A new software program thatās been more than five years in the making addresses one of the missing pieces in LEED certificationāquantifying the value of going through the process.
At the Greenbuild convention in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Impact Infrastructure, a New York-based software supplier; and Autodesk, an investor in that company, introduced a beta version of Autocase for Sustainable Buildings, a web- and research-based software tool that can show building owners and their AEC teams the financial, social, and environmental returns from green strategies and practices, all in real time.
In addition, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has created a pilot credit under LEED v.4, called āInforming Design Using Triple Bottom Line Analysis,ā that awards cost-benefit evaluations using Autocase that help users determine solutions for optimal returns from earning LEED points.
āWhat is the value of being green?āĀ asked Mahesh Ramanujam, COO and incoming CEO of USGBC, during the press conference. He answered his own question by pointing out that in a nonresidential sector averse to sharing data, Autocase provides a much-needed measuring stick that is simple and affordable to use, and is informed by LEEDās vision.
Ramanujam framed Autocase as giving more ammunition to users that are weighing the pros and cons of LEED certification, at a time when LEED finds itself competing with several other certification programs, some of which are more focused on wellness and post-occupancy comfort and efficiency. Ramanujam suggested as well that Autocase āraises the barā for any subsequent versions of LEED.
John Williams, CEO of Impact Infrastructure, recounted how his company and its strategic partners, which include the third-party certifier Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), had been working on this tool since the beginning of this decade. Early versions were too expensive, so Impact Infrastructure went back to the drawing board to refine the software so that it was not only more affordable to a broader customer base, but also much quicker to use.
āWhat would have cost $250,000 for a custom analysis now costs virtually nothing,ā he said. āWeāre filling the gap and showing value.ā And an analysis that would have taken months to complete is now automated with a few keystrokes for speedy information delivery.
Ryan Meyers, Impactās Chief Technology Officer, and the principal architect of Autocase, gave a brief demonstration of the product, showing how users plug in their own market-specific data, which Autocase applies to its analysis for calculating the savings for owners, occupants, and other stakeholders, based on a raft of existing research and case studies.
Much like Turbo Tax, Autocase has an icon at the top of its home page that tells uses how much they gain from green building. For example, if you want to know the value of sustainable water practices or how green building benefits the long-term health of occupants, Autocase can provide a dollar estimate that changes as new data are introduced.
Ā
Ā
Mahesh Ramanujam, the incoming CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council, which created a pilot credit in LEED certtification for analyses that derive from Autocase software. Image: BD+C
Ā
For Johns Hopkins Universityās Sustainable Campus Initiative LEED Existing Buildings certification, Autocase was used to analyze energy and water conversation practicesāsuch as efficient lighting, heat recovery, and graywater systemsāand prioritized investments in order to build a case that was used to get budgetary approval.
Dewberry is using this tool for the renovation of its corporate headquarters, said Lidia Berger, MEM, LEED Fellow, LEED AP BD+C, LEED O+M, the engineering firmās sustainability director.
Sometime in the first quarter of 2017, Impact Infrastructure plans to release a production version of Autocase, along with a similar tool for analyzing and quantifying green infrastructure practices, said Meyers.
Related Stories
Sponsored | Steel Buildings | Nov 7, 2022
Steel structures offer faster path to climate benefits
Faster delivery of buildings isnāt always associated with sustainability benefits or long-term value, but things are changing. An instructive case is in the development of steel structures that not only allow speedier erection times, but also can reduce embodied carbon and create durable, highly resilient building approaches.
Mass Timber | Aug 30, 2022
Mass timber construction in 2022: From fringe to mainstream
Two Timberlab executives discuss the market for mass timber construction and their company's marketing and manufacturing strategies. Sam Dicke, Business Development Manager, and Erica Spiritos, Director of Preconstruction, Timberlab, speak with BD+C's John Caulfield.Ā
Green | Jul 26, 2022
Climate tech startup BlocPower looks to electrify, decarbonize the nation's buildings
The New York-based climate technology company electrifies and decarbonizes buildingsāmore than 1,200 of them so far.
Building Technology | Jun 9, 2022
GSA Green Proving Ground program selects six innovative building technologies for evaluation
The U.S. General Services Administrationās (GSA) Green Proving Ground program, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, has selected six innovative building technologies for evaluation in GSAās inventory.
Smart Buildings | Jun 1, 2022
Taking full advantage of smart building technology
Drew Deatherage of Crux Solutions discusses where owners and AEC firms could do better at optimizing smart technology in building design and operations.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | May 10, 2022
Design guide for parapets: Safety, continuity, and the building code
This course covers design considerations for parapets. The modern parapet must provide fire protection, serve as a fall-protective guard, transition and protect the roof/facade interface, conceal rooftop equipment, and contribute to the aesthetic character of the building.Ā
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | May 10, 2022
Designing smarter places of learning
This course explains the how structural steel building systems are suited to construction of education facilities.
Concrete Technology | Apr 19, 2022
SGHās Applied Science & Research Center achieves ISO 17025 accreditation for concrete testing procedures
Simpson Gumpertz & Hegerās (SGH) Applied Science & Research Center recently received ISO/IEC17025 accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) for several concrete testing methods.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | Apr 19, 2022
Multi-story building systems and selection criteria
This course outlines the attributes, functions, benefits, limits, and acoustic qualities of composite deck slabs. It reviews the three primary types of composite systems that represent the full range of long-span composite floor systems and examines the criteria for their selection, design, and engineering.
Wood | Apr 13, 2022
Mass timber: Multifamilyās next big building system
Mass timber construction experts offer advice on how to use prefabricated wood systems to help you reach for the heights with your next apartment or condominium project.Ā