Chapter 6 ENERGY CONSERVATION, EFFICIENCY AND CO₂e EMISSION REDUCTION

The provisions of this chapter regulate the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of buildings and their associated building sites for the effective use of energy.

This chapter is intended to provide flexibility to permit the use of innovative approaches and techniques to achieve the effective use of energy.

Buildings and their associated building sites shall comply with Section 601.3.1 or Section 601.3.2.

Buildings shall be provided with metering complying with Section 603, and commissioning complying with Section 611. Where required in accordance with Section 604.1, building shall be provided with automated-demand response complying with Section 604.

Where there is more than one building on a site and where a building has more than one use in the building, each building or each portion of a building associated with a particular use shall comply with Sections 601.5.1 or 601.5.2 or a combination of both.

Compliance for buildings and their sites to be designed on a performance basis shall be determined by predictive modeling. Predictive modeling shall use source energy kBtu/sf-y unit measure based on compliance with Section 602.1.1 and CO₂e emissions in Section 602.3. Where a building has mixed uses, all uses shall be included in the performance-based compliance.

The CO₂e emissions calculations for the building and building site shall be determined in accordance with Sections 602.2.1 and 602.2.2. The emissions associated with the proposed design shall be less than or equal to the CO₂e emissions associated with the standard reference design in accordance with Equation 6-2.

CO2e pd ≥ (zEPI × CO2e srbd)/57

(Equation 6-2)

zEPI	=	the minimum score in accordance with Section 602.1.1.
CO2e pd	=	emissions associated with the proposed design.
CO2e srbd	=	emissions associated with the standard reference budget design in accordance with Section 602.1.2.

Buildings that consume energy shall comply with Section 603. The purpose of this section is to provide requirements that will ensure that buildings are constructed or altered in a way that will provide the capability for their energy use, production and reclamation to be measured, monitored and reported. This includes the design of energy distribution systems so as to isolate load types, the installation of or ability to install in the future meters, devices and a data acquisition system, and the installation of, or the ability to provide, public displays and other appropriate reporting mechanisms in the future.

Energy distribution systems within, on or adjacent to and serving a building shall be designed such that each primary circuit, panel, feeder, piping system or supply mechanism supplies only one energy use type as defined in Sections 603.2.1 through 603.2.5. The energy use type served by each distribution system shall be clearly designated on the energy distribution system with the use served, and adequate space shall be provided for installation of metering equipment or other data collection devices, temporary or permanent, to measure their energy use. The energy distribution system shall be designed to facilitate the collection of data for each of the building energy use categories in Section 603.4 and for each of the end use categories listed in Sections 603.2.1 through 603.2.5. Where there are multiple buildings on a building site, each building shall comply separately with the provisions of Section 603.

Buildings shall be provided with the capability to determine energy use and peak demand as provided in this section for each of the energy types specified in Sections 603.3.1 through 603.3.7. Utility energy meters or supplemental sub-meters are permitted to be used to collect whole building data, and shall be equipped with a local data port connected to a data acquisition system in accordance with Section 603.5.

For buildings that are not less than 25,000 square feet (2323 m²) in total building floor area the energy use of the categories specified in Section 603.2 shall be metered through the use of sub-meters or other approved, equivalent methods meeting the capability requirements of Section 603.3.

Meters, sub-meters, and other approved devices installed in compliance with Sections 603.3 and 603.4 shall be connected to a data acquisition and management system capable of storing not less than 36-months worth of data collected by all meters and other approved devices and transferring the data in real time to a display as required in Section 603.6.

A permanent, readily accessible and visible display shall be provided adjacent to the main building entrance or on a publicly available Internet web site. The display shall be capable of providing all of the following:

1. The current energy demand for the whole building level measurements, updated for each fuel type at the intervals specified in Section 603.3.
2. The average and peak demands for the previous day and the same day the previous year.
3. The total energy usage for the previous 18 months.

