Codes,
ENERGY STAR® and More Discussed During NFRC Fall Meeting
Days were chilly and grey much of this past week in Jacksonville,
Fla. So perhaps it was the lack of beautiful weather that helped
members of the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) stay
focused on their agendas to accomplish much. Some of the biggest
news to come from the meeting was that after nearly five years of
work the board approved language for the Component Modeling Approach
(CMA) Product Certification Program (CLICK
HERE for related story). However, there were also a number of
other discussion topics covered as well.
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The NFRC met for its Fall Meeting in Jacksonville,
Fla. |
As part of the Regulatory Affairs and Marketing Committee meeting
Garrett Stone of Brickfield, Burchette, Ritts & Stone, P.C.,
gave codes update. Specifically, he talked about the results of
the recent International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) hearings.
As a result of the hearings, the 2009 IECC will have a lower solar
heat gain coefficient in the South and also a lower U-factor in
the South. The code will also have an improved performance path.
"Overall changes result in a 10-15 percent more efficient residential
code," said Stone.
He also talked about some of the energy code improvements within
individual states. California, for instance, adopted revised 2008
energy-efficiency standards in April that will take effect July
1, 2009. Also, Florida is in the process of finalizing 15-percent
energy efficiency improvements to its 2007 residential code. According
to Stone, the new requirements call for the use of the most recent
IECC as its model plus a [certain] percentage improvement every
few years.
"This puts Florida on track to have substantial improvements
in [energy efficiency] every few years," he added.
In addition, Stone noted that the federal energy-efficiency tax
credit for doors and windows was extended for 2009, as well as a
new energy-efficiency home tax credit.
He added that with the new presidential administration future energy-efficiency
requirements might also be likely.
"My guess is we will see legislation
requiring improvements
in energy-efficient building," said Stone.
Next, John Carmody gave a report on the activities within the Efficient
Windows Collaborative (EWC). He said at the GreenBuild show, taking
place November 19-21 in Boston, they will be introducing a new version
of the ComFen software tool for the commercial market. In addition,
he said they will be launching a new commercial window design tool
website (www.commercialwindows.umn.edu)
that will "help with the decision making process early on in
the design phase."
Rich Karney from the U.S. Department of Energy also provided an
ENERGY STAR® criteria revision update. He explained that they
are now in the comment period and expect to receive all comments
by the end of next week.
"The comments so far have been very good and constructive,"
said Karney. He said they are hoping to announce the final criteria
by the beginning of 2009 with the earliest effective date nine months
later. Revisions will come by way of two program phases, starting
with six climate zones and dropping to five in phase two.
"The purpose of the two phases
will allow for modest
changes in the near term and give the industry more time to make
aggressive changes in the future," said Karney. "We will
also look at adding trade offs in the South, and the requirement
for insulating glass certification will go into effect once implemented
by the NFRC."
USGNN.com will provide updates on the ENERGY STAR revision
process as they are made available.
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