ASHRAE Splits Standard 90.1 to Create New Operational Carbon Standard for Buildings

ASHRAE is splitting its widely used Standard 90.1 into two separate standards, creating a new one focused specifically on operational carbon from buildings. The move separates energy efficiency requirements from direct carbon emissions limits, giving facility managers and designers clearer targets for reducing the climate impact of building operations. The new operational carbon standard will address emissions from heating, cooling, lighting, and other building systems that burn fossil fuels or draw from the grid. This change reflects growing pressure on the building sector to align with broader decarbonization goals and could influence how commercial and institutional buildings are designed and retrofitted in the coming years. For professionals in facilities management, this means preparing for more explicit carbon performance metrics beyond just energy use. The split may also affect compliance pathways for local energy codes and green building certifications that reference Standard 90.1.