Where this section is indicated to be applicable in Table 302.1, buildings that contain heating, ventilating, air-conditioning (HVAC) or lighting systems shall comply with Sections 604.1 through 604.4. A building energy management and control system (EMCS) shall be provided and integrated with building HVAC systems controls and lighting systems controls to receive an open and interoperable automated demand-response (Auto-DR) relay or Internet signal. Building HVAC and lighting systems and specific building energy-using components shall incorporate preprogrammed demand response strategies that are automated with a demand response automation Internet software client.

1. Buildings located where the electric utility or regional Independent System Operator (ISO) or Regional Transmission Operator (RTO) does not offer a demand response program to buildings regulated by this code.
2. Buildings with a peak electric demand not greater than 0.75 times that of the standard reference design.
3. Buildings that have incorporated onsite renewable energy generation to provide 20 percent or more of the building's energy demand.

Demand response automation software clients shall be capable of communicating with a demand response automation server via the Internet or other communication relay.

The Auto-DR strategy for HVAC systems shall be capable of reducing the building peak cooling or heating HVAC demand by not less than 10 percent when signaled from the electric utility, regional independent system operator (ISO) or regional transmission operator (RTO), through any combination of the strategies and systemic adjustments, including, but not limited to the following:

1. Space temperature setpoint reset.
2. Increasing chilled water supply temperatures or decreasing hot water supply temperatures.
3. Increasing or decreasing supply air temperatures for variable air volume (VAV) systems.
4. Limiting capacity of HVAC equipment that has variable or multiple-stage capacity control.
5. Cycling of HVAC equipment or turning off noncritical equipment.
6. Disabling HVAC in unoccupied areas.
7. Limiting the capacity of chilled water, hot water, and refrigerant control valves.
8. Limiting the capacity of supply and exhaust fans, without reducing the outdoor air supply below the minimum required by Chapter 4 of the International Mechanical Code, or the minimum required by ASHRAE 62.1.
9. Limiting the capacity of chilled water or hot water supply pumps.
10. Anticipatory control strategies to precool or preheat in anticipation of a peak event.

In Group B office spaces, the Auto-DR system shall be capable of reducing total connected power of lighting as determined in accordance with Section C405.5 of the International Energy Conservation Code by not less than 15 percent.

1. Buildings or portions associated with lifeline services.
2. Luminaires on emergency circuits.
3. Luminaires located in emergency and life safety areas of a building.
4. Lighting in buildings that are less than 5,000 square feet (465 m²) in total area.
5. Luminaires located within a daylight zone that are dimmable and connected to automatic daylight controls complying with Section C405.2.2.3.2 of the International Energy Conservation Code.
6. Signage used for emergency, life safety or traffic control purposes.

Where buildings are designed using the prescriptive-based compliance path in accordance with Section 601.3.2, building thermal envelope systems shall comply with the provisions of Section C402 of the International Energy Conservation Code and the provisions of this section.

Above-deck insulation for roof replacement on an existing building with insulation entirely above the deck and where the roof slope is less than two units vertical in 12 units horizontal (17-percent slope) shall be in accordance with Section 1003.2.7.

Where buildings are designed using the prescriptive-based compliance path in accordance with Section 601.3.2, building mechanical systems shall comply with the provisions of the International Energy Conservation Code and the provisions of this section.

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment shall comply with Sections 606.2.1 and 606.2.2.

Supply and return air ducts and plenums, air handlers and filter boxes shall be insulated and sealed in accordance with Section C403.2.7.1.1 of the International Energy Conservation Code. The exception in Section C403.2.7.1.1 shall not apply.

Piping with a nominal diameter greater than ¹/₄ inch (6.4 mm), including associated valves, fittings and piping system components, in heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems shall be thermally insulated in accordance with Table 606.4. For insulation outside of the conductivity ranges specified in Table 606.4, the minimum thickness of the insulation shall be determined in accordance with Equation 6-4.

