NEW RESOURCES

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NEEP Building Energy Rating Report Demonstrates Importance of Energy Disclosure Policies
In November NEEP released “Valuing Building Energy Efficiency through Disclosure and Upgrade Policies”, a report produced for NEEP by Dunsky Energy Consulting that provides guidance on how mandatory building energy rating systems can assist states in improving efficiency in the existing building stock.  A conceptual building energy rating systems would require buildings to be rated for energy performance, with such information disclosed to buyers or renters at some trigger point in the transaction, such as at the time of sale or lease.   The report, which draws from national and international case studies, shows that mandatory rating systems can be effective at getting markets to value energy efficiency and act as a powerful complement to more conventional incentive programs.  Other findings include:

• To be effective, disclosure must be mandatory
• Rating costs will have to come down to be politically acceptable
• Home rating systems should use an asset rating
• Commercial buildings should use both asset and operation ratings
• Enforcement should be a priority
• States, utilities, and others can collaborate to build market demand

NEEP will reach out to our program and policy partners in the coming year to provide more information about the report and the role that building energy rating systems can play in the northeast states.

 

Northeast CHPS 2.0 Addenda Offers State Specific Design Requirements
State Departments of Education utilizing the Northeast-CHPS protocol for the new construction and major renovation of high performance schools have the option of including an addendum to the protocol, which lists state-specific sustainable design requirements.  The addenda are jointly approved by the State Departments of Education and NEEP and may modify certain credits or prerequisites of the protocol to meet the specific priorities of the state, typically for the purpose of awarding additional school building aid for meeting sustainability or energy measures.  For example, Rhode Island awards up to 4 percent additional funding for projects demonstrating superior energy performance and meeting additional energy and water reduction criteria –these requirements are outlined both in the appendix of NE-CHPS 2.0 and in the Rhode Island regulations.  New Hampshire is currently in the process of finalizing its addendum for release in early 2010.  This regionalized process sets the CHPS protocol apart from other design guides and enables it to respond to the unique needs of states.