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Landmark Green-Building Standard 189.1 Published

Monday, January 25, 2010

ASHRAE announced publication of Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, a landmark standard that the organization says will “revolutionize the building industry.”

Published by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers), in conjunction with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the standard is billed as “the first code-intended commercial green building standard in the United States.”

ASHRAE said the standard provides a “long-needed green-building foundation for those who strive to design, build, and operate green buildings. From site location to energy use to recycling, this standard will set the foundation for green buildings through its adoption into local codes.”

The standard addresses 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.

Comprehensive information on the standard, including a readable copy, is available at the website located at www.ashrae.org/greenstandard.

ASHRAE said the energy-efficiency goal of Standard 189.1 is a significant reduction in energy use from that obtained by ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007. The standard offers a broader scope than Standard 90.1, and is intended to set forth 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.”

ASHRAE said the standard has been written by experts representing all areas of the building industry, 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.

Copies of the standard can be ordered by contacting ASHRAE Customer Service, by phone at 800/527-4723 (U.S. and Canada) or 404/636-8400 (worldwide); by fax at 404/321-5478; or by visiting www.ashrae.org/bookstore. The cost is $119 ($99 for ASHRAE members),