Sustainable Construction: Going Green, the Cost Factor - Term Paper Example

Sustainable Construction: Going Green, the Cost Factor Rachna Jalan Sustainable Construction: Going Green, the Cost Factor Introduction: According to Edward Mazria, Founder of Architecture 2030, in the U.S., buildings are responsible for almost half (48%) of all greenhouse gas (GHG) release every year and worldwide the percentage is even larger (U.S. Green Building Council 2007).The steady spread of the going “green” awareness has made the people more interested in sustainable designs while pondering over the construction of their buildings. Of late, mare and more people are found to advocate for building practices that conserve energy, minimize waste, and use environmentally friendly materials that too at low to no cost. The gigantic rise in the energy cost followed with the huge shrinkage in productivity due to workers’ health, the owners of buildings are therefore seeking for more and more sustainable designs which not only save money but also encourage employee and energy efficiency. According to Scott Kelly, a partner in Re: Vision Architecture in Philadelphia and a founding member of the Delaware Valley Green Building Council, adherence to sustainable construction is rapidly capturing the marketplace and is expected to remain there instead of just being a trend (Kelly 2004). This opinion is supported by Helen English, executive director of the Sustainable Building Industry Council who reveals a high rise in the percentage of high-performance schools, residential and federal buildings, the three centralise sites of the SBIC (Kelly 2004). The SBIC’s projects are mainly focussed in areas of homes, schools, federal buildings and small commercial buildings (Sustainable Buildings Industry Council n.d.). According to English, the SBIC specifies seven design traits i.e. accessibility, sustainability, security, productivity, flexibility and cost-effectiveness, for all buildings requiring sustainability (Kelly 2004). Sustainable or green buildings are found to be sensitive to factors like the environment, resource and energy consumption, impact on people, financial impact, and the world as a whole (Kats et al. 2003, p. 15). While certain architects consider environmental benefits seriously, the others are followers of the market demand (Kelly 2004). No matter how serious one is regarding such an issue, sustainable ideas are thought of right from the beginning of the project (Kelly 2004). USGBC & LEED According to the U.S. Green Building Council, an association of over 2,000 owners, architects, designers, contractors, engineers, commodity manufacturers and other fascinated units, almost 5% of all U.S. commercial construction is seeking for certification from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System (Kelly 2004). The council has set specific standards for high-performance, green buildings which are recognized at certified silver, gold or platinum levels in accordance to their abilities to meet the requirements (Kelly 2004). While allotting points the six principle areas that are verified are sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental creativity in design and eminence (Kelly 2004). Of these the environmental quality and the materials and resources section attract majority of the points in the rating system (Kelly 2004). Almost 102 buildings have already been certified since 1999 by the USGBC and above 1,000 projects registered are still seeking certification at present (Kelly 2004). According to Emily Turk, LEED architecture for USGBC, the transformation of the marketplace is the fundamental objective of LEED (Kelly 2004). He further states that it is rapidly becoming a hot demand in the market where the clients are the demanders and the structure experts and the manufacturers are the suppliers (Kelly 2004). According to Mark Keen, AIA, Chairman of the AIA Baltimore Committee on the Environment, LEED provides the structure and around which putting our arms we can assess buildings’ comparisons (Kelly 2004). The Cost Factor Some say, “Green building can save money on utility bills, decrease maintenance costs, and help protect the value of real estate. It also impacts everyone in the supply chain: from the workers in the manufacturing plant who make the products to the contractors installing them” (Raintube n.d.). For having a building certified through the USGBC’s LEED program, one cannot escape the costs involved in the process right from registering and certifying the project to additional design fees for things such as energy modelling (Carlson 2007). However, one needs to realize that of the total cost for majority of the laboratory buildings the percentage of cost involved in this process is actually quite small (Carlson 2007). The cost can be restricted to the minimum by simply acquiring an specialist team of designers having skill in sustainable design matters, a well-thought plan prepared beforehand and a serious commitment from all the involved members (Carlson 2007). The talents of experienced architects and engineers who have successfully handled assignments on sustainable design from the beginning to the end make the task simpler (Carlson 2007). Besides, they assure proper integration of the sustainable ideas thereby linking the performance of all with each other along with the remaining design of the building (Carlson 2007). It has frequently been observed that sustainable ideas go on to restrict the costs associated with other building systems (Carlson 2007). For example, limitations can be imposed upon the quantity of air-conditioning or heating systems requirements thereby saving money by cutting down electricity simply by convalescing the window-glazing of the building (Carlson 2007). Another way of attaining sustainable construction can be simply by restricting the use of extremely expensive materials or finishes (Carlson 2007). For example, by replacing marble with ceramic the amount saves should be diverted to sustainable ideas, which might appear quite costly at the initial stage but will certainly reap positive results in terms of savings in the long run (Carlson 2007). Moreover, once sustainable solutions are reached the operating cost savings cannot be ignored. When an architect succeeds in building green, sustainable buildings ignoring the certification from LEED, he only cuts down the documentation costs but remains unexamined for outside review and corroboration (Kelly 2004). It is actually incorrect to assume that the cost of going “green” signifies a rise in the construction cost of a building (Carlson 2007). The USGBC states that the certification of a building signifies a rise in the costs from 0 to 5% or around $0 to $10 per square feet of area in accordance with its certification level (Carlson 2007). Another advocate of this view is an international firm of cost assessment, Davis Langdon (Carlson 2007). Through “Costing Green: A Comprehensive Cost Database and Budget Methodology” in 