The urban environment is the built environment. It includes buildings of all types
(residential, commercial, public, industrial, and government) as well as parks,
recreational spaces, transportation and communication networks, and public utilities.
Over half of the world's population lives in an urban (high population density)
environment. What are the factors that contribute most greatly to the quality
of life in such an environment? How can we enhance the quality of life in the
cities that we have already built and how can we assure that new projects
maximize quality of life? The answer is to "build green" and to pay attention
to the concept of "sustainability".
FIGURE 1: View from a hotel room in Athens, Greece - a modern and also ancient city
Sustainability and the Triple Bottom Line
Consider the following (and widely
accepted) USPDESD definition of Sustainable Development: "Simultaneously
creating flourishing ecosystems, vibrant communities, and stronger economies.
Sustainable development improves the quality of life for all in the present
without compromising the quality of life for future generations." This
definition leads directly to the concept of the triple bottom line:
Environmental, Social, and Economic accountability in evaluation of urban
development. Notice that efficient use of energy is both an environmental
and economic issue. This is one very useful lens that can be used to
evaluate proposed buildings and projects for the urban environment.
Buildings are a major component of an urban environment. From the summary
below and from the attached Center for Sustainable Systems Fact Sheet
for commercial and residential buildings, note that buildings account
for a substantial impact on the triple bottom line.
Because they have such a large impact on all 3 parts of the triple bottom line,
buildings also represent a large opportunity for improved performance. Also
note that once constructed, most buildings have a lifespan of 50-100 years
and that good performance built into the design has a long-term effect.
How do we measure performance?
Measurement implies the use of a standard and
if the results of the measurement are to be meaningful, the standard must be
widely accepted. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
standards developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) are widely
accepted on a national as well as international level.
What is LEED®?
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the
design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.
LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an
immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance. LEED promotes
a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in
five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development,
water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental
quality.
LEED provides a roadmap for measuring and documenting success for every
building type and phase of a building lifecycle. Specific LEED programs include:
wLEED-NC: New Commercial Construction and Major Renovation projects
wLEED-EB: Existing Building Operations and Maintenance
wLEED-CI: Commercial Interiors projects
wLEED-CS: Core and Shell Development projects
wLEED-H: Homes
wLEED-ND: Neighborhood Development
wGuidelines for Multiple Buildings and On-Campus Building Projects
wLEED for Schools
wLEED for Retail
USGBC is also developing LEED for Healthcare, and LEED for Labs.
How is LEED Developed?
The LEED Rating System was created to
transform the built environment to sustainability by providing the
building industry with consistent, credible standards for what constitutes
a green building. The rating system is developed and continuously refined
via an open, consensus-based process that has made LEED the green building
standard of choice for Federal agencies and state and local governments
nationwide.
What is LEED Certification?
The first step to LEED certification
is to register your project. A project is a viable candidate for LEED
certification if it can meet all prerequisites and achieve the minimum
number of points to earn the Certified level of LEED project certification.
To earn certification, a building project must meet certain prerequisites
and performance benchmarks ("credits") within each category. Projects are
awarded Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum certification depending on
the number of credits they achieve. This comprehensive approach is the
reason LEED-certified buildings have reduced operating costs, healthier
and more productive occupants, and conserve our natural resources.
(The section above on LEED was obtained from www.usgbc.org)
What are some of the potential benefits of green building and how
are those benefits related to the Triple Bottom Line?
Environmental Benefits
wImprove air and water quality
wReduce waste streams
wConserve and restore natural resources
wEnhance and protect ecosystems
Social Benefits
wEnhance occupant health and comfort
wMinimize strain on local infrastructure
wAesthetic improvement - in the presence of beauty the spirit can rest
Economic Benefits
wReduce operating cost
wImprove occupant productivity
wCreate, expand, and shape markets for green products and services
wOptimize life-cycle performance
It makes sense to "build green" and LEED offers widely accepted and consensus-built standards.
Through the rating system LEED standards cover 5 key areas of human and environmental health:
wSustainable site development
wWater efficiency
wEnergy and atmosphere
wMaterials and resources
wIndoor environmental quality
In addition to these areas LEED standards cover local infrastructure via
Location and Linkages and the standards specify ongoing maintenance
and education to continue good performance.
FIGURE 2: Solar collector systems on rooftops in Athens, Greece. Such
systems are seen everywhere in Greece - a country with abundant sunshine.
LEED will encourage builders world-wide to take full advantage of local
resources.
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