Preliminary analysis from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) shows that the ASHRAE/IES’s 2013 energy efficiency standard contains energy savings over the 2010 standard of 8.5% source energy and 7.6% site energy.
As a result, DOE could establish the 2013 standard as the commercial building reference standard for state building energy codes. Today, states must meet or exceed the 2010 ASHRAE standard—the commercial building reference standard for state building energy codes under the federal Energy Conservation and Production Act.
DOE says the energy savings reflect improvements in ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, which includes provisions related to better lighting, fans, commercial refrigeration, boilers, and controls. DOE is now accepting comments on this preliminary determination.
The 2013 standard contains 52 positive impacts on energy efficiency including:
• Control requirements for lighting alternations
• New requirements for individual fans
• Reduction of energy usage for large boilers
• Reduction of fan energy usage
• New efficiency requirements for commercial refrigeration
• More controls in more spaces and reduction of time to reduction or shut off of those controls
• Reduction of lighting power density in most building types
More information can be found at http://www.energycodes.gov/regulations/determinations.
(https://www.ashrae.org/news/2014/doe-takes-first-step-in-updating-national-reference-standard-for-commercial-buildings-to-90-1-2013)
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Feb 12, 2016
Huge fraud case involving alleged engineering impostors uncovered in California
Hundreds of buildings may have to be demolished.
Codes and Standards | Feb 11, 2016
New York governor makes emergency design-build authorization
The declaration was issued in response to Winter Storm Jonas which dumped over 18 inches of snow in parts of the state.
Green | Jan 29, 2016
USGBC names top 10 states for LEED green building
Illinois leads the list for the third straight year.
Codes and Standards | Jan 25, 2016
Dept. of Energy releases decision guides for plug and process loads
Plug and process loads consume about 30% of the primary energy in U.S. commercial buildings today.
Codes and Standards | Jan 22, 2016
ConsensusDocs releases new multi-party IPD agreement and joining agreement
The documents serve as a comprehensive revision of previous IPD agreement
Codes and Standards | Jan 22, 2016
State Savings Calculator analyzes savings associated with energy codes
The calculator breaks down the cost-effectiveness of energy codes on a state-by-state basis.
Codes and Standards | Jan 22, 2016
Metal Roofing Seaming Guide published by Metal Construction Association
The free document is specifically tailored for metal roof installation.
Codes and Standards | Jan 22, 2016
Treasury Dept. will start crackdown on illicit money in luxury real estate
The move is expected to impact high-end condo development.
Resiliency | Jan 13, 2016
LEED credits on resiliency expected to influence future of building design
Post-disaster survivability is a key goal.
Codes and Standards | Jan 12, 2016
Batteries are the next step in raising sustainability standards
Battery technology will reduce electricity costs and promote a more stable, flexible grid.