A building energy labeling program that allows industry professionals to zero in on opportunities to lower building operating costs has been expanded to include an “As Designed” label.
The Building Energy Quotient (bEQ) program from ASHRAE is now two labels in one: an “As Designed” designation that rates the building’s potential energy use under standardized conditions—independent of the building’s occupancy and usage—and an “In Operation” designation that rates the building’s actual measured energy use as influenced by the building’s occupancy and usage.
As the marketplace, the built environment industry, and the government look at reducing energy use and saving money, the Building Energy Quotient (bEQ) is an easily understood, yet technically sound, tool for understanding a building’s energy use and identifying opportunities to reduce that use, says Asheville, N.C., consulting engineer Amy Musser, chair of ASHRAE’s bEQ committee
“Owners, tenants, potential owners and tenants and building managers need to have the information necessary to make informed decisions about the energy use of the existing buildings,” she says. “bEQ allows commercial building owners to zero in on opportunities to lower building operating cost and make informed decisions to increase value. It also allows potential buyers or tenants to gain insight into the value and potential long-term cost of a building.”
To qualify for the “As Designed” rating, a standardized energy model must be performed on the building by an ASHRAE-certified building energy modeling professional. The voluntary program draws on successful features from other U.S. and European building labeling and certification programs. Click here for more information.
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