Government Affairs Committee

Chair: Sam Harvey

 

The Government Affairs Committee (GAC) is actively involved in providing current and relevant information to chapter members regarding local and state governmental activities where the design industry, energy initiatives, and building codes may be impacted.  The Committee promotes ASHRAE standards to governing officials by being actively involved in keeping local, provincial and state governments updated on technical issues.

Since the establishment of the Government Affairs Committee in 2013, sharing ASHRAE resources with governmental officials has been the primary focus, from energy code impacts to risk mitigation for COVID-19 and Legionella.  Government Outreach Events are the main focus of GAC. Previously called "Day on the Hill" in reference to in-person visits at state capitol buildings, Government Outreach Events connect volunteers (now, virtually) with their representatives on the federal, state, and local level to discuss how ASHRAE can be a resource in topics related to the built environment, such as energy codes, refrigerant safety, energy efficiency in existing buildings, and indoor environmental quality. 

ASHRAE Atlanta members who are interested in taking a greater role in GAC's work should contact GAC Chair Sam Harvey. 

COVID-19 and Building Operations

Visit ASHRAE's COVID-19 Resources page for the latest in technical guidance from the Epidemic Task Force. 

Georgia Voter Information

Visit the Georgia My Voter Page to register to vote, check your voter registration details, and preview your ballot:  https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do

Legionella Resources

• CDC Worksheet to identify buildings at increased risk for Legionella growth and spread. 
• Standard 188-2018: Legionellosis, Risk Management for Building Water Systems - ASHRAE Standard 188 is essential for anyone involved in design, construction, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance, and service of centralized building water systems and components. More than 10,000 copies have been distributed to date. A read-only version can be accessed from the ASHRAE website.
• PreventLD Training - This free online training developed by CDC and partners can help individuals create a water management program. PreventLD Training aligns with industry standards like ASHRAE Standard 188-2018 to effectively manage risk for Legionella bacteria.

Current (January 1, 2020) Georgia Energy Code Resources

Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs maintains the list of all current mandatory and permissive state construction codes, as well as copies of the state-specific amendments for each code here: https://dca.ga.gov/local-government-assistance/construction-codes-industrialized-buildings/construction-codes

The US Department of Energy maintains an extensive database of building energy codes for all states: https://www.energycodes.gov/adoption/states/georgia

For residential buildings, the code follows the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (2015 IECC) plus Georgia State Supplements and Amendments (2020). For commercial buildings, there are two options:

• 2015 IECC plus Georgia State Supplements and Amendments (2019), OR
• ASHRAE 90.1-2013

The International Code Council provides free online access to the codes, including 2015 IECC here: 2015 International Energy Efficiency Code (online free read-only version) and All other I-Codes

For all Georgia State Supplements and Amendments to codes effective 1/1/2020: https://www.dca.ga.gov/node/5689

Additional code resources:

• Southface’s Commercial Energy Code Training Slides from September Chapter Meeting (pdf)
• Georgia State Amendments to the 2015 IECC (pdf)
• Code-referenced ASHRAE Standards (online free read-only versions)
• Southface’s Georgia Commercial Energy Code Field Guide (pdf)

Contact information for Department of Community Affairs Codes & Industrialized Buildings staff can be found on slide 2: https://www.dca.ga.gov/sites/default/files/energy_code_training_presentation_0.pdf

Stay up-to-date on government affairs around the country on the federal and state level, through ASHRAE's bi-weekly Government Affairs Update (GAU) emails - subscribe here.

Past ASHRAE Atlanta Advocacy Work

Smoke-Free ATL Success

Atlanta City Council passed the Atlanta Smokefree Air Ordinance (19-O-1205) on July 1, 2019, banning indoor smoking in all bars and restaurants and the airport starting January 2, 2020 (with exceptions for cigar bars and hookah bars). The ordinance was promoted by Smoke-Free ATL, a coalition led by the American Cancer Society Action Network. ASHRAE first published a position document on Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) in 2010 to affirm that the only means of effectively eliminating health risks associated with indoor ETS exposure is to ban all smoking activity. ASHRAE Atlanta supported this ordinance with a letter from 2018-19 ASHRAE President Sheila Hayter, and testimony at city council meetings by ASHRAE members Elliott Horner, Henry Slack, and Meghan McNulty. 

The Mayor’s Office of Resilience has several initiatives that address energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and sustainability.

• Clean Energy Plan – the draft of the city’s vision for a 100% clean energy future has been released: http://100atl.com/
• Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance (CBEEO) - The City of Atlanta's Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance requires owners of commercial buildings over 25,000 sf to benchmark their energy and water consumption on an annual basis, as well as have an ASHRAE Level 2 energy audit performed every 10 years. These steps identify opportunities to improve the economic and resource efficiency of a building that may otherwise be overlooked. You can view a list of properties covered by the ordinance here. To find out more information visit www.atlantabuildingefficiency.com
• • 2020 Extensions for Reporting Deadlines:
  • • Benchmarking: 2019 energy and water data must be submitted through Portfolio Manager by October 1, 2020
    • Energy Audits: properties with an energy audit due in 2020 have until December 31, 2021 to submit the summary audit report
  • ASHRAE Atlanta provided technical assistance to the OoR on the following two guides for building owners:
• • CBEEO Quick Compliance Guide: https://atlantabuildingbenchmarking.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/formatted-cbeeo-guide-final.pdf
  • A Guide to Energy Audits for Building Owners: https://atlantabuildingbenchmarking.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/formatted-energy-audit-guide-final.pdf