New Federal Buildings Regulations

The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) 2007 extended an existing federal energy reduction goal to 30% by fiscal year 2015; directed federal agencies to purchase Energy Star and Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-designated products; and required new federal buildings to be built 30% below ASHRAE standards or the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Specifically, Sec. 431, Energy Reduction Goals for Federal Buildings, from the EISA 2007 requires that total energy use in federal buildings, relative to the 2005 level, be reduced 30% by 2015. Other efficiency provisions order federal agencies to reduce their energy consumption per square foot of building, install energy and water conservation features, track energy and water consumption, and institute systems to facilitate the funding of energy efficiency improvements. Section 104 of EPAct 2005 directed federal agencies to purchase Energy Star and FEMP-designated products when procuring energy-consuming items covered by the Energy Star programme, except when purchasing such items is not cost-effective or does not meet functional requirements of the agency. Executive Order (E.O.) 13514 calls for numerous Federal Building requirements for the construction of new facilities and major renovations. For example, all new Federal buildings entering the design phase in 2020 or later are designed to achieve net-zero energy by 2030; at least 15% of existing agency buildings and leases (above 5,000 gross square feet) meet the Guiding Principles by fiscal year 2015 and that the agency makes annual progress towards 100% compliance across its building inventory. Executive Order (E.O.) 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management, was signed on January 24, 2007, to strengthen key goals for the Federal Government. It set more challenging goals than the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) and superseded E.O. 13123 and E.O. 13149. E.O. 13423 requires Federal agencies to ensure new construction and major renovations comply with the 2006 Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). E.O 13423 Guidance on Sustainability includes revised Guiding Principles for new construction and new Guiding Principles for existing buildings.

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