The ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDG) are a series of publications designed to provide recommendations for achieving energy savings over the minimum code requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 which is the first step in the process toward achieving a net zero energy building which is defined as a building that, on an annual basis, draws from outside resources equal or less energy than it provides using on-site, renewable energy sources. The guides have been developed in collaboration with these partnering organizations: The American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The New Building Institute (NBI) participated in the development of the initial guide.

The original series of guides have an energy savings target of 30% over 90.1-1999.  Each 30% Guide addresses a specific building type. Published Guides

A series of guides with an energy savings of 50% over 90.1-2004 are now underway. Each 50% Guide addresses a specific building type. Planned Guides.

The recommendations in the Guides allow those involved in designing or constructing the various building types to easily achieve advanced levels of energy savings without having to resort to detailed calculations or analyses. The prescriptive energy-saving recommendations are contained in a single table for each of the eight U.S. climate zones.

Help in implementing the recommendations of the Guides can be found in an expanded section of how-to tips in the "How to Implement Recommendations" chapter. The how-to information is cross referenced with numbered tips and color-coded climate zone maps. Examples of advanced building designs and technologies are also provided to illustrate the points made and to demonstrate the flexibility offered in achieving the advanced energy savings provided within the Guides. Additional bonus recommendations point out other opportunities to incorporate greater energy savings into the design of the building.

Feedback on the use of any of the guides is welcomed and encouraged by ASHRAE. Please let us know your thoughts on the guide itself and/or what impact the recommendations had on your building. How important was the guide in your energy savings efforts? What energy savings have you experienced as a result of using the AEDG? ASHRAE is always interested in results that can be used as case studies in future publications. Please contact us in Technical Activities with your feedback or technical questions.

Four 50% Guides have been completed:

• NEW The ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Large Hospitals — Standard mid- to large-size hospitals, typically at least 100,000 ft² in size.
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• The ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Medium to Big Box Retail Buildings — Retail buildings 20,000 to 100,000 ft².
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• The ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small to Medium Office Buildings — Office buildings 20,000 to 100,000 ft².
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• The ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings — Elementary, Middle, and High School Buildings 
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Six 30% Guides have been published.

• The ASHRAE 30% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings — Office buildings up to 20,000 ft²
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• The ASHRAE 30% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Retail Buildings — Retail spaces up to 20,000 ft²
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• The ASHRAE 30% Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings — Elementary, Middle, and High School Buildings
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• The ASHRAE 30% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Warehouses and Self-Storage Buildings — Warehouses up to 50,000 ft² and self-storage buildings that use unitary heating and air-conditioning
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• The ASHRAE 30% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Highway Lodging — Roadside hotels up to 80 rooms and 4 stories.
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• The ASHRAE 30% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities — Small Healthcare facilities up to 90,000 ft² including Acute Care, Outpatient Surgical, small Critical Access and Inpatient Community Hospitals. 
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Two Existing Buildings Guides have been completed

• The ASHRAE Energy Efficiency Guide for Existing Commercial Buildings: The Business Case for Building Owners and Managers — Provides the rational for making economic decisions related to improving and sustaining energy efficiency in existing buildings.
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• The ASHRAE Energy Efficiency Guide for Existing Commercial Buildings: Technical Implementation
  Publication – Provides technical guidance for implementing energy efficiency measures in existing buildings. 
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Errata and Updates on existing publications

Technical Support Documents
All of the 30% Advanced Energy Design Guides have a corresponding Technical Support Document prepared by the National Lab that did the analysis for the development of that guide.   These documents contain additional details about the analysis and development process.
To view AEDG Technical Support Documents 

Preliminary Technical Support Documents have been completed for these building types as exploratory work to determine the types of equipment and design elements that may be needed to reach the 50% energy savings level as compared to Standard 90.1-2004. 
To View: 50% AEDG Technical Support Documents

30% AEDG Market Assessment
In 2009, ASHRAE commissioned a market survey of its members to assess the market impact of the 30% Advanced Energy Design Guides.   The study focused on the first four published guides and was intended to compare awareness and usage of the AEDGs, to assess the energy savings impacts resulting from using the AEDGs, and to assess potential improvements that would maximize the guides effectiveness.  The final report and briefing presentation can be viewed below.
 AEDG Market Assessment Final Report
 AEDG Market Assessment Briefing Presentation 

LEED Compliance Path 
The Advanced Energy Design Guides provide a prescriptive compliance path for LEED New Construction EA points.  The specific points available for use of the AEDGs is described in the LEED documentation and may vary by guide type.   More details are available at the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED website.

For information on LEED Rating System

The ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide series  
Additional guides being considered at this time include Grocery Stores, Highway Lodging, and Quick Service Restaurant.  Check back for more information on updates and progress.

A list of frequently asked questions is provided as a service to ASHRAE members, users of the AEDG publications, and the general public. While every effort has been made to ensure their accuracy and reliability, the answers are advisory and provided for informational purposes only. They are not intended and should not be relied on as an official statement of ASHRAE. If you do not find the answer to your question in this list, please use the feedback form above to contact us with your question.

Frequently Asked Questions

International Climate Zones
ASHRAE Standard 90.1 provides information to apply the U.S. Climate Zones to international locations in Normative Appendix B – Building Envelope Climate Criteria.  That information can be viewed here.

To view ASHRAE 90.1 International Climate Zone Information

Scoping Study

A scoping study for the 50% guides was conducted in 2006.  A copy of the final report from that effort is available for download below. 

50% Scoping Study Report (2006)

DOE Reference Buildings
DOE has developed a series of benchmark models, and associated EUIs, based on 16 different commercial building types (prototypical standard buildings that comply with Standard 90.1) for both new construction and existing buildings.

To view Energy Use Intensities (EUIs) for benchmark models  

AEDG Presentations
Varied information related to the guides has been created since their initial publication.   This information includes news releases, ASHRAE Journal articles and Power Point presentations.  Some of the Power Point Presentations are available for review at the link below.

Toolkits and Related Links
Additional information and resources are available at these other web sites.

To view Related Links