Our findings so far:

In order to get the full points for LEED credit, we need to either have a mass wall (ICF) with an actual (not performance) R-value of at least R-14. This is easily done with just about any thickness of ICF wall because the foam insulation is where the value is really calculated. You get actual R-17 to R-22 depending on the ICF block – “equivalent” r-values are touted in the 40’s and 50’s, but that includes the thermal mass equivalency and is really an apples-to-bananas comparison anyway, so don't believe everything you hear.

For SIPs, we wouldn’t consider that a mass wall, so the actual R-value needs to be a minimum of R-21. Again, easy to do in a 6-1/2” SIP panel (which would be R-42 – way over everything else by comparison). If we have poured concrete floors inside the building, then we have plenty of thermal mass inside the home (where we really want it), and not separated by a layer of insulation (which is one of the complaints with ICF).

Both systems are thermally broken systems as far as LEED is concerned. Both systems will be very high performance for airtightness (and will require an HRV). It appears that only SIPs will allow us additional LEED points for pre-built panel assemblies since ICFs are site-built assemblies that are then poured on site. We're still researching that with LEED though, so I will validate that and amend this post when we have more data on that.

Space is also a fairly large consideration as well. LEED calculates the area from the outside face of the rough assembly, so the additional thickness required by ICFs will add approximately 120-150 sq.ft. of wall thickness for a 2,000 sq.ft. footprint. I know that sounds crazy, but there is quite a bit of square footage tied up in our exterior walls that isn’t useable, and the thicker the walls, the more that hurts our ability to keep the space functional and stay within the LEED guidelines that won’t require us to add additional points to our requirements total. So, to maximize LEED points, it's not enough for a wall to perform thermally, it also needs to do it with minimum wall thickness - now we really are talking the 21st century modern home here!

Chances are, any sustainably built low-rise Type V building project will have both ICF and SIP components, it really is a question of “how much ICF and how much SIP”. Right now, unless there is some major economic advantage in the initial cost for using ICFs, the information I have is telling me to build the foundation with ICF and use ICF for walkout basement conditions if site topography warrants it. Then run the SIPs from the main level floor up.

This will also allow you to handle common details more easily. For example, you can set the foundation wall to the inside face of the sip so that it can act as a ledge for stone or brick veneer while preserving the thermal break. It’s also worth noting that angles other than 90 degrees at the building corners are easily done with SIPs and won’t pose any problems with designs that are customized. In fact, just about any shape is possible with SIPs – even curved forms. You can do those angles with ICF as well, but it isn’t a lot of fun, so you want to minimize those kinds of design features wherever possible.

It's also worth noting that there are a lot of good reasons to plan for SIP walls running through the building, separating key areas as they provide great thermal separation and sound attenuation in the same space as a conventional stud wall.

We actually started this project thinking that we would need to go to ICFs in order to maximize our LEED point potential, however, it turns out that SIPs actually have a slight advantage when it comes to LEED because of their reduced thickness. For all intensive purposes, they will perform equally in a LEED thermal analysis though, so unless you can build an ICF wall for less than a SIP wall, the SIP wall would be the best choice.

If you are looking to have a highly sustainable building designed, this information is only one very small part of the comprehensive analysis for the great number and variety of design decisions, and all of these choices must be tailored to your specific situation, location and site adaptation. With that said, we strongly urge you to engage the services of a design professional that has the knowledge and experience so that the financial investment in your building is validated and actually performs. In fact, in order to get LEED certification, you are required to assemble a design team that has those qualifications. Contact EVstudio if you have any questions or need to discuss your next sustainable project.

For more SIP info read my post Top 10 Important Things to Know About SIPs

Originally posted 2008-10-31 10:03:14.

