ASHRAE, USGBC revise green building benchmark, Standard 189.1

Sources: ASHRAE, Atlanta; CP staff

New requirements to further reduce energy and environmental impacts in buildings’ construction and operating phases—vehicles’ jobsite idle time and long-term stormwater management guidelines among them—are detailed in the 2014 version of the green building standard from ASHRAE, the U.S. Green Building Council and Illuminating Engineering Society.

ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2014, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, addresses site sustainability; water-use efficiency; energy efficiency; indoor environmental quality; and, project impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources. “Compliance with updated provisions will help further reduce energy and environmental impacts through high performance building design, construction and operation while providing indoor environments that support the activities of building occupants,” says Standard 189.1 Committee Chair Andrew Persily.

Major changes in Standard 189.1-2014 from the 2011 version, he adds, include:

Construction and Plans for Operation. Updated requirements related to impacts associated with idling construction vehicles, plus new measures to reduce the entry of airborne contaminants associated with construction areas.

Site Sustainability. Prescriptive and performance options now designated mandatory requirements. Stormwater management requirements are enhanced, joined by vehicle and bicycle parking provisions.

Energy. Significant updates reflect ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, including revised building envelope provisions. Fenestration orientation requirements are updated based on new research, as well as changes in equipment efficiency tables and Energy Star references.

Energy Performance, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Renewables. Changes to reflect current Standard 90.1, along with updates on carbon dioxide emission factors for different energy sources.

Building Impacts on the Atmosphere, Materials, and Resources. Updated requirements for construction waste management and life-cycle assessment, plus new requirements are added for multiple-attribute product declaration or certification.

ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2014, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings, Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings is available for $128 ($109, ASHRAE members) from the ASHRAE Customer Contact Center, 800/527-4723 or 404/636-8400, or through www.ashrae.org/bookstore.