Sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases that keep heat in the earth’s atmosphere. There are a great many
ways to reduce GHG emissions:
Carbon footprint: is the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, event,
organization or product expressed as CO2e.
LEED rating system breaks green design and construction practices down into six readily identifiable
categorizes which are:
1.Location and Transportation
2.Sustainable Sites
3.Water Efficiency
4.Energy and Atmosphere
5.Materials and Resources
6.Indoor environmental quality
Vision
Buildings and communities will regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generation.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
1) PROMOTE THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE
2) ESTABLISH LEADERSHIP
3) RECONCILE HUMANITY WITH NATURE
4) FOSTER SOCIAL EQUITY
5) MAINTAIN INTEGRITY
6) BE INCLUSIVE
7) EXHIBIT TRANSPARENCY
GBCI ‘’ Green business certification incorporation’’ is the only certification and credentialing body
within the green business and sustainability industry to exclusively administer project certifications
and professional credentials and certificates of LEED, EDGE, PEER, WELL, SITES, GRESB and
ParkSmart.
USGBC Trademarks
USGBC created some guidelines to help its members and the larger community to use their brand assets
consistently and correctly to maintain its remarkable position and to help protect their Name and brand in
the market.
LEED Green Building Rating System is a program that provides third-party verification of green
buildings. The LEED rating system addresses both a wide variety of buildings types, including
commercial buildings, homes, neighborhoods, retail, healthcare, and schools, as well as every phase
of the building lifecycle including design, construction, operations and maintenance.
WHY LEED
1) LEED is a comprehensive rating system
2) A true benchmark and verification system
3) It provides a clear environmental metric for the public
LEED Certifications
a. Certified: 40–49 points.
b. Silver: 50–59 points.
c. Gold: 60–79 points.
d. Platinum: 80 points and above
Recertification
Only for LEED O+M, in order for the building operations to be maintained and be functional LEED require
buildings to recertify within five years of the previous certification. The project is eligible for recertification
after 12 months and every 12 months thereafter.
LEED ND has some different categories that are not the same as other rating systems, these
categories are:
a. Smart Location and Linkage.
b. Neighborhood pattern and Design.
c. Green infrastructure and buildings.
The LEED projects should meet the size requirements set by LEED rating system.
a. For LEED BD+C & LEED O+M rating systems, minimum of 1,000 square feet
b. For LEED ID+C rating system, minimum of 250 square feet
c. For LEED ND rating system, least two habitable buildings and be no larger than 1500 acres.
d. For LEED Homes rating system.
Prerequisites
It is the mandatory requirements for LEED rating system that must be achieved in order to be able to collect
points for your project and earn the certification. List
1. SS- Construction Activity Pollution Prevention
2. WE- Outdoor Water use Reduction
3. WE- Indoor water use Reduction
4. WE- Building Level water metering
5. EA- Fundamental Commissioning and Verification
6. EA- Minimum Energy Performance
7. EA- Building Level Energy metering
8. EA- Fundamental Refrigerant Management
9. MR- Storage and Collection of Recyclables
10. MR- Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning
11. IEQ- Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance
12. IEQ- Environment Tobacco Smoke Control
Credits
Credits are what gives your project its points as the number of points the project earns determines its level of
LEED certification and it can be done by fulfilling credit requirements.
Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) provide LEED technical advice; they assess and recommend
technical
solutions to the LEED Steering Committee (LSC) for review and approval
Exemplary performance If you want to take the requirements threshold to the next level, you can do
this and earn 1 more point for the related credit and it’s described as exemplary performance as it’s
achieving more than what is required. There are only 6 innovation points that a project can achieve
by exemplary performance, including a LEED AP on the team or by offering an innovative credit.
Project Administrator: The leader for the LEED process and acts like a project manager who assigns
roles and responsibilities and oversees the LEED project process.
Owner: the person who owns the project and property land and he has ultimate control over the
whole LEED application and he is the one who accepts the certification agreement.
