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Building beyond the code: Practical challenges and economic opportunities

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Abstract
ASHRAE recently increased the minimum required roof insulation levels in Standard 90.1 – the national energy code for commercial buildings – to R-20, a 33% increase. ASHRAE’s new requirement represents an emerging trend to make all buildings significantly more efficient, and building professionals are looking beyond code recognition (LEED, EnergyStar, etc.) to deliver advanced building envelopes. This presentation • Evaluates the economic assumptions about energy and building envelope costs used to develop the ASHRAE standard and compares those assumptions to the energy-cost reality of today • Addresses the economic advantages of beyond-the-code programs, specifically investigating whether current minimum envelope R-value requirements should be raised even higher. • Uses the analysis to evaluate the large-scale impacts of these decisions on existing and new buildings.
Date
3/2009
Author(s)
R. Christopher Mathis
Page(s)
127-137
Keyword(s)
building code; insulation level; ASHRAE 90.1


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