Campus Green Builder

"Start early!"

The project team unanimously agrees that starting early in the planning and the decision-making process is the single most crucial constituent of the success of a green building project. "If we had to do it all over again, that's what I would do. Start early in programming with [LEED^®] criteria. That definitely was our biggest challenge, starting late in the game", said Arthur Frazier, Director of Facilities Management and Services at Spelman College. He also added, "I think we would be greener for less." The team stressed that redesigning the building to implement green features while the building was already under construction significantly added to the previously budgeted project cost.

The team recommends that one needs to think about various specialties that will be needed to provide the appropriate expertise and most efficient construction management practices. Bringing on board the LEED^® accredited professionals and commissioning experts early in the process, either as independent consultant or as part of the design team, definitely streamlines the designing and the planning process.

The team also recommends that it is important to consider investments in energy saving, maintenance, efficiency as long-term paybacks rather than short-term expenses. These investments will eventually present manifold benefits, such as saved operations and maintenance costs, reduced energy consumptions, better indoor air quality, better health of the occupants, reduction in GHG emissions and eventually wellbeing of the environment. Also, the Life Cycle Cost Analysis of building green versus its alternative should be one of the decisive procedures performed before planning any brick and mortal project.

Finally, the education of the building occupants and facilities staff is vital to the management of any high-performance building facility. Green buildings that are used by and managed by individuals unaware of the green features and sustainable operation practices could encumber the building systems from performing at the desired efficiency levels.

Listen to a summary of the recommendation from Jay Enck (CxGBS, LEED^® Consultant) and Jeff Brown (New South Construction) here.