LEED Campus
It’s a program for projects on a shared site that are under a single entity with multiple buildings willing to
receive LEED certification.
LEED volume certification is designed to streamline the certification process and reduce its costs.It’s
based around the prototype buildings that can pursue a common set of credits in a single
certification.
Certification Fees To get your building certified, you should pay a registration fees, certification fees
and to consider some other fees like appeals and expedited review (if pursued)
Registration Fee: It’s calculated on a per-project basis that will be paid up front at the time of
registration and payment to be received within 60 days of the registration. Registration fees are 900
USD for members and 1,200 USD for non-members.
Certification Fee: It’s calculated on a per-project basis based on the size of the project and the rating
system under which the project is registered.
EED Online It’s an online platform created to administrate and manage the LEED certification
process.
1) Part 1: Preliminary review
2) Part 2: Final Review (Optional)
3) Part 3: Appeal review (optional with additional fees)
Certification Review types
A) Standard review:
B) Split review:
C) Expedited review:
D) "Precertification review
CIR Process
Project teams can submit CIRs via LEED online with a fees around 220 USD for each CIR submitted.
There are 4 main steps in to get your building certified while all projects must first comply with
MPRs to be eligible for certification. The 4 main steps are registration, applying, reviewing and
certification.
1- Registering project
2- Applying
3- Reviewing
4- Final LEED Certification
Leverage points
An intervention point in which a small change in a complex system can produce a big change in everything,
it’s a places to intervene in a project process or system.
There are 4 components of life cycle assessment as per the ISO 14040 and 14044 standards which are as
follows:
1. Goal and scope definition
2. Life Cycle Inventory (LCI
3. Life Cycle Impact assessment (LCA)
4. Interpretation
Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs) Projects can comply with credits while not adhering to explicit
requirement documentation in the reference guide through ACPs.
Hard Costs: the actual physical construction of a development that includes grading, excavation of a
site, the materials used, landscaping, and products.
Soft Costs: fees that are not physical, it includes architecture and engineering fees, permits and taxes,
LEED certification costs, and some maintenance and security costs.
Conventional building process is usually a linear process that relies on the structure of the
organization, project or chart with its limited abilities to hear opinions and take decisions with other
people who should be involved in taking the decisions.
Whole Building Design approach is a process that views the building as a system, rather than a set of
different and isolated components.
There are four main components of a successful whole building design approach:
1) Establishing a vision for the project and setting design performance goals.
2) Forming a strong, collaborative and integrated project team.
3) To understand the requirements and the outcome of each and every phase.
4) Realizing sustainable design within the established design process.
Integrative Process
An integrative process is a comprehensive approach to building systems and equipment. The Integrated
Process provides a means to explore, implement and operate sustainable design and construction principles
effectively on a project while staying within budgetary and scheduling constraints. The integrative process
has two main components which are the integrative design process (IDP) and integrated team process
(Stakeholders).
LEED rating system has identified 3 phases for integrative process which are:
1. Discovery,
2. Implementation.
3. Operations.
To achieve the best result, all parties must adhere to the following principles:
a. Clear and continuous communication channels and meetings.
b. Attention to detail and an eye for synergies opportunities.
c. Active collaboration among all stakeholders throughout all phases of the project.
Charrettes
A charrette is a kind of workshop that can be the power force that starts the communication process among
the project team members, it is important that all relevant decision makers attend. In a charrette, project team
should share their ideas towards the project and start setting goals and targets to achieve.
1. Public transportation
2. Reduce parking spaces 20% reduction from the baseline
3. Alternative fuel vehicles
4. Compressed work week
5. Telecommuting
6. Carpooling and parking fees
7. Encourage Bicycling
Neighborhood Development and design
Neighborhood can be described as a place with a unique character and function where people can live,
work, shop, and interact with their neighbors. Sustainable neighborhoods tend to exhibit high levels of
walkability, a sense of place, social cohesion and stability, and neighborhood resiliency.
