| Abstrakt: |
Policymakers and the public are increasingly interested in reducing energy use. Whether due to a desire to reduce costs, greenhouse gas emissions, or imported energy, achieving these goals will depend on actual and measurable results. Today's building energy codes regulate proxies for energy use, do not require measurement and expression of actual building energy performance, and depend on incremental improvements to prescriptive criteria (e.g. equipment efficiency levels, insulation values, and lighting power allowances). Achieving the ultimate goal of net-zero energy buildings requires a different approach. Outcome-based codes establish an energy use level as well as regular measurement and reporting to assure that the completed building performs at the established level. A shift to outcome-based codes will require a dramatic change within the building community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
