Schumer Energy Plan Reinforces ASHRAE Guidance

ATLANTA – With the announcement of Sen. Charles Schumer’s (D-NY) amendments to H.R. 6, the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ goal of moving toward net-zero energy use in buildings is reinforced. Sen. Schumer has included ASHRAE guidance in the amendments, specifically future versions of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1, ASHRAE’s flagship building energy standard.

A vote on the proposed legislation is expected within the next week in the Senate.

Sen. Schumer’s plan calls for a 30 percent increase in energy efficiency in Standard 90.1 over the 2004 version by 2015 and 50 percent improvement by 2022. ASHRAE’s current goal is to achieve 30 percent energy savings by 2010. Standard 90.1 is currently the basis for buildings codes across the United States.

While ASHRAE has no official stance on the plan and is not offering an endorsement, ASHRAE President Terry Townsend appreciates the attention being given to sustainable buildings and the importance of Standard 90.1. “ASHRAE has been involved in creating standards for more efficient buildings since the energy crisis of the 1970s,” says Townsend. “We appreciate the recognition of the importance of Standard 90.1, and we will continue on our mission of moving toward achieving net-zero-energy buildings. We welcome this topic being discussed in the national spotlight.”

ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 was developed during the energy crisis to create a baseline for energy use in buildings. Now, more than 30 years later, the standard has been adopted into building codes worldwide.
ASHRAE offers substantial guidance on building energy reduction through its series of Advanced Energy Design Guide publications that give prescriptive guidance on achieving 30 percent energy savings. ASHRAE aims to follow up the 30 percent series with 50 percent reduction guidance, beginning early next year. The first and second guides were for small office and small retail buildings, respectively, and guides for K-12 schools and warehouses will be published in December 2007.

ASHRAE’s energy efficiency related activities also include offering technical guidance to cities involved in the Clinton Climate Initiative, which recently announced its Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program, which will reduce energy use in existing buildings in 16 of the world’s largest cities. “Buildings in the United States account for 40 percent of total energy use,” says Townsend. “Making existing buildings more efficient is key to reducing energy and carbon emissions.”

ASHRAE also continues work on proposed Standard 189, developed in conjunction with the U.S. Green Building Council and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. Out for public review until July 9, the standard will provide minimum guidelines for green building practices. Standard 189, applicable to new commercial buildings and major renovation projects, will address energy efficiency, a building’s impact on the atmosphere, sustainable sites, water use efficiency, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. The organizations involved in its creation hope the standard is adopted into buildings codes upon completion.

For more information on ASHRAE and its technical guidance, visit www.ashrae.org.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education.

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