ASHRAE Standards help meet energy efficiency precedents.
Press Release Summary:
ASHRAE president Gordon Holness called President Obama's declaration of October as National Energy Awareness Month "an opportunity for Americans to become more aware of how their everyday choices and actions impact energy use - particularly in their homes and the buildings where they work and play." Holness also offered ASHRAE's standards and new labeling program as resources for achieving the President's goal of energy efficiency.
Original Press Release:
Energy Efficiency Today Ensures Prosperous Economic Future, Declares President Obama
ATLANTA-President Obama has declared October National Energy Awareness Month, claiming that "a more prosperous future for our Nation's economy means making investments in energy efficiency and clean energy today."
In his official proclamation, the President emphasized the importance of focusing on energy efficiency, promoting sustainable industries and setting effective and achievable standards for the generation and use of clean energy in order to advance energy and climate security.
"The declaration as an opportunity for Americans to become more aware of how their everyday choices and actions impact energy use-particularly in their homes and the buildings where they work and play," Gordon Holness, ASHRAE president, said. "Most Americans do not cite buildings as the sector responsible for the greatest energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Hopefully by becoming more aware, Americans will demand greater efficiency."
Obama has also issued an executive order focused on Federal leadership in environmental,energy and economic performance.
"As the largest consumer of energy in the U.S. economy, the Federal Government can and should lead by example when it comes to creating innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, conserve water, reduce waste and use environmentally-responsible products and technologies," the President said.
ASHRAE responded to the executive order by commending Obama's leadership to establish the Federal Government as a leader in increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, as well as to offer ASHRAE's standards and new labeling program as resources for achieving the President's goal of energy efficiency.
ASHRAE has long been doing its part to promote energy efficiency and sustainability through research, standards writing and education. For example, Standard 189.1P, Standard for the Design of High Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings-which is currently up for its fourth public review-addresses sustainable sites, water use efficiency, energy efficiency, a building's impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality.
Additionally, ASHRAE's building energy labeling program, the Building Energy Quotient, provides building owners and the public with valuable information on the energy use of buildings by measuring both the energy the building is designed to use and the energy actually being consumed, thereby helping to close the gaps between intention and operation. The label is currently in its pilot stage and will be available in 2010.
ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education.