Related posts:

1. More Information on Evergreen Terraces
2. LEED Certified Buildings and Accredited Professionals
3. The Skinny on Thermal Mass

There is no shortage of talk about LEED these days so I think it merits a quick explanation.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and it is a green building rating system that has been put in place by the US Green Building Council. Each project is rated based on a variety of criteria and then it is awarded a level of Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum depending on the number of points it is eligible for. Criteria include energy usage, indoor air quality, sustainable sites, water use, construction waste, recycling, etc.

Projects can be certified under several different rating systems including LEED for New Construction, LEED for Existing Buildings, LEED for Commercial Interiors, LEED for Retail, LEED for Schools and LEED for Core and Shell. In addition there is a LEED for Homes that is new and a LEED for Neighborhood Development that is in its pilot phase.

Individuals who want to be LEED Accredited Professionals have to take and pass a test on one of the various LEED rating systems. When an individual passes the test they carry the LEED AP designation. Currently there are no continuing education requirements.

So for the record, buildings are LEED Certified and people are LEED Accredited. At least some of them.

Originally posted 2008-10-03 18:16:37.

Related posts:

1. More Information on Evergreen Terraces
2. Great incentives for photovoltaic solar panels in Colorado

Disadvantages:

Increased installation costs – often double that of a more conventional roof

Increased maintenance costs –potential water, weeding etc. required

Increased structural requirements – can vary greatly by type of green roof

Difficult to service roof if needed – extensive roof are more easily serviced

Advantages:

Storm Water Management – Green roofs help reduce the amount of water that runs off a roof and into municipal storm water and sewage treatment systems. Intensive systems are the best at this due to the deeper growing medium. This also acts as a first step in water purification. The vegetation and growing medium will trap contaminants from rainwater.

Heat Island Effect – If you have ever stepped from an asphalt parking lot onto grass and felt the difference in temperature, you know what the heat island effect is. Green roofs can substantially reduce the ambient temperature on the roof of a building and that contributes to overall cooling a local climate.

Help filter pollutants from air – As briefly touched on above, green roofs can help filter contaminants from the air. Studies have shown that green roofs can remove as much as 95% of heavy metals from the atmosphere.

Increased lifespan of roof – We have all seen what the sun can do to our BBQ grille covers and car paint over the years.  Since the green roof covers much, if not all, of a conventional roof, that roof is going to last much longer. Some studies have shown up to 3 times longer. Most properly installed commercial roofs have a 30 year warranty.

Regulates interior temperatures – By reducing the heat island effect the green roof is also reducing how much heat there is to move through the roof. This combines with the great mass and creates a roof that is insulated quite well in both the summer and winter. The amount depends on the thickness of the growing media and its’ water saturation.

Aesthetic and Use Benefits – A green roof is a more attractive roof. Think of how much potentially usable space is wasted just covering the building. Imagine incorporating outdoor spaces for use by the building tenants. For some extra cost a building owner gets more usable space that can be a very attractive selling point to potential tenants.

Ecological Benefits - Green roofs can attract birds, butterflies and bees. Some buildings are known to harbor large bee farms creating another potential revenue stream for the building owner.

There are other considerations with green roofs but this covers the most common and influential. When choosing any building method or component it is important to analyze how the advantages and disadvantages compare.

Originally posted 2010-12-08 00:30:18.

Related posts:

1. Green Roofs – Extensive
2. Green Roofs – Some are Intense
3. Define Green Architecture? What Makes a Building Sustainable and Green?

As a building material it is suitable for low and mid rise structures such as single & multi-family homes, churches and hotels. It has also been used in panel form as a cladding material.

AAC comes in block and panel form. Generally blocks are used to create walls and the panels are used to create floors and roofs. In some applications panels have been used vertically in order to create the walls. The structure rests on an appropriately engineered foundation. The interior finish can be plaster or furred out drywall. The exterior is often finished in a breathable stucco or paint.

