WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate last week passed S.10, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which now goes to a conference committee of the Senate and House of Representatives to work out the differences between their two versions of the energy bill. President Bush has urged the committee to send him a final bill for his signature before the August recess.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) notes that ASHRAE Standard 90.1 figures prominently in the Senate-passed bill.

An energy efficiency provision provides a tax deduction of up to $2.25 per square foot for new or renovated commercial buildings that exceed the ASHRAE 90.1-2001 standard by 50 percent. Federal energy efficiency goals for government buildings include exceeding the ASHRAE 90.1 standard by 30 percent.

Publication date: 07/04/2005