February 17, 2006—The US Green Building Council (USGBC); the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE); and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) have announced that the three organizations have agreed to co-sponsor the development of a new ASHRAE/USGBC/IESNA minimum standard for high performance green building.
Proposed Standard 189, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, will provide minimum requirements for the design of sustainable buildings to balance environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, occupant comfort and well-being, and community sensitivity.
Using USGBC’s LEEDGreen Building Rating System, which addresses the top 25% of building practice, as a key resource, Standard 189P will provide a baseline that will drive green building into mainstream building practices, the organizations say.
Scheduled for completion in 2007, the proposed standard will apply to new commercial buildings and major renovation projects, addressing sustainable sites, water use efficiency, energy efficiency, a buildings impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.
Standard 189P will be an ANSI-accredited standard that can be incorporated into building code. It is intended that the standard will eventually become a prerequisite under LEED.
Founded in 1894, ASHRAE’s objective is to advance through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education the arts and sciences of HVAC&R to serve the evolving needs of the public. For more information, visit the Web site.
USGBC is the nations leading nonprofit organization working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Visit its Web site for more information.
IESNA is the recognized technical authority on illumination. For over 100 years, its objective has been to communicate information on all aspects of good lighting practice to its members, to the lighting community, and to consumers, through a variety of programs, publications, and services. See its Web site for more information.
