ATLANTA — A new standard for the design of high-performance green buildings has been published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), in conjunction with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is said to be the first code-intended commercial green building standard in the United States.

According to the organizations, the standard provides a foundation for those looking to design, build, and operate green buildings. It covers key topic areas similar to green building rating systems: site sustainability, water use efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and the building’s impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources.

The energy efficiency goal of Standard 189.1 is to provide significant energy reduction over that in ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007. It offers a broader scope than Standard 90.1 and is intended to provide minimum requirements for the siting, design, and construction of high-performance green buildings.

“The far-reaching influence of the built environment necessitates action to reduce its impact,” said Gordon Holness, ASHRAE president. “Provisions in the standard can reduce negative environmental impacts through high-performance building design, construction, and operations practices. Ultimately, the aim is not just energy efficiency but a balance of environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, occupant comfort and well being, and community sensitivity, all while supporting the goal of sustainable development.”

“Greening the building code is fundamental to the U.S. Green Building Council’s goal of market transformation and is also a critical factor in how the building industry is working to mitigate climate change,” said Brendan Owens, VP, technical development, U.S. Green Building Council. “We’re extremely excited to see our collective efforts over the past three years come to fruition in the form of this important standard.”

Standard 189.1 was written by a broad range of experts, including engineers, lighting designers, sustainability experts, building owners, designers, architects, code and compliance officials, utilities, materials experts, and equipment manufacturers. The technical requirements in the standard were also supported by input from the building industry during the public review process.

For complete information on the standard, including a readable copy, visit www.ashrae.org/greenstandard.

The cost of Standard 189.1 is $119 ($99, ASHRAE members). To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), fax 404-321-5478, or visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore.

Publication date: 01/25/2010