ATLANTA - The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recently published the third edition of GreenGuide: The Design, Construction and Operation of Sustainable Buildings. The updated book features new information on guidelines on sustainable energy master planning; updates on teaming strategies; information on how issues related to carbon emissions affect building design and operational decisions; building information modeling (BIM); strategies for greening existing buildings; updates on newly developed green building rating systems and standards; and compliance strategies for key ASHRAE standards. Also, the GreenTips found throughout this edition highlight techniques, processes, measures, or special systems in a concise format.

“The ASHRAE GreenGuide is a living document meant to be used by proactive design engineers working on green building design projects as part of a team that provides ideas and guidance of what to do, where to turn, what to advise and how to interact with other team members in a productive way,” said John Swift, co-author and co-editor of the GreenGuide.

A new chapter covers architectural design and planning impacts, including sustainable master planning. Such planning addresses resource use, landscape concerns, and environmental, economic, and social concerns. A major part of such planning is energy and water use. “As a smart building services engineer, one must be familiar with the flows of energy from generation through transmissions to consumption,” said Tom Lawrence, co-author and chair of ASHRAE’s technical committee on building environmental impacts. “Understanding these flows is critical to being able to provide solutions that increase overall system efficiencies and facilitate energy reductions at all levels.”

The cost of the ASHRAE GreenGuide is $98 ($83, ASHRAE members). It is available online through the www.ashrae.org/bookstore.

Publication date: 12/13/2010