The U.S. Department of Energy today announced the release of the first in a new series of Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDGs) to aid architects and engineers in the design of highly energy-efficient office buildings. The 50% AEDG series will provide a practical approach to commercial buildings designed to achieve 50% energy savings compared to the commercial building energy code used in many areas of the country. This 50% AEDG for Small and Medium Office Buildings is the first in a series of four to be released in the coming months. These commercial building guides support President Obama’s goal to reduce energy use in commercial buildings 20% by 2020 and will help drive demand for energy-saving products made in the United States.
Not only will these guides help builders achieve performance beyond the current energy code, but they will also provide recommendations detailing how designers can incorporate available technology to achieve these savings. The guides help architects and engineers choose energy-efficient designs for daylighting, building envelope assemblies, and heating and cooling systems, among other technologies. The guides also recommend equipment commonly available from manufacturers and reduce the time and cost burdens otherwise required in order for designers to individually model energy use for specific high performance buildings. Additionally, the guides will inform the development of future commercial building energy codes.
The Advanced Energy Design Guide for 50% energy savings in Small and Medium Office Buildings is now available for free download.
The 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide series is being developed through a partnership with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), American Institute of Architects (AIA), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA). The Small and Medium Office guide is the first installment in the 50% Series, which will address three additional major commercial building types: K-12 Schools, Medium to Big Box Retail Buildings, and Large Hospitals.
The Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings is the second guide being developed in the 50% series, and is currently open for peer review through Friday, May 13, 2011. This guide is intended to provide user-friendly, 'how-to' design guidance and efficiency recommendations for elementary, middle and high school buildings, resulting in facilities that consume 50% less energy than conventional schools.
Interested parties may download a copy of the draft. The download link is under the 'Planned Guides' heading halfway down the page. Please also download the review input form and instructions to record and submit your review marks. The final version is scheduled for completion in September 2011.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Mar 4, 2015
Must see: Egypt planning 656-foot pyramid skyscraper in Cairo
Zayed Crystal Spark Tower will stand 200 meters tall and will be just a short distance from the pyramids of Giza.
Transit Facilities | Mar 4, 2015
5+design looks to mountains for Chinese transport hub design
The complex, Diamond Hill, will feature sloping rooflines and a mountain-like silhouette inspired by traditional Chinese landscape paintings.
Energy Efficiency | Mar 4, 2015
DOE launches crowdsourcing website for technology innovators
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory launched a new crowdsourcing website called the Buildings Crowdsoucing Community to collect and share ideas by innovators for energy-efficient technologies to use in homes and buildings.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 3, 2015
10 kitchen and bath design trends for 2015
From kitchens made for pet lovers to floating vanities, the nation's top kitchen and bath designers identify what's hot for 2015.
Office Buildings | Mar 3, 2015
Former DuPont lab to be converted into business incubator near UPenn campus
The new Pennovation Center will provide collaborative and research spaces for educators, scientists, students, and the private sector.
Sponsored | BIM and Information Technology | Mar 3, 2015
The great debate: Is 3D PDF really BIM?
You can pull apart buildings, cut through floors, and view simulated animation for assembly instructions all within a PDF.
K-12 Schools | Mar 2, 2015
BD+C special report: What it takes to build 21st-century schools
How the latest design, construction, and teaching concepts are being implemented in the next generation of America’s schools.
Codes and Standards | Mar 2, 2015
Proposed energy standard for data centers, telecom buildings open for public comment
The intent of ASHRAE Standard 90.4P is to create a performance-based approach that would be more flexible and accommodating of innovative change.
K-12 Schools | Mar 1, 2015
Are energy management systems too complex for school facility staffs?
When school districts demand the latest and greatest, they need to think about how those choices will impact the district’s facilities employees.
Office Buildings | Mar 1, 2015
Google unveils dramatic tent-like, modular-focused plan for corporate HQ
The master plan by Bjarke Ingels and Thomas Heatherwick will wrap highly flexible office blocks in soaring translucent canopies.