Environmental Design + Construction - December 2008 - (Page 48)

PERSPECTIVES to the point that there are now many, many believers. More building owners are investing the up-front costs associated with designing, building and certifying sustainable structures, and we are fast entering an era in which the majority of design and building professionals have a green component to their business. Yet problems arise because building owners, designers and builders often have very different ideas of what constitutes a successful green building, and they fail to explicitly communicate their thoughts at the outset of the project. As one might expect, these issues are compounded when the parties are relatively new to the green building process. MORE BUILDING OWNERS ARE INVESTING THE UP-FRONT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH DESIGNING, BUILDING AND CERTIFYING SUSTAINABLE STRUCTURES, AND WE ARE FAST ENTERING AN ERA IN WHICH THE MAJORITY OF DESIGN AND BUILDING PROFESSIONALS HAVE A GREEN COMPONENT TO THEIR BUSINESS. promised level of green building certification and its operational performance. The first area is problematic in that it may impact the building owner’s ability to qualify for a grant or tax incentive, which the owner may have counted on to offset the investment. In the case of public buildings, certification may also be required by law — and we can expect to see more of this in the private sector as governments increasingly seek to address climate change and other issues through energy efficiency, reduced carbon dioxide emissions and other aspects of sustainable construction. In terms of performance, there is an expectation that green buildings will, in addition to reducing environmental impacts, offer lower energy and water costs, less maintenance and other long-term benefits to the building owner. However, while the design may incorporate a wide range of green features, there are, of course, a tremendous number of variables between a building’s design and occupancy that can impact operational performance. These potential areas of misunderstanding can be mitigated by following good business practices that facilitate clear communication and common expectations between building owner designer and rating organizations. Potential Problem Areas Broadly put, the two main areas for dissatisfaction are a building’s failure to achieve a COOL ROOF Make Sure all of the Stakeholders Understand and Agree An integrated design process is one in which all of the disciplines involved in a project work together from the outset, including the architect, engineer, contractor, building owner and others. One of its main benefits — and the reason it’s rewarded in rating systems such as Green Globes — is the fact that synergies are often achieved when the various parties can contribute their advice and expertise from the earliest design stage, and are able to perform their own functions with increased knowledge of the building as a whole. The need for an integrated process continues beyond the building’s design through construction and subsequent use. It allows all of the relevant parties to agree on the scope of the project, its goals in terms of WHAT MAKES ONE ROOFING MATERIAL COOLER THAN ANOTHER? High solar reﬂectance + High thermal emittance = Lower energy demand AIA and CSI members: earn credit online with “Cool Rooﬁng: A Solution to National Energy and Environmental Challenges” Do your part to reduce the urban heat island effect. Learn more at WWW.VINYLROOFS.ORG Reader Service No. 183 www.EDCmag.com/webcard 48 ed+c CR04084Viny.indd 1 D E C E MBE R 08 3/4/08 11:55:23 AM http://WWW.VINYLROOFS.ORG http://www.EDCmag.com/webcard

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Environmental Design %2B Construction - December 2008 Contents Web TOC Editor's Note Newsline Living Lab Sustainable Perspectives Resources Products Trade Names Suppliers 2008 Top Products Shedding Light on Energy Advertiser's Index Marketplace %2B Classifieds Parting Shot

Environmental Design + Construction - December 2008

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