New York Codes Rules Regulations (Last Updated: March 27,2024)

Chapter XI. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Part 508. Green Residential Building Program

Sec. 508.5. Additional requirements for residential buildings of not more than three stories, containing four or fewer dwelling units: energy efficiency specifications and performance specifications

Latest version.

A residential building of not more than three stories, containing four or fewer dwelling units, shall meet or exceed:

(a) the following energy efficiency specifications:

(1) HERS information: achieved either an expanded HERS score of 86 or higher or a HERS index of 70 or lower, using a rating software tool that has been approved by the authority and that generates a rating report containing the following information:

(i) the expanded HERS score or HERS index;

(ii) the estimated quantity of energy to be used annually for purposes of space heating, space cooling, water heating, lighting, operating household appliances, and any other use of energy, and an estimate of the annual energy cost for each purpose and for the residential building as a whole;

(iii) the street address or recorded real property identifier;

(iv) the name of the rater;

(v) the date that the rating report was prepared; and

(vi) the rating software program and version number used to calculate the rating; and

(2) ceiling fan and light kit: if a ceiling fan(s) has been installed, has installed only a ceiling fan(s) that meets the minimum energy efficiency levels set forth in Table 4 of this section, and only a light kit(s) that meets the minimum efficiency requirements set forth in Table 1 of this Part tested by the manufacturer in accordance with the test procedures set forth in the ENERGY STAR® Testing Facility Guidance Manual: Building a Testing Facility and Performing the Solid State Test Method for ENERGY STAR® Qualified Ceiling Fans, Version 1.0, Draft 1, June 20, 2002; and

Table 4: Minimum Efficiency Requirements for Ceiling Fans

Fan Speed	Minimum Airflow	Efficiency Requirement
Low	1,250 cubic feet per minute	155 cubic feet per minute/watt
Medium	3,000 cubic feet per minute	100 cubic feet per minute/watt
High	5,000 cubic feet per minute	75 cubic feet per minute/watt

(3) central air conditioner: if a central air conditioner has been installed:

(i) has installed in residential buildings, only a central air conditioner(s) that has a 14.5 SEER (as defined in Table 5 of this section) and a 12 EER (as defined in Table 5 of this section), or higher, for split systems, and that has a 14 SEER (as defined in Table 5 of this section) and 11 EER (as defined in Table 5 of this section), or higher, for single package systems; a central air conditioner(s) shall meet the energy efficiency requirements set forth in Table 5 determined in accordance with the test procedures set forth in Table 5 of this section; and

(ii) has had the total supply air flow rates tested and verified by a technician to determine that the ducted distribution system delivers ±15 percent of room design airflow, in accordance with section 5.2.2 Acceptable Procedures, of ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 QI-2007, for each room being conditioned; and

Table 5: Minimum Efficiency Levels for Central Air Conditioners

Type	Minimum Efficiency	Test Procedure for Determining Efficiency Level
Central Air Conditioner (split system)	14.5 SEER^a/ 12 EER^b	ANSI^c / AHRI^d 210/240-2008
Central Air Conditioner (single package system)	14.5 SEER^a/ 11 EER^b	ANSI^c / AHRI^d 210/240-2008

^a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) means the total cooling output of a central air conditioner in Btus during its normal annual usage period for cooling divided by the total electric energy input in watt-hours during the same period

^b EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) means the ratio of net cooling capacity in Btus per hour to the total rate of electric input in watts, under designated operating conditions

^c ANSI means the American National Standards Institute

^d AHRI means the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (formerly ARI)

(4) domestic water heater:

(i) has installed only a domestic water heater(s) that has a first-hour rating that meets the capacity for the calculated peak hour demand within one-to-two gallons; and

(ii) if an oil-fired domestic water heater has been installed, has installed only an oil-fired domestic water heater(s) that has a flame retention burner; and

(iii) if a domestic water heater using natural gas or propane has been installed, has installed only a domestic water heater(s) using natural gas or propane that meets the minimum energy efficiency requirements set forth in Table 6 of this section determined in accordance with the test procedures set forth in 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 430; and

(iv) if a natural gas tankless water heater has been installed, has installed only a natural gas tankless water heater that meets the minimum energy efficiency requirements set forth in Table 6 of this section determined in accordance with 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 430; and

Table 6: Minimum Energy Factors for Domestic Water Heaters

Rated Storage Capacity (in gallons	Minimum EF^a for Natural Gas or Propane Water Heaters	Minimum EF for Electric Water Heaters
30	0.62	0.94
40	0.62	0.93
50	0.62	0.92
75	0.54	0.90
100	0.49	0.87
Natural Gas Tankless Water Heaters	0.82

^a EF (Energy Factor) means the ratio of useful energy output from a domestic water heater to the total amount of energy delivered to the domestic water heater.

(5) heating equipment - heat pumps and furnaces:

(i) has installed a heating system(s) that uses less than 300,000 Btus per hour and meets or exceeds the minimum efficiency requirements set forth in Table 7 of this section determined in accordance with the test procedures set forth in Table 7 of this section; and

(ii) if a heat pump is installed, has had the total supply air flow rates tested and verified by a technician to determine that the ducted distribution system delivers ±15 percent of room design airflow, in accordance with ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 QI-2007, for each room being conditioned; and

