Sustainable Technology - Report Example

Sustainable Technology Student Name: Course: Institution: Instructor: Date: Sustainable Technology Develop A Procedure To Implement The Soft Landings Framework Soft landings was developed in the 1990s as a subsequent project for the Cambridge University. The scope of service documentation for the Soft landing was developed with the assistance from the construction industry. The open source documentation was further developed into a framework by a task group that was developed by BSRIA and a user group to help the early adopters was crafted. The Soft Landings was finally included in the BREEAM in 2011. The Soft landings framework was developed to change the professionalism in the construction industry to ensure that quality buildings are developed. This project hopes to utilize the benefits that come with the framework and the BREEAM standards to ensure that the new and refurbrished building is of good quality to satisfy the client. The soft landings is designed in an attempt to foster mutual understanding between the various stakeholders in the construction industry about the objectives of the project. The benefit to the client is that the frustrations that are involved in the innitial occupation is avoided and that they maximize the advantages of their new assets (Smith, 2007). The approach focuses on the diagnosis of the problen and its treatment by monitoring, reviewing, as well as post occupancy evaluation. The contractor understands the client’s brief right from the inception stage to ensure they deliver the best possible operational outcomes. This will help the client acquire value for his investment in the new assets as well as help the contractor in identifying what the client expects through the perfomance targets (Dye & McEvoy, 2008). The perfomance targets that are set at the inception and briefing stage ensures that the client acquires a quality asset. The soft landings emphasizes on the readiness of buildings that is attained by ensuring that a soft landings team is appointed on site during the setting in period. This is followed by a follow up for three years to ensure that the building is fine tuned and monitored for effective perfomance (Keepin & Shiers, 2003). Stages Of Inception And Briefing; In these stage, the contractor clearly takes into perspective the operative requirements for the client through their requirements. The roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders that are involved in the project are defined during this stage. The Client’s past experience with quality or sub-standard handed over sites are also addressed at this stage to ensure that they attain the best operative requirements (Dye & McEvoy, 2008). The plans for the project are then analyzed and the necessary reality checks put in place. The incentives to ensure that the contractor delivers a quality asset to the clinet are also enacted and perfomance targets laid down. A BREEAM accredited official should be appointed to ensure the Soft Landing framework is adhered to. The project is then commissioned and the contractor commits themselves to providing the necessary aftercare. In this case, the BREEAM standards will help in ensuring that the clients acquires quality in his new building as well as the refurbrished building. The briefing worksteps involve the targets on the environmental aspects and perfomance. The aspect of energy is then looked into to ensure that it will be sustainable and of a low cost. The next priority is to ensure that the occupant is satisfied and the BREEAM or LEAD standards are followed. The waste targets and usage of water is next on the worksteps. This is concluded by ensuring that there is clarity on the chain of command amongst the stakeholders that are involved in the execution of the project (Halliday, 2008). The client will brief the contractor on the nature of the building that he hopes to acquire and the changes that are to be made in the refurbrished building. Design Development And Review; The review of designs is done to enquire on the past history and experiences of the client to ensure that he or she is satisfied with the final design. This is followed by the documentation of tender documents. The traininng for operation should be done in good time to ensure that last minute rush is eluded. A user gude should be compiled in this stage to ensure that customer satisfaction is achieved with the project. The manual should be prepared in a simple format to ensure that it is easy to use both on paper, as well as in the electronic formats (Halliday, 2008). Pre-Handover; Pre-handover entails of a number of tasks that allows the client to test the quality of the new building and whether it adheres to the Soft landing frameworks. This involves the evaluation of the building readiness program (Calkins, 2008). This is followed by more training on the occupants, as well as the review of the O & M manuals. The energy meters are then reviewed by callibration and updating them with the main meters, as well as zeroing them. This is accompanied by the development of plans for the seasonal and continous commisssioning. Initial Aftercare and Extended Aftercare This involves the review of the meetings that will deal with the aftercare of the project once it is