Advantages of AAC:
Non-combustible
High acoustic insulation, assemblies can reach a STC of 60
Easy to work, AAC can be cut with a handsaw
Comes in familiar masonry wythes
Improved indoor air quality
Light weight in comparison to CMU (concrete masonry units)
No thermal bridging
Up to double the R-value of foam cored CMU
Thermal mass
Manufacturing process creates no waste
Resistant to mold and fungus
Can be used to gain LEED points

Drawbacks:
Product must breathe due to initial moisture content
Lower load bearing capacity when compared to CMU
Can be hard to find qualified installers
Should be finished inside and out.

The cost of AAC tends to be a bit higher material wise. However the lighter weight of the materials can translate into a less expensive foundation. Additionally, with a knowledgeable crew the system can be constructed in less time. This not only creates a costs savings in terms of labor but more importantly time. On a larger project, AAC can reduce construction time by up to a month or more.

As always it is best to explore materials and construction methods early in a project in order to determine what is best for your project, labor market and material accessibility.

Originally posted 2010-04-24 00:01:37.

Related posts:

1. Regional Costs of Concrete by the Cubic Yard
2. Construction Types V-A and V-B in the International Building Code
3. Straight Shaft Drilled Concrete Pier Foundation

The first step is to become a LEED Green Associate. This can actually be gained as a standalone credential or as part of becoming a LEED AP with Specialty. There are a number of basic requirements, taken from the USGBC website:

For professionals who support green building design, construction, and operations, the LEED Green Associate credential denotes basic knowledge of green building principles and practices and LEED.

Eligibility requirements:

Candidates must have experience in the form of

•             EITHER documented involvement on a project registered or certified for LEED

•             OR employment (or previous employment) in a sustainable field of work

•             OR engagement in (or completion of) an education program that addresses green building principles.

Credential maintenance requirements:

LEED Green Associates must maintain their credential by earning 15 continuing education (CE) hours every two-year reporting period.

As you can see even gaining the basic level within the LEED AP tree a candidate must some substantial experience in the green and sustainable building fields or at the very least a fairly robust education which addresses those issues.

The most important aspect is that continuing education is now a requirement even for the base level of LEED Green Associate. This prevents the accreditation from being a “get it and forget it” addition to one’s business card.

Originally posted 2011-10-30 00:38:01.

Related posts:

1. Anthony Ries becomes a LEED AP BD+C
2. LEED Certified Buildings and Accredited Professionals
3. An Interview with Elicia Ratajczyk, LEED-AP, Associate at EVstudio

Understanding Net Zero involves a number of key points. The first is a focus on reducing the energy demands of the building. This is achieved by both a shift in culture and how we're used to living/working as well as advanced technologies for reaping the highest efficiencies out of every aspect of the building. After this disciplined reduction in demand, the remaining energy use must be provided with renewable energy. Additional technologies are utilized to provide this power, such as Photovoltaics (PV) or Wind Power and the building must be rigorously modeled in order to demonstrate that all of its energy needs are provided for by its own energy production.

Below is a breakdown of the energy use in a typical Office Building in the United States. As you can see, reducing the loads is the first step in a Net Zero design strategy, and is the primary focus of this article.

Typical Energy Consumption In US Office Building - Courtesy of US Energy Information Administration

Below is our top ten list of effective ways to reduce energy demand in an effort to approach Net Zero:

10.) High efficiency HVAC systems. This seems obvious, but you would be amazed at the spectrum of systems available on the market today. A net zero building relies on the best of the best of these systems. Heat Recovery Ventilators should provide fresh air ventilation without releasing valuable heat to the exterior of the building. Sophisticated control systems are also necessary to manage the building HVAC system to respond to the changing needs of the building and the occupant load.

