions and renovations to existing buildings.
While this may have a significant energy impact, we do not believe the
data is available to quantify this impact.
The differences between the quantitative analysis proposed for the
Standard 90.1-2007 determination and the Standard 90.1-2004
determination are summarized below in tabular form.
Table 1--Comparison of Prior to Current Quantitative Determination
Methodology
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Standard 90.1-1999 2007 Determination
----------------------------- and 90.1-2004 ---------------------
Determinations
Building simulation tool ---------------------- EnergyPlus
BLAST
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Source and Description of Pacific Northwest Building-specific
Building Models. National Laboratory Building Models
(PNNL; GUMBY). from DOE Benchmark
Building Task.
Single generic three-
story 48,000 sf
slab on grade
building model with
changeable envelope
characteristics
(e.g. Window-Wall-
Ratio, Wall-Type)
and Changeable
Internal Plug Loads
and Lighting Loads
and Schedules.
Building Types Included in Office.............. Medium Office.
Comparison.
Retail.............. Large Office.
Warehouse........... Warehouse.
Education........... Hospital.
Lodging............. Mid-Rise Apartment.
Public Assembly.....
Food Service........
(Multi-family ....................
Residential
buildings not
included).
Method of characterizing Changing of internal Building-specific
building ``type''. loads and schedules designs based on
in building models. typical building
characteristics,
including building
design, size and
shape, and
schedules developed
from various data
sets and
engineering
judgment during DOE
Benchmarks
development.
Method of characterizing National National
building-type population Characteristics Characteristics
characteristics. Data Set (CBECS99) Data Set (CBECS03)
used in development used in development
of weights for key of Benchmarks
characteristics Building Models
known to vary characteristics.
within building
``types'' (i.e.
window-to-wall
ratio, mass versus
frame wall
construction,
electric resistance
versus gas heat
fuel source;
simulations done
for each of the
above
characteristics and
weighted to final
EUI.
HVAC System Type............ Generic Single Zone Varies depending on
DX equipment with building types.
Gas Furnaces used Cooling Systems
for all buildings include Single Zone
by Lodging. Lodging DX Systems, Central
category Chiller VAV, and
represented with Water-loop Heat
PTAC equipment with Pumps. Heating
electric Systems include
resistance. More hydronic boilers
detailed system and furnaces and
models not zone reheat systems
considered. in VAV models.
HVAC Efficiencies........... HVAC efficiencies Same; however,
improvements efficiencies with
modeled. effective dates
Determination that are more than
``Credit'' given 3 years out from
for changes to HVAC date of standard
efficiencies in are not included.
Standard if not
already in Federal
Law.
Ventilation Rates........... Ventilation based on Ventilation based on
Standard 62-1989. Standard 62-2004.
Extracted Data.............. Zonal Energy used Whole-Building
for Direct Electric Energy Use Data for
Loads, DX Cooling Electric and Gas
Energy including Energy Use
Fan Energy, Zone extracted for each
Heating energy and building model.
SHW energy in
central plant.
Zonal Data used to
develop
representative EUI
for building
population with the
simulated
characteristics
using core and
perimeter zone area
weights developed
from CBECS Size and
Form Factor Data
for represented
building ``types''.
Fuel Types--Cooling......... Electric............ Electric.
Fuel Types--Heating......... Gas Furnace or Gas and Electric
Electric Resistance depending on
Furnace, with Benchmark building
Electric Furnace HVAC system
weights developed characteristics.
through CBECS
estimates.
Fuel Types--Hot Water....... Gas and Electric Electric resistance
(Electric assumed for mid-rise
for all buildings apartment and
with electric heat). warehouse, gas for
other building
types.
Climate Zones Simulated..... 11 Climate Locations 15 climate
used in 1999 locations, each
development. representative of
one of the 15 U.S.
climate zones used
in defining the
requirements in
Standard 90.1-2004
and Standard 90.1-
2007.
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Mapping between simulated Specific Climate A representative
locations to geographic Simulations mapped climate is selected
regions. to geographic for each of the
census divisions geographic climate
using PNNL- zones.
developed weighting
factors (vintage
1996).
Building Construction Construction Weights Construction weights
weights. developed based on developed based on
EIA-NEMS estimates 5 years recent
10 years of future county construction
new construction in data for building
census division by types represented
building type by Benchmark
category. Buildings (DODGE
Data, including
multifamily >3
stories).
Energy Characteristics EUI by Building Type EUI by Building Type
Reported. and Census Division across U.S.
National EUI National EUI
estimates through weights not
weighting across proposed until more
modeled building Benchmark building
types categories. type simulations
can be included.
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B. Public Meeting
1. Procedures for Submitting Requests To Speak
DOE invites any person who would like to attend the public meeting
to notify Brenda Edwards-Jones at (202) 586-2945. You may hand deliver
requests to speak to the address indicated at the beginning of this
notice between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays, or send them by mail.
2. Conduct of Public Meeting
The public meeting will be to receive comments representing the
individual opinions of participating entities. It is not the object of
the hearing to obtain any group position or consensus. Rather DOE is
seeking as many comments as possible from all interested parties. The
Department may use a professional facilitator to facilitate discussion,
and a court reporter will be present to record the transcript of the
meeting. We will present summaries of comments received before the
public meeting, allow time for presentations by public meeting
participants, and encourage all interested parties to share their views
on issues affecting the draft analysis. Following the public meeting,
we will provide an additional two week comment period, during which
interested parties will have an opportunity to present further comment
on the draft analysis. The Department will arrange for a transcript of
the public meeting and will make the entire record of the public
meeting, including the transcript, available for inspection in the
Department's Freedom of Information Reading Room. Any person may
purchase a copy of the transcript from the transcribing reporter.
C. Issues Requested for Comment
The Department of Energy is interested in receiving comments and/or
data concerning issues relating to the comparative analysis of Standard
90.1-2004 and Standard 90.1-2007. These issues are discussed in greater
detail in the Draft Methodology for a Comparative Analysis of ASHRAE/
IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 and Standard 90.1-2007 that is posted on the
web at http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/determinations_com.stm. We
are especially interested in any comments or data regarding:
(1) Specific reductions in stringency in Standard 90.1-2007 that
the Department should be made aware of and that have been identified by
stakeholders.
(2) Specific changes in scope between Standard 90.1-2004 and
Standard 90.1-2007 and how DOE should interpret expansions of scope in
its determination.
(3) DOE's considered approach to changes in referenced ventilation
standards between Standard 90.1-2004 and Standard 90.1-2007.
(4) DOE's considered approach for addressing future effective dates
for mechanical equipment requirements.
(5) The frequency of use of alternative paths to compliance in
building standards (e.g. space-by-space versus whole building lighting
power allowances).
(6) New non-residential building construction data (including mid
rise and high rise residential) by State or census division and
building type.
(7) Data to quantify the impact of Standard 90.1 on additions and
renovations to existing buildings.
(8) The relative prevalence of the semi-heated building envelope
subcategory in the building types draft for analysis (e.g.,
warehouses).
(9) The relative importance of the Mid- and High-rise residential
sector in DOE's determination and data for developing weighting factors
for this sector.
(10) Data describing the relative frequency of use of alternative
paths to compliance.
(11) The impact of using a limited number of building prototypes
(medium office, large office, warehouse, hospital, and mid-rise
apartment) in the quantitative portion of the determination.
These data will help us to make a determination whether ASHRAE/
IESNA Standard 90.1-2007 will improve energy efficiency in commercial
buildings as well as provide background that will help DOE in future
determinations on Standard 90.1.
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 13, 2009.
John F. Mizroch,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. E9-1380 Filed 1-22-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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