ASHRAE Government Affairs Update, 3/27/2015
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Federal Activities
- ASHRAE National Capital Chapter Members Participate in Hill Day with the Society of Women Engineers
- House Energy & Commerce Committee Leadership Prepares for Comprehensive Energy Legislation
- President Barack Obama Issues New Executive Order on Federal Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
- Senators Jeff Merkley and Al Franken Introduce Legislation Promoting Student Access to STEM Education
- DOE to Establish Working Group to Negotiate Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Package Air Conditioners, Heat Pumps, and Commercial Warm Air Furnaces
- DOE Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Rule for Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Non-Weatherized Gas Furnaces and Mobile Home Furnaces
- White House Holds 5th Annual Science Fair
GGAC Regional and Chapter Activities
- First bEQ In Operation Rating Awarded in South America
- Engineers Week in Saskatchewan
- Arizona Senate Bill 1241 Would Prohibit Any Benchmarking by Cities or Counties
- Maryland Senate Committee Passes Legislation to Exempt One County from Code Cycle
- New Mexico Legislature Fails to Pass Change to Code Adoption Process
- Utah Fails to Pass Code Revision Legislation
- City of Atlanta Holds Public Hearing on Proposed Energy Efficiency Ordinances
Federal Activities
For additional information on federal issues, please contact Mark Ames, ASHRAE’s Senior Manager of Federal Government Affairs, at [email protected].
ASHRAE National Capital Chapter Members Participate in Hill Day with the Society of Women Engineers
Last week, members of ASHRAE’s National Capital Chapter took time out of their busy schedules to meet with their representatives in the U.S. House and Senate as part of the Society of Women Engineers’ annual Capitol Outreach Day. During these meetings, ASHRAE volunteers told their stories of the unique challenges they have, and in some cases, continue to face as women in the engineering profession, as well as the importance of increasing access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. They also discussed the positive steps ASHRAE is taking in these areas, and how Members of Congress can work cooperatively with the private sector and nongovernmental organizations, such as ASHRAE, to overcome barriers.
House Energy & Commerce Committee Leadership Prepares for Comprehensive Energy Legislation
In a change of direction, the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) is in the early stages of preparing a comprehensive energy bill. Details have not yet been determined, however it is a near certainty that the bill will address energy efficiency, including building energy codes, and will bear some similarity to the legislation being drafted by Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Additional information is expected in the coming weeks.
President Barak Obama Issues New Executive Order on Federal Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
Seeking to increase the energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the federal government, President Barak Obama recently issued a new Executive Order entitled “Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade”. Among other things, the 19-page Order will:
- Cut the federal government’s GHG emissions by 40% over the next decade compared to 2008 levels.
- Reduce energy use in federal buildings by 2.5% per year between 2015 and 2025.
- Reduce water intensity in federal buildings by 2% per year through 2025.
The full text of the Executive Order can be found at https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/19/executive-order-planning-federal-sustainability-next-decade
Senators Jeff Merkley and Al Franken Introduce Legislation Promoting Student Access to STEM Education
U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Al Franken (D-MN) have introduced the STEM Education for the Global Economy Act of 2015 (S.867). According to the Senators, this bill is designed to:
- Improve student engagement in, and increase student access to courses in STEM subjects.
- Recruit, train, and support highly-effective teachers in STEM subjects and provide robust tools and supports for students and teachers.
- Close student achievement gaps and prepare more students to be on track to college and career readiness and success in these subjects.
ASHRAE is a member of the STEM Education Coalition, which supports this bill.
DOE to Establish Working Group to Negotiate Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Package Air Conditioners, Heat Pumps, and Commercial Warm Air Furnaces
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a pre-publication Federal Register notice that it will establish a negotiated rulemaking group under the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC) to negotiate, and reach consensus on potential energy conservation standards for small, large, and very large air-cooled commercial package air conditioners and heat pumps, and commercial warm air furnaces.
The working group will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, April 28 in Washington, DC. The meeting will be open to the public and available via webinar. DOE is currently accepting comments and requests for appointment to the working group. Full information is available at http://energy.gov/eere/buildings/downloads/2015-03-24-issuance-asrac-notice-intent-establish-commercial-package-air
DOE Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Rule for Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Non-Weatherized Gas Furnaces and Mobile Home Furnaces
The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) seeking to amend energy conservation standards for residential non-weatherized gas furnaces and mobile home furnaces, in partial fulfillment of a court-ordered remand of DOE's 2011 rulemaking for these products. The proposed rule also announces a public meeting to receive comment on these proposed standards and associated analyses and results.
ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 Method of Testing for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of Residential Central Furnaces and Boilers is discussed in this rulemaking.
Comments are due on or before June 10, 2015. DOE will hold a public meeting (also available via webinar) on this proposed rule on Friday, March 27 in Washington, DC.
