Worldwide status of energy standards for buildings: a 2009 update

This paper describes the worldwide status of energy standards for buildings in 81 countries keyed to the legal status (i.e. mandatory, voluntary, proposed) and building sector coverage (i.e. residential, commercial, or both) of such standards in different countries. It describes which countries have added new energy standards since 1994, when a similar study gathered information on this topic from 57 countries. The 1994 study used a literature review and a 15-page mail sur vey distributed via post and fax; the current study relies on a literature review and online survey to gather data. The paper presents an international profile of activities and research issues related to energy standards for buildings. It includes a snapshot of the contents, development, and use of energy standards for buildings, with a particular focus on non-residential buildings in developing countries and economies in transition. Finally, it discusses options for sharing the survey data online so that other users can: (1) query the data gathered for their own purposes; and (2) contribute updates and additional information.