Building Performance Standards Guide Released

ASHRAE has expanded its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by releasing the Building Performance Standards Guide and a redesigned Decarbonization webpage.

The newly released Building Performance Standards (BPS): A Technical Resource Guide was created to provide a technical basis for policymakers, building owners, practitioners and other stakeholders interested in developing and implementing a BPS policy. The first in a series of seven guidebooks by ASHRAE on building decarbonization, this guide focuses on reducing building operating energy use and resulting emissions in existing commercial and multifamily buildings, as established by leading U.S. cities and states. Jointly developed by ASHRAE, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its national laboratories, the BPS guide is meant to provide the information needed to make informed policy design decisions that drive deeper existing building decarbonization and provide equitable outcomes for all involved.

Highlighted topics covered in the guide include:

• BPS Metrics and Terminology

• Performance Targets

• Major Policy Considerations

• Analysis Methods for BPS Policy Design

ASHRAE announced its unwavering commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with the launch of its redesigned building decarbonization webpage and the release of a new Building Performance Standards Technical Resource Guide.

The ASHRAE Task Force For Building Decarbonization (TFBD) webpage includes technical resources, information, videos and publications to expedite the adoption of climate change mitigation policies and reaffirms the Society’s goals stated in the ASHRAE Vision 2020 report, approved by ASHRAE’s board of directors, as well as the ASHRAE Position Document on Building Decarbonization, to achieve net zero GHG emissions in operation for all new buildings by 2030.

“Over the years, ASHRAE has demonstrated its leadership in reducing GHG emissions by addressing energy efficiency and sustainability, as articulated in some of our most notable technical guidance such as Standards 90.1 and 189.1,” said ASHRAE TFBD chair Kent Peterson. “The TFBD is working to provide vital technical guidance in new guidebooks and the redesigned webpage. ASHRAE is helping accelerate the transition from commitment to action in reducing global built environment GHG emissions.”

Additional features of the redesigned Building Decarbonization webpage include:

• Descriptions of seven new guidebooks focused on building decarbonization.

• A list of related outside decarbonization resources.

• A list of key decarbonization terminology.

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