Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings

ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2014: A Comprehensive Guide to High-Performance Green Building Design

For engineers and designers striving to create sustainable and energy-efficient built environments, understanding and applying an authoritative standard is paramount. ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2014 provides an essential framework for achieving high-performance green buildings, offering proven strategies for environmental responsibility and operational efficiency.

What is ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2014?

This industry-leading standard, developed through a consensus process involving ASHRAE, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), establishes minimum requirements for the design of high-performance green buildings. Its primary purpose is to define a comprehensive set of sustainable design practices and features applicable to a broad range of commercial and institutional structures, excluding low-rise residential buildings.

Scope & Purpose

Standard 189.1 governs the integrated design and performance of new buildings and major renovations, encompassing aspects such as energy efficiency, water efficiency, site sustainability, and indoor environmental quality. It sets forth requirements for materials selection, construction practices, and system commissioning. Crucially, this standard is not intended for low-rise residential buildings and focuses on the design phase, although it influences construction and operational considerations.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Architects, mechanical engineers, HVAC designers, sustainability consultants, building code officials, and project managers involved in commercial, institutional, and industrial construction.
• • Industries affected: Commercial Construction, Institutional Construction, Industrial Construction, Green Building, Architecture, and Engineering.
• • Compliance nature: While the standard is developed as a voluntary consensus standard, its adoption into building codes or project specifications can make compliance mandatory.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically enforced by local building authorities, project owners, or green building certification bodies, depending on the jurisdiction and project requirements.

Key Requirements Overview

The standard requires a holistic approach to green building design, emphasizing integrated system performance. Key provisions include:

• • Energy Efficiency: Mandates strategies for reducing building energy consumption through optimized envelope design, efficient HVAC systems, and smart lighting controls.
• • Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ): Establishes parameters for enhanced IEQ, including ventilation requirements, material emissions, and thermal comfort.
• • Water Efficiency: Outlines measures for reducing potable water use through efficient fixtures, landscaping, and potentially rainwater harvesting.
• • Site Sustainability: Addresses responsible site selection, development, and management to minimize environmental impact.
• • Materials and Resources: Promotes the use of sustainable materials, including recycled content and locally sourced options.

Related Standards & References

Standard 189.1 is often used in conjunction with other important documents. It serves as a compliance option for the International Green Construction Code™ (IgCC), providing a detailed pathway to meet green building objectives. Additionally, it complements standards from ASHRAE related to energy efficiency (e.g., Standard 90.1) and IEQ, and may be referenced by certification programs like LEED.