9.) Daylighting. The development of large commercial buildings often leads to vast amounts of enclosed space with no access to natural daylight. Artificial lighting creates a huge burden on the energy demand and must be balanced with as much natural daylighting as possible. This is especially relevant for buildings that operate primarily during daytime hours

8.) Artificial Lighting and Controls   High efficiency artificial lighting sources are a crucial supplement to daylighting. While daylighting should be a primary light source (with appropriate shielding and redirection), artificial lighting must be carefully considered for night time use, in interior spaces, and to supplement daylighting.  High efficiency fluorescent and LED sources can be combined with judicious use of ceramic metal halide and halogen sources.  It's important to work with the Client to adjust expectations for artificial light levels in Net Zero energy buildings.  Certain older recommendations for foot candle levels from artificial light are very difficult to attain in Net Zero buildings.  Supplementing overhead or ambient light levels with individually controlled task lighting is a way to keep light where it's needed and minimize energy use.  Just as important as efficient sources are controls that manage use of artificial light loads. At a minimum, commercial buildings striving for Net Zero energy must utilize daylight sensors to tune artificial light levels based on presence of daylight; and occupancy sensors to turn off lights when spaces are not used. Other controls that should be seriously considered include a building energy management system; and plug load occupancy sensors for non-critical plug loads.

7.) Passive Solar heating/cooling. Depending on the site location and orientation, all measures must be made to draw available solar heat into the building in Winter months while shading during Summer months in colder or temperate climates. In hot or humid climates, shading and protection from inviting unwanted heat into the building is critical to reducing cooling demand. Window specifications are critical to the success of a passive solar design, and these specifications are different for differing exposures within the same building.

6.) Sustainable Trees. The landscape design for a Net Zero building is critical in managing the microclimate around the building. Landscaping can provide shade trees to protect the building from unnecessary heat gain. Trees can also control unwanted winds that could create unnecessary heating demand in colder temperatures.The landscape design should also require the minimum amount of energy to maintain and operate.

5.) Rooftop gardens and living wall systems. Also a huge buffer to managing the building's thermal envelope are rooftop gardens and living wall systems. These are natural solar devices which convert much of the sun's energy to plant life rather than introducing it into the building. Careful integration of these systems into the design is key to managing building temperatures, but they should not add to the loads of the building in order to maintain.

4.) Thermal Storage. In climates that endure temperature swings, there is an opportunity to retain and store heat provided for during the day that can be released at night. Methods include thermal mass walls and newer technologies include phase change materials that are capable of storing significant amounts of heat energy at near-room temperatures. Other methods of thermal storage can provide heat for domestic hot water within the building, and should be considered in the design.

3.) Natural Ventilation. We have all been in buildings that are sealed with no ability to open the windows. While this was the historic solution to balancing and controlling HVAC systems in buildings, it eliminates the ability to heat and cool interior spaces naturally  and with the informed decisions of the occupants in a temperate climate zone. Including natural ventilation into a larger building is arguably more complicated for the mechanical engineer, but the results are less energy demand and greater occupant comfort if done correctly.

2.) Superperforming thermal envelope. The old mantra of R-value is not the only test anymore of assembly performance. Every mode of heat transfer must be addressed in every wall, roof, floor, window, door, duct, shaft and penetration. Controlling conductive, convective and emissive heat transfer is critical to controlling heating and cooling loads in a building. New systems involving spray foams and low-e materials are necessary in any Net Zero building.

1.) Adjustments in culture and expected use. No one is asking to return to the turn of the last century and compromise internal occupant comfort, but there are some things we've gotten used to that are really unnecessary energy consuming items.  Is it necessary to keep lights on in unused spaces during business hours and does the HVAC system need to run 24/7 in every space? Appliances should be assessed for their necessity and reduced to meet the real need of the building functions. Necessary appliances should be high efficiency, reducing energy consumption. Some things that we've gotten used to are not only unnecessary, but also can contribute to occupant discomfort. A net zero building relies on a culture shift of its occupants to be mindful of the energy use that is being consumed. Employee training programs and proper operating and maintenance procedures for all users of the building are critical. This is hands down the best way to address plug loads, which are the most difficult to quantify and model in any Net Zero design.

