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New Web Page Offers Details on Green Standard 189.1

Thursday, January 14, 2010

ASHRAE announced the launch of a webpage that provides detailed information about Proposed Standard 189.1, described as the nation’s first code-intended standard for high-performance green buildings.

Publication of the standard—Proposed Standard 189.1 for the Design of High Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings—is anticipated early this year, following approval for publication by the boards of directors of ASHRAE, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES), and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The webpage, located at www.ashrae.org/greenstandard, includes an easily readable draft copy of the document, more information on the areas addressed by the standard, and other resources for high-performance building.

The standard addresses key topic areas typically included in green building rating systems, such as site sustainability, water-use efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and the building’s impact on the atmosphere, materials, and resources.

ASHRAE and IES also are working to strengthen the requirements in ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, which provides minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design of buildings except low-rise residential buildings. ASHRAE’s goal for the 2010 standard is 30 percent energy savings over the 2004 version. The 2010 standard is expected to be released in mid-2010.

Both standards are written in mandatory language to allow for adoption in building codes, ASHRAE said. Proposed Standard 189.1P 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 also are supported by input from the building industry during the public-review process. The standard has undergone four public reviews; approximately 2,500 comments were received during the review periods.

More information: www.ashrae.org/greenstandard.