ASHRAE Proposes 2^nd Public Review of Addenda bk to the ASHRAE 90.1 Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings – Comments to AGA by Monday, June 16, 2025, please.

Comments Due to ASHRAE by June 30.

Back on January 24^th , we reported on an ASHRAE proposed Addendum bk to the ASHRAE 90.1 Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings that would if approved, negatively impact natural gas applications in commercial buildings covered by the ASHRAE 90.1 Energy Standard. The addendum is identified as Addendum bk.  Specific information and access to the addendum are provided below.  Addenda bk would require that compliance in the prescriptive path of the standard be based on space heating heat pumps as the primary system thus excluding federally approved natural gas heating systems (natural gas furnaces and boilers) as a primary system that is currently permitted in this compliance path Despite minor modifications, AGA staff is reviewing  the 2^nd Public Review of bk and continues to have concerns with the provision that has essentially “requires that compliance in the prescriptive path be based on space heating heat pumps even though gas heat pumps that are not readily available as the primary system are cited in the proposal. .

Please review addenda provide us with your feedback by Monday, June 16.  For your ready reference, attached are the comments we submitted on the 1^st Public Review.  Here is additional information on a link to Addendum bk and a link for submitting public comments on Addendum bk:   BSR/ASHRAE/IES Addendum bk to ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2022, Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (Second Public Review Draft). Public comments on Addenda bk can be submitted here:  COMMENT .  Note this is a 45-Day Public Review Period from May 16, 2025, to June 30, 2025.

DOE Issues Federal Register Notice Final Rule Withdrawing Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-Fired Instantaneous Water Heaters

On Tuesday,  DOE issued a Federal Register Notice Announcing that “As of May 20, 2025, the final rule on energy conservation standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters, published in the Federal Register on December 26, 2024, at 89 FR 105188, and delayed at 90 FR 13054 (Mar. 20, 2025), is withdrawn.” This brings to closure, the issue of DOE finalizing minimum efficiency requirements for some types of instantaneous gas water heaters that would have required that they all use condensing technologies thus eliminating non-condensing types from the market. AGA and a number of other stakeholders are pleased with the outcome of this favorable outcome that will permit consumers with more cost effective and energy efficient choices for their domestic water heating needs.

State Codes Activity Update.

Attached is a weekly feature of the “Friday Update” covering state code calendar activities as presented by the online utility “Fiscal Note,” which is sponsored by APGA and AGA Code and Standards. Please review the update and determine if there are state code activities that impact your service territory or organization.