9.1 Green building design and certification (LEED, BREEAM)
4 min read•august 16, 2024
Green buildings are revolutionizing construction. They minimize environmental impact, boost , and prioritize occupant well-being. From to innovative design, these structures are reshaping our built environment for a greener future.
Certification systems like and provide frameworks for measuring sustainability. They cover energy, water, materials, and indoor quality. While challenges exist, the benefits of green buildings include lower costs, improved health, and reduced emissions.
Green Building Design Principles
Energy and Resource Efficiency
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- Minimize environmental impact throughout building lifecycle (construction, operation, demolition)
- Improve energy efficiency through enhanced insulation, efficient HVAC systems, and renewable energy integration
- Implement water conservation strategies
- Greywater recycling
- Low-flow fixtures (showerheads, faucets)
- Prioritize sustainable material selection
- Recycled materials (reclaimed wood, recycled steel)
- Locally sourced materials (reduce transportation emissions)
- Low embodied carbon materials (bamboo, hempcrete)
Occupant Well-being and Site Considerations
- Enhance indoor environmental quality to promote occupant health
- Improve air quality (use of low-VOC materials, proper ventilation)
- Maximize natural lighting (strategic window placement, light shelves)
- Utilize non-toxic materials (formaldehyde-free insulation, natural paints)
- Carefully select and develop building sites
- Minimize habitat disruption (brownfield redevelopment, infill projects)
- Promote biodiversity (native landscaping, green roofs)
- Reduce urban heat island effect (reflective roofing, permeable paving)
- Implement waste reduction and management strategies
- Construction waste recycling programs
- On-site composting facilities
- Dedicated recycling areas for building occupants
LEED and BREEAM Certification
Certification Systems Overview
- LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
- Developed by U.S. Green Building Council
- Globally recognized green building certification system
- BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method)
- International sustainability assessment method
- Applicable to masterplanning projects, infrastructure, and buildings
- Both systems use points-based approach
- Award credits across categories (energy, water, materials, indoor environmental quality)
- Certification levels reflect overall sustainability performance
- LEED: Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum
- BREEAM: Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent, Outstanding
Certification Process and Requirements
- Typical certification process steps
- Project registration
- Documentation submission
- Third-party review
- Final certification award
- Different versions tailored to various building types and stages
- New construction
- Existing buildings
- Neighborhood developments
- Ongoing performance monitoring required
- Recertification necessary to maintain green building status
- Documentation requirements vary by system and project type
- Energy modeling results
- Water use calculations
- Material sourcing information
- Indoor air quality test results
Green Building Benefits and Challenges
Benefits of Green Building Practices
- Reduced operational costs
- Energy savings (up to 50% lower energy consumption)
- Water savings (30-50% reduction in water use)
- Improved occupant health and productivity
- Better indoor air quality (fewer sick days, increased cognitive function)
- Enhanced thermal comfort (improved concentration and job satisfaction)
- Increased property values
- Green buildings often command higher rents and sale prices (10-20% premium)
- Environmental benefits
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions (buildings account for ~40% of global emissions)
- Lower overall environmental impact (reduced resource consumption, habitat preservation)
Challenges in Implementation
- Higher initial construction costs
- Green technologies and materials can increase upfront expenses (2-7% higher)
- Long-term savings often offset initial costs, but may deter some projects
- Complexity of integrating sustainable technologies
- Requires specialized expertise (green building consultants, energy modelers)
- Potentially longer design and construction timelines
- Regulatory barriers and outdated building codes
- Some innovative green technologies may not comply with existing regulations
- Slow adoption of updated building codes in certain regions
- Performance gap between design and actual building performance
- Careful commissioning and ongoing monitoring required
- Occupant behavior can significantly impact building performance
- Market demand and education
- Need for awareness campaigns to drive demand for green buildings
- Importance of educating occupants on proper use of green building features
Successful Green Building Projects
Innovative Design Strategies
- Case studies showcase real-world applications of green building principles
- Bullitt Center (Seattle, USA): Net-zero energy and water commercial building
- BedZED (London, UK): Zero-carbon community with on-site renewable energy
- Innovative technologies push boundaries of sustainable architecture
- Integrated photovoltaic facades (generate energy while serving as building skin)
- Phase-change materials for thermal regulation (maintain comfortable temperatures)
- Financial analysis reveals long-term cost savings
- Example: Empire State Building retrofit achieved 38% energy reduction with 3-year payback
Performance Evaluation and Lessons Learned
- Post-occupancy evaluations provide insights into actual performance
- User satisfaction surveys (comfort, productivity, overall experience)
- Energy and water consumption monitoring (compare to design predictions)
- Comparative analysis between conventional and green buildings
- Example: CBRE study found green buildings have 3.5% lower vacancy rates
- Challenges encountered during design, construction, and operation
- Integration of complex systems (need for interdisciplinary collaboration)
- Balancing aesthetics with performance (innovative design solutions required)
- Global diversity of case studies
- Adaptations to different climates (tropical green buildings vs. arctic designs)
- Cultural considerations in sustainable design (traditional materials, local practices)
- Varying regulatory environments (impact on certification processes)
Key Terms to Review (18)
BREEAM: BREEAM, or the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, is an internationally recognized sustainability assessment method for master planning projects, infrastructure, and buildings. It promotes the design and construction of sustainable buildings and encourages a whole-life approach to environmental sustainability. BREEAM helps in retrofitting and sustainable renovation by providing a framework that improves the environmental performance of existing structures, and it intersects with sustainable construction materials and practices by evaluating their impact on the environment.
