by Brianna Crandall — April 26, 2021 — The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced its preliminary determination of energy savings for ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2019, preliminarily affirming that the updated code will increase energy efficiency in commercial buildings. The Department’s analysis, performed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), indicates that buildings meeting Standard 90.1-2019 (as compared to the previous 2016 edition) would result in national average energy savings of approximately:
- 4.7 percent site energy
- 4.3 percent source energy
- 4.3 percent energy cost
- 4.2 percent carbon emissions
Interested stakeholders are invited to submit public comments within 30 days from publication of this Notice in the Federal Register. DOE is required to issue its determination following the publication of an updated edition of Standard 90.1.
Upon publication of an affirmative determination, states are required to certify that they have reviewed the provisions of their commercial building code regarding energy efficiency, and, as necessary, updated their codes to meet or exceed the updated edition of Standard 90.1. Additionally, DOE provides guidance to states on submitting certification statements and requests for deadline extensions.
More information about the preliminary determination, including supplemental energy and cost savings analysis, is available via the DOE Building Energy Codes Program, which supports the advancement of building energy codes. Modern building codes and standards offer cost-effective solutions, contributing to lower utility bills for homes and businesses, and helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change, says DOE.
