Buildings and Construction

In addition to building equipment standards and labeling, we have also had a long-standing program to assist China in developing building energy codes. China faces the same complexity as the US in having a number of distinct climate zones. Historically, concern has only been with codes within the heating zone, although this focus has expanded.

Objectives of China's building energy codes are at least 50% energy savings at less than a 10% cost increase compared to pre-existing buildings. Increasing technical sophistication and flexibility allow for a shift from steady-state calculations to computer simulations, and from rigid requirements to a choice of simple prescriptive and custom energy budget methods. Building codes in China are developed by Code Compilation Committees with increasing industry involvement. They undergo public review and approval, before adoption by the Ministry of Construction.

Our work with China has involved training in DOE-2 and other building energy simulation software, and assistance in the drafting and implementation of China's building energy standards. The first residential code was for the Heating Zone in 1996. We participated in the development of residential energy standards for the Hot Summer Cold Winter region (2001) and the Hot Summer Warm Winter region (2004). We have also supported pilot efforts in Shanghai and four cities in South China to implement building energy codes.

Recently we also worked with China to develop a pilot windows rating and labeling program, drawn from the U.S. National Fenestration Rating Council. The pilot location was the southern city of Guangzhou.

National Building Energy Design Standard for Public Buildings

LBNL participated in the development of the first national building energy standard (previous ones were industry standards) for public buildings, which are roughly analogous to what are called commercial buildings in the U.S. The objective of the standard is to reduce total building energy use by 50%. Prescriptive requirements are linked to custom budgets for building envelope requirements. HVAC requirements utilize the 2004 Chiller Rating System. Lighting requirements are covered by the 2003 Lighting Standard.