T = r [(1 + t/r)K/k - 1]

(Equation 6-4)

T	=	minimum insulation thickness (inches).
r	=	actual outside radius of pipe (inches).
t	=	insulation thickness specified in Table 606.4 for applicable fluid temperature and pipe size.
K	=	Conductivity of alternate material at mean rating temperature indicated for the applicable fluid temperature (Btu × in/h × ft2 × °F).
k	=	the upper value of the conductivity range specified in Table 606.4 for the applicable fluid temperature.

1. Factory-installed piping within HVAC equipment tested and rated in accordance with Section 606.2.
2. Piping conveying fluids having a design operating temperature range between 60°F (15.6°C) and 105°F (40.6°C).
3. Piping conveying fluids not heated or cooled such as roof and condensate drains, cold water supply, and natural gas piping.
4. Where heat gain or heat loss will not increase energy usage such as liquid refrigerant piping.
5. Piping having an outside diameter of 1 inch (25 mm) or less, associated with strainers, control valves, and balancing valves.

1. The proportions apply to all nominal pipe diameters greater than ¹/₄ inch and less than or equal to 2 inches. For nominal pipe diameters larger than 2 inches, outside diameter, the minimum wall thickness of the insulation shall be equal to the wall thickness required for 2-inch pipe.
2. These thicknesses are based on energy-efficiency considerations only.

Economizers shall comply with the requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code, except as noted herein.

Individual fans with motors equal to or greater than 1.0 horsepower (0.746 kW) shall be one of the following:

1. Driven by a mechanical or electrical variable speed drive.
2. Driven by a vane-axial fan with variable-pitch blades.
3. Provided with controls or devices that will result in fan motor demand of not more than 30 percent of its design wattage at 50 percent of design airflow when static pressure set point equals one-third of the total design static pressure, based on manufacturer's certified fan data.

Kitchen ventilation and exhaust systems shall be in accordance with the International Mechanical Code and this section. Kitchen ventilation systems that deliver conditioned supply air to any space containing a kitchen hood shall not be capable of exceeding the greater of the following:

1. The ventilation rate required to supply the space conditioning load; or
2. The hood exhaust flow minus the available transfer air from adjacent spaces. For the purposes of this section, available transfer air is considered to be that portion of outdoor ventilation air not required to satisfy other exhaust needs, such as restrooms, and not required to maintain pressurization of adjacent spaces.

1. Not less than 50 percent of replacement air is transfer air that would otherwise be exhausted.
2. Demand ventilation systems that are capable of reducing exhaust and replacement air system airflow rates by not less than 50 percent for not less than 75 percent of the exhaust air. The demand ventilation system shall include controls necessary to modulate airflow in response to appliance operation and to maintain full capture and containment of smoke, effluent and combustion products during cooking and when idle.
3. Listed energy recovery devices with a sensible heat recovery effectiveness of not less than 40 percent shall provided for not less than 50 percent of the total exhaust air.

Laboratory exhaust systems shall comply with the provisions of the International Energy Conservation Code except as specified in Section 606.8.1.

In Group R-1 occupancies, each sleeping room shall be provided with a dedicated system to control automatically the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to control the energy consumption during unoccupied periods. The controls shall be designed to raise cooling and lower heating temperature set points by at least 4°F (-15.6°C) during periods when the sleeping room is unoccupied.

Where buildings are designed using the prescriptive-based compliance path in accordance with Section 601.3.2, service water heating systems shall comply with the provisions of the International Energy Conservation Code and the provisions of this section.

Service water heating equipment shall comply with Sections 607.2.1 and 607.2.2.

Pools, hot tubs and spas shall comply with the efficiency requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code.

Snow melt systems shall comply with the requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code. Hydronic systems shall supplement not less than 25 percent of the design snow melting total annual consumption measured in Btu/ft² (J/m²), energy per unit area. Electric systems shall supplement not less than 50 percent of the design snow melt peak load demand. These requirements shall be supplied by one or both of the following:

1. An onsite renewable energy system.
2. A heat recovery system.

The following building types shall be provided with a waste water heat recovery system that will preheat the incoming water used for hot water functions by not less than 10°F (5.6°C):

1. Group A-2, restaurants and banquet halls;
2. Group F, laundries;
3. Group R-1, boarding houses (transient), hotels (transient), motels (transient);
4. Group R-2 buildings;
5. Group A-3, health clubs and spas; and
6. Group I-2, hospitals, psychiatric hospitals and nursing homes.

