This document discusses sustainable buildings and green markets from an engineering perspective. It provides an overview of why sustainable buildings matter by outlining their large environmental impacts. The key elements of sustainable buildings are then summarized, which include sustainable sites, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, water efficiency, and materials selection. Government policies to promote green building are also reviewed, with many federal, state and local governments implementing incentives and requirements to encourage LEED certification of public buildings. Engineers play an important role in the LEED certification process by accounting for over 40% of potential points.
2. Overview
Why does it matter
Elements of Sustainable Buildings
Government Application (Green Market
Incentives)
3. Environmental Impact of Buildings
(why does it matter?)
US Commercial Buildings Facts:
65.2% total US electricity consumption
> 36% total US primary energy use
30% total US greenhouse gas emissions
136 million tons of US
construction/demolition waste (about
2.8 lbs/person/day)
12% of potable water in the US
40% (3 billion tons annually) of raw
materials used globally
www.usgbc.org
4. 5 Broad Areas of Application
Sustainable Sites
Energy and Atmosphere
Indoor Environmental Quality
Water Efficiency
Materials and Resources
5. LEED Concept and Intent
LEED is the standard for sustainable design
worldwide.
Design and construction practices that significantly
reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings
on the environment.
LEED is a point based system that ranks the
sustainability of a buildings design by:
Certified (26 32 points)
Silver (33 38 points)
Gold (39 51 points)
Platinum ratings (52 69 points)
7. Sustainable Sites
Site Selection
Development Density
Brownfield Redevelopment
Alternative Transportation
Public Transportation
Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms
Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Parking Capacity
Reduced Site Disturbance
Storm Water Management
9. Sustainable Sites
Reduced Site Disturbance
Protect or Restore Open Space
Development Footprint
Storm Water Management
Rate and Quantity
Treatment
Heat Island Effect
Non-Roof
Roof
Light Pollution Reduction
12. Water Efficiency
Water Efficient Landscaping
Reduce by 50%
No Potable Use or No Irrigation
Innovative Wastewater Technologies
Water Use Reduction
20 30%
14. Energy and Atmosphere
Fundamental Building System Commissioning
Minimum Energy Performance
CFC Reduction in HVAC&R Equipment
Optimize Energy Performance
Renewable Energy
5 10%
Additional Commissioning
Ozone Protection
Measurement and Verification
Green Power
18. Materials and Resources
Storage and Collection of Recyclables
Building Reuse
Maintaining 75 100% of Existing Walls, Floor, and Roof
Maintain 100% of the shell/structure and 50% of non-
shell/non-structure
Construction Waste Management
Divert 50 75% from a landfill
Resource Reuse
5 10% of materials used are salvaged, refurbished, or
reused materials, products and furnishings
21. Indoor Environmental Quality
Minimum IAQ (Indoor Air Quality)
Performance
Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control
Carbon Dioxide Monitoring
Ventilation Effectiveness
Construction IAQ Management Plan
During Construction
Before Occupancy
22. Indoor Environmental Quality
Low Emitting Materials
Adhesives and Sealants
Paints and Coatings
Composite Wood
Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control
Controllability of Systems
Perimeter Spaces
Non-Perimeter Spaces
23. Indoor Environmental Quality
Thermal Comfort
Compliance with ASHRAE 55
Permanent Monitoring System
Daylight and Views
Daylighting in 75% of spaces
Views for 90% of spaces
25. Federal Government LEED
Applications
General Services Administration (GSA)
US Air Force
US Army Corps of Engineers
Department of State
Department of Energy (DOE)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
US Navy
26. State Government LEED
Applications
California
Pennsylvania all new construction
Oregon tax credit
New York
Maryland all buildings over 500,000 ft2
New Jersey schools, and voluntary applications
Arizona
Missouri
Wisconsin
27. Local Government LEED
Applications
Austin, Texas
Boulder, Colorado
Los Angeles, California
San Diego, California
San Mateo, California
Arlington, Virginia
Cook County, Illinois
Portland, Oregon
San Jose, California
Seattle, Washington
28. Incentives
Sell energy back to the utility company
Tax breaks on new technologies
Rebates, grants and loans
29. Sources
Ray Yunk, Professor of Architectural
Engineering
Dustin Schafer, Instructor of Architectural
Engineering
www.usgbc.org
Questions?