WDMA Asks Energy Secretary to Substantiate Claimed Energy Savings of Proposed 2012 IECC Amendments
September 22, 2010

The Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) along with a group of building industry trade associations have asked U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu to explain how the agency determined its proposed revisions to the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) will result in energy savings of 30.6 percent over the 2006 IECC.

In a release provided by the WDMA, the association notes that in May 2010, the department reported that its proposed revisions for the 2012 IECC improve energy savings by 30.6 percent relative to the 2006 IECC, but it does not explain how DOE calculated the 30.6 percent energy savings estimate for the 2012 IECC proposal.

"In order for all stakeholders to fully participate and have a meaningful discussion on energy-efficiency requirements, it is imperative that DOE make it known what methods they used to evaluate energy savings," said WDMA president Michael O'Brien. "The 2012 IECC will have a major impact on the window, door and skylight industry, its customers and the American public, which makes it that much more important for DOE to be as transparent as possible."

The letter asked DOE to release its formula, equations, calculations, methodologies and standards (including all technical assumptions, criteria, computer simulation model files and variables) used to calculate energy savings from pending legislation and proposed revisions to model energy efficiency construction codes and standards prior to the October 2010 hearings on the 2012 IECC.

The request to Secretary Chu was cosigned by the APA - the Engineered Wood Association, BOMA International, the National Association of Home Builders and the Vinyl Siding Institute.

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