The California Energy Commission launched the upgrade process to Title 24, the state energy code, last month.
The commission is proposing to make Title 24 equivalent to ASHRAE 90.1-2013, a national model code. This change would impact efficiency requirements for commercial projects on lighting, building envelopes, and HVAC. The new standards for new construction and major renovations are expected to take effect in 2017.
Portions of the code also pertain to residential projects. In total, the changes could save an estimated 195.3 gigawatt-hours in the first year the standards are implemented, reducing emissions equivalent to those produced by 28,000 cars.
This update will lay the groundwork for meeting California’s Zero Net Energy (ZNE) goals. By 2030, all new nonresidential construction will have to be ZNE. New residential construction will have to meet that standard by 2020.
(http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/mwaltner/energy_savings_on_the_way_for.html)
Related Stories
| Apr 13, 2012
New York City’s building department investigating structural collapse that killed worker
Following a worker’s death, the collapse of a century-old, two-story warehouse under demolition as part of Columbia University’s expansion is under investigation by the city’s Building Department.
| Apr 13, 2012
Federal court reduces statute of limitations for OSHA action on record-keeping violations
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit sharply curtailed the period of time that companies can be cited for Occupational Safety and Health reporting violations, reversing the decision of an administrative panel and longstanding agency precedent.
| Apr 13, 2012
CSI webinar: Green Construction Codes Are Here -- Now What?
This seminar will trace the origins of green codes, how they compare and differ from the rating systems that have been used, and examine some of their main features.
| Apr 5, 2012
Retailers, banks among most affected by new ADA rules
On March 15, the most significant changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) since it became law in 1991 went into effect.
| Apr 5, 2012
Florida ranks first in hurricane building codes and enforcement
Florida ranks highest among 18 hurricane-region states for building codes and their enforcement, according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.
| Apr 5, 2012
New IgCC green building code is a ‘game changer,’ AIA official says
An AIA official calls the new International Green Construction Code (IgCC) a “game changer” for sustainable construction.
| Apr 5, 2012
Model energy codes add thousands to cost of new apartment construction, study says
New energy codes could add thousands of dollars to the construction costs of each individual apartment residence in a multifamily building, according to new research commissioned by the National Multi-Housing Council and the National Apartment Association.
| Apr 5, 2012
LEED 2012 will include new requirements for data centers
The U.S. Green Building Council’s updated LEED 2012 standards will require two systems to be modeled for each project in order to show power utilization effectiveness.