Extension of Comment Period to August 7th on the Adoption of Energy Efficiency Standards for New Construction of HUD and USDA Financed Housing.

In the June 16 Update on End Use Codes and Standards, we reported that in the May 18, 2023  Federal Register, HUD had issued a notice announcing a “preliminary determination of HUD and USDA Financed Housing , as required under section 481(d)(1) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), that the 2021 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1–2019 will not negatively affect the affordability and availability of housing covered by EISA”. The Notice states that “In making this preliminary determination, the first step to ultimately requiring compliance with these standards in HUD and USDA housing covered by EISA, this Notice relies on several studies that show that these codes are cost effective in that the incremental cost of the additional efficiency measures pays for themselves with energy cost savings on a life-cycle basis.”  Of particular concern to the natural gas industry and other stakeholders is the statement:

• Building Electrification. While the 2021 IECC did not include building electrification provisions in the final version of the code, provisions are available for adoption by states as amendments to the 2021 IECC: RE147–19, Electrification-Ready; RE126–19. Energy Efficient Water Heating, RE107–19, Eliminate Continuous Burning Pilot Light.

Having HUD and USDA promoting “electrification” proposals that were not approved during the 2021 ICC code development process (AGA objected to these proposals and successful appealed their initial approval) is very troublesome.  There may be other provisions in the 2021 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1–2019 that are in the process of being reviewed and perhaps amended prior to HUD and USDA adopting the codes as a basis for funding by these federal agency programs. AGA will oppose the Building Electrification suggestion discussed above. Additionally, note that AGA filed a request for an extension on the comment deadline of July 17th (attached) and in today’s Federal Register, the Department of Agriculture issued an extension of the comment period to August 7th.

AHRI Releases the May 2023 Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data.

For those interested in shipment trends for residential and commercial gas and electric storage type water heaters, residential gas and oil furnaces, electric heat pumps and air-conditioners, click here for the July 14, 2023 Air-Conditioning Heating, & Refrigeration (AHRI) Press Release that provides the May, 2023 U.S. Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data. For previous monthly shipment releases and historical data, please click here . You may also wish to share this information with other groups or individuals within your organization that would be interested in this shipment data.