Energy conservation in new building design: an impact assessment of ASHRAE Standard 90-75. Conservation paper No. 43B

Technical Report · Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7283744

The objective of this study was to assess the energy, economic, and institutional impacts that may result from the broad voluntary adoption of American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90-75 by individual building regulatory authorities. This Standard is the first major voluntary consensus standard dealing with energy use in new buildings, and is available for optional acceptance by state and local governments. With strict use of the Standard, annual energy consumption would be reduced in all building types and locations. In applying ASHRAE 90-75, physical changes are brought about in exterior glass, exterior walls, insulation, lighting, and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVA/C) system capacities. Considering the economic impact of the Standard, ASHRAE 90-75 modified buildings should cost no more to build than conventional buildings and would have substantially less annual energy costs. It is estimated that if this Standard were adopted throughout the U.S., the annual energy consumed in new construction would drop 27%; annual energy consumption in the Nation's buildings would also be reduced significantly. The examination of building materials and equipment markets concluded that the adoption of ASHRAE 90-75 would create opportunities for suppliers of commodity building materials at the expense of decreasing those markets for general building equipment and HVA/C systems. Impacts on key industry participants were also investigated. The most important effect of the Standard on the building habitability would result from reduced ventilation and infiltration. (56 references) (BYB)

• Research Organization: Little (Arthur D.), Inc., Cambridge, Mass. (USA); A.D. Little Inc., Acorn Park, Cambridge, MA
• OSTI ID: 7283744
• Report Number(s): FEA/D-76/078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
BUILDINGS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
STANDARDS
AIR CONDITIONING
CONSTRUCTION
DESIGN
ECONOMICS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
INDUSTRY
SPACE HEATING
TABLES
VENTILATION
HEATING
INFORMATION
291000* - Energy Planning & Policy- Conservation
298000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Consumption & Utilization
320100 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Buildings