ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004, "Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings," provides minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design of buildings except low-rise residential buildings.

"Standard 90.1-2004 has undergone a dramatic makeover, resulting in a document with a more readable format that is easier to use for practitioners," said Jerry White, chair of the standard committee. "New technical requirements and stringency levels are presented in a more consistent format, making them easy to find and apply to building designs."

By making the standard easier to use, it will be used more, according to White. More use would result in more energy being saved.

The standard contains a new appendix to rate the energy efficiency of building designs that exceed its minimum requirements. The guidance provided in this appendix should be beneficial to HVAC designers who are trying to achieve the required points for either a Silver or Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification of a facility, according to White.

For designers who are participating in a LEED-certification design, the standard's energy cost budget method was produced in collaboration with representatives of the U.S. Green Building Council. Changes to major sections of the standard include: lighting, mechanical, climate zones, and energy cost budget (ECB) method.

The cost of Standard 90.1-2004, "Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings," is $110 ($88 for ASHRAE members).

To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), fax 404-321-5478, by mail at 1791 Tullie Circle NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, or visit the ASHRAE online bookstore at www.ashrae.org.

Publication date: 01/10/2005