Hpac 1450 Ashraelogoweb
Hpac 1450 Ashraelogoweb
Hpac 1450 Ashraelogoweb
Hpac 1450 Ashraelogoweb
Hpac 1450 Ashraelogoweb

Proposed Energy Guideline for Historic Buildings Open for Comment

April 19, 2016
Proposed ASHRAE Guideline 34P, Energy Guideline for Historical Buildings, is open for a second public review until May 2.

A proposed guideline concerning energy-efficiency and energy-conservation improvements for historic structures is open for a second public review until May 2.

​ASHRAE Guideline 34P, Energy Guideline for Historical Buildings, provides advice for improvements minimizing disturbances to the character, characteristics, and materials of historic structures.

“The worldwide preservation community recognizes the importance of reducing the consumption of fuels,” William Rose, a member of the Guideline 34P committee, said. “Many codes and standards exempt such buildings from energy-conservation requirements, based on an assumption that imposition of energy-saving measures may compete with preservation requirements. Nevertheless, preservationists generally wish to balance the mandate to maintain the integrity and authenticity of their buildings with growing needs for energy conservation. And some codes, notably the recent International Energy Conservation Code, have moved from a blanket exemption to a narrower provision-by-provision basis.”

Guideline 34P, which covers a wide range of historic buildings, is intended to help those engaged in preservation to design and provide energy-conservation measures. Rose said it also is intended to help those engaged in energy conservation to propose and adopt measures consistent with preservation practice. The guideline addresses planning and operation, mechanical systems, building envelope, and lighting.

For more information and to comment, go to www.ashrae.org/publicreviews.