[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 499-500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30927]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

[Docket Number. EERE-2014-BT-BLDG-0050]


Request for Information (RFI) for Definition for Zero Energy 
Buildings

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Request for Information, RFI.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) seeks to 
develop a common definition for Zero Energy Buildings (ZEBs). A broadly 
accepted market definition of ZEB boundaries and metrics is 
foundational to efforts by governments, utilities, or private entities 
to recognize or incentivize zero energy buildings. DOE seeks comments 
and information related to the zero energy definitions, nomenclature, 
and implementation guidelines.

DATES: Written comments and information are requested on or before 
February 20, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments 
electronically. Interested persons may submit comments, identified by 
docket number EERE-2014-BT-BLDG-0050. Your response should be limited 
to 4 pages.
    Email: To [email protected]. Include EERE-2014-BT-BLDG-
0050 in the subject line of the message. Submit electronic comments in 
Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel, and avoid the use of special 
characters or any form of encryption.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number.
    Docket: The docket is available for review at www.regulations.gov, 
including Federal Register notices, comments, and other supporting 
documents/materials (search EERE-2014-BT-BLDG-0050). All documents in 
the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index.
    A link to the docket Web page can be found at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2014-BT-BLDG-0050. This Web 
page contains a link to the docket for this notice on the 
www.regulations.gov site. The www.regulations.gov Web page contains 
instructions on how to access all documents, including public comments, 
in the docket. See section II, Public Participation for further 
information on submitting comments. The content that we are requesting 
your feedback on is located at https://buildingdata.energy.gov/cbrd/resource/1665.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information may be sent to Ms. Sonia Punjabi, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building 
Technologies Program, EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, 
DC 20585-0121. Telephone: 202-287-1866. Email: 
[email protected]. Ms. Ami Grace-Tardy, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-5709. Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Discussion

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) seeks to 
develop common definitions for Zero Energy Buildings (ZEBs). Broadly 
accepted market definitions of ZEB boundaries and metrics are 
foundational to efforts by governments, utilities, or private entities 
to recognize or incentivize zero energy buildings. DOE expects to use 
the definition and guidelines in DOE projects that provide guidance on 
the design or operations of zero energy buildings, and in any DOE 
programs that recognize or track zero energy buildings.
    To help inform decision-making regarding commonly-accepted ZEB 
definitions and nomenclature, DOE is publishing this to request 
information and comment about the definitions, nomenclature, and 
guidelines. The Department will consider all input it receives and 
plans to publish a report on definitions in 2015. In particular, DOE 
seeks comment and information about the topics below.
    1. Definitions: Are the Zero Energy Building, Zero Energy Campus, 
Zero Energy Portfolio, and Zero Energy Community definitions reasonable 
and appropriate when applied to their respective scopes? Should the 
broad characterizations of zero energy be changed in any way between 
building, campus, portfolio and community?
    2. Nomenclature: Are the definitions provided in the nomenclature 
section of the draft clear and complete? Please provide specific 
feedback about these definitions.
    3. Are there any recommendations regarding the topics addressed in 
the section ``Additional considerations under review''?
    4. Are there any specific recommendations for a uniform approach to 
tracking renewable energy generation for the purpose or ``zero energy'' 
claims to avoid double-counting?
    5. Are there any other recommendations that would help clarify and 
improve the definitions, nomenclature, and guidelines?

II. Public Participation

    All interested parties are invited to submit in writing by the date 
specified previously in the DATES section of this RFI, comments and 
information on all elements listed in the discussion section above. DOE 
considers public

[[Page 500]]

participation to be an important part of the process for developing a 
commonly-accepted definition of Zero Energy Buildings.
    Comments may be submitted in writing via email on or before 
February 20, 2015. Please limit comments to no more than a total of 4 
pages.


    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 30, 2014.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Office of Technology 
Development, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2014-30927 Filed 1-5-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P