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HOliao
Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 8:20 pm Post subject: Green Design checklist |
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I am tasked to spearhead the Sustainable design factor in the Firm i am working in. its a medium size firm of 20staff.
Been trying to create a green design checklist for the staff which includes basic environmental considerations. - materials, water efficiency, renewable energy, waste reduction & recycling.
Appreciate if anybody would like to share their experiences or give an advice or two.
My country has little concern for the environment but we would like to help make a difference. especially educating clients on benefits of Sustainable design.
thanks
vinno |
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lekizz
millennium club
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 1212
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:26 am Post subject: |
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In addition I would definitely include 'whole life costs' as an item in a checklist. Though undoubtedly it will be something influenced by your strategy in the other categories. The 'whole life costs' can be a great incentive for clients to spend a bit more money at the start on sustainable/renewable items, with big pay backs in the future.
I remember a few years back the architects in my office (who deal with very big powerful, property developers) began to research the long term financial costs of different building materials/mechanical systems/strategies, so they were best prepared to argue their case to the client. |
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HOliao
Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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thank you lekizz
I agree having that in the checklist will help educate the market on sustainability and its virtues. Did your office's research save most on material and mechanical systems? I believe that energy efficiency would save you the most in UK, correct me if im wrong.
at the meantime, most developers are still after imediate savings as the culture of development here is still shedding its 'sell and forget' methods. Not exactly the best of clients. |
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TJCaine
Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Posts: 53
Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:17 am Post subject: |
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Holiao, I can certainly empathize with the attitude of your clients. The firm I work for does a large percentage of its work in New York for developer clients, few of which actually intend to hold onto a stake in their building long after it's been completed. As a result, they are often most interested in the items that are salable, that can really be passed onto the new tenants as valuable.
You are correct that energy efficiency is always appreciated. Anything that lowers the bills every month can get some heads nodding. It is also a bit topic from things that use less energy like fixtures and daylight dimming, to exterior envelopes that cause the building to use less energy (well insulated and day-lit.)
Another way to spin some of the changes that our clients have begun to buy into is selling space as "healthy living/working" instead of "green living/working." A project I am on now values the fact that the air quality will be exemplary. A large residential project with filtered fresh air in NYC is not common. This also means speccing materials and finishes that will not be off-gassing nasty things, VOCs and the like, long after the building is complete. I would say "indoor air quality" should certainly be on your list. |
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joelmckellar
Joined: 31 May 2006
Posts: 91
Location: Charleston, SC
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:41 am Post subject: |
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Just went to a great workshop on energy modeling, and would greatly recommend doing simple models in the schematic stages of the project.
eQuest (google it and you'll find a free copy via the US DOE) is a great program for examining energy savings using basic measures (daylighting, HVAC upgrades, insulation, etc.) that should be done for all projects. Once the initial model is setup (taking about an hour using the building wizard) you can play around with various features and receive cost comparisons in seconds. There is a life-cycle tool that I haven't personally used, so I can't be sure how easy it is to use, but the energy savings can account for rate schedules showing annual and monthly utility costs.
The trick is not to worry too much about the details (getting square footage exactly right, window sizes, and u-values, etc.) and you can generate useful models quickly. The thing to remember is that these are not load calculations, but tools that should give you some idea how to reduce energy use overall.
Good luck and let us know what you decide!
_________________
Joel McKellar, LEED AP
Real Life LEED - A blog devoted to practicing LEED professionals |
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