ASTM Developing Standard for Collection, Disclosure of Energy Use Info
August 17, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS
ASTM International is developing ASTM WK24707, a proposed standard for the collection and disclosure of energy use information associated with buildings involved in real estate transactions.
The standard is being developed by ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action.
ASTM WK24707 - Guide for Building Energy Performance Disclosure will be used by professionals conducting due diligence for prospective property purchasers and lessees.
The proposed standard is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee E50.02 on Real Estate Assessment and Management.
"It is anticipated that energy disclosure obligations will be incorporated into the traditional legal obligations of landlords and sellers relative to traditional real estate-related disclosures as to the conditions of a property," said Anthony Buonicore, a member of Committee E50.
"Thus, our efforts to standardize this process will assist in establishing disclosure clarity in a routine commercial real estate sale or lease transaction upon which all parties to the transaction can rely," he said.
Areas that could be covered in the screening process to be described in ASTM WK24707 include:
- Property and building characteristics including property type, building age, last major renovation, number of floors, square footage, occupancy, heating system and air conditioning system.
- Electrical consumption and cost (minimum prior 12 months).
- Oil, natural gas and steam consumption and cost (minimum prior 12 months).
- Benchmarking against peer buildings as determined by green building certification and rating systems.
- Water consumption and cost (minimum prior 12 months).
- Carbon dioxide emissions, carbon footprint, carbon neutral potential.
- Energy audit history.
- Green building certification/rating.
- Applicable energy efficiency ordinances/codes (local, federal).
- Applicable economic incentives, credits and grants for energy efficiency improvements (federal, state, local, utility).
Source: ASTM International.