completed (Calkins, 2008). This is followed by energy logging and review of the systems that have been put in place to look into the energy aspects. The perfomance of then reported against the targets that were set during the briefing stage. The systems of energy are then fine tuned and the possible changes are recorded. Post-Occupancy Evaluation This involves systematic surveys that are rigorous and comparable with bench marks and building categories to ensure that they are consistent. Assessed Under the Breeam 2014 New Construction Criteria The new BREEAM construction scheme assesses the environmental performance of the new buildings in the new build design stage and the new build posts construction stage. In the design stage, the ratings will confirm the performance of the new buildings and the certification provided before the commencement of operations on site. The post construction stage (PCS) assessment, as well as the BREEAM rating confirms the performance of the final built in the new construction stage. The PCS assessment on performance is completed and certification provided on the eventual completion of the construction works. The BREEAM 2014 new construction criteria is one that has included revisions from the previous versions as a result of feedback from BREEAM stakeholders, the Green Construction council in the UK, as well as other professional entities. This is done to ensure that the client attains a better building or asset that satisfies their requirements. The new building and the refurbished buildings are required by the BREEAM standards to adopt a sustainable form of providing energy that minimizes on the amount of Carbon (IV) Oxide emissions. The requirement for a percentage of the total energy consumption in the building that should be provided from renewable sources of energy was scrapped since it is covered under the building regulations (Anderson & Shiers, 2009). The management category in the regulations stipulates the construction procurement process and how it should be carried out (Roaf, 2007). A new credit was involved in the revised standards that require the project’s predicted capital costs to be reported. Responsible sourcing of materials is also a key area that should be considered in the construction of the new buildings to improve the rating of the new building. The waste category addresses the issue of building adaptability. The shell, as well as the core of the building will now be assessed with independent scope definite form of assessment criteria. The new construction should also adhere to the criteria that specifies on the responsible sourcing of materials criteria. The performance of the construction project assessed under BREEAM is determined by a number of elements. This includes the BREEAM rating level benchmarks, minimum BREEAM standards, environmental section waiting, as well as the issues and credits (Roaf, 2007). BREEAM sets minimum standards for assessment on energy, water, and waste to ensure that fundamental environmental concerns are not overlooked. This is because BREEAM adopts a balanced score-card approach where credits on one area compensate for non-compliance in other areas. The new building should maximize on the credits to ensure that the area where they may not have complied will be overlooked. The BREEAM assessment areas addresses nine different issues that relate to related environmental impacts and has a number of credits that is attached to it. The credits are awarded on the new and refurbished buildings when they are found to adhere to the best practice performance that is defined to the specific issue. The new regulations promote innovations for sustainability in the construction industry thus additional credits are available to recognize the benefits that are associated with the new innovations (Calkins, 2008). BREEAM awards innovation in building and design in two ways. The first approach is where the specific project performs excellently in the assessment using existing BREEAM issues. The project attains best practice by going beyond the set BREEAM issues. In the second approach, the specific parties involved in the project apply for recognition of the construction method or technology by the BRE global as innovative (Dye & McEvoy, 2008). Minimum Standards BY BREEAM rating level b Man 01 Project Brief and design First credit Stake holder consultation where a project member is appointed to represent the client in commissioning to ensure it is done according to the building regulations. Second credit Where the evidence reveals that seasonal commissioning will proceed in the post construction stage Third credit Where a BREEAM official is consulted in the design stage to ensure that the minimum standards are followed 23 Man 02 Considerate constructers First Credit This is awarded where the parties involved commit themselves to attaining the best practice site management 12 22 Man 03 Responsibe construction practise First credit Where measures have been put in palce to ensure that best practise site management practise are followed 2nd credit Where the evidence reveals there is commitment to surpass the best practise standards 22 Man 04 Commissioning and Handing over First credit Where the evidence shows that the a user guide will be provided to assist the occupants. Second credit Where consulation is undertaken and feedback given to the users of the building and the local community. 