ASHRAE has released their new Green Standard 189.1. This is the nation’s first code-intended green building standard. ASHRAE 189.1-2009 covers site location, energy use, recycling, water efficiency, indoor air quality, materials, resources and a building’s impact on the atmosphere.  The … Continue reading →

On December 8, 2009 ASHRAE launched a pilot of the new “Building EQ” labeling program.  ASHRAE’s renovated headquarters building, which received LEED Platinum certification, scored an A- in the building energy labeling program.  The US GSA has committed to participate … Continue reading →

As publication of the nation’s first code-intended high-performance green building standard draws nearer, a Webpage providing the detailed information about ASHRAE Standard 189.1 , including a draft copy of the document, has been launched.  Proposed Standard 189.1, Standard for the … Continue reading →

Beginning in January 2010, building energy modelers will be able to take an exam and become certified. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), together with the International Building Performance Simulation Association and the Illuminating Engineering Society … Continue reading →

ASHRAE announced the fourth public review of their draft Standard 189.1. The public review is from September 18 to November 2, 2009. A full copy of the public review draft can be found at  http://www.ashrae.org/technology/page/331.

NAHB now offers dual certification to the National Green Building Standard and the DOE’s Builders Challenge.  The Builders Challenge is a certification of a home’s energy efficiency. The program provides a standardized metric for whole-house energy performance.  Qualifying homes must … Continue reading →

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers has released a prototype of their building energy label.   The labeling program is called Building Energy Quotient or “Building EQ”. It was developed in collaboration with the US EPA’s Energy … Continue reading →

The NAHB Green Building Standard program is gaining momentum. In March of this year the first home certified to the new standard, in Tucson, AZ, was featured on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  In addition, the Village in Burns Harbor, … Continue reading →

The NAHB Research Center has started designating products as “Green Approved” and linking them to “green practices” in the NAHB scoring tool of their standard. This product approval serves as a first step toward certification under the new National Green … Continue reading →

At the recent ASHRAE meeting in Atlanta, Mr. Jeff Littleton, ASHRAE Executive Vice President, stressed the importance of Standard 90.1-2010 edition achieving a 30% increase in stringency. There is some concern that the draft of the 2010 standard may come … Continue reading →

ASTM International has formed Committee E60 on Sustainability.  This new standards development initiative resulted from the efforts of the US EPA and industry stakeholders who share goals for global sustainability standards.  Committee E60 is taking over ownership of “sustainability” standards … Continue reading →

ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004 Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, has been established by a ruling of the DOE as the commercial building reference standard for state building energy codes. This was done as a result of the federal … Continue reading →

ASHRAE announced their intention of developing an energy labeling program for commercial buildings. The program is expected to launch in June 2009 at their mid-year conference in Louisville, KY.  The purpose of the program is “to provide a credible approach … Continue reading →

NAHB has announced that they have received ANSI approval for their new National Green Building Standard™.  This new standard will apply to all residential construction work including single-family homes, apartments and condos, remodeling, and renovation.  The standard provides builders and … Continue reading →

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) launched their National Green Building Program at the Builders show in February 2008.  Components of the program include: NAHB Model Green Home Building Guideline (this is the predecessor to the soon-to-be-released Green Building … Continue reading →

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has been a leader in developing building energy standards. Their 90.1 “Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings” is a milestone in energy standards. Standard 90.1 is on a … Continue reading →