ASHRAE North Alabama Chapter
ASHRAE-NEWS! January 2009 |
Jan. 25, 2009 Contact: Wendy Angel Public Relations 678-539-1216 wangel@ashrae.org ASHRAE Technology Awards Highlight Outstanding Building Projects
Eric Kirkland, P.E., Smithgroup, Phoenix, Ariz., receives second place in the new institutional buildings category for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Science and Technology Facility, Golden, Colorado.
January 6, 2009 Contact: Jodi Dunlop Public Relations 678-539-1140 Ruling Issued Dec. 30 Standard 90.1-2004 Established as National Reference Standard by DOE ATLANTA – States must now certify that their building codes meet the requirements in ASHRAE/IESNA’s 2004 energy efficiency standard, under a ruling issued by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) that finds the standard saves more energy than an earlier version. ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, has been established by the DOE as the commercial building reference standard for state building energy codes under the federal Energy Policy Act. The Act requires all states to certify that they have state energy codes in place that are at least as stringent as 90.1-2004, or justify why they cannot comply. The DOE determined that Standard 90.1-2004 saves more energy than Standard 90.1- 1999, which was the previously referenced standard in the Act. “The quantitative analysis of the energy consumption of buildings built to Standard 90.1-2004, as compared with buildings built to Standard 90.1-1999, indicates national source energy savings of approximately 13.9 percent of commercial building energy consumption. Site energy savings are estimated to be approximately 11.9 percent,” according to the ruling published in The Federal Register on Dec. 30, 2008. “ASHRAE is committed to continually improving building energy performance, so we are pleased with this recognition that the 2004 standard saves more energy,” ASHRAE President Bill Harrison said. “ASHRAE is currently working on the 2010 version of Standard 90.1 with a goal of achieving 30 percent energy savings compared to 90.1-2004 as part of our target to achieve market-viable net-zero-energy buildings by 2015.” “The Illuminating Engineering Society is pleased to receive the DOE’s positive determination on the site and source energy savings achieved by ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2004 compared to the 1999 standard,” said Rita Harrold, IES director of technology. She also expressed the Society’s appreciation for the contributions of the committee members responsible for developing the standard, which help further the goals of the sponsoring organizations, and for the diligence of the DOE in conducting the determination. The DOE noted that the newer version of the standard contained 13 positive impacts on energy efficiency. These impacts included changes made through the public review process in which users of the standard comment and offer guidance on proposed requirements to the standard. The positive impacts include:
In addition, ASHRAE is working on providing more stringent energy guidance in a proposed standard for high-performance buildings. Being developed in partnership with IESNA and the U.S. Green Building Council, Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, will provide minimum requirements for the design of high-performance new commercial buildings and major renovation projects, addressing energy efficiency, a building’s impact on the atmosphere, sustainable sites, water use efficiency, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Since being developed in response to the energy crisis in the 1970s, Standard 90.1 now influences building designs worldwide. It has become the basis for building codes, and the standard for building design and construction throughout the United States. ASHRAE publishes a revised version of the standard every three years. The 2007 version of Standard 90.1 was released last year. ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education. ###
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December 2008 |
For Release: Dec. 30, 2008 Contact: Jodi Dunlop Public Relations 678-539-1140 Requirements to Standard 90.1 Proposed; Open for Public Comment ATLANTA – Changes to the purpose and scope of ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 as well as new lighting requirements are being proposed through public review. ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, provides minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design of buildings except low-rise residential buildings. Among the proposed addenda out for public review is addendum aq, which proposes changes to the purpose and scope of the standard. The proposed modification addresses applications not covered in the existing standard scope, such as requirements for laboratories, data center cooling and kitchen exhausts. It would also permit the 90.1 committee to address technologies, such as computer equipment and refrigerated casework, and would extend existing requirements for envelope, space cooling and lighting to a larger group of spaces where energy is consumed. “ASHRAE is committed to substantially reducing energy use in buildings,” Mark Hydeman, vice chair of the committee, said. “This addendum is a critical step toward achieving that goal. For example, it requires all cooling and heating equipment that operates under standard conditions to comply with the existing minimum efficiencies of the standard regardless of the facility that they are in. Manufacturing and process environments often operate at much longer hours than office buildings and retail facilities, which served as the basis for the life-cycle cost analysis of the minimum efficiencies.” Standard 90.1 currently addresses design and construction of buildings. The proposed addendum would add operation and maintenance, which allows incorporation of industry standards such as ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 180-2008, Standard