Carbon footprint analysis: Carbon footprint analysis is the process of measuring the total greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide, associated with a particular activity, product, or service. This analysis helps to identify the sources of emissions and evaluate their impact on climate change, allowing for informed decision-making towards sustainability. Understanding carbon footprints is crucial for green building design and certification as it aids in optimizing resource use and minimizing environmental impact.
Daylighting: Daylighting is the practice of utilizing natural light to illuminate indoor spaces, reducing the need for artificial lighting. This approach not only enhances the aesthetic quality of environments but also contributes to energy efficiency and occupant well-being. By optimizing window placement, using reflective surfaces, and incorporating skylights, buildings can harness sunlight effectively, improving comfort and reducing electricity consumption.
Deconstruction: Deconstruction is a critical approach that seeks to understand and unravel the complexities of meaning in texts and ideas by revealing assumptions, contradictions, and multiple interpretations. This method emphasizes the fluidity of meaning and questions traditional notions of structure and hierarchy, making it highly relevant in discussions about sustainability and design practices.
Energy Efficiency: Energy efficiency refers to the practice of using less energy to provide the same level of service or output. This concept not only focuses on reducing energy consumption but also emphasizes optimizing systems and processes to minimize waste and lower environmental impacts.
Energy Use Intensity (EUI): Energy Use Intensity (EUI) is a measurement that expresses a building's energy consumption per unit of area, typically in kilowatt-hours per square foot per year (kWh/ft²/year). This metric provides insights into the energy efficiency of a building and allows for comparisons between buildings of different sizes and uses. EUI is crucial for understanding how energy-efficient design and systems can reduce overall energy consumption and is often a key focus in green building standards and certifications.
Green Globes: Green Globes is a green building certification program that provides an assessment and rating system for sustainable design, construction, and operation of buildings. It offers a flexible approach to achieving environmental performance and is recognized for its emphasis on energy efficiency, resource conservation, and indoor environmental quality, making it a valuable tool for environmentally conscious building projects.
HERS Index: The HERS Index, or Home Energy Rating System Index, is a scoring system that measures a home's energy efficiency. It assigns a score based on the energy performance of a home compared to a standard reference home, with lower scores indicating more energy-efficient homes. This index is crucial in the context of sustainable building practices and energy performance certifications, as it helps homeowners and builders understand how their properties perform and identify areas for improvement.
International Green Construction Code: The International Green Construction Code (IgCC) is a comprehensive set of regulations designed to promote sustainable building practices and reduce the environmental impact of construction. It serves as a model code that local jurisdictions can adopt to ensure that buildings are designed, constructed, and operated in an environmentally responsible manner, aligning with global sustainability goals.
LEED: LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a widely recognized green building certification program that promotes sustainable building practices and environmental stewardship. It provides a framework for designing, constructing, and operating high-performance green buildings that reduce environmental impact while enhancing occupant comfort and well-being. The certification process assesses various sustainability aspects, such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of sustainable materials, thus connecting to broader trends in green building design and the challenges of implementing sustainable solutions.
Life Cycle Assessment: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a systematic method for evaluating the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product's life, from raw material extraction through production, use, and disposal. This approach helps in identifying opportunities for reducing environmental impacts across various sectors, including construction, energy, and transportation.
Modular construction: Modular construction is a building process where structures are prefabricated in sections, or modules, off-site and then transported to the final location for assembly. This approach allows for faster construction times and improved efficiency, often resulting in reduced waste and a smaller environmental footprint. By utilizing sustainable practices and materials, modular construction can significantly contribute to green building initiatives.
Passive Solar Design: Passive solar design is an architectural approach that utilizes natural energy from the sun to heat and cool buildings, minimizing reliance on mechanical systems. By strategically positioning windows, walls, and other elements, this design harnesses solar energy for thermal comfort while reducing energy consumption. This method complements various sustainable practices, such as energy efficiency and green building certification.
Rainwater Harvesting: Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting and storing rainwater from surfaces like roofs for beneficial use, such as irrigation, drinking water, or other non-potable applications. This technique promotes sustainable water management by reducing demand on traditional water sources and helping to mitigate issues of water scarcity and availability.
Renewable energy systems: Renewable energy systems are energy generation and distribution mechanisms that utilize natural resources which are replenished over time, such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. These systems play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels, thereby promoting sustainability. They integrate with modern infrastructure, enhancing energy efficiency and supporting green building initiatives, while also contributing to certifications that recognize environmentally responsible design and construction practices.
Smart building technology: Smart building technology refers to the use of advanced automated systems and IoT (Internet of Things) devices to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and user experience of buildings. These technologies integrate various building functions such as energy management, lighting control, security, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems to optimize performance and reduce operational costs while promoting environmental sustainability.
Sustainable Materials: Sustainable materials are resources that are produced, used, and disposed of in ways that minimize environmental impact and promote long-term ecological balance. These materials often come from renewable sources, are recyclable or biodegradable, and are created with processes that reduce waste, energy use, and harmful emissions. Their application spans across various fields, supporting eco-friendly practices in design, construction, and manufacturing.
Ventilation Rates: Ventilation rates refer to the amount of outdoor air that is brought into a building, usually measured in liters per second or air changes per hour. This concept is crucial for maintaining indoor air quality, controlling humidity, and ensuring thermal comfort, particularly in green building design. Effective ventilation rates are essential for energy efficiency and occupant health, making them a key consideration in certification systems like LEED and BREEAM.