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Ashrae 90.1

There’s a lot going on when it comes to energy code compliance. From the Ashrae 90.1 standards to local and national guidelines, it can be hard to keep up with all of this information. This is where our team comes in.
 

ASHRAE Standard 90.1, formally known as ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1, is a crucial energy standard for buildings in the United States and beyond. Here's a breakdown of what it entails:  

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  • Purpose:

    • It sets minimum requirements for energy-efficient designs for buildings, excluding low-rise residential buildings.  

    • Its goal is to reduce energy consumption in buildings, which is a significant factor in overall energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.  

  • Scope:

    • It covers various aspects of building design and construction, including:

      • Building envelope (insulation, windows, etc.)  

      • HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems  

      • Lighting  

      • Power systems  

      • Domestic hot water systems  

      • Other equipment.

    • The standard is expanding to include site energy usage, such as parking lot lighting

  • Key Features:

    • It's developed and maintained by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) and jointly sponsored by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).  

    • It's a continuously updated standard, reflecting advancements in energy-efficient technologies.  

    • It provides both prescriptive and performance-based compliance options, offering flexibility in building design.  

    • It is used as a baseline for many state and local building energy codes.  

    • It is also used as a standard for programs such as LEED. 

  • Importance:

    • ASHRAE 90.1 plays a vital role in promoting energy efficiency in commercial buildings, contributing to energy savings and environmental sustainability.

Key Aspects:

  • Continuous Maintenance:

    • A critical factor in ASHRAE 90.1's relevance is its "continuous maintenance" status. This means it's regularly updated to incorporate the latest energy-efficient technologies and practices. This ensures the standard remains current and effective.

  • Compliance Paths:

    • ASHRAE 90.1 offers flexibility through different compliance paths:

      • Prescriptive Path: This approach provides specific requirements for building components (e.g., insulation levels, equipment efficiencies). Designers must ensure each component meets these minimum standards.

      • Performance Path: This allows for more design flexibility. Designers can demonstrate that the overall building energy performance meets or exceeds the standard's requirements through energy modeling and simulations. This is very important for innovative building design.

  • Impact on Building Codes:

    • ASHRAE 90.1 serves as a foundational document for many state and local building energy codes in the United States. This means that its requirements are often legally enforced, driving widespread adoption of energy-efficient building practices.

  • Influence on Green Building Programs:

    • Programs like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rely heavily on ASHRAE 90.1. Compliance with the standard can contribute to earning LEED certification, demonstrating a building's commitment to sustainability.

  • Expanding Scope:

    • It is important to note that the scope of ASHRAE 90.1 is expanding. Newer versions of the standard are starting to include site energy usage. This means that items such as parking lot lighting, and on site renewable energy generation are now being taken into account. This is a very important evolution of the standard.

  • Global Influence:

    • While primarily a U.S. standard, ASHRAE 90.1 has influence internationally, with other countries using it as a reference or model for their own energy efficiency standards.

 

In essence:

ASHRAE 90.1 is a dynamic and essential tool for improving building energy efficiency. It's a key driver of sustainable building practices, contributing to energy savings, reduced environmental impact, and more comfortable and efficient buildings.

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