A proposed addendum to ASHRAE's energy standard will allow for increased energy savings by modifying envelope requirements to allow the use of more daylight-friendly skylight materials in certain climate zones and require photocontrols with certain skylights.
Proposed Addendum d to ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is open for public review. The current wording of the standard limits the use of high solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) plastic skylights that transmit high levels of light in climate zones 1 through 3. The proposed addendum would provide an exemption to the SHGC requirements when high-diffusion skylights are used in conjunction with a multi-level photocontrol system. Photocontrol systems regulate lighting and save energy by reducing the artificial lighting in buildings when natural lighting reaches a useful level.
Proposed addenda to ASHRAE standards are available during public review periods. To read the addenda or to comment, visit www.ashrae.org/publicreviews.
