Now Available! Developed by ASHRAE in conjunction with USGBC and IES, Standard 189.1-2009, Standard for the Design of High- Performance Green Buildings, provides a ‘total building sustainability package’ for those who strive for green buildings.

Standard 189.1 to Provide a Strong Foundation for High-Performance Green Buildings      


Jan. 22, 2010

ATLANTA—A new standard for the design of high-performance green buildings is set to revolutionize the building industry. Published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (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 Friday, 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. It covers key topic areas similar to green building rating systems: site sustainability, water use efficiency, energy ef¬ficiency, indoor environmental quality and the building’s impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources. For complete information on the standard, including a readable copy, visit www.ashrae.org/greenstandard.

The energy efficiency goal of Standard 189.1 is to provide significant energy reduction over that in ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007. It offers a broader scope than Standard 90.1 and is intended to provide 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,” Gordon Holness, ASHRAE president, said. “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.”

“IES is pleased to be a cosponsor of this standard that will have a significant impact on requirements for high-performance green buildings and the building industry as a whole,” Rita Harrold, director of technology for IES, said. “We congratulate the Project Committee for the tremendous effort and dedication of its members in the fast track development of a consensus standard.  We look forward to continuing the partnership with ASHRAE and USGBC as the standard continues to evolve through future continuous maintenance proposals.”

"Greening the building code is fundamental to the U.S. Green Building Council's goal of market transformation and is also a critical factor in how the building industry is working to mitigate climate change," said Brendan Owens, VP, Technical Development, U.S. Green Building Council. "We're extremely excited to see our collective efforts over the past three years come to fruition in the form of this important standard."

Standard 189.1 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.