Florida Building Commission / Florida Energy Code
May 10, 2005
Attachment: florida_energy_code_release.pdf
Rinnai America and Partners Hit Major Milestone
In Saving Florida Energy
Newly Approved Declaratory Statement to Florida Energy Code
To Save Florida Residents Energy and Money
Tallahassee, FL – Rinnai Corporation, the world’s largest gas appliance manufacturer
and leading tankless water heater manufacturer, announced today the approval of a
Declaratory Statement by the Florida Building Commission (FBC) that will allow builders
to more easily meet energy compliance standards and simultaneously save Florida
residents energy and money by installing a tankless water heater. Thanks to a joint effort
between Florida gas organizations and Rinnai America, this Declaratory Statement was
approved on May 10, 2005.
The FBC, established by the Florida Legislature and appointed by the Governor, is
responsible for implementing a uniform building code for the state of Florida. The FBC
has rule-making authority to adopt and revise the Code as necessary. Chapter 13,
entitled the Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building Construction (typically referred to
as the Florida Energy Code), establishes statewide thermal performance standards and
appliance efficiency minimum requirements for residential and commercial buildings.
Essentially, the Florida Energy Code regulates and guides building practices, procedures
and products to ensure the most energy efficient techniques are applied. Energy use for
water heating in residential buildings is a significant factor in achieving code compliance.
Official interpretations of the Code are communicated by the FBC in the form of
Declaratory Statements.
There are two ways a residential builder can comply with the Florida Energy Code:
Compliance Method A requires an energy performance calculation to determine an overall
efficiency rating for a new home. The rating is based on the energy efficiency of the
various equipment and construction techniques incorporated into the home and must
meet or exceed energy efficiency minimum standards established by the Code. The Code
calculations provide “credits” for installing products or using techniques that achieve
increased energy efficiency, making higher-credit components of great value to builders.
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2 –Declaratory Statement To Save FL Residents Energy and Money
Compliance Method B provides specific minimum prescriptive requirements for building
techniques and products. Method B does not require any calculations but it also does not
provide the flexibility to trade the efficiency of one building component for another as is
allowed in Method A.
Prior to the FBC issuance of the tankless water heater Declaratory Statement,
neither of the compliance methods appropriately accounted for the elevated energy
efficiency of tankless water heaters. Rinnai’s gas-fueled tankless water heaters have
Energy Factor (EF) ratings (determined in accordance with Federal Department of Energy
calculation methods) that are substantially higher than storage tank water heaters. Rinnai
and its gas industry trade association partners pursed the Declaratory Statement in order
to gain official recognition of tankless water heater technology by the FBC and give
builders appropriate credit in either compliance method. This means benefits for builders,
residents and the State of Florida:
For Builders this Statement means that by installing a Rinnai tankless water heater
and receiving full Code credit for the higher tankless EF ratings, complying their homes
becomes much easier. Additionally, they will be able to provide their customers with
endless hot water while saving them money on their monthly energy bills.
For Residents this Statement means that while they enjoy never-ending hot water
in their homes, they will also be saving up to 70% a month on their energy bills and be
doing their part to help conserve the nation’s natural resources.
For the State of Florida this Statement means that as a whole, the state will be
saving much-needed energy by incentivizing the use of energy efficient tankless water
heaters in residential construction. Also, the state will be a leading contributor in the
U.S.’s overall efforts to wean off foreign sources of energy and become more energy
dependent.
Moving forward, the FBC has indicated it will formally incorporate the provisions
of the tankless water heater Declaratory Statement into the Florida Energy Code during
the 2006 code revision cycle. Additionally, FBC staff has expressed a willingness to work
with Rinnai and its industry partners to address the use of gas-fueled tankless water
heaters to provide space heating for Florida homes. Rinnai tankless water heaters offer
a highly efficient and reliable alternative to standard heating technologies.
Rinnai has been working with the Florida Propane Gas Association, Florida
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Natural Gas Association and the Florida Propane Gas Safety Education and Research
Council in order to draft, file and gain approval of the Declaratory Statement provisions
and move into the next stages of codifying the energy efficient guidelines.
About The Declaratory Statement
The Declaratory Statement is an official interpretation of the code and signals the
Florida Building Commission's intent to local Building Officials that tankless water
heaters are appropriately included in Florida energy calculations as well as their intent to
eventually incorporate this technology into Code during the 2006 revision cycle.
About Rinnai
Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya,
Japan, was established in 1974 and is headquartered in Peachtree City, GA. Rinnai
Corporation manufactures gas and oil appliances, including tankless hot water heaters,
a wide range of kitchen appliances and heating and air conditioning units. Today, Rinnai
is the single largest gas appliance manufacturer in the world and is the technology
leader in its industry. Annual corporate revenues including those of its subsidiaries are
in excess of $3 billion. With a global perspective to create 21st century products for the
home and office, Rinnai Corporation commits itself to the safety and pursuit of
comfortable lifestyles. For more information about the Rinnai Corporation and the Rinnai
Continuum product, visit www.foreverhotwater.com.
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