Section 610 Building Renewable Energy Systems

Buildings that consume energy shall comply with this section. Each building or surrounding lot or building site where there are multiple buildings on the building site shall be equipped with one or more renewable energy systems in accordance with this section.

Renewable energy systems shall comply with the requirements of Section 610.2 for solar photovoltaic systems, Section 610.3 for wind systems, or Section 610.4 for solar water heating systems, and Section 610.5 for performance monitoring and metering of these systems as approved by the code official. These systems shall be commissioned in accordance with the requirements of Section 611.

1. Buildings or building sites where there are multiple buildings on the building site providing not less than 2 percent of the total estimated annual energy use of the building, or collective buildings on the site, with onsite renewable energy using a combination of renewable energy generation systems complying with the requirements of Section 610.2, 610.3, or 610.4.
2. Where not less than 4 percent of the total annual building energy consumption from renewable generation takes the form of a 10-year commitment to renewable energy credit ownership, confirmed by the code official.
3. Where the combined application of onsite generated renewable energy and a commitment to renewable energy credit ownership as confirmed by the code official, totals not less than 4 percent of the total annual building energy consumption from renewable generation.

Buildings and surrounding property or building sites where there are multiple buildings on the building site, that are designed and constructed in accordance with Section 601.3.1, performance-based compliance, shall be equipped with one or more renewable energy systems that have the capacity to provide not less than 2 percent of the total calculated annual energy use of the building, or collective buildings on the site.

Buildings and surrounding property or building sites where there are multiple buildings on the building site, that are designed and constructed in accordance with Section 601.3.2, prescriptive compliance, shall be equipped with one or more renewable energy systems that have the capacity to provide not less than 2 percent of the total estimated annual energy use of the building, or collective buildings on the building site, with onsite renewable energy by calculation demonstrating that onsite renewable energy production has a rating of not less than 1.75 Btu/h (0.5 W) or not less than 0.50 watts per square foot of conditioned floor area, and using any single or combination of renewable energy generation systems meeting the requirements of Sections 610.2, 610.3, or 610.4.

Solar photovoltaic systems shall be sized to provide not less than 2 percent of the total estimated annual electric energy consumption of the building, or collective buildings on the building site in accordance with Section 610.1.1 or 610.1.2.

Solar photovoltaic systems shall not be used to comply with Section 610.1 where building sites have total global insolation levels lower than 2.00 kWh/m²/day as determined in accordance with NREL SERI TR-642-761.

The installation, inspection, maintenance, repair and replacement of solar photovoltaic systems and system components shall comply with the manufacturer's instructions, Section 610.2.2.1, the International Fire Code, the International Building Code and NFPA 70.

Solar photovoltaic systems shall be tested on installation to verify that the installed performance meets the design specifications. A report of the tested performance shall be provided to the building owner.

Wind energy systems shall be designed, constructed and sized to provide not less than 2 percent of the total estimated annual electric energy consumption of the building, or collective buildings on the building site in accordance with NFPA 70 and Section 610.1.1 or 610.1.2.

Wind energy systems shall be located on the building, adjacent to the building, or on the building site.

Not less than 10 percent of the building's annual estimated hot water energy usage shall be supplied by onsite solar water heating equipment.

Renewable energy systems shall be metered and monitored in accordance with Sections 610.5.1 and 610.5.2.

Renewable energy systems shall be metered separately from the building's electrical and fossil fuel meters. Renewable energy systems shall be metered to measure the amount of renewable electric or thermal energy generated on the building site in accordance with Section 603.

Renewable energy systems shall be monitored to measure the peak electric or thermal energy generated by the renewable energy systems during the building's anticipated peak electric or fossil fuel consumption period in accordance with Section 603.