The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ (ASHRAE) new residential energy standard is now available.

"90.2-2004, Energy-Efficient Design of Low-Rise Residential Buildings" is intended for use by those who use energy codes that govern one-and two-family dwellings and low-rise multifamily structures. The new standard has reduced the number of tables needed to apply the envelope provisions and has simplified their application.

The major changes contained in 90.2 include:

• A new normative appendix has been added that allows users to comply with the prescriptive envelope provisions by applying and envelope trade-off procedure as an alternative.
• The existing climate tables were deleted and replaced with a new map and tables of the United States that illustrate the eight primary zones considered representative of climate zones most applicable for current-day energy standards.
• Provisions to permit slab edge insulation to be omitted in areas of the United States where termite infestation is known to be heavy.
• Provisions to permit users to consider the use of high-albedo roofs in hot and humid climates in order to reduce air-conditioning energy use.
• The removal of provisions for manufactured housing.

The cost of ASHRAE Standard 90.2-2004, is $93 ($74, ASHRAE members). To order, contact ASHRAE customer service at 1-800-527-4723 or visit the ASHRAE bookstore at www.ashrae.org.