This paper presents a synopsis of the content of the New Zealand Standard for Energy Efficiency in Large Buildings. This new standard is purported to be 'descriptive'. The paper outlines the three permissible methods for demonstrating compliance with the Standard's requirements. Disadvantages of this approach are stated and an alternative proposal is suggested.
Condensation phenomena on internal surfaces of buildings are becoming recurrent eventualities in contemporary buildings, particularly in residential buildings. Despite the general belief, this accumulation of water on walls is not mainly due to mass migration from outdoor to indoor, but to a modification of behavioural approaches of people, especially referring to the preferred air temperature.
In a fitting tribute to the new millennium, ASHRAE issued ASHRAE/ IESN A Standard 90 .1-1999, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings at the Winter Meeting in Dallas in February. This new version of Standard 90.1 represents ten years of effort on the part of the project committee that completely revised the previous 1989 version of the standard.