Two new guides offer guidance on sustainable building. First, ASHRAE has published the third edition of the ASHRAE GreenGuide: The Design, Construction and Operation of Sustainable Buildings. According to ASHRAE, new information in this version includes guidelines on sustainable energy master planning; updates on teaming strategies; information on how issues related to carbon emissions affect building design and operational decisions; building information modeling; strategies for greening existing buildings; updates on green building rating systems and standards; and compliance strategies for key ASHRAE standards. In addition, a new chapter addresses architectural design and planning impacts, including sustainable master planning.
“The ASHRAE GreenGuide is a living document meant to be used by proactive design engineers working on green building design projects as part of a team that provides ideas and guidance of what to do, where to turn, what to advise, and how to interact with other team members in a productive way,” says John Swift, co-author and co-editor of the guide.
The guide is $98. or $83 for ASHRAE members, and can be ordered by calling 800-527-4723. It also can be ordered online at ashrae.org/bookstore.
Second, the U.S. Green Concrete Council (USGCC) has published The Sustainable Concrete Guide—Applications, to help readers examine specific sustainable benefits of concrete applications. The guide includes tips and case studies on specifying concrete materials, constructing for sustainability, integrating into sustainable structures, and navigating green codes and standards. It is meant as a companion to the USGCC’s other guide, The Sustainable Concrete Guide—Strategies and Examples.
The guide is divided into five parts: materials, construction, applications, concrete in sustainable structures, and codes. It is available for purchase through the American Concrete Institute and costs $85. For more information on how to order a copy, visit concrete.org.
