Equivalency Methodology
DOE INSTRUCTIONS
DOE has an established methodology for evaluating the energy savings from the latest model codes and amended versions of those codes.6 Estimations of the energy savings potential of the Applicant’s proposed code or LMC equivalent approach, and the efficiency components (before renewables) of the Applicant’s proposed code or ZEC approach, must rely on the established DOE methodologies.
The calculation procedure to evaluate LMC or ZEC equivalency requires the determination ofsite energy savings from the proposed code and the site energy savings from the Applicant’s current code, both compared against savings from adopting the statutory LMC or ZEC unamended.
The procedure is comprised of the following steps:
- Determine the site energy use from the code currently adopted in the applicable jurisdiction (Section 4.1)
- Model and determine the site energy use from the proposed code and the corresponding LMC or ZEC (Section 4.2)
- Apply values from (1) and (2) to projected new construction starts and code compliance rates over 30 years (Sections 4.2.3)
- Determine the cumulative 30-year site energy savings for the proposed code and corresponding LMC or ZEC over the current code (Section 4.3)
- Index results from (4) against the corresponding statutory LMC or ZEC (see Table 1) to determine equivalency (Section 4.4)
2.1: Equivalency Methodology
Architecture 2030 Template Language & Guidance
Architecture 2030 documented equivalency for approaches for each jurisdiction scenario in our guide Showing Equivalency for Architecture 2030 Zero Energy Scenarios document.