22 Man 5 Aftercare First credit Where the evidence reveals that the reccomendations provided by the Architectural Liason Officer (ALO) were followed to ensure there is security for the occupants of the building. Second credit Where the evidence shows that the consulations led to the development of a number of shared facilities. 22 Man 06 Consultation First credit This is awarded where the evidence proves that consultation has been undertaken and is ongoing. Second Credit This is awarded where the change in design or action is proved to have been because of the process of consultation. 22 Man 07 Shared facilities First Credit This is awarded where the evidence demonstrates were developed as a result of consultation Second Credit Where the evidence shows that the shared facilities do not compromise the safety of the occupants of the buildings. 22 1 1 w Man 08 Publication of building information One credit This is where the evidence proves that the building information helps the users of the buildings in using it more efficiently. 11 Man 09 Security One credit Where the evidence shows that the ALO and the CPDA from the police department was consulted and their recommendations adopted in the building design and its parking facilities. 11 Man 10 One credit Where the evidence reveals that the specifications of the building systems payed attntion to ease of maintenance in line with the best practise. 1 En 01 Reduction of energy use and carbon emissions There are upto 15 creditd available where the evidence demonstrates that the efficiency in the use of energy is achieved by use of the buildings fabric and services and in turn reducing the CO2 emissions. 115 En 02 Energy monitoring First credit Where the evidence provides evidence of sub-metring of the energy consumption in the building. Second credit Where evidence demonstrates that the sub-meters are connected to the BMS or other types of automated devices. 22 22 Wat 01 water consumption First credit Where the evidence indicates that water consumption is 4.5- 5.5 m3 per person per year. Second credit Where the evidence indicates thst water consumption is 1.5 – 4.4 m3 per person. Third credit Where the consumption of water is less than 1.5 m3 per person annually. 33 33 Wat 02 water monitoring One credit Where the evidence indicates that a water meter with a pulsed output is installed on the mains supply. 1 11 Mat 03 Responsible sourcing of materials Six credits available that are detrmined by the green guide to specification ratings for the major buildings. 66 6 Wst 01 Construction waste management One credit available where the building façade is reused. 11 Wst 03 operational waste One credit awarded if the evidence indicates that a design re-uses atleast 80% of an existing structure. 11 LE 03 minimising the impact of existing Site ecology First credit Where the evidence demonstratse that the structure poses minimal change in the existing structure. Second credit Where the evidence portrays that the structurd does not pose a negative value to the existing ecological value. 22 Transport Tra 1Provision of public transport 3 credits available where the evidence reveals that the building is accwssible to public transport 33 33 Tra2 Travel plan Two credits available where a travel plan is included to cater for the needs of the various users of the buildings. 22 2 Tra 3 First credit Where a secure and well lit cycle-store is available. Second credit Where changing facilities are available for all users of the building. Pollution Pol1 No emmissions from Heating Upto 3 credits available when depending on the dry NOx emissions from delivered space heating energy. Pol2 flood Risk Upto 3 credits availableWhere the evidence reveals that the development is situated in flood-free area. 33 23 Land use and Ecology Le 1 Enhancing site Ecology Upto 3 credits available where the evidnce demonstrates that a specialist was hired to increase the ecolgical value of the site 33 33 Le 2 mitigating ecological imoact First credit Where evidnce rveals that the site poses a minimal change in the ecological value of the area. Second credit Where there is no negative change in the site’s ecology. 22 22 Le 3 Consultation with staff Where consulation was conducted with students and staff to provide their inputs on the design 11 3 Health and wellbeing Hea 1 Daylighting One credit This is awarded where atleast 80% of the of floor area covered by office staff experience an average of 2% or more daylight factor. 11 Hea 2 Ventilation Door Air One credit Where the evidence portrays that the areas that allows intake of air in the occupied areas are free of polluted or exhaust air. 11 He 3 View out One credit Where the evidenc reveals that all the relevant areas have adequate view out. He 4 Thermal zoning Where the evidence reveals that the users are in controll of the building temperature. 