Proposed changes designed to improve the energy
efficiency of buildings covered by ASHRAE Standard 90.1 are open for public
comment.
The standard provides minimum requirements for the
energy-efficient design of most buildings. Currently, 18 proposed addenda to the
standard are open for review.
“As we move toward publication
of the 2010 standard, the 90.1 committee is considering many changes to reduce
building energy use and cost,” said Mick Schwedler, chairman of the American
Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers Society
committee handling the revisions. “The proposed addenda that are out for review
move toward our goal of 30 percent energy-cost savings.”
Among
the proposals is an addendum that would require a supply air temperature reset
in multiple-zone HVAC systems. Balancing the reset with an increase in fan
energy can substantially reduce system energy use, Schwedler
said.
“A preliminary energy analysis indicates that the
whole building energy savings for buildings affected by this requirement is
between 2.5 and 3 percent,” he said.
Another proposed
addendum would provide new requirements for continuous air barriers. Schwedler
noted that while performance requirements have existed for fenestration and
door products, evidence suggests that the opaque envelope is the source of the
majority of air leakage in buildings.
“A working group
comprised of many interested parties developed an energy saving proposal that
we hope will lead to acceptance and adoption,” Schwedler said.
The
proposed addenda are available during the public review period. To read the
addenda or to comment, visitwww.ashrae.org/publicreviews.
Changes proposed to ASHRAE standard
September 1, 2009
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