ASHRAE announced a strategic shift for its flagship Standard 90.1, keeping it focused on energy efficiency while creating a separate publication to address operational carbon emissions. The new document will build on earlier addenda to provide a cost-justified framework for jurisdictions and corporations aiming to cut greenhouse gases from commercial buildings. The move responds to demand from states, cities, and large buyers who need clearer pathways for reducing operational emissions without diluting the core energy standard. ASHRAE will develop both standards through its consensus process, with public review cycles aligned to the 2028 and 2031 work plans. For building owners and policymakers, this means a more flexible toolkit: one baseline for energy performance and a separate, adoptable blueprint for carbon reduction. The split aims to improve usability while keeping the original standard enforceable and widely adopted.
