ASHRAE/ICC/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2023 is a comprehensive standard for the design of high-performance green buildings, excluding low-rise residential structures. It provides minimum requirements for sustainable site development, water use efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and materials and resources.

The primary goals of Standard 189.1-2023 are to promote environmentally responsible building practices, enhance occupant health and comfort, reduce energy consumption, and ensure compliance with green building codes.

While LEED certification is a voluntary rating system that recognizes sustainable building practices, Standard 189.1-2023 sets mandatory minimum requirements that can be adopted into building codes. It serves as a technical basis for the International Green Construction Code (IgCC).

The standard addresses six key areas:

Sustainable Sites (SS)
Water Use Efficiency (WE)
Energy Efficiency (EE)
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
Materials and Resources (MR)
Building Impact on the Atmosphere (IA)

Implementing this standard leads to improved energy efficiency, reduced operational costs, enhanced indoor air quality, and increased occupant comfort. It also positions buildings to meet future sustainability regulations and enhances their market value.

The standard includes stringent energy efficiency requirements that exceed those in ASHRAE 90.1, promoting the use of renewable energy sources and advanced technologies to minimize energy consumption in buildings.

Yes, the standard mandates efficient water use practices, including low-flow fixtures and systems for rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse to minimize overall water consumption.

The standard sets requirements for ventilation rates, source control of contaminants, lighting quality, acoustics, and thermal comfort to create healthier indoor environments for occupants.

The standard offers two compliance paths: a prescriptive path with straightforward criteria and a performance path that allows for more flexibility in achieving energy efficiency through advanced design strategies.

Standard 189.1-2023 encourages sustainable site practices such as minimizing heat island effects, preserving existing vegetation, managing stormwater runoff, and promoting access to public transportation.

Architects, engineers, contractors, and building owners must collaborate closely to ensure that all aspects of the standard are integrated into the design and construction processes for successful implementation.

Yes, ASHRAE offers various training programs and resources to help professionals understand and apply the standard effectively in their projects.

ANSI approval signifies that the standard has undergone a rigorous consensus process involving industry experts and stakeholders, ensuring its credibility and acceptance as a benchmark for high-performance green building design.

The standard includes requirements for on-site renewable energy systems, such as solar photovoltaic or wind power. It specifies minimum renewable energy production based on building type and size, promoting the integration of clean energy sources into building designs.

The standard emphasizes the use of sustainable materials, including recycled content, regional materials, and bio-based products. It also addresses construction waste management, encouraging recycling and diversion from landfills.

The standard includes provisions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency measures, renewable energy integration, and requirements for refrigerants with lower global warming potential (GWP).

Yes, the standard includes advanced lighting requirements, such as automatic shutoff controls, daylight responsive controls, and occupancy sensors. It also addresses light pollution reduction and promotes the use of energy-efficient lighting technologies.

The standard requires comprehensive commissioning processes to ensure that building systems are properly installed, calibrated, and performing as designed. This includes functional performance testing and documentation of commissioning activities.

Standard 189.1-2023 includes provisions for EV charging infrastructure, requiring a minimum number of EV charging stations or the infrastructure to support future installation based on the building type and size.

The standard incorporates resilience measures, such as enhanced structural design for extreme weather events, flood mitigation strategies, and provisions for maintaining critical building functions during power outages.

Yes, the standard mandates water metering for various building systems and end uses, allowing for better water management and identification of potential leaks or inefficiencies.

The standard includes requirements for bicycle storage, preferred parking for low-emission vehicles, and proximity to public transportation, encouraging sustainable transportation options for building occupants.

The standard sets minimum requirements for sound transmission, background noise levels, and reverberation time in various building spaces to ensure a comfortable acoustic environment for occupants.

The standard includes measures to mitigate the urban heat island effect, such as requirements for cool roofs, vegetated roofs, and reflective paving materials in site design.

Yes, the standard mandates the installation of carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors in densely occupied spaces and specifies requirements for monitoring and displaying indoor air quality parameters.

The latest edition includes new provisions for assessing and reducing the embodied carbon of building materials through life cycle assessment (LCA) and the selection of low-carbon alternatives.

The standard sets stringent requirements for building envelope performance, including enhanced insulation levels, air barrier continuity, and fenestration performance to minimize energy loss and improve overall building efficiency.