Sustainability Rating Systems: Promoting Best Practices and Energy Efficiency

Easy to use online sustainability rating systems are educational tools that address all project phases.
This course is no longer active
[ Page 2 of 10 ]  previous page Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 next page
Advertorial course provided by Green Building Inititive
Barbara A. Nadel, FAIA

Energy Consumption

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2002, buildings accounted for 39 percent of total U.S. energy consumption. Residential structures accounted for 55 percent of that total, while commercial buildings accounted for the other 45 percent. These statistics have risen steadily since then.

The AIA, along with other building industry organizations, has endorsed sustainability and the goals of lowering energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. In December 2005, the AIA adopted two policies, endorsing sustainable architectural practice, and the development and use of rating systems and standards that promote and contribute to a sustainable future.

The AIA's sustainability goals support resource conservation to achieve a minimum reduction of 50 percent of the current consumption level of fossil fuels used to construct and operate buildings by the year 2010. Just as importantly, integrating sustainability into the curriculum for architectural continuing education activities relating to professional licensure, and within architectural schools, will result in an emerging core competency within the established design criteria for current and future U.S. architects.

Changing the mindset of the building industry, facility owners, and the public towards accepting the benefits of greener future is a long-range undertaking. At least 10 to 15 years, an entire generation of graduates, may be needed to educate owners and government agencies about the benefits of sustainability principles.

To make an impact, there must be greater use of renewable energy sources and the use of innovative design principles to improve environmental performance. Since energy consumption reductions will be realized over the entire building life cycle, architects and owners must look beyond first impacts associated with construction, and consider operational and life cycle ramifications. "It's time to require specific goals for significant reductions in energy use, with enhanced performance assured through building commissioning," Stewart adds.

Sustainable Rating Systems

The marketplace has traditionally welcomed innovation and consumer choice, from automotives and soft drinks, to computer software and health care plans. Even in industries where a single product or brand tends to dominate the market, other options always emerge to meet consumer needs.

Increasingly, private nonprofit groups, companies, organizations, public agencies, and educational institutions are developing sustainability guidelines and rating systems to meet their requirements, budgets and schedules, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all standard. When the marketplace develops different sustainability rating systems in response to consumer preferences, more design professionals and building owners are likely to implement sustainability principles.

"There are a number of standards out there, and architects must understand how they are derived, so they can better use them. Architects must learn to address the important characteristics of these standards, work with various groups to promote them, and help craft them to meet architectural concerns. Sustainability ratings should be developed as a collaborative, consensus building process, with designers, manufacturers, and contractors," says Stewart.

From a regulatory perspective, a two-pronged approach is needed, Stewart adds. Regulations at the federal, state, and local levels may require certain goals to be met, and standards to be implemented. At the same time, creating incentives for the building industry to go beyond the minimums may provide an additional push for regulations and mandated standards.

"Changing behavior is difficult, but we can offer incentives to advance sustainability, and back up good practice with legislation and regulations," Stewart adds. "In California, energy standards are only one part of public policy, relating to climate change. The building industry must deal with the entire spectrum of building life span and operations. Regulations still don't address energy concerns over a building's 50-year life cycle. It is difficult to assess the energy consumed on a project, from extracting raw materials, to transporting them, and preparing them for processing. Architects can't always judge the environmental impact of specifying materials made locally over those brought in from a distance. Life cycle analysis addresses these bigger issues."

Clients and building owners often focus on first costs over long-term costs, especially with limited multi-year public appropriations or private funds providing fixed project budgets. One solution, Stewart observes, may lie in the financial markets, and how they view sustainability over traditional construction methods. "Once we get the financial markets to recognize greater dollar values on projects with lighter environmental impact, they may be more inclined to see the inherent benefits," he adds.

 

[ Page 2 of 10 ]  previous page Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 next page
Originally published in Architectural Record.
Originally published in June 2006

Notice

Academies