Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technologies in

2,11
MB Residential Building Codes

170
stron

5077
ID National Renewable Energy Laboratory

2005
rok

Table of Contents

Executive Summary iii

Preface to the Reportv

1.0 Introduction 1

2.0 About this Report .3

2.1 Codes and Technologies.3

2.2 Scope5

2.3 Comment on Footnotes.5

3.0 General Issues of Code Impacts on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technologies6

3.1 Alternatives to Materials, Design, Methods of Construction and Equipment 6

3.2 Solar Access .6

3.3 Sustainability .7

3.4 Climate Criteria7

3.5 Energy Compliance Paths .8

3.6 Inappropriate Prescriptive Requirements in the International Residential Code Performance Path

.9

3.7 Building Energy Analysis Methods 10

3.8 UL or Comparable Listing of Electrical and Mechanical Components11

3.9 Economic Realities11

3.10 Complication and Expense of the Performance Path as a Deterrent to Innovation12

3.11 Requirements for Renewable Energy Sources to Qualify under the IECC Performance Path12



4.0 Code Impacts by Technology.14

4.1 Photovoltaic Systems in Buildings and Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Systems14

4.1.1 Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electrical Code .14

4.1.2 Photovoltaic Systems and Structural and Mechanical Requirements 17

4.1.3 Photovoltaic Systems and Systems Analysis of the IECC.24

4.1.4 Summary of Codes and Standards for PV Systems.25

4.2 Active Solar Domestic Hot Water and Space-heating Systems.26

4.2.1 Active Solar Hot Water Systems and Systems Analysis of the IECC.38

4.3 Passive Solar Energy and Low-energy Design .40

4.3.1 Glazing Area, Orientation, and Shading .40

4.3.2 Thermal Mass.43

4.3.3 High Efficiency Equipment, Appliances, and Water Use.44

4.3.4 Passive Solar Energy, Low-Energy Design, and Systems Analysis of the IECC46

4.4 Innovative Roof/Attic, Wall, Floor, and Foundation Systems.46

4.4.1 General Issues46

4.4.2 Code Implications of High R-Value Components47

4.4.3 Code Implications of High Thermal Mass Components48

4.4.4 Code Implications of Components that Modify Solar Radiation 51

4.4.5 Code Implications of Less-Expensive Wall Systems 51

4.4.6 Code Implications of Components that Reduce Air Infiltration 52

4.4.7 Innovative Roof/Attic, Wall, Floor, and Foundation Systems and Systems Analysis of the

IECC.52

4.5 Innovative Fenestration Systems or Products.65

4.5.1 Innovative Fenestration Systems or Products and Systems Analysis of the IECC 66

4.5.2 Sunspaces67

4.6 Innovative Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems.69

4.6.1 Improved Efficiency 70

4.6.2 Equipment with Part-load Curves Tailored to Real World Load Histograms70

4.6.3 Improved Control Strategies, including Smart or Adaptive Controls .71

4.6.4 Variable-speed Fans or Pumps 71

4.6.5 High-efficiency Motors 72

4.6.6 Mechanical Ventilation72

4.6.7 Evaporative Cooling73

4.6.8 Multiple Zoning in Buildings73

4.6.9 Ground-source Heat Pumps.73

4.6.10 Gas cooling, including Engine-driven Heat Pumps and Absorption Cooling .74

4.6.11 Innovative Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems and Systems

Analysis of the IECC.74

4.7 Electrical Lighting, Daylighting, and Associated Controls79

4.7.1 Code Implications of High-Efficiency Lamps and Fixtures79

4.7.2 Code Implications of Daylighting Controls and Associated Circuits.80

4.7.3 Code Implications of Windows Associated with Daylighting80

4.7.4 Code Implications of Core Daylighting and Light Pipes81

4.7.5 Innovative Electrical Lighting and Daylighting and Systems Analysis of the IECC81

4.8 Innovative Thermal Storage Systems84

4.8.1 General Code Considerations.84

4.8.2 Innovative Thermal Storage Systems and Systems Analysis of the IECC85

4.9 Buildings Requiring No Heating and/or Cooling Equipment 86

4.9.1 Buildings Requiring No Heating and/or Cooling Equipment and Systems Analysis of the

IECC87

4.10 Buildings Requiring No Conventional Air Distribution (Duct) Systems.89

4.11 Solar-Assisted Ventilation Systems.90

4.11.1 Solar-Assisted Ventilation Systems as Ducts .90

4.11.2 Solar-Assisted Ventilation Systems as Solar Collectors .91

4.11.3 Solar-Assisted Ventilation Systems as Building Walls91

4.11.4 Solar-Assisted Ventilation Systems and Systems Analysis of the IECC.91

4.12 Desiccant Dehumidification Systems.93

4.12.1 Desiccant Dehumidification Systems and Systems Analysis of the IECC93

5.0 Appendix A: A Comparison of the SRCC Document OG-300 and the Reviewed Codes in

Regards to Active Solar Hot Water .95

6.0 Appendix B: ASHRAE Standard 90.2 Energy-Efficient Design of New Low-Rise Residential

Buildings and Energy Credit for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficient Technologies 100

6.1 Photovoltaic Systems in Buildings and Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Systems101

6.2 Active Solar Domestic Hot Water and Space-Heating Systems101

6.3 Passive Solar and Low-Energy Design .101

6.3.1 Glazing area, orientation, and shading .101

6.3.2 Thermal Mass.102

6.3.3 High-efficiency Equipment, Appliances, and Water Use.102

6.4 Innovative Roof/Attic, Wall, Floor, and Foundation Systems.102

6.4.1 Components with High-R-Value102

6.4.2 Components with High Thermal Mass102

6.4.3 The Ground as Thermal Mass102

6.4.4 Components that Modify Solar Radiation .102

6.4.5 Less-expensive Wall Systems102

6.4.6 Components that Reduce Air infiltration .103

6.5 Innovative Fenestration Systems or Products.103

6.6 Innovative Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems.103

6.6.1 Higher-efficiency Equipment.103

6.6.2 Equipment with Part-load Curves Tailored to Real-world Load Histograms.103

6.6.3 Improved Control Strategies, including Smart or Adaptive Controls 103

6.6.4 Variable-speed Fans or Pumps 104

6.6.5 High-efficiency Motors 104

6.6.6 Mechanical Ventilation104

6.6.7 Evaporative Cooling104

6.6.8 Multiple Zoning in Buildings104

6.6.9 Ground-source Heat Pumps.104

6.6.10 Gas Cooling, including engine-driven Heat Pumps and Absorption Cooling .104

6.7 Electrical Lighting, Daylighting, and Associated Controls104

6.8 Innovative Thermal Storage Systems105

6.9 Buildings Requiring No Heating/Cooling Equipment105

6.10 Buildings Requiring No Conventional Air Distribution (Duct) Systems.105

6.11 Solar-Assisted Ventilation Systems.105

6.12 Desiccant Dehumidification Systems.105

7.0 Appendix C: Suggestions for Code Changes108

8.0 Appendix D: Suggestions for Potential Research Areas .113

9.0 Appendix E: Tables of Code References, Categorized by Renewable Energy and Energy

Efficiency Technology 120

10.0 Appendix F: References..156