by Ann Withanee — December 8, 2010—ASHRAE has introduced a Users Manual for its guide aimed at educating industry professionals on how to meet the requirements of a green building standard.
Standard 189.1-2009, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, was published earlier this year by ASHRAE in conjunction with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The standard provides a long-needed green building foundation for those who strive to design, build and operate green buildings. A newly published User’s Manual is now available.
“Because of the breadth of the key topic areas covered in the standard site sustainability, water use efficiency, energy ef ficiency, indoor environmental quality and the building’s impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources it is important for users to have a thorough understanding of how they come together to create a sustainable building,” Kent Peterson, former chair of the Standard 189.1 committee, said. “The User’s Manual aids architects and engineers in applying the standard to design; general and specialty contractors in constructing buildings that are in compliance; and plan examiners and field inspectors in enforcing the standard where adopted into code.”
The new User’s Manual provides explanations of the standard’s requirements and examples of its application. It contains sample calculations, forms to demonstrate compliance and references to helpful resources and Web sites. This User’s Manual can also used in educational programs.
Standard 189.1 also serves as jurisdictional compliance option to the International Green Construction Code authored by the International Code Council, ASTM International and the American Institute of Architects.
For complete information on the standard, including a readable copy, visit the ASHRAE Web site.
