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any recognized standard, while the proposed RESNET/ performance for energy efficiency is higher than everyone else
ICC Standard 301 is an ANSI national consensus standard. relative to 2015 codes,” notes Ron Jones, president of Green Builder
“The provisions of standard 301 are consistent with the 2015 IECC Energy Media. “In order for us to reach the requirements of California, leave
Rating Index provisions including the development of the Energy Rating the building envelope alone, at worst, and then add renewables,
Index, compliance software tool approval and the minimum capabilities instead of setting it up as either/or.”
of the software used to determine an ERI for a project.”
Jones believes that the only people manipulating the codes are
The ANSI/RESNET/ICC Standard 301 is a whole-house the large production builders, such as Lennar, whose wholly owned
assessment of a home, which includes on-site power production. subsidiary sells solar panels. “They put a deal in place that weakens
“Standard 301 will continue to be a whole-house assessment the envelope and then have someone else [the homeowner] pay for
because it drives HERS ratings,” Baden continues. “You cannot get the solar system. This isn’t about solar versus the envelope; it’s about
to net zero without on-site power production. As for on-site power the national builders.”
production, there are reasonable arguments that there should
be a limit on how much it can be credited for the ERI option.” Laura Urbanek of the National Resources Defense Council
(See “State Choices,” left.) (NRDC) points out that a well-built envelope creates a resilient
home, which is another reason renewables and high-performance
NO QUARTER shouldn’t be an either/or proposition. “Hopefully, buildings will
For some in the industry, though, any trade-off of the envelope for solar last for a 100 years. We need efficiency that can persist over that
is taking energy efficiency backwards and should not be allowed at all. time,” she says. “Efficiency is cost effective for the homeowner and
can be combined with renewables, but there’s no need to have one
“If you look at California in isolation, the requirement for versus the other.”
www.greenbuildermedia.com November/December 2016 GREEN BUILDER 53