Sustainable Sites
1. Sustainable sites: design and construction
2. Sustainable Sites: operations and maintenance
3. Heat island effect reduction
4. Rainwater management
5. Light pollution reduction
• Sustainable Sites: design and construction
1. Site Assessment
2. Site design
3. Landscaping
4. Maximize open space
5. Minimize construction Activity pollution
6. Restore and conserve sensitive areas
7. Brownfield and infill Developments
8. Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) ASTM E1527-05 for phase 1 and if contamination is suspected,
a second assessment is required under ASTM E1903-11.
There are several strategies that can reduce heat island effects:
1. providing shade from existing plants, trees, or vegetation.
2. Providing shade from structures covered with Solar panels, vegetation, or materials with high SRI
values.
3. Placing parking spaces underground.
4. Placing parking spaces undercover that has roof with a high SRI value.
5. Using pervious materials for pavement or materials with high SRI values.
6. Install green roofs or use materials with high SRI values.
7. Minimize development footprint.
Emittance
The emissivity of a surface, is a measure of how well a surface emits or releases heat. It is a value between 0
and 1. Highly polished aluminum has an emittance less than 0.1. A black non-metallic surface, on the other
hand, has an emittance greater than 0.9.
Reference to ENERGY STAR, emissivity can contribute to a cool roof.
Green roofs are livable areas on top of the building structure that is covered with vegetation and
other associated layers that includes waterproofing membrane, filtration layer and irrigation system.
On the other hand, LEED encourages project teams to install green roof due to its wide benefits that
include:
1. Reduced heat island effects by reflecting heat that might be better than high SRI materials.
2. Reduced storm water runoff by infiltrating and absorbing rain water. It can filter the water
from any pollutants and it can store it for later use.
3. provides habitable area for birds and wildlife.
4. A good insulation barrier for the interior spaces.
5. Lower Energy consumption that leads to reduced energy costs.
6. it can contribute to open spaces areas that is required for specific LEED credits.
• Rainwater management
Conventional approach in dealing with rainwater can harm watersheds and pollute water streams. The
conventional approach relies on the ability to collect as much water as possible and convey it to the drainage
system.
Water runoff:
usually it happens during storms or excessive rainfall events, it requires strategies to mitigate the effects and
infiltrate the water into soil. The increase of impervious surfaces leads to more water runoff and it carries all
the pollutants that exists in the surface like oil, grease, bacteria, nutrients, and sediments.
2. reuse rainwater
Harvesting rain water can reduce the amount of water that goes to water streams and can be used for
irrigation to reduce the associated watering costs. The water can be collected and stored in rain barrel or
cistern, it can be used in irrigation or flushing, and if purified in can be used as a potable water.
2. Lighting Design
Starting from the design, selecting energy efficient lighting fixtures can reduce a huge energy consumption.
One of the best choices is to select a fully shielded fixture that will not send light directly at or above the
horizontal limits of the fixture.
3. Lighting control
A viable strategy for indoor lighting is the controllability of lighting fixtures that must be turned off
automatically in unused rooms within buildings to prevent light from spilling out of buildings.
For exterior lighting, the project should be classified under the appropriate lighting zone as defined
in IESNA RP-33 and follow all the requirements for that zone.
The four zones are:
LZ1: Dark (for developed areas within national parks, state parks forest land, and rural areas)
LZ2: Low (Primarily residential zones, neighborhood business
LZ3: Medium (Commercial/Industrial, high-density residential)
LZ4: High (major city centers, entertainment districts)
CRI – color rendering index – Lighting Quality – Lighting Design and Control
Water Efficiency
The WE category sustainable measures that promote the triple bottom line are addressed through the
following topics:
1. Indoor Water Use
2. Outdoor Water Use
Indoor Water Use
Strategies for Indoor water use efficiency
1. Installing efficient plumbing fixtures WaterSense label and by the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992.
