Sustainable Design and Construction Goes Mainstream

The construction industry has a massive impact on the global environment. Luckily, it is now re-evaluating all components of the building process, including extraction of raw materials, design practices, construction methods, and demolition techniques.

In the past fifteen years, the green building industry in the United States has seen tremendous growth. The United States Green Building Council reports more than 1,300 projects have achieved its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification since the system's inception in 1998. Many new businesses have emerged due to increased demand within the sector, which now supports more than 45,000 LEED-accredited professionals trained in the practice and implementation of green design and construction techniques.

Building the Green Team

Buildings can earn four different levels of certification depending on how many credits they earn in the six categories listed above.
Thus, an experienced design and construction team is integral to the success of any green building project. Extensive knowledge and working experience of LEED requirements and a thorough understanding of the registration, documentation and certification process are crucial. Ideally, the team should be assembled in the project's infancy, so it can evaluate short- and long-term costing and implement green building practices in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

Energy modelers, daylight modelers, commissioning agents, and other specialty consultants are valuable assets. An experienced green building constructor and subcontractor team, including managers, job site supervisors and laborers, will also contribute to the success of the project. Nearly 60 percent of the total credits a project can attain under LEED result from successful practices in the field.

Alignment of green building practices with job site safety practices is also a good indication of a contractor committed to on-site sustainable practices. Field staff familiar with green building practices can reduce confusion with on-site staff and provide a well-organized management structure.

Start Early for Best Results

Clearly established goals in the design and planning phase, combined with ongoing project budget comparisons, will establish a framework for a LEED checklist to be followed as the project unfolds. On the other hand, pursuing LEED certification late in the design phase, or during the construction activities, will severely limit the green choices available for the project. Having a clear game plan early will allow all members of the team to explore each potential LEED credit and make recommendations on which credits to pursue most aggressively.

Situations may arise when the requirements of the green building ratings conflict with local regulations, such as storm water discharge requirements, minimum footcandle criteria, or standard plumbing fixtures. The solution may require modifications to the sustainable goals of the project, which is why it's important to start planning early. Such conflicts could also serve to inform building code officials and municipal planners about emerging technologies with environmental, economic, and social benefits.

It's time to retire the perception is that it costs more money to build green. That conclusion is reached as a result of short-term, closed-minded thinking. The long-term perspective reveals a pleasant surprise: premium costs incurred when building green improve efficiency, enable higher performance, and reduce energy consumption. These measures all offer an attractive and lasting payback and are finally creating a new paradigm for calculating the return on investment.

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