ATLANTA - A guide written to make sustainable design easier has earned a leadership award from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings is a recipient of a USGBC 2005 Leadership Award. The guide received the Research Award for being "a significant contribution helping to advance green building." The guide was developed by a committee representing energy professionals drawn from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the New Buildings Institute (NBI), the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

"The Advanced Energy Design Guide developed by ASHRAE and its partner organizations is another tool in the ‘green' toolkit, which users need to build a sustainable future," ASHRAE president Lee Burgett, P.E., said. "We thank the USGBC for recognizing our efforts."

"The U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership Awards are presented for leadership in promoting green building design and construction," Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO, and founding chair, USGBC, said. "The Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings is a seminal resource for the green building industry, and is highly deserving of this prestigious award."

The award is the second for the book, which earlier this year was recognized by the Alliance to Save Energy as part of its annual Stars of Energy Efficiency Awards program. The Alliance recognized ASHRAE for its "exemplary illustration of and commitment to energy-efficient policy and practice."

The guide is said to provide a sensible, hands-on approach to design through use of products that are practical and commercially available as off-the-shelf technology from major manufacturers.

ASHRAE, AIA, IESNA, and the U.S. Green Building Council are currently developing the second guide in the series, which will focus on small retail/mercantile spaces.

The cost of the Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings is $59 ($47 for ASHRAE member).

To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), at 1791 Tullie Circle NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, or visit the online bookstore at www.ashrae.org.

Publication date: 12/05/2005