The third draft of the nation’s first standard for high-performance buildings, currently out for public comment through June 15, has stricter energy conservation provisions and reflects input from a broader cross-section of experts, according to its developer.
National laboratories currently are using energy modeling to determine how much more savings could be generated using the latest version of the proposed standard compared to previous versions. “I would anticipate [savings would go] up at least another 5%,” says Kent Peterson, chair of the committee writing American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standard 189.1, and principal of P2S Engineering Inc., Long Beach, Calif. The standard, which is being developed by ASHRAE with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America and the U.S. Green Building Council, addresses performance of new commercial buildings and major renovations to buildings.