The building energy-use reporting tool released this month by the American Institute of Architects may help firms get a handle on how their designs compare to others regarding predicted energy consumption, but it won’t help designers comply with myriad statewide energy codes. Not only are there different codes in different states for both commercial and residential construction but statewide energy codes are constantly evolving, making it tough for designers to keep up with changes, say code experts.
State codes are generally based on model energy codes, which are “getting more rigorous,” said Dave Conover, senior technical adviser with DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Wash., at the AIA Convention 2010. The June 10-12 convention in Miami had more than 17,000 registrants.