Adapting to Green Building Standards in AEC

To help the AEC industry meet sustainability goals, several compliance standards and green building standards have been established. They provide a comprehensive framework for creating environmentally responsible and resource-efficient structures.

Let's start by taking a look at some of the most influential and widely recognised compliance standards. These provide an excellent starting point for any green building initiative.

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, this standard is globally recognised. It covers all aspects of sustainability, including items such as energy efficiency, water conservation, material selection, and indoor environmental quality. The certification comes in four levels, depending on how many points a project earns: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Originally developed in the UK, BREEAM has become an international standard for green building initiatives. The standard assesses, rates, and certifies the sustainability of buildings. Factors such as energy and water use, health and well-being, pollution, transport, materials, ecology, and management are all taken into account. BREEAM ratings range from Pass to Outstanding.

Although a web-based program that offers green building guidance and certification, Green Globes includes an on-site assessment by a third party to ensure accurate certification. The standard is designed to be more flexible and affordable than LEED, making it attractive for smaller projects. The certification uses a questionnaire to determine scoring and rates on a scale of one to four globes.

One of the most rigorous performance standards in the industry, the Living Building Challenge extends its evaluation beyond conventional green building practices. The performance requirements are ambitious and must be met over a minimum of 12 months of continuous occupancy. The certification is judged on seven areas, which they call Petals: Place, Water, Energy, Health & Happiness, Materials, Equity, and Beauty.

Focused on how the built environment impacts human health, the WELL Building Standard bases its certification decision primarily on the health and wellness of occupants. Factors such as air and water quality, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mental well-being are all taken into account. The WELL certification has three levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Although the standards differ in their requirements, the core of green building can be broken down into three categories: sustainable design, eco-friendly materials, and energy efficiency.

Sustainable design, when done well, takes a look at the entire lifecycle of a project, from the construction phase to the day-to-day operation of the building through to its demolition. Key strategies include:

• Optimising site selection and development
• Designing buildings to take advantage of natural lighting and ventilation

- Utilising building information modelling (BIM) for efficient design and collaboration

Some materials and sourcing methods have a much larger environmental impact than others. To meet each building standard for green buildings, sustainable options should be chosen whenever possible. Considerations include:

• Building with recycled or reclaimed materials
• Using locally sourced materials to reduce transportation emissions
• Incorporating renewable resources such as bamboo or cork

Energy efficiency is a huge part of meeting the requirements for the day-to-day operation of the building. Some ways AEC professionals can improve energy efficiency in their projects include:

• Using high-efficiency HVAC systems
• Integrating smart building technologies that automate energy management
• Installing solar panels, geothermal systems, or other renewable energy sources

There are many reasons why an AEC professional would want to adhere to green building standards. Below are some of the most important benefits.

As building codes focus more on environmental impact, meeting specific green standards might become a requirement. In localities that haven't adopted environmental regulations, complying with them will future-proof the building and may provide tax incentives or grants for sustainable construction.

Customers are also becoming more focused on their homes' energy efficiency and sustainability. Complying with standards provides a market advantage here. It enhances your brand reputation and attracts environmentally conscious clients.

The initial costs of green building strategies can be high, but they offer significant long-term benefits that mitigate those costs. The extra energy and water efficiency they provide for reduce expenses for the life of the building. Maintenance costs are also lowered due to using the type of durable, high-quality materials that the standards require.

Beyond cost, green building initiatives have the obvious benefit of being better for the environment. This also extends to the occupants, who will benefit from better health and productivity from improved lighting and more efficient heating and cooling.

AEC professionals looking to build more environmentally friendly buildings need to keep up with their implementation of the standards and the evolution of the standards themselves.

Of the best tools for green building is building performance simulation software. This allows professionals to model and analyse their design's energy efficiency to optimise it before construction begins. Many project management tools now have options for sustainability tracking, which can make the effort much easier.

Even your choice of printer can have an impact. Options like the HP DesignJet printer have eco-friendly ink options and energy-efficient operation, allowing you to print detailed construction documents with lower economic impact.

To keep up with the standards themselves, continuous education and training is a requirement. AEC professionals looking to stay up-to-date should attend conferences and workshops focused on sustainability, take online courses and webinars on the topic, or participate in professional organisations dedicated to sustainable design and construction.

As new technologies become available, green building standards and practices will evolve to adopt them. Solar is making large inroads as a way for buildings to be net-zero or even net-positive. Other trends, such as incorporating natural elements for improved living conditions, are also becoming popular. Through the continuous education tips above, AEC professionals can keep up with these evolving trends.

To learn more about how HP DesignJet printers can support your green building projects with eco-friendly, high-precision printing solutions, contact an HP representative today.