Practice for Inspection and Maintenance of Commercial Building HVAC Systems. The addendum also incorporates utilization of on-site, renewable energy resources. “By including on-site and renewable energy resources in the scope, an appropriate mechanism was created for future requirements as well as credits for these energy resources not currently provided in the standard,” Hydeman said. Proposed addendum aq is open for public review until Feb. 2. Four other proposed addenda – ar, as, au and av – are open for review until Jan. 19, while a fifth addenda, at, is open until Jan. 4. Proposed addenda ar and av arerelated to lighting efficiencies. Proposed addendum ar revises an earlier version of the standard where expanded exterior lighting power limits were put in place but details were not included on calculating installed power and its comparison to the limits. Addendum av would require that in all spaces where alterations take place, all requirements of section 9 are met, not just the lighting power density requirements. The proposed addenda to ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 are available during their public review period. To read the addenda or to comment, visit www.ashrae.org/publicreviews. ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education. ### For Release: Dec. 10, 2008 Contact: Jodi Dunlop Public Relations 678-539-1140 ASHRAE Hosts Conference on Net-Zero Buildings ATLANTA – To help drive the building industry toward market-viable net-zero-energy buildings, ASHRAE is hosting a specialty conference on the topic in March in San Francisco. “We have a reached a time when the building industry is being called to shift to a new level of performance that will reduce our energy and carbon footprint,” Bill Harrison, ASHRAE president, said. “It is time to advance net-zero-energy building knowledge.” ASHRAE’s Countdown to a Sustainable Energy Future...Net-Zero and Beyond conference takes place March 29-31 at Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. The conference will provide a forum to discuss the role of policy and regulatory involvement in addition to providing application knowledge for the various aspects of net-zero-energy buildings for both residential and non-residential buildings. It will include building science, energy efficiency in HVAC, lighting and appliances, and renewable energy sources applied to buildings. To register or for more information, visit www.ashrae.org/netzeroconference. ASHRAE defines net-zero-energy buildings as those which, on an annual basis, use no more energy from the utility grid than is provided by on-site renewable energy sources. These buildings use 50 to 70 percent less energy than comparable traditional buildings, and the remaining energy use comes from renewable sources, like solar panels or wind turbines incorporated into the facility itself, according to Harrison. He noted that the state of California recently announced its goal of new residential developments being net-zero-energy by 2020 and new commercial developments being net-zero by 2030. “As the industry seeks solutions to these challenges, ASHRAE must be there to help disseminate the knowledge,” he said. ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education. ### ASHRAE Government Affairs Update, 12/5/08 ASHRAE Issues Recommendations to New U.S. President, Congress Updated National Action Plan Released The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy are helping states lead the way in an effort to promote low cost energy efficiency. More than 60 energy, environmental and state policy leaders from across the country have come together to produce the updated National Action Plan Vision for 2025: A Framework for Change. The action plan outlines strategies to help lower the growth in energy demand across the country by more than 50 percent, and shows ways to save more than $500 billion in net savings over the next 20 years. These actions may help to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 90 million vehicles. IT Related Energy Use Could Double By 2020 According to a new McKinsey & Company analysis, the energy required to power all of the world’s computers, data storage, and communications networks is expected to double by 2020. The rise in emissions is mainly due to greater Internet use in China and India, where coal-fired power plants generate most of the countries’ energy. China accounted for 23% of global emissions related to information technology (IT) last year. North America’s office technology caused a quarter of the world’s IT related emissions in 2002, but China is now the world leader in both overall greenhouse gas emissions and emissions from IT. Worldwide, IT systems’ emissions were equivalent to the annual CO 2 emissions from more than a half-billion automobiles. China and the world’s emerging economies, including India, Brazil and Indonesia, are expected to increase their IT emissions 9% annually. According to the study, the world’s 30.3 million servers and other IT systems now account for about 2% of global emissions, and by 2020, IT would be the cause of 1.54 gigatons (billion tons) of greenhouse gases, or 3% of global emissions. If these calculations are accurate, the carbon footprint of IT would be comparable to that from aviation. According to McKinsey, however, various mitigation strategies could help to eliminate 7.8 metric gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions annually by 2020 - equivalent to 15% of global emissions today and five times more than McKinsey’s estimate for emissions from these technologies in 2020. Potential improvements include increased server consolidation, advanced data center cooling systems and software that cut servers’ energy use when demand is low. The McKinsey study also noted that “Smart controls” - sensors that monitor and help avoid unnecessary electricity usage - can help to curb emissions. For more information see http://www.mckinsey.com/clientservice/bto/pointofview/Revolutionizing.asp Commerce