In the past, says ASHRAE, practitioners have developed their own sense of what constitutes an energy-efficient building based on experience, the types of activities within specific buildings, and any history of achieving reductions in energy use in comparable buildings. "This knowledge has gaps and is not easily transferable because it is based on many years of experience regarding expected patterns of use for a specific building type," stated Jason Glazer, P.E. "Without data to back it up, the knowledge is insufficient since practitioners may arrive at differing assessments of the same building."

Among current ASHRAE research projects is 1286-TRP, Evaluation of Building Energy Performance Rating Protocols. Glazer, principal engineer, GARD Analytics Inc., Park Ridge, Ill., will serve as principal investigator. The project is expected to take two years to complete with ASHRAE contributing $135,500. It is sponsored by ASHRAE Technical Committee 7.6, Systems Energy Utilization.