Home and commercial building energy efficiency must play a significant role in any successful effort to improve our nation's energy security because they use over two-fifths of America's energy and nearly three-fourths of our electricity.
This October, ICC's Government Members have a momentous opportunity to make a historic contribution to America's energy security for generations to come.
"The 30% Solution 2012" - the most energy efficient set of proposals before the ICC - employs every day, readily available technologies that will more than pay for themselves through utility cost savings.
Investments in more efficient homes today not only improve homeowner comfort , but they pay myriad dividends - stabilizing energy demand and prices for homes and businesses, forestalling the need for new power generation and reducing the need for imported energy - for our nation.
Which Days Do I Need to Be in Charlotte to Have the Greatest Impact on Efficiency?
Energy advocates should plan to be in Charlotte by 2:00 PM on October 27 and stay as long as they can (the Final Action Hearings will end on Sunday, October 31).
The Thirty Percent Solution 2012 - Working for dynamic efficiency gains in America's model energy code
The 30% Solution 2012 Is Focused on:
Efficiency: Achieving the best in readily achievable gains in new home energy efficiency
The 30% Solution 2012 will put the 2012 IECC well on the path to achieve Congress’ 50% looming energy efficiency target. Taken together with the roughly 13% gains from the 2009 IECC, “The 30% Solution 2012” would result in a new IECC approaching 40% greater energy efficiency than the 2006 baseline. No other comprehensive proposal before the ICC was as dedicated to assembling the best line-up of readily available energy efficiency technologies.
Simplicity: Supporting energy code administration and enforcement
The 30% Solution 2012 was written with the burdens of code officials in mind. With a rising inspection burden from heightened energy requirements, code officials told us to keep the code as simple as possible – lots of easy-to-follow charts, minimal calculations, limited allowable variations and exceptions. We took their concerns to heart, seeking code official review before and even after submitting “The 30% Solution 2012.”
Lifetime and Ease of Replacement: Recognizing improvements that last for generations
All efficiency isn’t created equal . . . for example, there’s often only one shot to get envelope improvements right, but they last for decades. In contrast, homeowners will go through light bulbs, hot water heaters and HVAC systems with relatively greater frequency. The 30% Solution 2012 not only contains the strongest envelope requirements for the most part, but it emphasizes those improvements that will last the longest.
A Complete Solution: Integrating all elements of energy efficiency
EECC believes that energy efficiency should be NOT approached in silos. The 30% Solution 2012 addresses all aspects of home construction and avoids approaches that would allow, for example, solely mechanical improvements. Simply stated, it’s better to improve both the envelope and the HVAC system than to install the most efficient HVAC system in a poorly built home.
A Significant Efficiency Boost in 2009 IECC: With support from over 60% of ICC members, the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) will significantly boost new home energy efficiency significantly over its 2006 counterpart. View and download EECC’s Report on the 2009 IECC Energy Savings as well as The Complete ICF Analysis.
New ICF savings analysis of major proposals shows over 30% gain for 30Plus/EC25
