DOE Issues 2024 Representative Average Unit Costs of Five Residential Energy Sources. Natural Gas Continues to be the Best Energy Value.

On Wednesday, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Federal Register Notice forecasting the representative average unit costs of five residential energy sources for the year 2023 pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (Act). The five sources are electricity, natural gas, No. 2 heating oil, propane, and kerosene. Below is the representative cost for the 5 sources in terms of Per Million BTU’s and in dollars:

Electricity …………………………………………$47.36 per million Btu or   16.16 cents/kWh

Natural Gas …………………………………….. $13.38 per million Btu or   $1.34/therm or $13.87/MCF

No. 2 Heating Oil ……………………………… $27.22 per million Btu or   $3.74/gallon

Propane ……………………………………………$33.59 per million Btu or   $3.07/gallon  

Kerosene ………………………………………… $34.37 per million Btu or    $4.64/gallon  

These costs become effective November 28, 2024 and are used in determining the estimated annual operating cost of appliances covered in the Federal Trade Commission appliance labeling rule. FTC Energy cost labels (yellow stickers) that are required on some appliances use the representative energy cost to provide consumers information on the annual operating cost of the specific appliance.  Note that the estimated national average cost of electricity is 3.5 times more than the cost of natural gas and this natural gas cost advantage for consumers needs to be considered by proponents for “electrification” and natural gas bans and their continued push for electrification by not allowing or supporting removal of natural gas appliances from homes and businesses.

ASHRAE Proposals to Modify the Scope of the ASHRAE 90.1 Standard Would Add Criteria for Green House Gas Emissions and Electric Vehicle (EV) Requirements – Comments Due November 10^th.  

ASHRAE has issued a 30-Day Public Review Period from October 11, 2024 to November 10, 2024 to modify the Scope of the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2022, Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings to add 1. Addendum aa that modifies the purpose and scope of the Standard to establish requirements and set criteria for considering building and site operational Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and 2. Addendum ap that modifies the scope of the Standard to cover the installation of electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) or EV Requirements.

Below is information to access both Addendum aa and ap.

1. BSR/ASHRAE/IES Addendum aa to ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2022, Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (First Public Review Draft)

This addendum aa modifies the purpose and scope of the Standard to establish requirements and set criteria for considering building and site operational Green House Gas (GHG) emissions

2. BSR/ASHRAE/IES Addendum ap to ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2022, Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (First Public Review Draft)

This addendum ap modifies the scope of the Standard to cover the installation of electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) or EV Requirements.

A preliminary review of addendum aa and ap  raises serious concerns that the requirements in both would conflict with the stated Purpose of the ASHRAE 90.1 which is to “ To establish the minimum energy efficiency requirements of buildings….” and its Scope, “This standard provides “minimum energy-efficient requirements for the design and construction…” Adding GHG  and EV requirements for compliance  that do not address minimum energy efficiency requirements of the built environment would appear to conflict with the Purpose and Scope of the ASHRAE 90.1 commercial building standard that is cited in federal law for state adoption upon edition updates  that occur every three years. BECS committee members are requested to review both addendum and provide us with your comments by October 31^st.  Based on member feedback, AGA staff will be preparing and circulating a draft of comments for submittal by the November 10^th ASHRAE submittal deadline,  on the addendum tentatively by November 1.  Additionally, members can submit their own comments on the addendum directly to ASHRAE as outlined in the introductions to the addendum.

ANSI Decides in Favor of the Appellants on the Appeal on ASHRAE 62.2 Addendum J that Would Have Prohibited the Installation of Gas-fired Space Heaters.

On October 16, 2024, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Executive Standards Council rendered its decision (attached) on the appeal filed against proposed Addendum J to ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2022 Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Residential Buildings in favor of the appellants (American Gas Association, Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association, National Propane Gas Association, Vent-Free Products, and Global Engineering Solutions).

As a result of the successful appeal, Addendum J, which prohibits the installation of vent-free natural gas and propane space heaters in 62.2 compliant buildings, is not approved as an American National Standard (ANS) and may not be published as an ANS until further steps are taken by ASHRAE as imposed by the ExSC in its decision.

The ExSC based its decision on the following procedural violations.

1. ASHRAE violated its appeals process. ASHRAE implemented its conflict-of-interest procedures after the appeals panel was formed and a written decision by the appeals panel was issued. ASHRAE also failed to provide the appellants with the proper rebuttal documents. The ExSC found this failure to be a serious core non-compliance of the procedures.
2. ASHRAE 62.2 SSPC failed to provide good-faith efforts to harmonize with other industry standards, specifically ANSI Z21.11.2 – the safety standard for vent-free appliances. ASHRAE policy does not permit harmonization until a proposed standard is approved. However, this policy is not in compliance with the ANSI Essential Requirements, and ASHRAE is instructed to revise its procedures.
3. Lack of persuasive record that Addendum J is suitable for national use. The ExSC found that the record does not provide a justification for Addendum J that was arrived at through a transparent consensus process.

The ANSI ExSC has provided ASHRAE with required actions to address the violations if the 62.2 SSPC wants to pursue publishing Addendum J as an American National Standard. Additionally, ASHRAE has the option to appeal the decision of the ExSC to the ANSI Board of Appeals by November 6, 2024. We will provide any information on ASHRAE’s decision to appeal the decision or not.