ASHRAE Strengthens Standard 90.1 Foundation with Renewed Emphasis on Commercial Building Energy Efficiency

• 16 Jul 2026
• Standards
• Atlanta

ASHRAE Strengthens Standard 90.1 Foundation with Renewed Emphasis on Commercial Building Energy Efficiency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:

Karen Buckley WashingtonAssociate Manager - Public [email protected]

ASHRAE Strengthens Standard 90.1 Foundation with Renewed Emphasis on Commercial Building Energy Efficiency
New companion publication to address carbon reduction and operational emissions goals

ATLANTA (July 16, 2026) - ASHRAE announced a strategic direction for the development of future editions of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, reinforcing its longstanding role as the industry's foundational energy efficiency design standard for commercial buildings while responding to evolving market and customer needs for operational emissions reduction.

As part of the 90.1 Standing Standard Project Committee's (SSPC) 2028 and 2031 six-year work plan, Standard 90.1 will maintain its primary focus on energy efficiency and energy cost justified requirements consistent with its purpose since the 1970s. This direction reflects strong industry stakeholder feedback 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 large corporations seeking pathways to lower operational emissions, the committee will also develop a separate, aligned document. The optional framework will provide a template for establishing commercial building requirements and procedures aimed at reducing operational emissions, including opportunities to account for the availability of renewable energy.

To support this direction, the committee plans to move the optional Addenda M and N, introduced in the 2025 edition of Standard 90.1, as operational carbon-focused appendices, from the core standard and transition those concepts into a separate, dedicated publication. This new publication will focus specifically on operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and provide a blueprint for jurisdictions and other users interested in developing operational carbon reduction standards and codes.

"Standard 90.1 has helped define energy-efficient commercial building design for more than 50 years, and this direction strengthens the foundation that has made it one of the world's most influential building energy standards," said 2026-27 ASHRAE President Sarah E. Maston, P.E., BCxP, LEED AP BD+C. "At the same time, the building industry is evolving, and our tools must evolve with it. By creating a dedicated pathway for operational emissions reduction, ASHRAE can respond to emerging market needs without losing sight of the proven energy efficiency principles at the heart of Standard 90.1. It's about giving our industry the right playbook for the challenge at hand and positioning our members and stakeholders to lead what comes next."

The updated framework will:

• Reaffirm Standard 90.1 as the baseline energy efficiency standard grounded in cost justified energy and performance requirements.
• Transition operational carbon-focused provisions, including Addenda M and N, into a new standalone publication.
• Provide clearer pathways for adoption by jurisdictions, regulators, and industry professionals while responding to the needs of states, cities and other users.
• Enhance usability, flexibility and responsiveness to market demands, including through digital tools and improved and expanded compliance approaches.

The separate publication will build on prior work to provide an optional, cost-justified framework for advancing operational GHG emissions reductions.

The restructuring of Standard 90.1 reflects input from regulators, designers, owners and other stakeholders seeking greater clarity in the purpose and application of ASHRAE's flagship commercial building energy standard.

ASHRAE will continue to develop both documents through its consensus-based process, using economic justification with opportunities for public review and comment in accordance with ANSI procedures. Engagement will continue throughout the 2028 and 2031 development cycles, drawing on the expertise of the Standard 90.1 committee's 153 members and consultants, as well as ASHRAE Technical Committees.

For updates on ASHRAE standards activities, including announcements, open quarterly meetings, public review drafts, calls for members and more, sign up for ASHRAE Standards Actions at ashrae.org/StandardsActions.

For more information on Standard 90.1, visit ashrae.org/standard901.

About ASHRAE

ASHRAE is an international society of more than 50,000 heating, refrigerating and air-conditioning professionals from over 132 nations dedicated to serving humanity and promoting a sustainable world.

Founded in 1894, ASHRAE is an industry leader in research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE its members are dedicated to promoting a healthy and sustainable built environment for all, through strategic partnerships with organizations in the HVAC&R community and across related industries.

The Society is showcasing integrated building solutions and sustainability in action through the opening of the ASHRAE Global Headquarters building in metro-Atlanta, Georgia.

For more information and to stay up-to-date on ASHRAE, visit ashrae.org, connect on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X and YouTube or download the ASHRAE 365 app to stay connected on the go.

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