Not all building types have the same energy needs. It is important in every project to assess the specific needs for the building type and its occupants. Below is a chart representing the electricity consumption of various building types. The reduction methods outlined above are relevant to all of these building types, but would be tailored to specifically meet Net Zero design goals for each project type. Note that this chart is for electricity only, and does not represent total energy use.

Electricity Consumption per Square Foot by Building Type - Courtesy of US Energy Information Administration

EVstudio is involved with a wide array of sustainable buildings that we have designed. There are many methods for gauging the sustainability of a building. The most popular these days is through the USGBC LEED program. However, one can design and build a Net Zero Building without ever going through the LEED process. For more information or to discuss how your project could be Net Zero or LEED certified, please contact us by commenting on this post below, or through the contact information on our website and we would be happy to discuss.

Originally posted 2011-09-07 12:36:57.

Related posts:

1. The Six Components of Successful Daylighting Part III
2. The Six Components of Successful Daylighting Part II
3. The Six Components of Successful Daylighting

Key factors to keep in mind:

• Thermal mass. This system works best with a 4-6 inch concrete slab with some insulation beneath to help regulate the concrete temperature. The thermal mass can help cool the home in summer.
• Maximize solar collectors for the coldest months in your climate.
• Maintain water circulation. It is possible to rely on thermosiphon, the natural tendency of warm water to rise and cool water to sink, to keep the system working. However, it is always a good idea to have a backup pump just in case.
• Back-up boiler. You don’t want to get stuck in a cold house. A boiler can be configured to only kick-in if the water in the system falls below a specified temperature.
• Protect the system from freezing. It is possible in cold climates for the water in the solar collector to freeze. Non-toxic Propylene glycol can be used on the system to reduce the already lower freezing temperature of moving water.
• Orientation. Good solar access for the panels and buildings should be part of the overall building design. Most windows should be placed in the south facing walls for direct solar gain in winter. The east side should have the second most windows to aid early morning heat gain. West and north facing windows should be minimized or eliminated in order to minimize afternoon overheating and general heat loss, respectively.

These are the primary concepts for a successful solar hot water radiant heating system. As always, for any alternative system to be successful it is best to incorporate it into the project as early as possible so that it is wholly integrated.

Originally posted 2010-02-18 00:01:13.

Related posts:

1. Living a Radiant Life – Understanding Radiant Heat Transfer in Buildings
2. Getting active about passive solar
3. Mountain Modern Project Core Sustainable Concepts

Both Sustainability and Historic Preservation are passions for me personally, and have played a huge role in my pursuit of architecture. I believe that sustainability is much more than “green building” and must effectively balance environmental, economical & social concerns in order to be successful. As a very important social concern in the built environment, I view the practice of Historic Preservation as both the source of many important sustainability concepts, methods and strategies and also as a valuable Green Design strategy in and of itself. Not much more than 100 years ago, most buildings were built according to many of today’s “green” standards out of necessity. They were built according to long standing practices that took the natural forces, site considerations and efficiency of the building and it’s site into account because that was the only way that you could afford to build. Materials, transportation and resources were not as readily available as they are today. In addition, they were built using local materials and craftsman who were experts in using regionally important practices, a concept only added to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Rating Systems as of 2009! It is a broadly held misconception today that all old buildings are not energy efficient. It wasn’t until somewhat recently (starting in the 50’s & 60's), that buildings and their systems started becoming seriously inefficient with the widespread availability of cheap materials and energy which made it economical to build this way. Many historic buildings have terrific thermal envelopes and incorporate great green building strategies such as passive solar design & natural ventilation. Preserving an existing historic building can be a very effective sustainable design strategy for today and can preserve local cultural resources, conserve natural resources, keep tons of waste out of the landfill and often save money at the same time!

