Overview
ISO 13153:2012 provides a structured framework for the design process of energy-saving single-family residential and small commercial buildings, using the energy consumption ratio as the primary performance criterion. The standard is intended to help suppliers of design guidelines and building designers produce quantitative, practicable guidance so energy-related design decisions can be evaluated and implemented consistently.
Key topics and requirements
- Energy consumption ratio: Defined as the ratio of predicted energy consumption for a particular energy use to a reference energy consumption. This is the central metric for comparing design options.
- Elemental technologies: Groups of energy-saving design methods or specifications (e.g., envelope insulation, HVAC, lighting) that demonstrably reduce energy use relative to a reference specification.
- Specifications and levels: Options for each elemental technology are given levels (e.g., LEVEL 0 = reference specification). Suppliers must provide quantitative energy consumption ratios for each option.
- Predicted and reference energy consumption: The standard requires prediction of energy use in primary energy terms, taking actual component performance and equipment efficiency into account.
- Design process flow & core decisions:
- Provisional selection of elemental technologies relevant to the project.
- Provisional selection of specifications for those technologies to enable quantitative evaluation.
- Final selection of specification options after checking predicted energy savings and cost-effectiveness.
- Interactions and system effects: Guidance on evaluating combined effects of multiple elemental technologies and on predicting total building energy consumption using reference consumptions and ratios.
- Special topics covered: Prerequisite design conditions, cogeneration and photovoltaic (PV) cells, experimental estimation considering actual usage, and symbols/units for calculations (see included tables and annexes).
Practical applications
- Develop or update design guidelines, checklists and specification libraries that enable designers to compare energy-saving options quantitatively.
- Support early-stage design decisions (project definition, option screening) for residential and small commercial projects.
- Enable smaller-scale practitioners to adopt best-practice energy-saving choices without bespoke simulation by relying on standardized reference specifications and energy consumption ratios.
- Assess cost-effectiveness by linking predicted energy reductions to initial cost increases and running-cost savings.
Who should use this standard
- Building designers and architects working on single-family residences and small commercial buildings.
- Suppliers and authors of design guidelines and specification documents.
- Energy consultants and regulators creating performance-based guidance or compliance pathways for small building projects.
Related standards
- ISO 16813 - Indoor environment - General principles
- ISO 16818 - Energy efficiency - Terminology
- ISO 23045 - Guidelines to assess energy efficiency of new buildings
Keywords: ISO 13153:2012, energy consumption ratio, energy-saving design, elemental technology, single-family residential, small commercial buildings, design guidelines.