by Shane Henson — November 25, 2011—Commercial buildings may soon be required to meet the 2010 version of the ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings, Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, following the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) analysis that compared it to the 2007 version of the standard.
According to DOE, buildings constructed to meet the energy efficiency standard issued in 2010 stand to reduce energy use by 18.5%, compared with buildings that meet the 2007 standard. DOE’s analysis shows that implementing the 2010 version of Standard 90.1 will save commercial building owners energy and money, help them meet their sustainability goals, and reduce carbon pollution.
DOE analyzes the energy codes published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) to determine the potential for energy efficiency improvements in buildings that adhere to the code.
When DOE issues a final determination, states are expected to review the new code provisions and update their building code to meet or exceed the energy efficiency of the new standard within two years.