It is important, however, to approach a Historic Preservation project with sensitivity when considering incorporating green building strategies. Slapping some PV panels onto the building would be an even less successful green strategy in a historic preservation project than it is in any green building project. Depending on the intended use of the project after completion and the historic preservation goals for the project, there is a broad range of green building strategies that could be incorporated into the project. For example, beyond upgrades to the buildings equipment and fixtures, alternative power sources such as geothermal, remote wind power or remote ground mount PV installations could be considered (especially for remote or “off-grid” locations) that are hidden underground at the building site. In addition, rigid insulation and wiring can be effectively hidden behind traditional plastering methods at building interiors to upgrade the thermal envelope and systems, if necessary. These are just a couple examples of how the addition of new technologies can be incorporated into a project without compromising the integrity of the preservation goals. The important and pivotal piece of the success of the project becomes the prioritization and communication of the project goals. Effective project planning, prioritization of the project goals and a little bit of creativity and innovation can lead to a very successful and sustainable historic preservation project!

Originally posted 2009-10-15 00:15:30.

Related posts:

1. Saving Places Conference: Historic Preservation & Sustainability
2. Historic Structure Assessments in Preservation Planning
3. LEED Project Team Formation is an Important First Step in any LEED Certification Project

There are many conditions that determine the effectiveness of any building material to provide comfort and energy efficient performance. R-Value is only one of these factors or measurement tools.

R-Value is the measure of resistance to heat flow through the defined material. The higher the R-Value the less heat will transfer through the wall, making the system more energy efficient.

R-Value is determined by testing or by the addition of tested components. When “effective” R-value is used, it represents that at a given condition or circumstance, the system performs the same as a product with the “real” R-value.

It is important to understand the conditions at which the “effective” R-value was determined, and see if your application is the same. For example, a masonry wall may have a high “effective” R-value for a 5 hour test period, but have a very low R-value during a 24 hour test period. Where “real” R-value products will have the same R-value during both test periods.

There are several items to consider when evaluating R-Value and it’s effect on your project

Effective R-Value

An example would be masonry products. Masonry product have a very low R-Value but have a high thermal mass. Foam type products have a high R-value but low thermal mass. There is not a standard measurement or number for the energy effectiveness of thermal mass. While R-value resists the flow of heat, thermal mass delays the transfer of heat but does not reduce it. During a short period, thermal mass has the same “effective” R-value, so it is sometimes advertised with this R-value rating. It is not a real R-value but, under those conditions, an “effective” R-value. Please review other technical bulletins for more details and other related items.

Installed R-Value vs Advertised R-Value

It should be noted that R-Value of an item is the value that was tested in a laboratory and is real, but the item may not perform at the same R-value when installed. Most insulating materials obtain their insulating values from trapped air spaces, often the higher the density of air pockets, the higher the R-value. If these air spaces are compressed, a lower R-value will result. For example, batt type insulation may be rated at R-19 in its free state, but requires a 6 ½” thickness to obtain that value. When this material is installed in a 5 ½” frame cavity, the batt is compressed and the R-value is less than R-19. Likewise, putting two batts in the space for one does not increase insulating value; it might even reduce the R-value. Review the Technical Bulletin on Air Infiltration in Insulation for more related information.

Nonuniform Material

Whole wall R-value is the term used to describe the average R-value for the total wall taking into consideration variations and non-uniformity’s in the insulating material. Often, the R-value of the insulating material is advertised without stating the effect of the total system.

An example would be installing an R-19 batt insulation in a 2×6 frame wall. The resultant “whole wall R-value” is the average of the R-19 insulation and the R-5 stud. Tests have shown that the actual “whole wall R-value” of an R-19 wall system to be R-13.7, much less than the R-19 advertised. This applies to all non uniform wall systems.

The R-value of building materials may be effected or altered by the following items.

• Non uniform material
• Thermal shorts
• Material compression
• Air infiltration in the insulation
• Humidity
• Temperature swing or range of environment
• Effects of time and aging.

Along with R-Value, several other factors need to be considered to determine the overall energy efficiency of a building structure.

