Report on Actions from the ASHRAE Annual Conference on June 21-25, 2025, in Phoenix AZ.

At this year’s ASHRAE Annual Conference held in Phoenix, AZ, at number of end use codes and standards issues impacting proposed changes to the ASHRAE ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2022, Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings took place specifically on addendum that would impact the Scope of Standard 90.1 as well as the provisions in the standard. As a reminder, back in October 2024, the ASHRAE Standing Standards Project Committee (SSPC) 90.1 proposed two addendums to the 90.1 standard identified as Addendum aa that would modify the purpose and scope of the Standard to establish requirements and set criteria for considering building and site operational Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and 2. Addendum ap that would also modify the Scope of the Standard to cover the installation of electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) or EV Requirements.  AGA  filed comments that raised serious concerns that the requirements in both Addendum, would conflict with the stated Purpose of the ASHRAE 90.1 which is to “ To establish the minimum energy efficiency requirements of buildings….” and its Scope, “This standard provides “minimum energy-efficient requirements for the design and construction…” Adding GHG  and EVSE requirements for compliance  that do not address minimum energy efficiency requirements of the built environment would conflict with the Purpose and Scope of the ASHRAE 90.1 commercial building standard. ASHRAE 90.1 is cited in federal law for state adoption upon edition updates that occur every three years. The November 8, 2024, BECS Committee Update on End Use Codes and Standards provided the AGA comments filed objecting to the approval of Addendum aa and ap.  AGA had expected that both Addendum aa and ap would be withdrawn at the Phoenix Conference, but the SSPC 90.1 Committee didn’t and after discussion decided that these addendums will be readdressed during the February 2026 meeting following the SSPC 90.1 Chairs discussion in consultation with the ASHRAE Board on the future direction of the standard as it relates to both Greenhouse Gas Emissions and EV recognition.

Regarding two other addendums to the 90.1 standard that were issued earlier this year, we reported in the February 14, 2025, BECS Update that Addendum bi would change the compliance metric requirement from a cost basis to a site energy consumption basis that disregards the energy losses of electricity from generation to the end use. AGA had submitted objections to moving the metric to site energy and supporting “source” energy as the technically correct metric to measure energy use.  At the June meeting, the SSPC 90.1 committee did not approve bi so for now, the compliance metric remains a cost basis.  Regarding addendum bk that would require that compliance in the prescriptive path of the standard be based on space heating heat pumps as the primary system thus excluding federally approved natural gas heating systems (natural gas furnaces and boilers) as a primary system that is currently permitted in this compliance path, since a revised addendum bk is out for public review, the SSPC 90.1 committee did not take any action on this proposal.  In summary, if approved each of these four addenda, can have a negative impact on the direct use of natural gas for the built environment.  We will provide updates on them as they are acted on by the SSPC 90.1 committee.

In a positive action by the SSPC 90.1 committee,  two proposals to include gas-fired heat pumps (space and water heating) in the ASHRAE 90.1 standard are being balloted by the SSPC for publication & public review. We will provide those ballots when published along with the period for submitting comments.

State Codes Activity Update.

Attached is a weekly feature of the “Friday Update” covering state code calendar activities as presented by the online utility “Fiscal Note,” which is sponsored by APGA and AGA Code and Standards. Please review the update and determine if there are state code activities that impact your service territory or organization.