Energy Code for New Federal Commercial and Multi-Family High Rise Residential Buildings

The Department of Energy today issues a rule that establishes building energy efficiency standards for new Federal commercial and multi-family high rise residential buildings pursuant to the requirements of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (ECPA). The final rule revises the current interim Federal standards to conform generally with the format of the current voluntary building energy codes. The final rule contains substantive changes from the interim rule in the areas of lighting, mechanical ventilation, motors, building envelopes, fenestration rating test procedures, and test procedures for heating and cooling equipment.