Gulf Construction Online - ISO unveils energy standard for buildings

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ISO unveils energy standard for buildings

01 March 2009

THE International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has introduced a new standard – ISO 23045:2008 – which will help the building sector to contribute to energy saving by providing it with specific design guidelines.

The building sector is recognised as a major contributor to the build-up of greenhouse gases.
These emissions of CO2 to the atmosphere could be reduced significantly through the application of international standards relating to the energy-efficient design of buildings and building mechanical equipment, says the ISO.
‘ISO 23045:2008, Building environment design – Guidelines to assess energy efficiency of new buildings,’ provides energy-related requirements for the design process, or to achieve targeted values of energy efficiency for new buildings.
The objectives of the standard are to assist designers and practitioners when collecting and providing the useful data that are required at different stages of the design process and to fulfil building design objectives. ISO 23045:2008 applies to new buildings and is also applicable to systems for heating, cooling, lighting, domestic hot water, service water heating, ventilation and related controls.
Introducing energy efficiency in the design process leads to a reduction in energy demand through a global approach to the building, including analysis of the building location, definition of the building envelope, energy systems and products.
Stephen Turner, leader of the ISO group that developed the standard, comments: “Today’s worldwide increase in efforts toward rational use of natural resources is boosting the markets for energy-efficient buildings and building equipment. The building sector holds great prospects for energy saving through the design of buildings with improved thermal performance and increased efficiency of mechanical equipment as well through the entire range of buildings’ lifecycles. ISO 23045:2008 will help the building sector design buildings to a specified level of efficiency. It is an invaluable addition to the growing group of ISO standards for building environment design organised within the framework of ISO 16813, Building environment design — Indoor environment — General principles.”
ISO 23045:2008 will assist in:
• Collecting and providing information regarding the energy efficiency of the building under consideration;
• Conducting the iterative process to ensure improved energy efficiency of buildings; and
• Obtaining the target values for energy efficiency ratios used in labelling or information to public or/and consumers.
The new standard was developed by ISO’s technical committee ISO/TC 205. It is available from ISO national member institutes. It may also be obtained directly from ISO Central Secretariat, priced CFR96 ($82) through the ISO Store or by contacting its marketing and communication department.