Buildings and Beyond - Steven Winter Associates, Inc.

Buildings and Beyond - Steven Winter Associates, Inc.


Answering the Tough Questions About Energy Codes

July 07, 2023

What happens when you put four sustainable building experts involved in energy code development in a room and ask them to bring their favorite—and sometimes, most controversial—topics for discussion? You end up with more questions than answers!


In this roundtable episode hosted by Robb Aldrich, our guests ask each other these tough questions related to our nation’s energy codes:


  • Performance Metrics: How can energy codes be simplified? Is energy use intensity (EUI) a viable alternate metric?
  • Gas Bans: If jurisdictions cannot ban gas, how can we put electrification in the energy code?
  • Embodied Carbon: How should embodied carbon accounting be incorporated into energy codes?
  • Robb’s Bonus Question #1: How are building inspectors dealing with complicated energy codes?
  • Robb’s Bonus Question #2: Should there be electric vehicle (EV) charging requirements in energy codes?


Episode Guests
  • Gayathri Vijayakumar, Principal Mechanical Engineer on SWA’s Residential Building Services Team
  • Karla Butterfield, Sustainability Director on SWA’s Residential Building Services Team
  • William Zoeller, Director of Building Enclosure Services at SWA
  • Dylan Martello, Senior Building Systems Consultant on SWA’s Passive House Team
  • Host: Robb Aldrich, Principal Mechanical Engineer on SWA’s Residential Building Services Team

Episode Information & Resources

IECC:


Massachusetts:



Episode Sponsor

SWA Academy Logo


This episode is sponsored by SWA Academy!


Have you checked out the new on-demand training program, Air-Source Heat Pumps: Achieving Comfort and Efficiency in Cold Climates?


Our episode host, Robb Aldrich, has been researching, consulting, and providing training on heat pump technology for over 20 years. During that time, heat pumps have evolved to meet the demands of residential heating in cold climates—resulting in significant implications for decarbonization and electrification goals.


Robb is sharing practical applications, important considerations, and real-world examples of the good and the bad (and the sometimes ugly) in Air-Source Heat Pumps: Achieving Comfort and Efficiency in Cold Climates available exclusively through SWA Academy.


This user-paced training program features eight chapters with short video lessons that deep-dive into elements of inverter-driven air-source heat pump implementation, from pre-design to installation to operations and maintenance.


Click here to browse the training series, watch a video overview, and enroll.


We Want to Hear From You!

Send your questions, comments, and guest suggestions to podcast@swinter.com.


About Buildings and Beyond

Buildings + Beyond is a production of Steven Winter Associates (SWA). We launched the podcast in 2018 to facilitate and encourage discussions with a range of industry experts on how we can create a more sustainable, healthy, inclusive, and equitable built environment.


SWA provides energy, green building, and accessibility consulting services to improve the built environment. For more information, visit swinter.com.


Hosts: Robb Aldrich | Kelly Westby


Production Team: Heather Breslin | Alex Mirabile | Dylan Martello | Tricia Carr

The post Answering the Tough Questions About Energy Codes appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

The post Answering the Tough Questions About Energy Codes appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..