Net-Zero Mart? Big-Box Design Guide Offers 50% Energy Savings

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released the third in its series of guides for 50% energy reduction in commercial and public buildings toward the goal of net-zero energy use. The “Advanced Energy Design Guide for Medium to Big Box Retail Buildings” is aimed at designers, contractors, and facility managers in the retail sector. Compared to the 2004 building energy code used in much of the country, the new guide is intended to help retail building owners achieve a 50% reduction in energy use in new construction or through deep energy retrofits “without having to resort to detailed calculations or analysis.” Divided into sections addressing numerous aspects of design and renovation—from energy modeling and benchmarking to the specifics of daylighting, plug loads, HVAC, and parking-lot lighting—the guide gives detailed recommendations based on a building’s climate zone and includes case studies and relevant ASHRAE standards for recommended installations. The guide is available for free download at www.ashrae.org.