DOE to Enforce Updated ASHRAE Energy Standard

In a recent ruling, the U.S. Department of Energy decided to mandate that state energy codes meet the requirements of the Association of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ 1999 energy conservation standard.

By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff August 19, 2002

In a recent ruling, the U.S. Department of Energy decided to mandate that state energy codes meet the requirements of the Association of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ 1999 energy conservation standard.

Whereas DOE’s commercial-building reference standard was formerly ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1989 Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings , the DOE has determined that ASHRAE’s 1999 version will save more energy.

According to DOE’s analysis, with the updated standard, new building efficiency should improve by about 6%.

DOE’s ruling, under the federal Energy Conservation and Production Act, requires all states to certify that either Standard 90.1-1999 is in place, or an energy code at least as stringent. The ruling also allows states to justify if and why they are unable to comply at the time.

For more information on Standard 90.1-1999, visit www.ashrae.org .