Improved Data And Procedures Needed For Development And Implementation Of Building Energy Performance Standards PDF Download

The New Buildings Act of 1976 requires the development of building energy performance standards to set limits on the total amount of energy buildings may be designed to use. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) originally had the responsibility for this program; however, the responsibility to develop and promulgate the standards was transferred to the Department of Energy (DOE), leaving the implementation responsibility with HUD. An examination was made of: (1) what still needs to be done before sound standards can be issued; (2) the need to transfer implementation responsibility for the standards from HUD to DOE, and (3) the inappropriateness of the proposed sanction for noncompliance in view of the large decrease in expected energy savings.