Energy Efficiency

If life cycle cost-effective, new Federal buildings must be designed to achieve ASHRAE 90.1 energy consumption levels and 30% below such levels. The version of ASHRAE 90.1 that Federal agencies must use depends on when design for construction begins.

Originating Legislation
Full Text

(1) Not later than 2 years after October 24, 1992, the Secretary, after consulting with appropriate Federal agencies, CABO, ASHRAE, the National Association of Home Builders, the Illuminating Engineering Society, the American Institute of Architects, the National Conference of the States on Building Codes and Standards, and other appropriate persons, shall establish, by rule, Federal building energy standards that require in new Federal buildings those energy efficiency measures that are technologically feasible and economically justified. Such standards shall become effective no later than one year after such rule is issued.

(2) The standards established under paragraph (1) shall—

(A) contain energy saving and renewable energy specifications that meet or exceed the energy saving and renewable energy specifications of the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (in the case of residential buildings) or ASHRAE Standard 90.1_2004 (in the case of commercial buildings);

(B) to the extent practicable, use the same format as the appropriate voluntary building energy code; and

(C) consider, in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency and other Federal agencies, and where appropriate contain, measures with regard to radon and other indoor air pollutants.

(3)

(A) Not later than 1 year after August 8, 2005, the Secretary shall establish, by rule, revised Federal building energy efficiency performance standards that require that—

(i) if life cycle cost effective for new Federal buildings— (I) the buildings be designed to achieve energy consumption levels that are at least 30% below the levels established in the version of the ASHRAE Standard or the International Energy Conservation Code, as appropriate, that is in effect as of August 8, 2005; and

. . .

(B) Not later than 1 year after the date of approval of each subsequent revision of the ASHRAE Standard or the International Energy Conservation Code, as appropriate, the Secretary shall determine, based on the cost-effectiveness of the requirements under the amendment, whether the revised standards established under this paragraph should be updated to reflect the amendment.