ESC Residential Consortium Minutes 121318

ESC Residential Consortium Minutes from December 13, 2018 Meeting was called to order at 2:05 pm Eastern Time Attendance: CenterPoint Energy Kathryn Knudson CenterPoint Energy Eisen Sherwitz CenterPoint Energy Jim Tilley DTE Energy Rosana Laurain National Fuel Marti Sawyer NW Natural Carollyn Farrar Piedmont Natural Gas Beth Potts Southeast Gas Shannon Jackson UGI Kim Geder TMAF: Barb reminded everyone that registration for TMAF was open and available by following this link. The location is Miami, FL at the Marriott in Biscayne Bay. The dates are February 26 – 28. If you plan to attend make sure to register and secure your room before the hotel block is filled. Also, there is a supplemental CHP workshop being held from February 28 – March 1. Please keep in mind that you must register for the workshop if you plan to attend; registering for TMAF does not include registration for the workshop. There is also an additional fee to attend the workshop. Natural Living: As mentioned earlier, the time frame for the spring issue has been moved up to accommodate members who use this publication at their spring builder shows. The deadline for orders is December 19. The order form and topics of articles can be found here. If you plan to place an order, and you will be out over the holidays, please let Barb know who can provide logo approval in your absence. Appeals Panel Overturns Addendum As mentioned on a previous call, AHRI (Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute) and several other members appealed Addendum A to Standard 62.2. (Standard 62.2 pertains to ventilation and indoor air quality.) If Addendum A was approved, it would have prevented the installation of unvented combustion appliances in homes that are compliant with 62.2 The appeal was approved because procedural requirements to make “reasonable efforts to attempt to resolve [negative commenters] were not followed. Therefore, publication approval of this addendum has been vacated and the ASHRAE board must address the “procedural deficiencies” to address commenters. Guiding Principles on Direct-Use of Natural Gas and Electrification: Based on the climate in California and some other states with respect to electrification and changes to model energy codes, the AGA BECS committee (Building Energy Codes and Standards) felt they should develop a set of guiding principles that would address troublesome electrification proposals in an effective manner. By electrification we are referring to codes and/or standards revisions that would eliminate or restrict the use of fossil fuels, including the direct use of natural gas in homes, businesses, industries and the transportation sector. Feel free to use these principles as needed. The list of principles can be found here. Open Discussion: Craig Trautweiler, New Jersey Natural Gas, had a suggestion for the Residential Kickoff at the end of Day One at TMAF. Craig asked that all members who planned to attend be prepared to discuss one or two items that have challenged them since the last TMAF along with one or two successes they have been able to celebrate. This sounds like a great topic to generate discussion so please bring your ideas to the Day One kickoff. Thank you, Craig! The meeting was adjourned at approximately 2:35 pm.