American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) leaders met with U.S. Army officials regarding a new sustainable design and development policy that incorporates requirements of the green-building standard developed by ASHRAE, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).
The U.S. Army has made it a matter of policy to promote sustainability and improve green-building standards for its facilities. On Oct. 27, Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy, and the environment (IE&E), issued a policy memorandum that incorporates ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2009, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings.
The Army’s policy sets a new approach to the design and construction of efficient military construction projects and major renovations by using Standard 189.1 as a baseline. The policy requires that facility construction projects follow specified requirements and guidance in the standard. These requirements address siting, energy efficiency, cool roofs, metering, storm-water management, and indoor and outdoor water consumption.
The policy applies to all construction and renovation of new buildings and structures in the U.S. territories, permanent overseas Active Army installations, Army Reserve Centers, Army National Guard facilities, and Armed Forces Reserve Centers. The footprint of the existing Army buildings and structures worldwide covers more than 954 million sq ft.
ASHRAE leadership and Army officials discussed how ASHRAE could continue development and stringency of Standard 189.1 to provide guidance toward net-zero buildings. Also discussed was how ASHRAE can help fulfill the Army’s training needs regarding the standard and how it fits into the Army’s long-term plans to make their facilities more sustainable.