Department Sponsors Trade Mission to Asia The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is organizing a Trade Mission to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok, Thailand, April 20–28, 2009, to promote U.S. firms offering environmentally friendly design and engineering services, energy efficient building systems, efficient lighting and heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and eco-friendly building products. Growing interest in energy efficiency, environmental protection, and ‘‘green’’ building are generating significant opportunities in these markets for U.S. firms offering innovative products and technologies. The mission will include one-on-one business matchmaking appointments with prospective agents, distributors, and end-users; updates on major projects; Embassy briefings on doing business in each country market; and networking receptions. For more information including how to participate, see the Federal Register Notice (73 FR 70619) at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr. Greening of the British Columbia Building Code The Province of British Columbia plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 33 percent below 2007 levels by 2020. As a result, all new buildings in the province must now meet progressive standards for energy and water efficiency. New, small commercial buildings and multi-unit residential buildings must meet new thermal insulation standards. New high-rise multi-unit residential buildings and large commercial and institutional buildings must meet ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004. All new construction and renovation projects must also include ultra low-flow toilets (six litres) and other water-saving plumbing fixtures and fittings. The Province is exploring further areas of improvement, including grey-water recycling and the use of lighting sensors. Visit the B.C. Office of Housing and Construction Standards Web site to find out about the changes to the code (http://www.housing.gov.bc.ca/building/green/). Parties Commit to ODS Reduction Efforts The U.S. made further progress protecting the ozone layer through successful agreements at the 20th meeting of the parties to the Montreal Protocol in Doha, Qatar. Developed and developing countries agreed to add $490 million to the Montreal Protocol’s Multilateral Fund for the next three years. This will help phase out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and replacement hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and help demonstrate the environmental benefits achieved by destroying banks of unnecessary CFCs. --- To subscribe see http://www.ashrae.org/advocacy December 5, 2008 Contact: Wendy Angel Public Relations 678-539-1216 wangel@ashrae.org New Report Provides Roadmap for Energy Policy and Strategies in the New Administration Focus on building energy use ATLANTA – As the federal government prepares for the presidential transition in January, it will face challenges in dealing with increasingly complex issues and new directives from the Obama administration and the new Congress, especially concerning energy issues. A new report from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) provides a potential roadmap for addressing the nation’s dependence on foreign energy sources and its greenhouse gas emissions while growing the economy. “Buildings are often overlooked as an opportunity to reduce energy consumption and offer an excellent opportunity to achieve national energy goals,” says ASHRAE President Bill Harrison. Buildings are responsible for 40 percent of the United States’ energy consumption—more than transportation and industry — and represent 38 percent of the U.S.’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Our citizens spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors—many of them in schools and office buildings. The entire U.S. construction industry employs an estimated 10 million people including manufacturing, and with increased focus on improving energy efficiency within buildings, that number can be expected to rise. ASHRAE’s report provides detailed recommendations on shaping energy policy. Some of the suggested provisions include: Energy Policy and Climate Change: Require annual measurements of building energy use, and provide funding and direction for data collection and analysis regarding energy use in buildings. ASHRAE has recently launched an effort to develop a domestic building energy labeling program that will provide owners, operators and occupants information on their buildings’ energy consumption. Federal Incentives: The report offers ideas for government incentives for energy-related activities, particularly commissioning, re-commissioning and retro-commissioning; education and training for operations and maintenance personnel; realistic depreciation schedules; and long-term tax deductions. Research and Development: ASHRAE recommends increased research and development efforts in the built environment, particularly for on- and off-site renewable energy, net-zero-energy building technologies, and increased governmental support for private-sector R&D. Federal Agency Activities: ASHRAE recommends providing adequate financial and technical resources to federal agencies to meet new energy requirements, and promote the use of tools such as building information modeling and integrated design for federal construction projects. Education: The report stresses the importance of supporting educational programs focused on student competence in STEM fields, and providing funding for “green-collar” job training programs. To receive a copy of the report or to learn more about ASHRAE’s government affairs efforts including the High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus, a bipartisan effort to bring policy-relevant expertise from across the buildings community to policy-makers, please e-mail Wendy Angel at wangel@ashrae.org. ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education. ### |