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MVPE committee recommends ERI base tables without renewables for Council review
Summary
The committee recommended the Council move forward with base ERI targets for Climate Zones 4C and 5B and exclude separate renewable-counting tables, after stakeholders discussed trade-offs about thermal envelope allowances for homes using on-site renewables.
The MVPE committee recommended the Building Code Council forward the base Energy Rating Index (ERI) tables for Climate Zones 4C and 5B and not include separate renewable-counting tables.
Krista Braaksma summarized staff language showing the base ERI requirements only. Tom Handy moved that the committee not include the renewables tables and instead forward the two base ERI tables; Todd Beyreuther seconded.
During discussion, Kevin Rose (NIA) proposed a narrower technical fix that could be considered in public comment: reduce or eliminate the current ERI allowance that lets homes reduce thermal-envelope efficiency by up to 10% when they use on-site renewables, to avoid incentivizing poorly insulated homes that rely on renewables. "One possible path ... would be to tighten up that allowance," he said, suggesting a way to preserve renewables' benefits while protecting envelope performance.
Gregory Johnson cautioned that separating tables for renewables could make ERI targets more stringent in ways that "hurt solar" by lowering allowable ERI numbers (a lower ERI is more stringent). He also noted that the renewables tables appeared to have been added late without broader outside review.
The committee held a voice vote and the chair declared the motion carried. The action forwards the base ERI tables to Council for review and public comment; detailed technical refinements on how to treat renewables in ERI scoring can be pursued during the CR102 comment period.
This recommendation does not adopt a final rule; it directs staff to include the base ERI tables in Council materials for deliberation and public review.
