flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

GREENBUILD 2011: Sustainable construction should stress durability as well as energy efficiency

GREENBUILD 2011: Sustainable construction should stress durability as well as energy efficiency


By By BD+C Staff | October 5, 2011
There is now a call for making enhanced resilience of a buildings structure to natural and man-made disasters the first conside

Each year in the U.S., more than $35 billion in direct property loss is caused by natural disasters. Yet, while states and municipalities are seeking to adopt ordinances that require “green” or “sustainable” construction, they are overlooking disaster-resistance construction.

There is now a call for making enhanced resilience of a building’s structure to natural and man-made disasters the first consideration of a green building. Increased longevity and durability, combined with improved disaster resistance, results in the need for less energy and resources.

This is not only the case for repair, removal, disposal, and replacement of building materials and contents due to disasters, but for routine maintenance and operations as well. 

“Integration of durability and functional resilience into sustainability codes, standards, and programs is long overdue,” David Shepherd, director of sustainability for the Portland Cement Association (PCA) said. “Some say the most sustainable structure is the one that isn’t built. We believe the most sustainable building is the one still standing.”

Functionally resilient buildings place less demand on resources and allow communities to provide vital services, even after a natural disaster. For example, resilient construction allows businesses to continue operations, providing municipalities with a consistent tax base. Further community economic, societal, and environmental benefits occur when cities are not required to reallocated resources for emergency recovery.

A resilient building is not limited to one that is operational after a natural disaster but also one that can withstand the hardship of the passing years. The Brookings Institution projects that by 2030, the U.S. will have demolished and replaced 82 billion sf of its current building stock, or nearly one-third of existing buildings, largely because the vast majority of them weren't designed and built to last any longer. Robust, functionally resilient buildings are frequently reused and even repurposed when downtowns are renovated.

To allow local governments to adopt green building codes that address high performance as well as conventional sustainable features, the PCA and the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) have developed High Performance Building Requirements for Sustainability 2.0. The criteria are written in mandatory language that amends and appends the International Code Council International Building Code. The provisions are generic and do not specify one specific material over another. 

PCA and IBHS have aligned the provisions with the concepts of both the Whole Building Design Guide and High Performance Building Council. Enacting and enforcing these provisions provides the basis for designers and owners to obtain certification as a US Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction. BD+C

Related Stories

| Dec 1, 2011

VLK Architects’ office receives LEED certification

The West 7th development, which houses the firm’s office, was designed to be LEED for Core & Shell, which gave VLK the head start on finishing out the area for LEED Silver Certification CI.

| Nov 29, 2011

First EPD awarded to exterior roof and wall products manufacturer

EPD is a standardized, internationally recognized tool for providing information on a product’s environmental impact. 

| Nov 29, 2011

Suffolk Construction breaks ground on Boston residential tower

Millennium Place III is a $220 million, 256-unit development that will occupy a full city block in Boston’s Downtown Crossing.

| Nov 29, 2011

Report finds credit crunch accounts for 20% of nation’s stalled projects

Persistent financing crunch continues to plague design and construction sector.

| Nov 29, 2011

SB Architects completes Mission Hills Volcanic Mineral Springs and Spa in China

Mission Hills Volcanic Mineral Springs and Spa is home to the largest natural springs reserve in the region, and measures 950,000 sf.

| Nov 29, 2011

Turner Construction establishes partnership with Clark Builders

Partnership advances growth in the Canadian marketplace.

| Nov 29, 2011

AIA launches stalled projects database

To populate this database with both stalled projects and investors interested in financing them, the AIA in the last week initiated a communications campaign to solicit information about stalled projects around the country from its members and allied professionals.

| Nov 28, 2011

Leo A Daly and McCarthy Building complete Casino Del Sol expansion in Tucson, Ariz.

Firms partner with Pascua Yaqui Tribe to bring new $130 million Hotel, Spa & Convention Center to the Tucson, Ariz., community.

| Nov 28, 2011

Armstrong acquires Simplex Ceilings

Simplex will become part of the Armstrong Building Products division.

| Nov 28, 2011

Nauset Construction completes addition for Franciscan Hospital for Children

The $6.5 million fast-track, urban design-build projectwas completed in just over 16 months in a highly sensitive, occupied and operational medical environment.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category



Urban Planning

The magic of L.A.’s Melrose Mile

Great streets are generally not initially curated or willed into being. Rather, they emerge organically from unintentional synergies of commercial, business, cultural and economic drivers. L.A.’s Melrose Avenue is a prime example. 


Curtain Wall

7 steps to investigating curtain wall leaks

It is common for significant curtain wall leakage to involve multiple variables. Therefore, a comprehensive multi-faceted investigation is required to determine the origin of leakage, according to building enclosure consultants Richard Aeck and John A. Rudisill with Rimkus. 

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021