Several major locales are attempting to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, not by mandating emission reductions, but by changing building codes instead. While building codes used to focus on safety (assurance that the building will not fall down or cause any other type of debacle or injury), some are being expanded to cover energy usage, based on the thinking that buildings draw upon infrastructure to bring electricity and fuel to the building, so it is reasonable to minimize usage. Since most GHG emissions derive from energy usage, this can help achieve an alternative goal, as well.

The California Energy Commission recently adopted new energy efficiency standards for residential and commercial buildings (http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2013standards/rulemaking/). The rule will go into effect Jan. 1, 2014 affecting new buildings and major alterations and additions to existing buildings in California, making them among the most energy efficient in the nation. They estimate that Californians will save 25% on energy for homes and 30% for commercial buildings, avoiding the need to build six large power plants, saving people several billion dollars in the form of lower electricity and natural gas bills, and reducing emissions of several million tons of CO2.

The Commission felt that building code modification was the best approach because it is at the construction stage is when more efficient insulation, windows, and HVAC equipment can be designed and installed, rather than after construction.

The City of Chicago recently passed a new rule requiring large buildings to perform and post up results of a thorough energy audit – to be transparent in their energy use for prospective tenants to be able to review and use in their shopping for residences or offices. A building does not have to become more efficient, but will have results posted for the public to see. Chicago joins New York City, whose Local Law 87 requiring all buildings of 50,000 square feet or greater to perform a similar thorough energy audit plus retrocommissioning of their HVAC systems once every 10 years, and submit results certified by energy and retrocommissioning professionals the results. That law went into effect this year. Other municipalities are looking into copying these standards.
Buildings and companies have to abide by many environmental, safety and other rules. Now some of the biggest municipalities and states have expanded this to include mandatory energy rules: meeting energy efficiency standards or performing professional audits and retrocommissioning. Energy has become another area that the building or company must address in a thorough, professional manner to remain compliant.

CCES has the technical experts (licensed professional engineers and Certified Energy Managers and certified Retro-commissioning professionals) to perform the energy audits needed to comply with these and other similar energy standards. We can not only catalog where you stand, but develop smart strategies to raise the value of your property or company, and save you money.