Full information on this NOPR is available at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/03/12/2015-03275/energy-conservation-program-for-consumer-products-energy-conservation-standards-for-residential
White House Holds 5th Annual Science Fair
More than 100 students recently participated and attended the White House’s fifth annual Science Fair. Exhibitors included a student from Farmington, NM who developed a solar-powered radiation system that circulates air and heats the inside of buildings without the need for electricity or running water. The winner of last year’s Future City Regional Competition were also featured for their design of a city making innovative use of hydro energy.
Full information on the Science Fair is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/science-fair
GGAC Regional and Chapter Activities
For additional information on state, local, and international government affairs, please contact Jim Scarborough, ASHRAE’s Manager of Grassroots Government Affairs, at [email protected].
First bEQ In Operation Rating Awarded in South America
The first Building Energy Quotient (bEQ) In Operation rating in South America has been awarded. The project was performed by Esteban Baccini, who is also the first Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEAP) in Argentina. Mr. Baccini completed the rating for a building in the City of Buenos Aires owned by the Buenos Aires Institute of Technology.
Assisting in this collaboration was ASHRAE member and bEQ Committee Chair Ross Montgomery, along with the Argentinian Chapter’s GGAC chair, Dr. Eduardo Conghos. The building received an A- which indicates very good performance in energy consumption.
For more information on ASHRAE’s bEQ program, go to www.buildingenergyquotient.org.
Engineers Week in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure Minister Nancy Heppner proclaimed March 1 – 7, 2015, as Engineering and Geoscience Week. The week recognizes the important role members of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS) play in the lives of Saskatchewan residents. APEGS is the governing body responsible for the regulation of the practice of professional engineers and geoscientists in the province.
Numerous activities were planned for Engineering and Geoscience Week to help commemorate the profession, including a media campaign featuring TV commercials and newspaper inserts. For more information go to https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2015/march/02/apegs-week.
Arizona Senate Bill 1241 Would Prohibit Any Benchmarking by Cities or Counties
Arizona Senate Bill 1241 has been amended by the State House to include language which would prevent local municipalities from adopting any benchmarking ordinances. Cities and counties throughout the state would be prohibited from either measuring energy use or reporting on any finding of those measurements. The House Commerce Committee approved the bill with the amendments on a 5 to 3 vote. The ASHRAE Tucson Chapter GGAC has written to the members of the Arizona legislature outlining the very strong case for why building energy data is important for Arizona’s future.
For more information, go to http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/52leg/1r/proposed/h.1241wp.doc.htm.
Maryland Senate Committee Passes Legislation to Exempt One County from Code Cycle
The Maryland Senate passed Senate Bill 638 which, if enacted, would allow Washington County, MD to adopt the Maryland Building Performance Standards every six years rather than every three years as is fixed by state law for the all other parts of Maryland. In order to be enacted, the bill must pass both Chambers and be signed by the Governor. The bill is now scheduled to be heard by the Maryland House Environment and Transportation Committee on March 31. One of the larger concerns is that, if this bill passes, more and more counties will seek a similar exemption from the three-year code cycles.
For more information, go to http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&stab=01&id=sb0638&tab=subject3&ys=2015RS.
New Mexico Legislature Fails to Pass Change to Code Adoption Process
Legislation requiring the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) to perform a cost-benefit analysis and fiscal impact to local government for each building code change proposed for adoption has failed to pass. The bill had passed the New Mexico House but was not considered by the state Senate before the legislature adjourned on March 22. CID was already in the process of updating New Mexico’s building codes and this legislation, had it passed, would have been disrupted by this new requirement. It is unlikely the bill will be brought up in the 2016 “short session” of the legislature, as bills considered at that time must be budget bills and those on the Governor’s call.
Utah Fails to Pass Code Revision Legislation
Utah House Bill 285, which would have changed the code cycle from three to six years, failed to pass both chambers of the General Assembly before adjourning for the year. The bill passed both the House and the Senate but the Senate had made a change to the bill which required the bill to return to the House for a vote to concur on the amendment. The House did not have time to vote on the bill when the Session ended. The issue of changing the code cycle has now been referred to an interim legislative study commission.
City of Atlanta Holds Public Hearing on Proposed Energy Efficiency Ordinances
The City of Atlanta held a public hearing on Monday, March 16, 2015 to allow comment on its proposed energy efficiency ordinances. There was no vote to approve or disaffirm the ordinance, but the comments were overwhelmingly supportive. The two main issues of opposition identified were the “mandatory” aspect of the benchmarking and the potential cost of auditing. It appears that the issue may be brought for committee review with potentially another opportunity to provide public comment. Representatives from the ASHRAE Atlanta Chapter were present at the public hearing.
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