Call for Comments on Green Building Standard
May 2009
The nation’s first standard for high-performance green buildings began its third public review period May 1. Facility professionals can comment on the draft standard through June 15.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), in conjunction with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is developing Proposed Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings. This is the first such green building standard in the United States.
The third public-review draft is designed to be more user-friendly while focusing on delivering and maintaining energy and water-efficiency performance over the life of the building. Compared to the previous draft, this current version provides increased energy savings over ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low Rise Residential Buildings.
This version eliminates the requirement for 30 percent more ventilation beyond Standard 62.1 in classrooms and office spaces, instead focusing on source-contaminant control to improve indoor air quality.
The standard would provide minimum criteria for green building practices in new construction and major renovation projects. When completed, it will address energy efficiency, a building’s impact on the atmosphere, sustainable sites, water conservation, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.
To view a copy of the public review draft, visit the ASHRAE Web site. Copies of public review drafts are only available during public review periods. Publication of the standard is expected by early 2010.
