ASHRAE has released a new standard that defines the terms "zero Energy" and "zero carbon" to describe buildings.
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 228-2023, Standard Method of Evaluating Zero Net Energy and Zero Net Carbon Building Performance, sets requirements for evaluating whether a building or group of buildings meets a definition of “zero net energy” or a definition of “zero net carbon” during operation. The standard draws from other ASHRAE standards to address energy and carbon flows across a site boundary, their measurement, and their balance.
“Achieving a zero energy building has been viewed by many as a difficult goal to meet, with unforeseeable roadblocks and differing guidance,” said Keith Emerson, P.E., Life Member ASHRAE, chair of the Standards Project Committee 228. Standard 228 provides a consistent method for determining whether new and existing sites have reached zero energy. We hope this standard will become a helpful resource for building professionals in strategic decarbonization planning.”
Features of Standard 228 include:
- Allowances for sites that lack the means to produce adequate renewable energy, while placing additional requirements on the use of external carbon and renewable energy in the calculation.
- Defined calculation of energy in terms of source—a multiplier on the energy crossing the site boundary including energy used or lost in extraction, generation, and transit to the site.
- The main energy calculation made in terms of annual average factors. Allowance is made for the calculation of individual hours where data is available.
Related Stories
| Mar 13, 2014
USGBC hits back at Environmental Policy Alliance criticism
The Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Policy Alliance has launched a campaign to make the claim that LEED-certified buildings are less energy efficient than other buildings. In response, USGBC told its members: "Don’t be fooled, the Environmental Policy Alliance isn’t the 'EPA' you might think."
| Mar 13, 2014
North Carolina board recommends switch to six-year code update cycle
In a nine to six vote, the North Carolina State Building Code Council on March 11 approved moving the commercial building code (except for the electrical code) to a six-year cycle for updating instead of a three-year cycle.
| Mar 13, 2014
OSHA’s funding disclosure requirement for those offering silica rule comments draws ire
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is requiring those who submit comments on the silica rule to disclose their funding sources for their scientific research to avoid conflict of interest.
| Mar 13, 2014
EPA publishes ‘best management practices’ rule on erosion, stormwater at construction sites
The Environmental Protection Agency published a new rule this month that will require the construction, housing, and utility sectors to carry out "best management practices" in order to prevent erosion and harmful stormwater discharges at construction sites.
| Mar 5, 2014
San Francisco board seeks remedies to code enforcement complaints
Two supervisors charged that a lack of adequate code enforcement has led to blight from dilapidated or unfinished buildings.
| Mar 5, 2014
Obama proposes $1 billion for climate change risk mitigation
President Barack Obama would spend $1 billion to “better understand the projected impacts of climate change,” encourage local action to reduce future risk, and fund technology and infrastructure that will be more resilient to climate change.
| Mar 5, 2014
Southern Forest Products Assn. revamps pressure-treated pine specifications
It provides information to assist with the proper specification and use of pressure-treated Southern Pine materials.
| Mar 5, 2014
UL, PRI Construction Materials Technologies reach product certification agreement
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Inc. reached an agreement with PRI Construction Materials Technologies LLC (PRI) through which PRI will participate in UL's "Data Acceptance Program," enabling the acceptance of data generated at PRI toward UL product certification.
| Mar 5, 2014
Quebec's building code doesn't meet needs of its aging population
The issue was raised in the wake of a tragic fire at a seniors' residence in L'Isle-Verte.
| Mar 4, 2014
Massachusetts Congressional delegation asks FEMA to slow flood zone map requirements
After a recent successful challenge of the scientific methodology used to redraw the coastal high-hazard zones, the Massachusetts congressional delegation is asking federal officials to put the brakes on new flood zone maps for the Bay State.
