High-performance green building standard released

The nation's first standard for the design of high-performance green buildings has been published by 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 the first code-intended commercial green bui...

February 1, 2010

The nation’s first standard for the design of high-performance green buildings has been published by 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 the first code-intended commercial green building standard in the United States.

The standard, published on Jan. 22, 2010, provides a 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 goals for green buildings through its adoption into local codes. 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.