DOE Requires More Stringent Energy Codes for States

In a recent ruling, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) updated the energy code used by states in crafting their own codes for commercial buildings. All states now must have codes equal to or more stringent than ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 or apply for an exemption; the previous requirement referenced the 1999 version of the standard. The change represents a 12% increase in site energy savings, according to DOE.

Fewer than half the states currently meet this requirement, and several have no statewide codes at all (see

EBN

Vol. 17, No. 4).