Preliminary analysis from the US Department of Energy shows that the ASHRAE/IES’s 90.1-2013 energy efficiency standard contains energy savings over the 2010 standard of 8.5 percent source energy and 7.6 site energy. This is the first step by the DOE in issuing a ruling that could establish the 2013 standard as the commercial building reference standard for state building energy codes.

DOE attributes the greater energy savings from ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings to better lighting, fans, commercial refrigeration, boilers and controls.

If the preliminary determination is finalized, then states would be required to update their codes to meet or exceed the 2013 standard. Currently, states must meet or exceed the 2010 standard, which serves as the commercial building reference standard for state building energy codes under the federal Energy Conservation and Production Act.

DOE noted that the 2013 standard contains 52 positive impacts on energy efficiency that were incorporated into the analysis. These impacts included changes made through the public review process in which users of the standard comment and offer guidance on proposed requirements.