LEED requires a reduction percentage of at least 20%
2. Reduce potable water use
3. Track water consumption
WaterSense label can be found for fixtures in the following product categories:
- Tank-type toilets (Water Closets)
- Water-using urinals
- Private lavatory faucets
- Showerheads
While these types are not labeled by WaterSense:
- Tank-less urinals
- Compositing toilets
- Water-less urinals
- Public lavatory faucets
For appliances and process water use, the requirements are as follows:
Some measures can be taken during operations and maintenance that include:
1.If turf is placed, water deeply to moisten the entire root zone to reduce water
consumption and maintain turf sustainably.
2.Use smart watering techniques to avoid over-watering and under-watering.
3.Schedule irrigation as per the minimum needed for plant health.
4.Adjust scheduling based on seasonal changes.
5.Inspect irrigation systems periodically.
6.Involve maintenance staff and users in training and awareness sessions on how to
properly maintain landscape.
Track water consumption
1. Install meters
2. water audits
The conventional switches are the most common lighting controls ever been used that allows the
occupants to control lighting by switching on and off.
1. Dimmed Lighting
2. Occupancy Sensors
3. Motion Sensors
4. Time scheduling
5. Daylight Harvesting
6. Energy Star- Environmental protection agency (EPA) in 1992
ASHRAE 90.1
It is the energy standard for buildings except low-rise residential buildings that sets a minimum requirement
for energy efficiency.
Refrigerant Management
Refrigerant management is becoming more important due to the great impact refrigerants have on the
environment, the following topics will cover the refrigerant management strategies and application:
1- Refrigerants Impacts
2- CFCs and HFCs
3- Montreal protocol – ozone depletion
4- Refrigeration design
5- Refrigerant properties
6- ODP and GWP of common refrigerants
6- Phase-out plans
7- Strategies and steps
8- U.S. EPA’s GreenChill
9- Halons
Minimizing Refrigerant leakage
1. Replacement cost of lost refrigerant.
2. Increased energy cost due to loss of efficiency.
3. Increased maintenance cost.
Project team should follow U.S. EPA Clean air act, Title VI, Section 608 to minimize
• Renewable Energy
1. Solar power systems
2. Photo-voltaic cells
3. Wind power
4. Geothermal heating and electric
5. Biomass
6. Bio-gas
7. Low-Impact Hydro Electric
• LEED NON-ELIGIBLE TYPES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY:
1. Architectural features
2. Passive solar
3. Daylighting
4. geo-exchange (ground source heat pumps)
5. Green-power from off site
Green-e is a certification program for renewable energy. LEED typically recognizes renewable
energy if it’s been certified by the Center for Resource Solution or meets Green-e’s requirements.
Purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) or tradable renewable certificates (TRCs) which
represent the 1 MWh of electricity was generated from a renewable source. Renewable Energy
Certificates, or Tradable Renewable Certificates (TRCs), represent electricity produced from
renewable energy sources sold separately from commodity.
Green e Climate = Carbon offset
The following topics will be discussed related to renewable energy includes:
4. Wind energy
Wind power captures the natural wind and converts it into mechanical energy then electricity.
5. Hydro energy
Hydroelectricity is electrical energy generated from falling water.
6. Biofuel
Biofuels are produced from living organisms through contemporary biological processes rather than the
conventional geological processes that are involved in the formation of fossil fuel such as coal and
petroleum.
• LEED recognizes biofuel that produces both electricity and heat as renewable energy excluding the
following biofuels:
i. Combustion of municipal solid waste.
ii. Forest biomass waste other than mill residue.
iii. Wood coated with paints, plastics, or laminate.
iv. Wood treated for preservation with materials containing halogens, chlorine
compounds, halide compounds, chromated copper arsenate, or arsenic; if more than
1% of the wood fuel has been treated with these compounds, the energy system is
ineligible.
