ATLANTA - Recommendations on achieving 30 percent energy savings over minimum code requirements are contained in the newly released Advanced Energy Design Guide for Highway Lodging, published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). This energy savings guidance for the design of new hotels is said to provide a first step toward achieving a net-zero-energy building.

“The recommendations allow the building industry to create more energy-efficient hotels while maintaining the quality and functionality of the space to provide a pleasant guest experience,” said Ron Jarnagin, chair of the committee that wrote the book.

ASHRAE said the book gives guidance to architects, engineers, contractors, and other building team members on how to easily achieve advanced levels of energy savings without having to resort to detailed calculations or analyses. The book was written in partnership with the American Institute of Architects, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The guide focuses on typical hotels found along highways that have up to 80 rooms, generally four stories or less, that use unitary heating and air conditioning equipment. Buildings of these types with these HVAC configurations represent a significant amount of commercial hotel space in the United States.

Examples of advanced highway lodging energy designs are provided in case studies to illustrate the recommendations. Although the guidance targets new hotels, some of the design tips in the guide that allow hotels to save energy immediately are appropriate for existing hotels as well.

The book is available for free download at www.ashrae.org/freeaedg. Hard copies are also available for purchase.

The cost of the print version of Advanced Energy Design Guide for Highway Lodging is $62 ($53 members). To order a print copy of the book, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), fax 404-321-5478, or visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore.

Publication date: 07/13/2009