High Performing Buildings - Fall 2008 - (Page 16)

Dual Function Approaches Whether designing building or site components, the more functions that can be served by one design element, the more resourceful and cost efficient the design. Use smooth white, single-ply roof membranes to reflect radiation that negatively impacts cooling loads, bounce desired solar radiation into adjacent daylighting roof monitors If the designer uses healthy building and provide an ideal surface for rain- materials, clear benefits will result water harvesting. for the occupants, but dollar savings may never be realized by the owner. Look for covered walkways or adjacent building shapes that can shade Implementing good daylighting east or west glass. designs will provide significant energy savings. However, measuring producMaximize community resources tivity benefits in monetary terms is by analyzing facilities that can be typically harder to consider upfront. shared by more than one group within the community. A church There is an extensive list of strateand a school can share parking. A gies implemented by designers that town library system and a school initially cost more but are good can eliminate the need for space investments for the building owner. that otherwise would be duplicated. Strategies such as improved lightA single constructed wetland can ing and control options have paybe used by several surrounding backs within months; others like neighbors to solve common erosion solar water heating and geothermal problems for less money. In addition, systems have longer returns. The sharing recreational facilities prooptions are many. vides an opportunity for significant Sustainability Perspective cost savings and requires less land A client may choose to look at cost and resources. See Diagram 3. from a global sustainability perspecGreatest benefit tive. For most clients, this viewpoint, to Initial Cost while well appreciated by most, is A client may look at the investbeyond local financial capabilities ment in terms of what is the to pursue. However, from a societal least costly way to provide the standpoint, this is precisely the pergreen benefit, the greatest benspective we must develop and someefit to initial cost. If the goal is how afford. to provide a healthy indoor environment, increase productivity or even provide the least costly way of ensuring low, long-term operational costs, the decisionmaking process in selecting the least costly avenue will certainly be different. For example, when education is the key driver, health and productivity often are a higher priority than operational savings associated with energy and water. the Design Community’s Challenge Currently, skilled design teams can reduce energy consumption to 50% below current levels and still meet most reasonable construction budgets. Our immediate need from a sustainability standpoint is getting a greater part of the design community philosophically committed, increasing skill levels within the design community and better disseminating improved design tools. Owners need to educate themselves about what can be accomplished with the budget and establish appropriate energy and water budgets. Architectural and engineering students should focus on more holistic system thinking and learning to analyze energy and water issues. Joint architectural and engineering classes will help make addressing engineering issues early in the design process the norm. It is becoming more widely understood within our industry that buildings account for 48% of greenhouse gas emissions. The buildings we design today will be with us for 50 to 100 years. The cost to address environmental issues through better building design today is just a fraction of what it will cost society to deal with the ramifications of insufficient action. • About the Author Michael Nicklas, FAIA, is president, cofounder and design principal at innovative design, inc., in raleigh, n.C. He is past president of the international solar energy society. recently, he served on the project committee of AsHrAe’s publication, Advanced energy design guide for K–12 school Buildings: Achieving 30% energy savings Toward a net Zero energy Building. 16 HigH Performing Buildings fa l l 2 0 0 8

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of High Performing Buildings - Fall 2008

High Performing Buildings - Fall 2008
Contents
Lessons Learned
Green on a Budget
ASHRAE Sets Example: ASHRAE Headquarters
The Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life
Spectral Services Consultants Corporate Office
Advertising Index

High Performing Buildings - Fall 2008