Table 7: Minimum Efficiency Levels for Primary Residential Heating Systems

Type	Minimum Efficiency	Test Procedure for Determining Efficiency Level
Furnace—Natural Gas	AFUE^a 92%	10 CFR 430, Appendix N
Furnace—Fuel Oil	AFUE^a 85%	10 CFR 430, Appendix N
Boiler—Hot Water or Steam	AFUE^a 85%	10 CFR 430
Air-Source Heat Pump—Split System	14.5 SEER^b/12 EER^e/8.2 HSPF^f	ANSI^c/AHRI^d 210/240-2008
Air-Source Heat Pump—Single Package	14 SEER^b/11 EER^e/8.0 HSPF^f	ANSI^c/AHRI^d 210/240-2008
Ground Source Heat Pump—Closed Loop	14.1 EER^e/3.3 COP^h	ISO^g 13256-1
Ground Source Heat Pump—Open Loop	16.2 EER^e/3.6 COP^h	ISO^g 13256-1
Ground Source Heat Pump—Direct Expansion	15 EER^e/3.5 COP^h	ANSI^c/AHRI^d 870-2005
Combination Water/Space Heater	0.73 CAEⁱ	ANSI^e/ASHRAE^j 124-1991

^a AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) means the ratio of annual output energy to annual input energy which includes any non-heating season pilot input loss, and for gas or oil-fired furnaces or boilers, does not include electrical energy.

^b SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) means the total cooling output of a central air conditioner in Btus during its normal annual usage period for cooling divided by the total electric energy input in watt-hours during the same period

^c ANSI means the American National Standards Institute

^d AHRI means the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (formerly ARI)

^e EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) means the ratio of net cooling capacity in Btus per hour to the total rate of electric input in watts, under designated operating conditions

^f HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) means the total heating output of a heat pump during its normal annual usage period for heating divided by the total electric energy input during the same period

^g ISO means the International Organization for Standardization

^h COP (Coefficient of Performance) means a unitless ratio of the rate of heat removal or heat delivery to the rate of energy input, in consistent units, for a complete refrigerating or heat pump system under designated operating conditions

ⁱ CAE (Combined Annual Efficiency) means the overall efficiency of a heating system in providing both space heating and water heating in KBtu/h

^j ASHRAE means the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers

(6) ventilation fans:

(i) has installed only ventilation fans that meet the minimum energy efficiency levels set forth in Table 8 of this section determined in accordance with the test procedures set forth in Table 8 of this section; and

(ii) has installed only combination ventilation fan(s) that meets the efficiency specifications set forth in Table 8 of this section and the light source criteria set forth in Table 9 of this section.

Table 8: Minimum Efficiency Requirements for Ventilation Fans Using Home Ventilating Institute Publications 915, 916 and 920 Test Criteria for Ventilation Fans

Product	Airflow	Efficiency Requirement
Range Hoods	Up to 500 cubic feet per minute (max)	2.8 cubic feet per minute/watt
Bathroom and Utility Room Fans	10-80 cubic feet per minute	1.4 cubic feet per minute/watt
Bathroom and Utility Fans	90-130 cubic feet per minute	2.8 cubic feet per minute/watt
Bathroom and Utility Fans	140-500 cubic feet per minute (max)	2.8 cubic feet per minute/watt
In-Line Ventilating Fans		2.8 cubic feet per minute/watt

Table 9: Light Source Criteria for Combination Ventilation Fans

Performance Characteristic	Specification
System Efficiency per lamp ballast combination, Lumens per Watt (LPW)	≥ 46 LPW for all lamp types below 30 total listed lamp watts ≥ 60 LPW for all lamp types that are ≤ 24 inches and ≥ 30 listed lamp watts ≥ 70 LPW for all lamp types that are ≥ 24 inches and ≥ 30 listed lamp watts
Maximum Total Lamp Wattage (excluding night lights)	≤ 50 Watts
Maximum Night Light Wattage	≤ 4 Watts

(b) A residential building of not more than three stories in height above grade, containing four or fewer dwelling units, shall have met or exceeded the following performance specifications:

(1) building envelope: has installed a building envelope that has five or fewer air changes per hour (ACH) measured at a pressure difference of 50 pascals, using a blower door; and

(2) duct leakage:

(i) has conducted duct leakage testing using the blower door subtraction method, flow hood test, or duct pressure test, and such leakage shall not exceed 6 cubic feet per minute to outdoors at a pressure difference of 25 pascals per 100 square feet of conditioned floor area; or

(ii) has only installed ducts and a furnace or heat pump in conditioned space and has determined that building envelope leakage using a blower door test is less than or equal to 3 air changes per hour (ACH) at a pressure difference of 50 pascals; and

(3) mechanical ventilation:

(i) has installed only an automatically controlled mechanical ventilation system that meets the minimum ventilation requirements set forth in Table 10 of this section determined in accordance with Table 10 of this section, using the calculation methods prescribed by ANSI/ASHRAE 62.2-2007; and

(ii) has installed only a mechanical ventilation system that operates automatically, without occupant intervention, exhausts to the exterior of the building, and has a readily available and accessible override control.

Table 10: Minimum Ventilation Requirements Using ANSI^a/ASHRAE^b 62.2-2007

Minimum Ventilation Requirement (cubic feet per minute)

Square Footage		← Number of Bedrooms→
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	1000	25	33	40	48	55	63	70
1001	1500	30	38	45	53	60	68	75
1501	2000	35	43	50	58	65	73	80
2001	2500	40	48	55	63	70	78	85
2501	3000	45	53	60	68	75	83	90
3001	3500	50	58	65	73	80	88	95
3501	4000	55	63	70	78	85	93	100
4001	4500	60	68	75	83	90	98	105
4501	5000	65	73	80	88	95	103	110
5001	5500	70	78	85	93	100	108	115
5501	6000	75	83	90	98	105	113	120

^a ANSI means the American National Standards Institute

^b ASHRAE means the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers

                    
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