Service water heating piping shall be thermally insulated in accordance with Table 606.4. Where hot water distribution piping is installed within attics and crawlspaces, the insulation shall continue to cover the pipe for a distance not less than 6 inches (152 mm) beyond the building thermal envelope. Where hot water distribution piping is installed within walls, the insulation shall completely surround the pipe with not less than 1 inch (25 mm) of insulation. Where hot water piping is installed in a wall cavity of insufficient size to accommodate the pipe and insulation levels of Table 606.4, the insulation thickness shall be permitted to have the maximum thickness that the wall cavity can accommodate, but not less than ¹/₂-inch (12 mm) thick.

1. Factory-installed piping within service water heating equipment tested and rated in accordance with Section 606.4.
2. Piping conveying fluids that is neither heated nor cooled, including cold water supply and natural gas piping.
3. Hot water supply piping exposed under sinks, lavatories and similar fixtures.
4. Hot water distribution piping buried within blown-in or sprayed roof/ceiling insulation, such as fiberglass or cellulose, where the insulation completely and continuously surrounds the pipe.

Controls that allow continuous, timer, or water temperature-initiated (aquastat) operation of a circulating pump are prohibited. Gravity or thermosyphon circulation loops are prohibited. Pumps on circulating hot water systems shall be activated on demand by either a hard-wired or wireless activation control of one of the following types:

1. A normally open, momentary contact switch.
2. Motion sensors that make momentary contact when motion is sensed. After the signal is sent, the sensor shall go into a lock out mode for not less than 5 minutes to prevent sending a signal to the electronic controls while the circulation loop is still hot.
3. A flow switch.
4. A door switch.

Where buildings are designed using the prescriptive-based compliance path in accordance with Section 601.3.2, building electrical power and lighting systems shall comply with the provisions of the International Energy Conservation Code and the provisions of Section 608.

Sleeping units in Group R-1 and R-2 occupancies shall have an automatic control system or device that shuts off permanently wired luminaires and switched receptacles, except those in bathrooms, within 30 minutes of the unit being vacated.

Occupant sensor controls shall be provided to automatically reduce connected lighting power by not less than 45 percent during periods when occupants are not present in the following locations:

1. Corridors and enclosed stairwells;
2. Storage and stack areas not open to the public; and
3. Parking garages.

1. Where occupant sensor controls are overridden by time switch controls that keep lights on continuously during peak occupancy periods.
2. Means of egress lighting required by the International Building Code or the International Fire Code.

Exterior lighting shall comply with the requirements of Sections 608.4.1 and 608.4.2.

Automatic daylight controls shall be provided in daylit areas complying with Section 808.3.1 or Section 808.3.2 to control the lights serving those areas. General lighting in a sidelighting daylit area that is within one window head height shall be separately controlled by automatic daylight controls.

1. Toplighting daylit areas where the skylight is located in a portion of the roof that is shaded during the peak sun angle on the summer solstice by permanent features of the building or by permanent features of adjacent buildings.
2. Sidelighting daylit areas where the fenestration is located in an obstructed exterior wall that does not face a public way or a yard or court complying with Section 1206 of the International Building Code or where the distance to any buildings, structures, or geological formations in front of the wall is less than two times the height of the buildings, structures, or geological formations.
3. Daylit areas served by less than 90 watts of lighting.
4. Spaces where medical care is directly provided.
5. Spaces within dwelling units or sleeping units.
6. Lighting required to comply with Section C405.2.3 of the International Energy Conservation Code.

