ASHRAE 90.1
Energy Cost Budget and Performance Rating Method
Submittal Review Manual

V05
September 2025

Summary

The 90.1 Energy Cost Budget and Performance Rating Method Submittal Review Manual (the Manual) is a comprehensive reference for reviewing modeling-based submittals. The Manual is a companion to the DOE/PNNL 90.1 Performance-based Compliance Form (Compliance Form) and supports the 2016, 2019, and 2022 editions of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.1. The forms can be downloaded here.

The Manual includes the following:

  • The review checks to verify that the proposed design reported in the Compliance Form reflects design documents; that the configuration of the baseline/budget model is established correctly; that the baseline/budget and proposed design is modeled as reported; that the simulation is error-free, and that the compliance outcome is established correctly.
  • The review checks to verify compliance with the mandatory requirements of 90.1 relevant to the simulation inputs.
  • Examples and common mistakes.
  • Methodologies for prioritizing the review.
  • Simulation reports for common BEM tools annotated with tips on performing specific checks.

Jurisdiction and rating authorities’ administrators charged with establishing a submittal review framework for their organization should refer to the DOE Energy Codes website for recommendations for organizing an effective and efficient submittal review process, including adoption of the DOE/PNNL 90.1 Performance-based Compliance Form, establishing the minimum qualification requirements for energy modelers and submittal reviewers, and a third-party reviewer Scope of Work template.

Acknowledgements

This manual was supported by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the U.S. Department of Energy and was one of the outcomes of a research project to facilitate performance-based compliance with commercial energy code. The author would like to thank the following individuals:

  • Michael Rosenberg (PNNL) and Kevin J Madison for the comprehensive feedback
  • Kimberly Cheslak, Jason Glazer, Duane Jonlin, Eric Mets, Andrew Parker, Dan Suyeyasu, Christin Witco for peer review
  • Dimitri Contoyannis for assisting with development of the review tiers.
  • Caitlin Bohnert and Matthew Biesterveld (Trane), Matthew Dahlhausen and Andrew Parker (NREL), Liam Buckley (IES), Jim Pegues (Carrier), Andy Tindale, David Cocking and Shaun Wang (DesignBuilder) for developing the material included in the software-specific sections of the Manual.

Authors

  • Maria Karpman, Karpman Consulting
  • Christina LaPerle, Karpman Consulting

Disclaimer

This material was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor the United States Department of Energy, nor Battelle, nor any of their employees, nor any jurisdiction or organization that has cooperated in the development of these materials, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness or any information, apparatus, product, software, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof, or Battelle Memorial Institute. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

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