Meeting and Exceeding Energy Standards with BIM Software

Building design professionals rely on building information models and other computer software as integrated tools for design and performance
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Sponsored by Vectorworks, Inc.
By Peter J. Arsenault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP
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Living Building Challenge

The Living Building Challenge is a program that was initially launched by the Cascadia Green Building Council in the Pacific Northwest. The not-for-profit International Living Building Institute was created in 2009 and renamed in 2011 to the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), becoming the umbrella organization for both the Living Building Challenge and the Cascadia Green Building Council. Now in its third version (LBC v3.1), The Living Building Challenge is considered the world’s most rigorous proven performance standard for buildings based on a philosophy of going further than just minimizing the harm a building inflicts on the environment to creating structures with positive impacts and, in turn, promoting a living future.

In order to achieve certification, Living Buildings must demonstrate that they have actually achieved this positive effect. It is good to be net zero for energy, but they seek to achieve net-positive energy—generating more renewable energy than the building needs so others in the area can benefit too. The same is true with net-positive water—collecting and treating more potable and non-potable water on-site than they use and treating the waste on-site to avoid stress on local infrastructure. Similarly, they achieve net-positive waste—actively diverting materials from the waste stream but also removing and salvaging materials that would otherwise be destined for the landfill. In short, a true Living Building is regenerative in that it generates enough benefits to the building’s site, to the project’s community, and to the environment at large to offset any negative impacts that the project may incur. While this may all sound like a tall order, as of October 2016, there were nearly 350 registered Living Building Challenge projects comprising more than 10 million square feet of gross building area in 13 countries around the world.

Building with twisting exterior.

Image courtesy of Vectorworks, Inc.

Buildings that are truly Living Buildings create a net-positive effect in multiple categories by giving back more than they take.

The Living Building Challenge consists of seven performance categories, deemed “Petals” based on the metaphor of a flower that efficiently gives back more than it takes. The seven Petals are titled Place, Water, Energy, Health & Happiness, Materials, Equity, and Beauty, each of which are subdivided into 20 Imperatives, or areas of focus. These petals can be, and have been, applied to all building types, sizes, and locations. In order for certification to be achieved, there are two basic rules. The first is that all 20 imperatives within the seven petals are mandatory. There are not different levels of certified buildings—either a building qualifies or it doesn’t. The second rule is that Living Building Challenge certification is based on actual building performance when constructed and occupied, not modeled performance. Therefore, projects must be operational for at least 12 consecutive months prior to evaluation to verify compliance.

The ILFI has determined that, while achieving Living Building Certification is the ultimate goal, recognition can be garnered for meeting the Imperatives of multiple Petals, which is seen as a significant achievement by itself. Therefore, Petal Certification is available when at least three of the seven Petals are achieved, provided that one of them is either the Water, Energy, or Materials Petal. Similarly, ILFI is willing to recognize and certify buildings that qualify as net-zero energy buildings based on ILFI’s definition: 100 percent of the building’s energy needs on a net annual basis must be supplied by on-site renewable energy with no combustion allowed. There are also some other basic requirements related to different Imperatives as part of this certification. As with all Living Building and Petal Certifications, NZEB certification is based on actual performance rather than modeled outcomes.

While the actual certification requires documented performance after occupancy, the only way to get there is to design the building to that level in the first place. That means using many of the same principles and the same computerized BIM tools as we have seen in the other levels of performance discussed. That is good because design professionals have access to everything they need to create Living Buildings. It does mean, though, that some additional commitment is needed of our talent, skill, and plain perseverance to the use of these tools to reach beyond conventional thinking and dig into more details than may be typical. That effort will be worthwhile in the end when, in every respect, the maximum positive outcome is achieved for the building, the people who use it, and the community where it is located.

Conclusion

Architects, engineers, and other team members use an array of design tools to satisfy a full range of criteria for new and renovated buildings. For an increasing number, that includes the use of BIM to create better designs, higher building performance, improved cost control, and more efficient workflow processes, not only in design but also in construction. The data in a BIM model forms the basis for analyzing and documenting a building either directly or in concert with other computer software. This is extremely evident when looking at energy performance and green and sustainable building design. When design teams and owners determine the level of performance that is being sought, from code minimum to net positive, then the proper use of the right software will not only help achieve those levels, but it can also truly enhance the whole process.



Peter J. Arsenault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP, is a practicing architect, green building consultant, continuing education presenter, and prolific author engaged nationwide in advancing building performance through better design. www.linkedin.com/in/pjaarch



Vectorworks logo.

Vectorworks, Inc. is the developer of Vectorworks software, a line of industry-specific CAD and BIM solutions that help more than 650,000 visionaries transform the world. www.vectorworks.net

 

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Originally published in April 2017


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