The
Department of Community Affairs has adopted changes
to the Uniform Construction Code regarding the enforcement
of the energy code. The adoption requires applicants
to show compliance with the energy subcode and sets
forth specific ways of showing compliance.
Residential
IECC/2006
Residential
buildings applicants have four options for complying.
The options are: submission of written calculations,
enrollment in the "NJ Energy Star Homes"
(NJESH) program, compliance with prescriptive
packages, or use of the REScheck software.
Listed below is a brief description of the compliance
options.
Handwritten
calculations are an acceptable, although somewhat
unattractive, method of showing compliance.
They are time consuming to both create and review.
The Department anticipates that this will be the
least used option.
Applicants
can also demonstrate compliance by showing that
they are enrolled in the “NJESH” program.
“NJESH” is sponsored by NJ Board of
Public Utilities through its Clean Energy Program
where the builder is given rebates for constructing
homes that are more efficient than the energy code
requires. As part of the program, the local
utility company or its consultant does both a plan
review and field inspections. Therefore, if
the builder is enrolled in the program there is
no need for either a plan review or field inspections
for energy code compliance by the municipality.
Applicants
may also use REScheck software to show compliance.
The software essentially performs the energy calculations
described above and allows trade-offs between
building components. For example it will
let you under-insulate walls for a commensurate
over insulation of the ceiling. It also
allows trade-offs between HVAC equipment and building
components. The software may be downloaded
from the U.S. Department of Energy's web site.
(www.energycodes.gov). Please
see Bulletin
07-2 for further guidance.
The final method of complying is with the use
of prescriptive packages. The packages show
typical insulation levels, glazing percentages,
window characteristics and equipment efficiencies.
If an applicant's design shows insulation levels
and equipment efficiencies that are the same or
higher then the typical levels, and window “u”
values and glazing percentages that are the same
or lower the the typical levels, then the design
complies. No other calculations are needed.
The applicant simply needs to indicate which package
was selected. A copy of the various packages
is included below.
Please see Bulletin
07-2 for the applicable prescriptive packages.
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There are forms for single family dwellings and
for multifamily dwellings for each of the four
heating degree day regions in the state.
Commercial
ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004
Commercial
building applicants have two ways of showing compliance.
The methods are long hand calculations and the
use of software. For commercial buildings,
longhand calculations have the same draw- back
that they have for residential applications,
they are time consuming to generate and check.
The Department anticipates that the software will
be the preferred option.
Commercial
software is available from the same site as the
residential software. The software is called
COMCheck and is listed under “compliance
tools.” There is no New Jersey version
of the commercial software. New Jersey is
using the 2004 version of ASHRAE 90.1. The
software downloaded from the site should be based
on this standard. This software can be used
for most commercial building designs. COMCheck
cannot be used to demonstrate a whole building
performance (energy budget) approach. The
whole building performance approach takes advantage
of code provisions that are not normally used,
such as credits for day lighting. It will
allow for trade-offs between building components
and can be used for the majority of commercial
buildings. Please see Bulletin
07-2 for further guidance.
Assistance
Questions
on the energy subcode can be directed to the code
assistance unit by telephone at (609) 984–7609.
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