The latest version of ASHRAE’s energy efficiency standard for existing buildings has expanded its scope to focus on building decarbonisation.
ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 100-2024, Energy and Emissions Building Performance Standard for Existing Buildings describes processes for improving the energy efficiency and performance of all types of existing buildings, including residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial. The latest edition of the standard includes carbon emissions performance requirements for existing buildings, as well as emissions targets for dozens of building types.
“As the demand grows for reduced energy use and carbon emissions in existing building, there has been heightened interest in Standard 100 within the past year for its potential to shape building regulations on an expanded level,” says 2023–24 ASHRAE President Ginger Scoggins. “The development of this revised standard underscores our commitment to advancing sustainability measures and responding to the evolving needs of the industry.”
Key updates to the standard include:
- New metrics for establishing greenhouse gas emissions targets, along with continued improvements to energy efficiency and performance in existing buildings.
- Building requirements to:
- Establish an energy management plan incorporating efficient, low-carbon equipment into capital replacement.
- Achieve energy and emissions performance goals.
- Implement an operations and maintenance program for continued building performance.
- A simple compliance mechanism for energy-efficient and low-emission buildings.
- Energy audit and decarbonisation assessment, and a separate compliance process for building types that do not have energy or emissions targets.
- Guidance for jurisdictions seeking to develop their own energy consumption and/or greenhouse gas emissions targets.
Image courtesy of Erik McLean via Unsplash.