11 11 He 5 Microbial contamination Where the evidence reveals that the risk of water and airborne diseases is minimized. He6 pottential for Natural ventilation First credit Where evidence demonstrates that the fresh air circulates in the occuoied area through natural ventilation Second credit Where the evidence demonstrates that there is sufficient user controll of the supply of fresh air. 22 2 Hea 7 Acoustic perfomance First credit Where the building demonstrates that it has adhered to the acoustic perfomance. A qualified acoustician is to ensure that all the spaces attain the required perfomance standards. Second credit Where the evidence demonstrates tha the building accomodates for music. Third credit Where the evidence demonstrates that the light and heavy weight roofs are fixed with glazing or roofing lights 33 3 Innovation Inn 1 First credit Where a considerate constructers scheme certificate is issued where the site achieved the CCS code of considerate practise. Second credit Where the non-harzadous construction waste exceeds the resource efficiency benchmark. 22 32 How Environmental Profile Methodologies Are Used In The Bre Green Guide To Specification This is a standard method that is used to identify, as well as assesss the environmental effects that the various building materials pose to the environment. This involves the extraction of the materials, processing, their use and maintenanace, as well as their eventual disposal. This allows the designers to demand for the reliable and comparable data on the various competing building materials (Moskow, 2008). The standards help in assessing the impacts of materials used in construction of commercial buildings, health care, domestic, industrial, eductaional and retail facilities. The materials are arranged in the guide on an elemental basis and their specifications compiled. This helps the designers. The information is set from an A+ ranking that represents the best environmental perfomance to an E ranking to represent the worst perfomance (Anderson & Shiers, 2009). Energy Efficiency Develop a Strategy for Sustainable Low Energy Cooling For the Building 1) Reducing unnecessary heat gains to the building The strategy for sustainable low energy cooling is essential to ensure that mechanical cooling is minimized thus reducing the green house gases and the cost of energy for the soft landing framework. This is also done to avoid possible overheating in the event of warmer summers in new as well as existing buildings (Keepin & Shiers, 2003). The strategy should entail reducing heat gains to the building that is attained by utilizing certain aspects of buildings to generate and store the cooling energy. This can also be achieved by utilizing the cooling energy that is generated from naturally occurring renewable sources that are local to the building. The installation of a mechanical cooling plant can also play a crucial role in avoiding unnecessary heat gains but opportunities for free cooling should also be utilized (Kibert, 2008). The cold bridging between the inner and outer wall should be eliminated by ensuring the insulation layers are continuous and conductive materials eliminated along the layers. This is attained by the inspection of the continuity and the quality of the insulation before it is covered and rendered inaccessible. The effectiveness of the thermal insulation system should also be checked through thermal imaging to identify the areas that require remedial measures to be put in place (Llinares-Millán, Fernández-Plazaola, Hidalgo-Delgado, Martínez-Valenzuela, Medina-Ramón, Oliver-Faubel, Rodríguez-Abad, Tort-Ausina, 2014). 2) Adoption of passive cooling solutions to the building The passive cooling solutions include the improvement in the design of the design of windows, solar shading, as well as reducing the air leakages. The windows that are selected should have carefully designed frames and glazing arrangements. They should utilize increased air gaps that are filled with argon between the panes. They should also utilize low emissivity glass and utilize the addition of a further thermally isolated pane (Kibert, 2008). ‘. 3) Utilizing cooling energy from naturally occurring renewable sources Solar shading is attained by the integration of glazing with internal and external blinds. It is also achieved through the incorporation of ventilated cavity blinds to ensure that the solar radiation that is absorbed by the blinds is vented to the exterior of the building. Mid-plane blinds should be integrated between the panes. Surface coating on the glass can also be applied to attain shading from the solar. The design of the buildings and the construction should also ensure that there is minimal leakage of air. The site supervisors should be trained on the importance of the barriers and how they should be inspected to ensure continuity before they are covered up and inaccessible. The effectiveness of the air barrier insulation should be tested by use of the building pressure test (Llinares-Millán, Fernández-Plazaola, Hidalgo-Delgado, Martínez-Valenzuela, Medina-Ramón, Oliver-Faubel, Rodríguez-Abad, Tort-Ausina, 2014). Natural ventilation plays a large role in attaining a sustainable cooling for the soft landing framework. The temperature or wind difference drives circulation of air in the building. This provides ventilation for the occupants of the buildings, as well as air for cooling it at no costs. Windows that open automatically are installed to control the patterns of air circulation. The natural ventilation system poses some disadvantages that may include the circulation of contaminated air in the buildings and controlling break-ins may be difficult. Control measures ought to be put in place therefore, to ensure that the system works efficiently and the benefits involved are maximized. Ventilation can be attained through the mixed mode system or a combination of the mixed mode with a night cooling system (Moskow, 2008), Mixed mode ventilation system Together with night cooling Develop a Strategy For Energy Efficient Heating For The Building. 