Expected to standardise energy rating programmes

ASHRAE has announced that its proposed Standard 214P, Standard for Determining and Expressing Building Energy Performance in a Rating Program, is currently open for public comment, which would serve as the “backbone” of such rating systems. The proposed standard, ASHRAE added, is open for comment until September 28, details of which are available at: www.ashrae.org/publicreviews.

The Standard, ASHRAE elaborated, is being written to standardise building energy rating programmes by requiring the minimum content of any labels associated with rating programmes, establishing minimum requirements for rating programme documentation and other essential components in rating programmes.

“There are many entities that are rating buildings utilising a number of different building rating systems, yielding varying results,” said Wayne Stoppelmoor, Chair of the Standard 214P committee. “Feedback from government and regulatory agencies has shown there is an overwhelming need for a standard that provides uniformity in the building energy labelling and disclosure process. We want to provide a non-commercial consensus standard that can be used in international, national and regional legislation, policy-making and regulation activities.”

It is anticipated, said ASHRAE, that the proposed standard will have minimal impact on existing rating systems.