2024 Energy Conservation Code Update
2024 Energy Conservation Code Update City of Boulder
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All Electric Requirements for New Construction and Major Renovations
This proposed update would require that most equipment and appliances installed as part of a new construction project or major renovation to be electric. Natural gas appliances would still be permitted in some applications, such as commercial kitchens, scientific facilities, and certain industrial buildings.
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Requirements
This proposed update would adjust existing requirements to align with new state mandates, as well as better support electric vehicle adoption rates.
Residential Energy Performance
In addition to the all-electric appliance requirements, the proposed energy code update would:
- Provide additional pathways for code compliance.
- Clarify and simplify the Energy Rating Index by setting a pre-solar minimum performance requirement.
- Eliminate the need for builders and homeowners to find off-site solutions if available roof space is insufficient for the amount of solar necessary to meet post-solar performance requirements.
- Maintain requirements that make buildings ready for solar technology as outlined in the 2020 code.
- Create more opportunities for conservation through additional credits towards compliance.
- Clarify and simplify code compliance for renovations, additions, alterations, and repairs for existing buildings.
- Achieve greater alignment regionally with other municipalities as well as the international code.
Commercial Energy Performance
In 2020, the city introduced the Energy Use Intensity (EUI) performance pathway. The EUI is the measurement of the total energy use per square foot of building space. The proposed code update would add Fixed EUI Performance targets for large commercial, retail, and restaurants in addition to the current building types permitted. Reference standards would also be updated to the newest versions.
Envelope Backstop
With the cost of renewable energy decreasing, some projects simply install large solar arrays to achieve building performance requirements instead of investing in efficiency upgrades. The proposed update would maintain envelope efficiency standards outlined in the 2020 code to ensure all elements of a newly constructed commercial building’s envelope – its windows, walls, floor slabs, roof assemblies, and doors – remain efficient and are not traded-off for other efficiencies in the building.
Renewable Offsets
Commercial projects that use fossil fuels would be required to offset 100% of those fuels through on-site renewable energy generation.
Embodied Carbon
Every part of a building creates greenhouse gas emissions through the production and transport of materials used to construct them. We call these emissions embodied carbon.
Preserving structures and reusing and recycling building materials prevent us from generating more carbon because we are using what already exists instead of creating something new. While the energy code specifies how energy gets used in buildings, it is just one of many codes that govern building construction. The city expects to begin an update to the rest of these codes in 2024, and reducing embodied carbon will likely be a key part of that effort.
Specific parameters that would change:
| Building Type | 2020 CoBECC | Proposed 2024 CoBECC | Comments |
| Residential | 1 dedicated 40A, 208/240V circuit | No Change | |
| Multi-Family (includes hotels) with 10 or less parking spaces | 1 space pre-wired | 100% of spaces pre-wired | |
| Multi-Family (includes hotels) with greater than 10 parking spaces | 5% of spaces with charging equipment installed 10% of spaces pre-wired 40% of spaces with conduit installed and service capacity available for future use |
5% of spaces with charging equipment installed 15% of spaces pre-wired 40% of spaces with conduit installed and service capacity available for future use 40% of spaces with conduit installed |
|
| Commercial Buildings with 10 or less parking spaces | 1 space pre-wired | 2 spaces pre-wired | Also lowers definition of small lot from 25 spaces to 10 spaces |
| Commercial Buildings with greater than 10 parking spaces | 5% of spaces with charging equipment installed 10% of spaces pre-wired 10% of spaces with conduit installed and service capacity available for future use |
5% of spaces with charging equipment installed 10% of spaces pre-wired 10% of spaces with conduit installed and service capacity available for future use 20% of spaces with conduit installed |
|
| Parking Garages | N/A | 100% of spaces must at least have conduit installed | See Multi-Family or Commercial Buildings above for additional requirements |
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
- SDG 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
- SDG 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
- Percentage increase in the share of renewable energy in the city’s energy mix.
- Number of infrastructure upgrades and industries retrofitted to increase resource-use efficiency and adopt clean technologies.
- Air quality index and waste management indicators in the city.
- Reduction in the consumption of natural resources per capita.
- Inclusion of climate change measures in city policies, strategies, and planning.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. | Percentage increase in the share of renewable energy in the city’s energy mix. |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. | Number of infrastructure upgrades and industries retrofitted to increase resource-use efficiency and adopt clean technologies. |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. | Air quality index and waste management indicators in the city. |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. | Reduction in the consumption of natural resources per capita. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | Inclusion of climate change measures in city policies, strategies, and planning. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: bouldercolorado.gov
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