Description: A presentation on the relative merits, costs and benefits of sustainable design. Using the matrix approach to define sustainability and the costs associated with it.
In December 1997, more than 160 countries met in Kyoto, Japan and agreed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Kyoto Protocol was established as the international agreement to reduce global warming primarily to the burning of fossil fuels for energy consumption.
The challenge of meeting this goal is daunting and involves many public and private industries and institutions.
This situation provides a unique leadership opportunity created primarily by the stakeholders’ belief in moral responsibilities and not on political pressures.
All of the North American stakeholders that have proceeded with Kyoto will want to share knowledge on how to meet their targets. In addition, there will be interest in cross border Kyoto mechanisms which allow earning or buying credits outside their borders.
Since that time, Canada has prepared and is implementing a domestic program to meet its target of 6% below 1990 levels by the period between 2008 and 2012. In addition, there are several U.S. states and cities that are proceeding with similar program……
This paper focuses on three case studies from a cross section of public and private business market sectors. The projects include:
• A leading edge University Chemistry Research and Teaching Lab Building
• A speculative office building for a North American Software Company
• A private North American Estate Winery
All three projects had different sustainability approaches reflecting each industry sector’s goals and economics. The projects have been completed within the current millennium and are therefore, relevant as a comparative energy and emission baseline.
The industry research in each case was exhaustive to establish a level of comfort with the building owners and operators prior to proceeding with the integrated design. In all cases, risk was openly discussed and fall back positions established.
All three projects’ “shade of green” began with the development of a sound business case. All three were completed within the last year and are now measuring their performance against the predicted performance.
The projects all had high or low tech innovations which were viewed as leading edge within the industry. Each project has received industry awards for innovation, generally without capital cost premiums.
This paper examines the process to implement sustainable, energy efficiency measures, the targeting process, the follow up measurement and verification of the actual building performance.
The paper also examines how measurement systems can be established and implemented to provide feedback on the most appropriate solutions from a life cycle costing perspective.
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