Building science blogger Allison Bailes contends that energy codes should only consist of two numbers that builders need to meet with the system they design for a building.
He got the idea from a video by Henry Gifford and Chris Benedict called The Perfect Energy Code, “where they propose a dramatic simplification of the energy code in New York City,” Bailes writes. “No more energy modeling. No more reference designs. No more prescriptive or performance paths.”
Instead, energy codes would be based on meeting the requirements of two formulas: the heating system input divided by the building’s square footage, and the cooling system input divided by the square footage of a building, looking something like this:
heating system input / square footage of building < x
cooling system input / square footage of building < y
Then, in each area, they can adjust the x according to local temperatures. “The colder the climate, the bigger the x would be,” Bailes writes.
Related Stories
Working Toward Affordable, Resilient Homes
A new natural disaster protection act from NAHB aims to support hazard mitigation projects
Client Design Choices in the Time of Social Media and AI
Social media speeds up the trend cycles, and now artificially created images are falling into homeowners' hands
Indoor Air Quality Gets Smart
A home's air quality can now be cloud connected and fully automated with this innovative product
Webinar: From Disjointed Design to Cohesive and Efficient—The New American Remodel 2023
Access the recording for the first The New American Remodel webinar held on March 8 at 2 pm CT
5 Standout Energy-Efficient Products Spotted at IBS 2023
See what this green remodeler recommends from the show floor
Innovative Products: GAF Energy Timberline Solar Shingles
GAF Energy’s latest innovation has taken the solar world by storm
Detailed Design: Benefits of Biophilism
See the details our Model ReModel contractors chose to infuse nature into their ADU
Heat Pumps Now Required in Washington New Construction
Washington is the second state to require heat pumps in an effort to electrify homes