A lack of metrics and associated data to establish current performance is holding back efforts to improve water and energy efficiency at sports venues, according to a new report from the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS).
More data is needed at both an individual venue level and across the building type, the report says. “Some venues do not have the tools, resources, or training to effectively manage and measure their performance, while those that have undertaken steps to improve do not have the data to compare themselves with their peers to determine if they are leading the pack or if there is still much more to be done,” it says.
NIBS, the Green SportsAlliance, and the Environmental Protection Agency are working to fill in the knowledge gap, but more data from arenas and stadiums is needed. Improving efficiency requires cooperation from operations and other departments,sponsors, vendors and concessionaires, government, utilities, allied organizations, leagues and conferences, management companies, designers,athletes, and fans, the report says.
The report recommends using financing mechanisms to improve access to capital. Technologies and practices of particular interest include lighting, renewable energy,refrigeration, occupant comfort, field maintenance (including irrigation, grow lights, and hydronics), plumbing, and metering, measurement, and verification tools.
Related Stories
| Feb 9, 2012
Webinar focuses on lessons learned from LEED-certified industrial project
A Construction Specifications Institute webinar will focus on the lessons learned through the design and construction of a LEED-certified industrial project, Better Living Mill Shop, the first industrial building in Central Virginia to earn LEED certification.
| Feb 8, 2012
California likely to eliminate redevelopment agencies
Leaders of California cities had been trying to fashion a compromise with lawmakers after the state Supreme Court ruled the state had the authority to eliminate the agencies and use their property tax money for local services.
| Feb 8, 2012
Project aimed at economical seismic retrofits on historic Memphis structures
The group will develop a low-cost seismic retrofit model that would benefit aging brick-and-mortar structures. It involves bolting steel brackets to existing wooden floor and ceiling joists.
| Feb 8, 2012
Houston signs on to Better Buildings Challenge
The challenge has about $4 billion in federal and private-sector funds, which it will use for building energy upgrades nationwide in the next two years.
| Feb 8, 2012
OSHA offers free health and safety consulting for small businesses
The consultants offer confidential, non-punitive advice.
| Feb 8, 2012
Controversy over pay for prisoners on roofing job in Michigan
The disagreement was over whether the prisoners should have been paid prevailing wage for their brief time on the job because the project was paid for with a U.S. Department of Energy grant.
| Jan 30, 2012
ZigBee and ISO 50001: Two new standards to make buildings greener
These developments demonstrate the dynamic nature of the market and the continued need for development of program standards of many different types that help builders and owners translate high performance and sustainable buildings goals into practical measures on the ground.
| Jan 30, 2012
New firm-fixed-price rules on federal contracts impact construction industry
Contractors will need to be on the lookout for policies such as the Contractor Accountability for Quality clause.