Can Codes Require Windows? Should Windows Be a Part of Health and Safety Codes?

摘要

The ASHRAE Standard 90.1 committee is already well into the development process for the 2019 version of this building energy standard. The current focus of discussion regarding fenestration is around lowering the prescriptive values for U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient, though thankfully not on reducing the minimum allowable window-to-wall ratio-at least not yet. That said, the energy savings available due to the transmission of daylight through windows, which can be used to offset the energy used to power electric lighting, is diminishing. This is because of the rapid, widespread adoption of low-energy LED lighting, and as a result, the window-to-wall ratio discussion will likely restart soon.