Achieving High-Performance Federal Facilities Strategies and Approaches for Transformational Change (2011) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
2 Objectives and Challenges Associated with Federal High-Performance Green Buildings
2 Objectives and Challenges Associated with Federal High-Performance Green Buildings
Pages 17-26
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 17... ...
improves indoor environmental quality, including reducing indoor pollution, improving thermal comfort, and improving lighting and acoustic environments that affect occupant health and productivity; (C) reduces negative impacts on the environment throughout the life-cycle of the building, including air and water pollution and waste generation; (D)
|
From page 18... ...
by 2 percent each year through FY 2015 for a total of 16 percent reduction below water consumption in FY 2007. Executive Order 13423 also requires federal agencies to ensure that 15 percent of the existing federal capital asset building inventory of each agency incorporate the sustainable practices outlined in "Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings" (hereinafter called the Guiding Principles)
|
From page 19... ...
E The executive order requires each agency to develop, implement, and annually update an integrated Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan that prioritizes agency actions based on life-cycle return on investment. The plans are to be integrated into the agency's strategic plan and to meet additional requirements, as specified.6 The June 2010 Presidential memorandum "Disposing of Unneeded Federal Real Estate -- Increasing Sales Proceeds, Cutting Operating Costs, and Improving Energy Efficiency" 7 directs federal agencies to accelerate efforts to identify and eliminate excess properties in order to eliminate wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars, save energy and water, and further reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
|
From page 20... ...
The exception is the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 which directed $5.5 billion to the General Services Administration to convert federal facilities into high-performance green buildings and to create jobs in the architecture-engineeringconstruction industry. Additional billions of dollars were allocated to the Department of Defense and other federal organizations to improve the energy efficiency and other characteristics of their facilities.
|
From page 21... ...
, most recently recognized in the June 2010 Presidential memorandum "Disposing of Unneeded Federal Real Estate." This issue takes on a new urgency in an era of constrained resources: Unneeded facilities use energy and water, materials, and staff time, and siphon off funding that could be better used to retrofit buildings that directly support agencies' missions and programs. That agencies have found it difficult to dispose of unneeded facilities is well documented.
|
From page 22... ...
recommended that OMB "should develop criteria for determining the life-cycle costs and for including social costs in evaluating energy purchases, and should incorporate this methodology into agency procurements so that the federal government maximizes its influence on clean energy development that is most economical in the long run" (PCAST, 2010, p.
|
From page 23... ...
Current federal practices treat the decision making and funding for building projects separately Maintenance & Repair Mfgr. of Raw Materials, Materials Component Contents & Systems Furnishings C O M Owner M Facility Operation Facility Renovation Demolition Needs/ I Design & Use Construction Planning S S I O N I N G Standards, Codes & Regulatory Approvals Recycle FIGURE 2.3 Phased, segmented processes used throughout a building's life cycle.
|
From page 24... ...
One obstacle is the multitude of reporting requirements and different baselines. Agencies are required to track and report total energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, total water consumption, reduction of fossil fuel use, use of renewable energy, and so forth.
|
From page 25... ...
Similarly, the cost of using renewable energy sources can be higher than the cost of fossil fuels, making it equally difficult for agencies to make a business case based solely on financial return on investment. Workforce Skills and Occupant Behavior Effective use of new technologies and new processes requires a workforce that is adequately trained to make decisions and implement them to maximum benefit.
|
From page 26... ...
The Federal Research and Development Agenda for Net-Zero Energy, High-Performance Green Buildings (NSTC, 2008) addresses a range of research and development needs related to • Effective performance measures and metrics; • Net-zero-energy building technologies and strategies; • A scientific and technical basis for significant reductions in water use and improved rainwater retention; • Processes, protocols, and products for building materials that minimize resource utilization, waste, and life-cycle environmental impacts; • A knowledge base and associated energy efficiency technologies and practices needed to promote occupant health, comfort, and productivity; and • Technology transfer.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.