Determination News Release

Energy Department Determines that Model Commercial Building Code will Save Energy & Benefit Consumers

DOE has determined that Standard 90.1-1999, formulated by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, will improve commercial building energy efficiency and make building code compliance easier for architects, builders, and code officials. By reducing energy use, Standard 90.1-1999 will also reduce power plant emissions and benefit the environment.

The department estimates that if all states adopted ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999, a model energy code for commercial buildings, and all new buildings complied with it, building owners and tenants would lower their utility bills by $110 million the first year and cumulatively save $5.7 billion after 10 years. The country would save 16 trillion Btu of energy that first year and almost 800 trillion Btu or the equivalent of 130 million barrels of oil cumulatively over 10 years.

On July 15, 2002, the department published its determination in the Federal Register that Standard 90.1-1999 would improve commercial building energy efficiency by comparing it to Standard 90.1-1989, fulfilling DOE's mandate under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended. As required by the Act, all states have two years to adopt Standard 90.1-1999 or upgrade their existing commercial building codes to meet or exceed its requirements. The standard applies to all new commercial buildings, and all major remodeling or renovation of existing commercial buildings.

Standard 90.1-1999 was developed over 10 years, under an American National Standards Institute consensus process, by a committee of 50 individuals and organizations representative of all parties interested in commercial building codes. The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America is a joint sponsor of the standard.

DOE offers a range of services and products to help states update, implement and enforce buildings energy codes, including economic analyses, code comparisons, code compliance software, and other specialized support. The department has provided financial and technical assistance to a number of states to upgrade their building energy codes. New York, for example, recently adopted a building code which will go into effect in July and is expected to save $46 million in energy costs per year.

DOE's Building Energy Codes Program (http://www.energycodes.gov/) has improved the energy efficiency of nearly 3 billion square feet of new commercial floor space and nearly 4 million households, and saved consumers an estimated $4.2 billion, enough to provide the energy requirement of more than 3 million homes for a year.