Sustainable
Design & Green Architecture
Sustainable
design is rooted in the concept of developing our built
environment in an environmentally and energy efficient
manner. An underlying tenet is the need to meet the
needs of the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs. An integral
of sustainable design is the term ”green building“.
Designing to meet sustainability is an integration of
systems to create the built environment. In order to
realize sustainability goals, we must coordinate the
design of the following systems in a manner to create
a cost effective, durable and energy efficient facility;
mechanical, electrical, structural, thermal, lighting.
Other elements that must be incorporated and considered
are material selection, indoor air quality and life
cycle costing.
Design
projects must first identify and incorporate sustainability
goals. These goals can be best developed through use
of design, team meetings/charettes with the purpose
of developing sustainability parameters, in particularly
as related to energy use. These parameters must also
identify goals related to floor plans, elevations, lighting,
fenestration, material types and indoor environmental
quality, to name a few. The team will not only look
at these issues, but also the performance, desirability,
affordability, and endurability of the products and
design. Life cycle and future maintenance issues will
also be a part of the decision making model. This will
produce a design that not only applies sound design
principles and practices, but also optimizes the functionality
and operability of the building and at the same time,
incorporate sustainable design concepts. Another consideration
will be to create an environment for all who use the
facility and provide a building of long term value.
Appropriate
national standards will be employed in the design. The
results and benefits of the Corps green building criteria
update program will also be employed. The revised construction
guide specifications and technical manuals covering
sustainable design principles will also be utilized.
Notable
Project
LEED
Certification
WBCM
maintains LEED 2.0 Certified Architects by the US Green
Building Council on staff to help educate clients on
the use of green architecture and sustainable design
principles and to design in accordance to the standards
set forth by the council. The LEED Certification process
was created in order to facilitate positive design results
for the environment and occupant health while increasing
financial return. It also serves to define “green
architecture” by providing a standard for measurement
as well as promoting whole-building, integrated design
processes. Buildings designed with “green architecture”
principles promote an integrated process which marries
new technologies with low tech, natural systems and
concepts to create buildings which use our limited resources
efficiently and minimize their impact on the environment.
Some examples of these principles include the use of
recycled materials for carpets, natural lighting, ventilation
and non-toxic wood finishes.
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