by Shane Henson — August 22, 2011—Facilities managers starting work in upcoming years in new federal buildings across the United States, as well as in commercial buildings, will notice a higher level of energy efficiency in their facilities due to stricter energy standards adopted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Through a recent ruling by the DOE, ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, was adopted as the new federal energy standard since it was determined it would save more energy than the 2004 version. As a result, states are required to certify by July 20, 2013 that they have reviewed and updated the provisions of their commercial building code regarding energy efficiency, including a demonstration that the provisions of their commercial building codes regarding energy efficiency meet or exceed 90.1-2007.
The DOE also has issued a rule that requires new federal buildings, for which the design for construction begins on or after October 11, 2012 to meet the requirements of 90.1-2007, so facilities personnel in federal facilities will be the first to feel the effects of the new requirements. Facilities managers may need to work closely with building systems’ designs to ensure the requirements are met.
The DOE noted that the newer version of the 2004 standard contained 11 positive impacts on energy efficiency. The positive impacts include:
- Increased requirements for building vestibules;
- Removal of data processing centers and hotel rooms from exceptions to HVAC; and
- Modification of requirements regarding demand controlled ventilation, fan power limitations, retail display lighting requirements, cooling tower testing requirements, commercial boiler requirements, part load fan requirements, opaque envelope requirements, and fenestration envelope requirements.
