The hottest topic for architects and developers in the green building industry is, “How well do green buildings actually perform?” How do we know that these environmentally-friendly designs significantly reduce energy consumption and produce measurably better water conservation?
Jerry Yudelson says, “I decided to find out!” Yudelson and co-author Professor Ulf Meyer of Berlin, Germany, have compiled the most extensive research to date on the measurable performance of LEED Platinum or equivalent buildings. “With 55 case studies from 18 countries, we found out what to expect from high-performance green buildings in most of the major climate zones around the world,” said Yudelson.
The World’s Greenest Buildings, from UK publisher Routledge, looks at buildings constructed since 2003, which were willing to release a year’s worth of energy use data and, where possible, water use data. In order to be included in this green building book, buildings had to have a LEED Platinum or equivalent top rating from a national green building rating program, represent a non-residential type, and be at least 50,000-sq.ft. in size.
“We were aiming at the top-rated green buildings built in the past 10 years,” said Yudelson, “with the goal of giving guidance to future projects in terms of best-practice energy and water performance, but also to refute the claims that green buildings don’t perform. In fact, the average building we profile uses almost two-thirds less energy than the 2003 average of U.S. commercial buildings.”
Praise for the book comes from academics and practitioners around the world:
Yudelson and Meyer have identified globaldesign exemplars that integrate architecture and context, economics and social responsibility, performance and aesthetics, demonstrating exciting solutions to meet the challenges of creating a more sustainable world.
--Bruce Kuwabara, founding partner, Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, Toronto
This book’s important mission is to make the most plausible case that "post-fossil planet and people-friendly architecture" is the only way to go.
-- Professor Martin Despang, University of Hawaii School of Architecture, Honolulu
This is information we have all been waiting for; while offering a global overview of green buildings, it helps to unlock the truth about the real performance of sustainable commercial architecture."
--Professor Steffen Lehmann, University of South Australia, Adelaide
Using real performance data, Yudelson and Meyer showcase and compare buildings which combine great design, environmental quality and sustainability, providing the guidance necessary for the next generation ofsustainable building design.
--Thomas Auer, Transsolar Climate Engineering, Stuttgart, Germany
The book presents 22 projects in North America, 1 in South America, 17 in Europe and 17 in the Asia Pacific region, giving for the first time in print a good look at global sustainable designpractices for high-performance commercial buildings. The book also includeschapters on the business case for green building, integrated design process and sustainable urbanism. Further information on the book can be found on Yudelson’s website.
Yudelson is the author of 12 previous green building books presenting design and planning options for increasing sustainability in the built environment. While he advocates for technological solutions, Yudelson also claims, “We must dramatically change our approach to design, construction and operations to meet urgent carbon reduction goals for the built environment.”
A professional engineer, LEED Fellow of the US Green Building Council and experienced sustainability and green buildingconsultant, Yudelson trained as an engineer at Caltech and Harvard and completed his MBA with honors at the University of Oregon.
About Yudelson Associates
Yudelson Associates is a leading international firm in sustainability consulting, designing with water and green building certification. The founder, Jerry Yudelson, a LEED Fellow, is widely acknowledged as one of the nation’s leading green building and sustainability consultants and is an internationally recognized keynote speaker. In 2011, Wired magazine dubbed him the “Godfather of Green.” He is the author of 13 green building books and chaired the country’s largest annual show, Greenbuild, for six years through 2009.
For more information please contact Jerry Yudelson, 520-243-0996, jerry@greenbuildconsult.com or visit http://www.greenbuildconsult.com.
Related Stories
| Jul 17, 2012
KM/Plaza changes name to Plaza Construction
Lands new projects including the Perry South Beach Hotel and Dadeland Mall Kendall Wing Expansion.
| Jul 17, 2012
Dr. Phillips Charities Headquarters Building receives LEED Silver
The building incorporates sustainable design features, environmentally-friendly building products, energy efficient systems, and environmentally sensitive construction practices.
| Jul 16, 2012
BD+C Under 40 Leadership Summit scheduled
Attendee registration for U40 Summit II now open.
| Jul 16, 2012
Construction spending at 2 ½ year peak
Construction economist Ken Simonson says that four private nonresidential categories each posted 12-month spending increases of more than 25%: power and energy construction, 35%; hotels, 29%; educational and manufacturing, 27% apiece.
| Jul 16, 2012
Chen named design director at Heery
Chen comes to Heery from his own firm, Mark Chen Architect, a design and planning consulting firm, based in New York City, whose recent work includes large-scale planning studies for mixed-use projects.
| Jul 16, 2012
Reed Construction hires new project manager
Fread is a LEED AP and received his degree from Purdue University.
| Jul 16, 2012
Business school goes for maximum vision, transparency, and safety with fire rated glass
Architects were able to create a 2-hour exit enclosure/stairwell that provided vision and maximum fire safety using fire rated glazing that seamlessly matched the look of other non-rated glazing systems.
| Jul 12, 2012
New firm RSK Avanti Partners offers market development services
Full-service consulting firm is focused on working with product manufacturers, designers, specifies and contractors in the building construction market.
| Jul 12, 2012
Chicago Public Schools names Lend Lease team as construction manager
Under this Capital Improvement Program, the Lend Lease team will be responsible for renovation and life safety work at over 100 Chicago Public Schools across the City.
| Jul 12, 2012
Cramer joins Gilbane’s NYC Business Development Team
New Business Development Manager brings over 30 years of experience to Gilbane.
