ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 44

Section Definitions Administration and Enforcement Building Envelope HVAC and SWH Lighting and Power Energy Cost Budget Method References Climatic Data Total 90.12001 1 2 9 12 8 2 90.12004 1 1 16 6 4 2 2 90.12007 Total 1 3 10 13 9 6 5 1 44 20 41 23 12 7 3 110 Table 2: 90.1 addenda from 2001 to 2007 versions. Addenda refine and improve the standard. which marked the beginning of a new era. This allowed users to know when new editions will be published. Each new edition contained any errata, as well as all new addenda processed through the continuous maintenance process. The 2001 edition was best characterized as a cleanup of issues carried over from the 1999 edition. Thirty-four addenda were processed, approved and integrated into the 2001 edition. Table 1 presents a breakdown of the addenda by each major section of the standard. By the time the 2004 edition was published, the SSPC had processed 32 new addenda, and significant changes were incorporated. The overall theme was to improve the ease of use and clarity of the standard. Accompanying a reformatting of the entire standard, the number of climate zones for the envelope and mechanical sections was reduced from 26 to eight as part of a national alignment for all energy codes. The lighting power density requirements were reduced, and many HVAC equipment efficiencies were improved. Finally, Appendix G, Performance Rating Method, was introduced for use in rating the energy efficiency of building designs that exceed the requirements of the standard. The 2007 edition of the standard was published with 44 new addenda (Table 1). Collectively, these addenda were characterized as incremental refinements or modifications that improve the overall energy stringency of the standard, not any wholesale changes or additions. As with previous versions of Standard 90.1, DOE was required to complete a determination to quantify the energy savings of one edition of the standard to the next. DOE incorporated the 2001 and 2004 versions into a single determina2009 tion, with the 2004 edition determined to save 13.9% source and 11.9% site energy relative to the 1999 edition. The 2007 determination has not yet been officially released but a preliminary announcement by DOE estimates a 5% site energy savings relative to the 2004 version. Interest in this committee can be illuminated by the number of project committee voting members, which includes organizational members and their alternates. The 2001 committee had 51 voting members, 2004 had 57 and 2007 had 49. In addition, each committee had project subcommittee voting members and consultants. Applications are continuously accepted, however, appointments require a sincere commitment and dedication for participation. Merle McBride. Ph.D., P.E., is a Senior Research Associate at the Owens Corning Center of Science and Technology in Granville, Ohio. He is a member of SSPC 90.1 and was chair from 1990 to 1994. He is chair of SSPC 90.2 and a member of SPC 189.1 and the Standards Committee. Standard 90.1-2010 and Beyond By Mick Schwedler, P Member ASHRAE .E., n considering the future of Standard 90.1, we know the general direction: reduced building energy use and reduced building energy costs. What may not be as clear is how far these reductions will go, or how they will occur. The issue of how far building energy use and building energy costs can be reduced is addressed in the first section of the standard: “The purpose of this standard is to provide minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design of buildings except low-rise residential buildings.” Two important clauses are “minimum requirements” and “energy-efficient design.” The SSPC 90.1 members and ASHRAE leadership continually grapple with issues such as: • Can minimum requirements mean net-zero energy use in buildings? • How cost-effective should the measures within the standard be? There are no simple answers. As energy costs rise, many building system technologies become more cost effective and able to achieve consensus. In addition, there may be some buildings that in the future could be required to be net-zero buildings. Are we there today? No. The unanimously approved work plan goal for Standard 90.1-2010 is: “A document that has a 30% total energy cost savings improvement compared to Standard I DOE establishes 90.1-2004 as standard for saving energy in buildings. Standard 90.1-2010 will significantly reduce energy use and energy costs when compared with 90.1-2004. ASHRAE Journal ashrae.org March 2010

ASHRAE Journal - March 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - March 2010