Emergent legislation would give U.S. political officials flexibility to override proposed updates to the ASHRAE 90.1 standard for energy performance in buildings. The North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act, which was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, Dec. 3., would also allow a pullback of appliance/equipment efficiency standards and thwart energy-saving initiatives with a payback period longer than 10 years.

Measures related to energy conservation are found within a sweeping piece of legislation that addresses energy resources, generation and transmission resiliency, and adoption of new technology. Energy efficiency proponents note that there are many commendable elements in the legislation along with what a statement from ASHRAE characterizes as “harmful building energy codes language.”

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