Source: MASONRY CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE
Publication date: January 1, 2008
By Christine A. Subasic, P.E.
As sustainable design becomes more widely known and applied, it is important to pause and keep the larger picture in focus. Too often, sustainable design is equated to just earning LEED points on a project. But true sustainable design is much more than that one factor.
High performance buildingsThe Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (www.sbicouncil.org) provides good guidelines for big-picture thinking in its High Performance School Buildings Resource and Strategy Guide.
Why “high performance?”
The answer is because sustainable design is about more than just consideration of environmental impacts. It also must include economic and social considerations. High performance buildings take this broad picture, sustainable view.
Though targeted toward schools, the principles of high performance buildings found in this document are applicable to all types of construction. According to the SBIC, high performance buildings should consider:
Environmentally responsive site planningEnergy efficient building shellThermal comfortEnergy analysisRenewable energyWater efficiencySafety and securityDay lighting  Natural stone can be deconstructed/removed from one project and stored for later use on another job. |
CommissioningEnvironmentally preferable materials and products (includes durability)High performance HVACHigh perfor...Click here to read full article from Masonry Construction