1) Combined Heat & Power (CHP) The combined heat and power is a system that allows the self-production of electricity on site and utilizing the heat by-product that is released from the generators. The most popular equipments used in the CHP are the steam and micro turbines, steam facilities, as well as engine driven generators. Engine-driven generators are the building that will be used in this project due to the availability of fuel and its equipment. The supply of high temperature heat drives the gas or steam generators and the resulting cooling temperature waste heat is utilized in heating water or space. The phenomena is also referred to as cogeneration. It is commonly used in buildings such as large apartments and offices, industries, as well as hotels that generate their own electricity and re-utilized the waste steam for heating the same buildings. 2) Communal heating This is a system that is based on central plants and heat-interface units to offer heat to a number of dwellings. The system is economical, environmental friendly and come with a number of social benefits. The heat interface units convert the heat generated from the energy centre to individual fast-recovery heated water, as well as high efficiency heating in every household (Ross, 2005). This reduces the carbon emissions from buildings and also allows the integration of renewable sources of energy to the system. The communal heating system functions in the same approach as in homes that have installed their own boilers and tank. The consumers pay for only the energy that is used for the heating and providing the water (Calkins, 2008). The heat interface unit is fixed with meters that are used to accurately record the amount of energy that is used. The installation is simple since the system rules out the requirement for gas supply and extra room for ventilation. The requirement for servicing and maintenance is also reduced and made easier. When planning for a communal heating system, some factors ought to be taken into consideration. The end user profile is the first aspect where the housing association is considered. The housing association may either be private or mixed. The renewable heat incentives should also be assessed, as well as the feed-in tariffs (Key, 2009). The next aspect is the project timetable and how the system will be taken care of in advance. This is followed by the identification of the services charges, tariff costs, as well as the control of the level of debt by the parties that benefit from the communal heating system (Smith, 2007), The necessary programs to ensure that the heat interface units and the central plants are maintained and functioning accordingly should also be put in place. This should function in hand with the management of the agreement on utility supply, revenue management contracts and the replacement costs that may arise in future. The expected level of occupancy in the buildings sharing a communal heating system is also a critical factor that determines the diversity in the systems (Anderson & Shiers, 2009), In conclusion, the soft landings frame work was introduced in an attempt to improve the level of satisfaction that the client obtains from his new assets. The soft landing frame work was introduced in the BREEAM standards in 2011 to improve the level of professionalism in the construction industry (Ross, 2005). This will ensure that quality buildings that adhere to the BREEAM standards are constructed to assure the client of satisfaction in their new assets. During the inception and briefing stage, the performance targets for the contractor are set and a BREEAM official is present to ensure that the soft landing standards are adhered to. This is followed by the design development and review, pre-hand over, the initial and the extended aftercare. The new BREEAM construction scheme assesses the buildings in the new build design stage and the new build post construction stage. 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M., Medina-Ramón, F. J., Oliver-Faubel, I., Rodríguez-Abad, I., ... Tort-Ausina, I. (2014). Construction and Building Research. Dordrecht: Imprint: Springer. Moskow K, (2008),’ Sustainable Facilities: Green Design, Construction, and Operations’, McGraw-Hill Professional, ISBN-10: 007149474X Roaf S, (2007), ‘Ecohouse’, Architectural Press; 3rd, ISBN-10: 0750669039 Ross K, (2005) ‘Modern methods of house construction: A Surveyor's Guide’, IHS BRE Press, ISBN-10: 1860817556 Smith P (2007),’Sustainability at the Cutting Edge: Emerging Technologies for low energy buildings: Emerging Technologies for Low Energy Buildings’ 2nd edition, Architectural Press; ISBN-10: 0750683007 Tomlinson M J (1994) ‘Pile Design and Construction Practice’ 4 th edition, E & F N Spon ISBN 0419184503 Appendices Read More