by Brianna Crandall — March 7, 2018 — Global building technology society ASHRAE received a final determination issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program stating that ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2016, Energy Efficiency Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, would achieve greater energy efficiency in commercial buildings subject to the code. Standard 90.1-2016, used as the basis for state building energy codes, was published in October 2016.
The standard achieved this determination through DOE analysis indicating that buildings meeting 90.1-2016 (as compared to the previous 2013 edition) would result in national energy cost savings of approximately 8.2 percent, as regulated by the model code.
2017-2018 ASHRAE President Bjarne W. Olesen, Ph.D., stated:
Standard 90.1 has been a trusted source of guidance on energy efficiency requirements to built-environment professionals for more than 40 years. DOE’s final determination serves to reinforce the standing of 90.1 as the US commercial building energy efficiency standard.
The following are DOE’s estimates of national savings in commercial buildings:
- 8.3% energy cost savings
- 7.9% source energy savings
- 6.8% site energy savings
This 2016 version of 90.1 is the 10th edition published since the original standard was first published in 1975 during the energy crisis of the United States. Standard 90.1 provides the minimum requirements for energy-efficient design of most buildings, except low-rise residential buildings. It offers, in detail, the minimum energy efficiency requirements for design and construction of new buildings and their systems, new portions of buildings and their systems, and new systems and equipment in existing buildings, as well as criteria for determining compliance with these requirements.
States are required to certify that the provisions of its commercial building code regarding energy efficiency have been reviewed and, as necessary, updated codes to meet or exceed the updated edition of Standard 90.1.
More information on DOE’s determination, along with supporting analysis and public comments received, is available on the Building Energy Codes Program Web site.
