In 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy began work on the development of a voluntary national scoring system used to quantify commercial building’s energy efficiency.
Several years ago while working on a Colorado shopping mall I was surprised to see the Design Development drawings I was reviewing indicated insulation at the low-sloped roofing assembly as a mere R-11. The climatein this part of Colorado, as with most of Colorado, is cold—really cold.
Energy codes and standards play a significant role in the United States construction market by influencing the design of commercial buildings. Once a code or standard is adopted by lawmakers, it becomes a legal requirement that protects our society from substandard building practices and ensures a minimum level of energy efficiency is achieved.