The Department of Energy’s recently released new energy efficiency standards for federal buildings.
Starting in April 2023, all new federal building projects and major retrofits will be constructed to meet 2021 International Energy Conservation Code and the 2019 ASHRAE Standard 90.1 codes. The new standards are expected to save $4.2 million in operating costs in the first year.
The federal government is the largest building owner and manager in the U.S., with a portfolio of more than 350,000 buildings. Those structures contain more than 3 billion sf of space.
The 2019 edition of Standard 90.1 includes more than 100 energy-focused updates of the previous edition published in 2016. The 2021 IECC incorporates significant changes the 2018 edition, including:
· Increased insulation requirements and reduced fenestration U-factors and solar heat gain coefficients.
· Updated mechanical equipment efficiency requirements, new provisions for data centers, and plant growth lighting.
· Increased lighting efficacy and decreased lighting power density requirements.
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