AIA releases study of green building rating systems
By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff -- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 5/15/2008 3:36:00 PM
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has released a study of three green building rating systems (Green Globes, SBTool 07, and LEED NC 2.2) and assessed their effectiveness in supporting the goals of the AIA sustainability position statement. In late 2007, the initial results were shared with the three groups whose systems were reviewed. After receiving feedback, the study was modified and further refined into the final report.
The purpose of this exercise is to offer analysis to both industry and the public as an opportunity to learn how three unique, creative and evolving green building rating systems resonate in various dimensions with the goals of the AIA position statement on sustainability and our goal to achieve carbon neutrality in buildings by 2030.
Key findings:
Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes:
The system offers a broad based evaluation of projects in both the design process and based on environmental criteria. When used to certify a project, more stringent and specific requirements in the areas of energy reduction and operational performance are needed, as these are the two areas that most influence carbon production.
U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED NC 2.2 system:
This is good example of a rating system which provides a measurement of environmental achievement. Continued developments in life cycle assessment, requirements for renewable energy or carbon reduction targets for certified projects will continue to make this system an effective resource for architects.
International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment’s SBTool 07:
SBTool 07 is a toolkit for designing a rating system. If used as a rating system providing certification, SBTool 07 would be stronger if there was an increase in the number of “required” items vs. those that are simply “encouraged” and required project documentation. Specific requirements in the areas of energy reduction and operational performance would supply any rating system approach that comes out of SBTool 07 with performance-based requirements necessary for reaching carbon reduction goals.
-
In following LEED blindly without thought for practical usage, green,
sustainable and energy efficient may not be compatible.
Over-zealous energy conservation that does not also increase
productivity, is not user-friendly, and does not consider personal
comfort and safety, will fail its goals. People will find ways to get around
procedures that are hinder their activities.
At present, LEED, requiring expensive specialists, can only pertain to
wealthy clients for compliance..
Gersil N. KAY, IESNA - 5/21/2008 4:28:00 PM CDT -
Mr. Scotts comments are well taken.
Building "Green" is what we as builders are working towards,but at what cost?
Building green is more costly, period. How much more cost do we add to have some body say, "attaboy"?
Of the various and sundry groups striving for acceptance of their "green" model, how many are concerned more with their bottom line, than with a standard for "green" construction whereby specific materials and practices are used.
If these "green" materials and practices are determined only by groups who would need instruction in which end of a hammer to hold
Warren W. Gross & Associates, Inc. - 5/21/2008 10:02:00 AM CDT -
This assessment is loaded toward LEEDS. It confirms that people do not want to think outside the box, they only want strict rules to follow. Green Globes gives latitude in systems/material selections and costs for certification are much less than LEEDS. LEEDS has become self serving by creating a costly bureaucracy.
Carl Scott, AIA/CSI - 5/21/2008 8:26:00 AM CDT
Useful Green Building Data and Reports
03/11/2010New website provides help for LEED 2009
07/08/2009
