Federal Buildings to Use More Rigorous ASHRAE 90.1-2010 Energy Standard

The Department of Energy is requiring new efficiency standards for federal buildings that it predicts will save 18% more energy.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently updated energy-efficiency standards for new federal commercial and multifamily high-rise buildings to use ASHRAE 90.1-2010 as a minimum design standard—an upgrade from ASHRAE 90.1-2007—and is requiring an additional 30% savings over the standard when cost-effective over the building’s life cycle.

The new rule, published in the Federal Register, is projected by DOE to save 18.2% in source energy in commercial buildings compared with ASHRAE 90.1-2007.

The update is part of the regular DOE review of ASHRAE 90.1 updates for federal buildings. Federal selection of energy code also affects state adoption, although many states lag behind their legal requirements.

The more rigorous standard will apply to buildings for which design begins on or after July 9, 2014.