The standard, which provides the minimum requirements for the design of energy efficient buildings, incorporates 34 new addenda.

"This is the first time changes resulting from continuing maintenance proposals from the public have been included in the standard," Lawrence Spielvogel, chair of the standard committee, said. "The committee welcomes input from the public and will take formal action on every proposal received."

The standard is now scheduled to be published in its entirety every three years. This will allow ASHRAE to meet the deadlines for inclusion or reference in model building and energy codes, according to Spielvogel.