New companion publication to address carbon reduction and operational emissions goals. ATLANTA (16 July 2026) – ASHRAE has announced the strategic direction for developing future editions of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.
1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, reinforcing its long-standing role as the industry’s foundational standard for energy-efficient commercial building design while responding to evolving market and client needs for reducing operational emissions. As part of the six-year work plan of Standing Standard Project Committee 90.
1 (SSPC) for 2028 and 2031, Standard 90.1 will retain its core focus on energy efficiency and justified energy cost requirements, consistent with its purpose since the 1970s.
This direction reflects strong feedback from industry stakeholders and reinforces the standard’s historical role as a widely adopted and enforceable benchmark for commercial building energy performance. In response to growing interest from states, cities and major corporations seeking ways to reduce operational emissions, the committee will also develop a separate, aligned document.
The complementary framework will provide a template for establishing commercial building requirements and procedures aimed at reducing operational emissions, including opportunities to account for renewable energy availability. To support this direction, the committee plans to move optional Appendices M and N, introduced in the 2025 edition of Standard 90.
