More than 30% energy savings can be achieved using the 2016 version of Standard 90.1, according ASHRAE. The savings was found during a recent analysis conducted by Pacific Northwest National Laboratories (PNNL) in support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program.

An update on the preliminary results of the 90.1-2016 progress indicator report was made at the recent 2017 ASHRAE Winter Conference. ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2016, Energy Efficiency Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, was published in October 2016.

PNNL conducted the energy savings analysis using the 2004 standard as baseline. These results are considered preliminary and are expected to be deemed final in October 2017 when DOE publishes its final determination.

PNNL’s analysis shows for the whole building energy consumptions, national aggregated site energy savings are 34.1% and energy cost savings are 34.2%, when compared to the 2004 standard.

“For more than 40 years, ASHRAE and IES members have strived to build upon the energy savings measures in each update of Standard 90.1, most recently released in its 10th edition,” said Tim Wentz, ASHRAE president. “Each year the challenge grows as technology becomes more efficient. That we continue to build upon the savings speaks to the ability of our industry to adapt and transform as those technologies change and more advanced technologies become more cost effective.”

 “The Illuminating Engineering Society has actively engaged with ASHRAE since 1975 providing technical support and co-developing standards,” said Mark Lien, IES industry relations manager and liaison to the Standard 90.1 committee. “Compliance with recommended light levels is verified using a database of luminaires. These baseline products were reevaluated and updated to reflect the market shift toward higher efficiency lighting sources. We are proud of the dedicated members of the Lighting Subcommittee and the Standard 90.1 committee and their significant contribution to the energy savings achieved by the 2016 version.”

On a nationally aggregated level, building-type energy savings range from 11.9% (fast food restaurants) to 48.6% (schools) and energy-cost savings from 15.3% (large offices) to 49.8% (schools). These figures include energy use and cost from the whole building energy consumptions including plug and process loads.

Sixteen different building prototypes were modeled in 17 different climate locations for a total of 272 building types in various climate zones that were incorporated into this analysis.

The energy reduction calculation was achieved through more than 120 addenda incorporated in the standard related to changes to requirements. The major changes in those addenda:

• Updated controls for emergency lighting

• Improved window U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient

• Improved coiling door air leakage requirements

• Updated parking lot occupancy controls

• Updated opaque door U-factor

• Established minimum chilled water systems coil selection Delta T

• Updated transformer efficiency requirements

• Added domestic hot water branch insulation

• Reduced heat rejection VFD threshold

• Raised minimum exhaust air energy recovery threshold

• Reduced exterior and interior lighting allowances

• Updated fenestration orientation

• Included service factor in heat rejection VFD threshold

• Updated motor efficiencies

• Improved hotel/motel guest room control

• Reduced pumping VFD threshold

• Required high-efficiency dwelling unit lighting

• Reduced retail lighting adder

• Eliminated computer room economizer threshold

• Removed ventilation optimization exception for energy recovery ventilator

• Updated transfer air requirements

• Updated climate zones.