• Thermal Mass
• Air infiltration in the building
• Radiated heat gains
• Internal heat gains
• Latent and Sensible heat transfer

Originally posted 2010-03-05 00:01:00.

Related posts:

1. Understanding Thermal Mass Walls in a Passive Solar Design
2. Living a Radiant Life – Understanding Radiant Heat Transfer in Buildings
3. The Skinny on Thermal Mass

• Project Administrator – By default, the person who registers the project with the USGBC will become the Project Administrator for LEED Online. This person should be a LEED-AP (accredited professional), if possible, and should be experienced and knowledgeable about LEED certification projects and process. This person is responsible for managing the assignment of team roles in LEED Online and the management of all of the LEED documentation and coordination throughout the LEED certification process.
• Developer / Owner – This is the person responsible for making the final decisions for the project including all strategies, targets, project goals, financial decisions etc.
• General Contractor – This is the person responsible for the construction of the project and plays a key role in assuring that all of the LEED strategies and design elements are effectively and efficiently carried through to reality. It is helpful if this person has previous experience with LEED or green building projects but not essential if they are included in the process from the beginning of the project and there is a LEED-AP or experienced Project Administrator on the project team.
• Sustainability Consultant – This person is knowledgeable and experienced with LEED, green building or sustainability projects. This person should be a LEED-AP as well and will provide valuable knowledge, resources and structure to the LEED certification process.
• Architect / Designer – This is the person responsible for the architectural design of the building. An architect with experience in LEED or other green building or sustainability projects can skillfully include highly effective, low-cost sustainability strategies into the design of a high performance building such as passive solar design, reduced building footprint, etc.
• Landscape Architect – This is the person responsible for the landscape planning of the site and can also skillfully include a number of highly effective, low-cost strategies into the design that will benefit the project goals and LEED certification.
• Engineers – This category may include Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing) Engineering. The engineers are responsible for a large portion of the LEED criteria, including both pre-requisites and credits and are the key to designing a truly integrated and efficient building design.
• Energy Modeler – This team member will model the energy usage of the building according to the required standards and utilizing the required software platforms that  conform to LEED criteria and a myriad of additional modeling needs that may be included in the project goals such as analysis for tax incentives, energy rebates and additional building or energy certifications for the project.
• Commissioning Authority – This is the person responsible for organizing, coordinating & overseeing the Commissioning of the building after construction and according to the LEED criteria, must have previous experience on a minimum of two LEED projects. Although the commissioning does not take place until after the major building systems have been installed and are operational, it is very helpful to include this team member early in the process so that they can provide valuable information, resources, real-world experience and knowledge from their previous LEED projects.

These team members are essential to the success of a LEED certification and building process and each of the above mentioned roles should be filled in some capacity. As previously mentioned, it is possible that a single team member may fulfill several of the above mentioned roles. For example, it is common for the MEP Engineer to also be the Energy Modeler and even sometimes the Commissioning Authority or for the Architect or Designer to be the Project Administrator and/or Sustainability Consultant. The following list includes some more team roles that are helpful to a LEED certification project and should be included in the Project Team meetings whenever possible:

• Broker / Real Estate Agent
• Marketing / PR Director
• Financial Manager / Cost Consultant
• Facility Manager
• Suppliers
• Key Sub-contractors
• Key Stakeholders (building tenants, users, community members)

EVstudio includes several LEED-AP’s who are experienced on previous LEED certification projects. In addition, EVstudio incorporates green building practices and sustainability strategies into our design strategies for each project. There are many strategies that improve livability without increasing cost. It is our philosophy that sustainable design is sensible design and that many of the most effective strategies require great designers, not great amounts of money.

Originally posted 2009-09-12 00:24:19.

Related posts:

1. EVstudio Selected for LEED Project in Killeen, Texas
2. Evergreen Terraces and EVstudio Architecture Featured in National Real Estate Article for LEED Work
3. Free New Online LEED Resource Helps Even Seasoned Professionals – LEEDuser.com