From public entities to private universities to major hospitals, organizations across North America are making efforts to prioritize environmental sustainability in the built environment. This activity is easier in the design phase of a construction project, when organizations can select recycled materials or those with low embodied carbon and choose energy-efficient systems from the get-go. Once a facility is built, incorporating eco-friendly practices and systems is a touch more complex. To simplify decision-making, organizations gather data via specialized facility condition assessments that quantify how green a building is and how to make it greener.
Previously, we covered the ASHRAE Level 1 Energy Assessment. In this post, we take a close look at the Green Building Assessment.
What is a Green Building Assessment?
Traditional facility condition assessments identify deficiencies at the building systems and/or component level along with renewal and replacement costs. In short, it focuses solely on the condition of a physical asset.
A Green Building Assessment identifies physical deficiencies, but it also provides holistic recommendations for making an asset more environmentally friendly. Unlike an ASHRAE Level 1 Energy Assessment, which analyzes energy efficiency only, a Green Building Assessment examines all facets of sustainability.
Green Building Assessment Focus Areas
A Green Building Assessment may take shape in any number of ways, depending on an organization’s needs and goals. These five areas are commonly included in these special condition assessments:
- Energy efficiency – Opportunities for more efficient HVAC systems, smarter heating, cooling and lighting patterns, and renewable energy use
- Water efficiency – Suggestions for water conservation, efficient irrigation using rainwater and gray water (water used in showers, bathtubs, sinks and washing machines) and keeping stormwater runoff out of rivers and streams
- Sustainable materials – Areas where prefabricated or recycled building materials are used or could be used
- Waste reduction – Ways to avoid sending construction and demolition waste to the landfill or the incinerator
- Indoor air quality – Recommendations for ventilation systems, moisture control and eco-friendly cleaning products
Benefits of a Green Building Assessment
Sustainability is its own reward. Organizations that adopt environmentally responsible operations can take a measure of satisfaction that they’re doing their part to create a better world for years to come. But there are benefits of a Green Building Assessment beyond altruism.
Many organizations conduct a Green Building Assessment for accreditation with leading green building certification programs. The most widely used program is the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, commonly known as LEED. LEED issues and regularly updates guidelines for Building Design and Construction and Building Operations and Maintenance. According to the Green Building Council, 197,000 LEED projects have been completed in 186 countries and territories to date. The group also claims that “LEED buildings have a higher resale value and lower operational costs,” help investors meet ESG goals and command higher rents.
Organizations that can prove they are working to reduce environmental harm either through a green building certification or otherwise may also be eligible for a plethora of tax incentives. Finally, as consumer demand for environmental stewardship increases, organizations that adopt the recommendations of a Green Building Assessment can demonstrate their commitment to the cause.
Conducting a Green Building Assessment
Green Building Assessments are conducted by experienced assessors familiar with LEED and other major green building certifications. Many Gordian customers elect to include a Green Building Assessment as an add-on service to our on-site facility condition assessment offerings, the FCA+ and the FCA. This makes good sense for our customers, who can take full advantage of their Gordian engagement.
A Holistic View of Sustainability
A Green Building Assessment provides an organization with a complete picture of its sustainability profile, from energy efficiency to water use and beyond. The data gathered in these assessments can be used to achieve certifications, renovate to lower costs and, most importantly, help the planet.
