DOE Ruling Requires States to Meet ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004

ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 became the new commercial building reference standard for state building energy codes under the Federal Energy Policy Act after a December 30th ruling from the Department of Energy. States must now certify that their building codes meet the requirements in the 2004 energy efficiency standard, which is estimated to save between 12 and 14 percent more energy than ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999, the version previously referenced in the Act.

Among the 2004 version's 13 positive impacts noted by DOE are increased stringency of envelope requirements, complete replacement of interior lighting power density allowances, and greater geographic expansion of economizer requirements. ASHRAE is currently working on the 2010 version of Standard 90.1 with a goal of achieving 30 percent energy savings compared to Standard 90.1-2004 as part of its target to achieve market-viable net-zero-energy buildings by 2015.

View the ASHRAE press release.