A new user’s manual educates industry professionals on how to meet the requirements of a green building standard published by three leading industry organizations. 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 ef­ficiency, 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,” saysKent Peterson, former chair of the Standard 189.1 committee. “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 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 websites. The manual is also suitable for use in educational programs.

For complete information on the standard, including a readable copy, visit ashrae.org/greenstandard.