A new, recently published standard for the design of high-performance green buildings is, according to some, set to revolutionize the building industry. 
   Published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers in conjunction with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America and the U.S. Green Building Council, Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is what the groups are calling the first code-intended commercial green building standard in the United States.
   The standard provides a green building foundation for those who design, build and operate green buildings. From site location to energy use to recycling, this standard will set the foundation for green buildings through its adoption into local codes, the groups said. It covers key topic areas similar to green building rating systems: site sustainability, water use efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality and the building's impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources. 
   The energy efficiency goal of Standard 189.1 is to provide significant energy reduction over that in ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007. It offers a broader scope than Standard 90.1 and is intended to provide minimum requirements for the siting, design and construction of high performance, green buildings. 
   "Greening the building code is fundamental to the U.S. Green Building Council's goal of market transformation and is also a critical factor in how the building industry is working to mitigate climate change," said Brendan Owens, vice president of technical development for the USGBC. "We're extremely excited to see our collective efforts over the past three years come to fruition in the form of this important standard."
   For complete information on the standard, including a readable copy, visit the Web site..