2004 revealed that the construction of LEED certified buildings required an amount from 0 to 3% only of the original budget (Carlson 2007). The study further reveals that the principle secrets behind the success of sustainable construction remaining within the initial budget are fixing up well-defined targets right from the very beginning along with a well integrated system of sustainable factors into the assignment right from the initial stage (Carlson 2007). Following Basic Steps Some of the zero costing simple steps that can be conveniently followed for going “green” is as follows: Area and Location Area selection and building orientation plays a vital role. Accessibility to public transportation, reduction of site disturbance and destruction of natural site elements are no less important. Working in an existing built area is always a preference. Assessment of the cost involved in reuse of the existing structures is equally crucial. By adjusting the orientation of the building maximum benefits can be enjoyed. Contacting the appropriate expert at the very beginning of the project to get his valuable guidance as to the selection of a new area or the location of a building in an already built area or campus is extremely important (Carlson 2007). Correct Size A very simple way of achieving sustainable construction is by opting for smaller buildings which inevitably save money. A realistic approach related to growth should be adopted. A creatively and strategically panned building offers multi-usage spaces. Good Integration According to Keen, a sustainable building always works in coalition with the resources it uses until the waste product finally ceases to exist (Kelly 2004). Water drainage occupies a chief role in green civil engineering. Wastage of water can be controlled by creating swales and landscaping which recaptures the surplus water, filters it and makes it usable to flush toilets (Kelly 2004). According to Rick Harlan Schneider, AIA, LEED-AP, Inscape Studio, Washington, D.C. team approval is the call of the day to attain sustainable design (Kelly 2004). Efficient integration with each other is the chief feature of any well certified sustainable design. Almost each sustainable step should be put into practice in performance with all the systems involved. The extra expenses incurred an adoption of sustainable designs are actually recaptured as savings by other parts of the building. The extra amount spent on preparing a better quality of building envelope actually results in savings by cutting down cooling and heating requirements. Encouraging the use of renewable, recycled and local materials Proper selection of materials plays a significant role. Nowadays the sustainable materials are no more that expensive. Recycling of products should be encouraged. For example, carpet tiles prepared from recycled goods are less expensive. A building should never be over-finished. Leaving the floors unfinished is a good idea for achieving sustainability. Also, it is always advisable to use local products in case the site is located within or near a manufacturing area. This results in savings by way of cutting transportation costs. The building industry is responsible for adding hoards of debris to landfills (Kelly 2004). LEED points are easily awarded to those projects which encourage recycling of building materials and utilization of materials from within a 500 – mi radius (Kelly 2004). We should educate the workmen that by remembering certain basic steps which can be conveniently followed such as switching off the lights when not in use, contribution is made for achieving sustainable designs. Going “green” is extremely important in specific cases such as laboratory buildings as they are the giant consumers of energy (Carlson 2007). Their operating costs being very high due to the reason of higher energy consumption facilitate greater savings as a result of execution of energy-efficient designs (Carlson 2007). Sustainable ideas not only deal with conserving energy and environmental factors but also goes on to encourage human comfort (Carlson 2007). For example, daylight, a significant element of environmental factors strengthens productivity and health (Carlson 2007). Sustainable solutions reap positive results for students and employees. The indoor air may contain contaminated germs and other pollutants leading to asthma and allergies thereby making a rise in the number of sick days taken (Carlson 2007). Sustainable ideas aid in checking air contamination by improving the quality of ventilation (Carlson 2007). Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) present in carpets, paints and wood products, harmful for the health can also be restricted by opting for specific materials (Carlson 2007). It has been very rightly said that healthy buildings decrease human costs (Carlson 2007). Of late, the cost of “green” materials is found to fall due to the rising awareness of sustainable items among the manufacturers e.g. commodities carrying recycled content are no longer that expensive. Conclusion Of late, with the huge number of building owners, contractors, engineers and architects flocking the USGBC’s LEED for attaining certification for sustainable design a strong commitment is being felt towards the environment, the health of the occupants and profitability. Thus, going “green” is being steadily supported by the people’s adherence to sustainable designs and construction. Professionals expect that with the growing awareness of going “green”, the importance and convenience of designing “green” will become so inevitable that the cost spent on it will gradually become almost negligible. Until that period is reached we can still try to advocate sustainability by planning strategically from the very beginning. This initiative of planning beforehand, keeping the sustainability concept in mind one can keep the costs to be spent on sustainable design in control. Existence of experienced professionals, future occupants and administrators, all pursuing the common target of sustainability can help to meet the goal successfully. Bibliography Carlson Laura. (2007). “Green on a budget: Low-to no-cost sustainable solutions for labs” in Laboratory Design. R&D. , accessed 17th Feb 2007. Kats, E., Alevantis, Berman, Mills & Perlman. (2003). “Overview of Project: What is a Green Building?” in The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings: A Report to California’s Sustainable Task Force. USA. 15. , accessed 17th Feb 2007. Kelly. (2004). “Going Green” in Mid Atlantic Construction. , accessed 17th Feb 2007. Raintube. (n.d.). “We Are Committed To A Sustainable Future: Why we think sustainable living is important”. , accessed 17th Feb 2007. Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC). (n.d.). “Programs and Partnerships: About Our Programs”. , accessed 17th Feb 2007. U.S. Green Building Council. (2007). “The 2010 Imperative Global Emergency Teach-in” in Press Releases. USA. , accessed 17th Feb 2007. Read More