7. Wave and Tidal power systems
Wave Power is created from the transport of energy by ocean waves.
9. Green Power
Green power is another option for projects that won’t be able to include renewable energy systems in their
designs due to financial initial costs or a late design decision. Green power is also renewable energy but
won’t be generated on-site as it is supplied from an off-site renewable energy source such as wind, solar,
geothermal, hydropower, or biomass.
Green-e Energy: is the USA leading voluntary certification program for renewable energy.
The following topics will be investigated further to ensure optimal performance during occupancy:
1- Commissioning
2- Enhanced commissioning
3- Measuring and verification
4- Metering
5- Building Automation system BAS
6- Energy star portfolio manager
7- Energy audit
8- Flush out
Generally, to be able to select proper environmental material, the process should include the
following steps:
A) Research
B) Evaluation
C) Selection
A product category rule (PCR) defines the rules and requirements for EPDs according to ISO 14025
EPD Process:
A) Product Category Rule (PCR)
B) Life Cycle Assessment
C) Create, Verify, & Publish EPD, according to ISO 14025
Locally produced materials 100 miles (160 kilometers) radius of the project measured.
Certified wood Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Established in 1993, is an independent, non-profit
organization, FSC certification is called Chain of Custody (CoC)
Wood-based materials include, but are not limited to, the following materials when made from wood,
engineered wood products, or wood-based panel products:
a. Rough, Finish and miscellaneous carpentry.
b. Timber construction.
c. Wood decking.
d. Architectural woodwork.
e. Wood paneling, Veneering and covering.
f. Wood flooring.
g. Wood lockers and cabinets.
i. Furniture.
The IEQ category sustainable measures that promote the triple bottom line are addressed through the
following topics:
1. Indoor Air Quality.
2. Lighting.
3. Occupant Comfort
Green Seal – GS-11 from IEQ
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
1. Emissions Source Control
2. Ventilation Improvements
3. Construction IAQ management plan
Interior paints and coatings applied on site – CPDH and SCAQMD 1113
Interior adhesives and sealants applied on site – CPDH and SCAQMD 1168
Flooring - CPDH
Composite wood – California Air Resources Board (CARB) + No added
Formaldehyde resins
Ceilings, walls, thermal, and acoustic insulation - CPDH
Furniture (include in calculations if part of scope of work) – ANSI/BIFMA
Healthcare and Schools Projects only: Exterior applied products – CARB 2007 + SCAQMD 1168
Construction IAQ management plan- Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Contractors
Association (SMACNA)
SMACNA Strategies
HVAC Protection
The HVAC might be operational during construction, then temporary filters MERV 8 as determined by
ASHRAE Standard 52.2 should be installed and removed after construction ends and prior to occupancy.
Source Control
Pathway Interruption
Housekeeping
Scheduling
Flush-out
Green cleaning -
Green cleaning starts with a green cleaning policy for the building and site addressing the purchasing of
materials and cleaning equipment, strategies for promotion of cleaning measures, training, guidelines for
safe handling, and occupant feedback. Green cleaning is common in existing buildings to ensure appropriate
materials are used indoor.
Lighting
1- Daylighting
2- Interior Lighting
3- Lighting Control
Daylighting
1. Massing and Orientation
2. Skylights and Solar tubes
3. Light shelves
4. Daylighting Simulation
Interior Lighting
a) Occupant Comfort
a) Thermal Comfort
There are six factors to take into consideration when designing for thermal comfort. Its determining
factors include the following:
1. Metabolic rate (met): The energy generated from the human body
2. Clothing insulation (clo): The amount of thermal insulation the person is wearing
3. Air temperature: Temperature of the air surrounding the occupant
4. Radiant temperature: The weighted average of all the temperatures from surfaces surrounding an
occupant
5. Air velocity: Rate of air movement given distance over time
6. Relative humidity: Percentage of water vapor in the air