Receptacles and electrical outlets in the following spaces shall be controlled by an occupant sensor or time switch as follows:

1. In Group B office spaces without furniture systems incorporating wired receptacles, not less than one controlled receptacle shall be provided for each 50 square feet (4.65 m²).
2. In Group B office spaces with furniture systems incorporating wired receptacles, not less than one controlled circuit shall be provided at each electrical outlet used for powering furniture systems.
3. In classrooms in Group B and Group E occupancies, not less than four controlled receptacles shall be provided in each classroom.
4. In copy rooms, print shops, and computer labs, not less than one controlled receptacle shall be provided for each data jack.
5. In spaces with an overhead cabinet above a counter or work surface, not less than one controlled receptacle shall be provided for each work surface.

Fixtures that generate illumination by combustion of fuel gas shall be included in lighting power calculations required under Sections C405.5 and C405.6 of the International Energy Conservation Code by converting the maximum rated Btu/h of the luminaire into watts using Equation 6-5.

Electrical systems shall comply with Section 608.8.1.

Exterior lighting shall comply with Sections C405.6.1 and C405.6.2 of the International Energy Conservation Code regardless of how the power for that lighting is supplied.

1. Where approved because of historical, safety, signage, or emergency lighting considerations.
2. Roadway lighting required by governmental authorities.

Prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the field inspector shall confirm the installation of luminaires, type and quantity; lamps, type, wattage and quantity, and ballasts, type and performance for not less than one representative luminaire of each type, for consistency with the approved construction documents. Where a discrepancy is found, energy calculations shall be revised and resubmitted.

Prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the field inspector shall confirm the installation of lighting controls shown on the approved construction documents. Where a discrepancy is found, the installation shall be reviewed for conformance to the International Energy Conservation Code and Sections 608.2, 608.3, 608.4, 608.5, and 608.6.

The main electrical service entrance panel for the building shall be listed and labeled as a suitable connection to an onsite renewable energy source.

This section provides requirements for appliances and equipment installed in the building or on the building site. Permanent appliances and equipment shall comply with the provisions of Section 609.2, and portable appliances and equipment shall comply with the provisions of Section 609.3.

TABLE 609.1
APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT COVERED BY FEDERAL
EFFICIENCY STANDARDS

RESIDENTIAL PRODUCTS		COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS
Battery chargersa		Automatic ice makers
Ceiling fans and ceiling fanlight		Commercial clothes washers
kits		Distribution transformers
Clothes dryers		Electric motorsa
Clothes washers		HD lampsa
Dehumidifiers		Metal halide lamp fixtures
Dishwashers		Refrigerated beverage vending
Fluorescent and incandescent		machinesa
lamps		Walk-in coolers and walk-in
Fluorescent lamp ballastsa		freezers
Microwave ovensa
Ranges and ovens
Refrigerators, refrigerator- freezers, and freezers
Room air conditioners
Torchieres

1. These products currently have no federal standards. NOTE: U.S. Department of Energy rulemakings are underway or scheduled.

Appliances and equipment that are permanently connected to the building energy supply systems shall comply with the provisions of Sections 609.2.1 through 609.2.4 as applicable. Such appliances and equipment shall be listed and labeled and installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions and the provisions and terms of their listing, the International Energy Conservation Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code and International Building Code, and shall be provided with controls and energy monitoring systems as required by this code.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Within 60 days from approval conducting the final mechanical inspection, the registered design professional shall provide evidence of mechanical systems commissioning and completion of the mechanical system installation to the code official, in accordance with the International Energy Conservation Code.

A sequence of operation shall be developed and finalized upon commissioning, when the operational details are initialized and validated. A sequence of operation shall be the final record of system operation, and shall be included on the control diagram "as-builts," or as part of the education and operation and maintenance document that is provided to the owner.

Prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the registered design professional shall provide evidence of lighting and electrical systems commissioning and completion in accordance with the International Energy Conservation Code and the provisions of this section.

Prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the registered design professional shall provide evidence of building thermal envelope systems commissioning and completion to the building owner in accordance with the International Energy Conservation Code and the provisions of this section.