Sign Up for the February 21 – 23 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Appeals Hearing Due this Monday, February 5.

As previously reported, the International Code Council (ICC) issued an update on the 2024 IECC Appeals Process that can be found here. In addition to the AGA appeal , four other appellants AHRI, APGA , BOMA/NMHC, and ICC Region VI submitted a total of 9 appeals. The appeals hearings will take place over three days:  Feb. 21, 22, 23.  The hearings will begin each day at 10 AM ET and end once all appellants and interested parties have been given the opportunity to present.  Members will be able to both watch and engage in the hearings if they so choose.  There are a number of ways you can participate or view the proceedings , all of which require filling out this form as an “Interested Party”. Here is the link to the 2024 IECC Notice of Appeals Hearings. BECS Committee members are encouraged to indicate your support of AGA’s appeals, submit written comments indicating your support of AGA’s appeals; and/or register to provide verbal comments in support of AGA’s appeal .

The deadline for submissions is 11:59 pm Pacific Time (PT) this Monday, February 5, 2024.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions on filing for participation in the hearing or any questions on the AGA appeal.

AGA, the American Public Gas Association (APGA) and the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) File Comments on the Notification of Preliminary Determination and Request for Comment Pertaining to Energy Conservation Standards for Oil, Electric, and Weatherized Gas Furnaces

In the November 29, 2023 Federal Register Notice, DOE issued a Notification of Preliminary Determination and Request for Comment Pertaining to Energy Conservation Standards for Oil, Electric, and Weatherized Gas Furnaces. That notice stated that EPCA “requires the U.S. Department of Energy (‘‘DOE’’) to periodically review its existing standards to determine whether more stringent, amended standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. In this notification of proposed determination (‘‘NOPD’’), DOE has initially determined that amended energy conservation standards” for weatherized gas furnaces “do not need to be amended.” In the Notice, “DOE requested comment on this proposed determination and the associated analyses and results. Attached are the timely comments submitted by AGA. APGA and NPGA in support of the DOE preliminary determination do not to be amended. If finalized by DOE, the minimum efficiency requirement for weatherized gas furnaces will remain at 81% AFUE. Note that this standard applies to weatherized (outside ) gas furnace and does not apply to non-weatherized gas furnaces that DOE has established at 95% AFUE and which is in the processes of being challenged through the courts.

State Codes Activity Update.

Attached is a weekly feature of the “Friday Update” covering state code calendar activities as presented by the online utility “Fiscal Note,” which is sponsored by APGA and AGA Code and Standards. Please review the update and determine if there are state code activities that impact your service territory or organization.