"GREEN" SUSTAINABLE BUILDING and MORE!

The most widely accepted definitions of green usually include a concept known as the “Triple Bottom Line” (abbreviated as "TBL" or "3BL", and also known as "People, Planet and Profit"). Quite simply put, TBL is a balance between the needs and well-being of people, the benefits of environmental sustainability for the planet and the corporate necessity for profit, which is the sustenance that keeps the western world’s economy healthy. Used as one method of assessing corporate performance, the TBL goal is to measure not only profits but environmental sustainability and social responsibility as well.

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Another definition, that of “sustainable development,” is also generally incorporated into most descriptions of sustainable building. This definition is much broader and thus far easier to manipulate. The 1987 United Nations’ Brundtland report defines ‘sustainable development’ as that which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” It is indeed a noble sentiment, but one which lacks the specifity necessary by which we can measure any green standard to judge compliance.

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If there is one definition that seems to rise above the others, it is this from the Whole Building Design Guide Committee of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS):
“While the definition of what constitutes sustainable building design is constantly changing, there are six fundamental principles that nearly everyone agrees on:

• Optimize Site Potential
  Creating sustainable buildings starts with proper site selection, including consideration of the reuse or rehabilitation of existing buildings. The location, orientation, and landscaping of a building affect the local ecosystems, transportation methods, and energy use. Incorporate Smart growth principles in the project development process, whether it be a single building, campus or military base. Siting for physical security has become a critical issue in optimizing site design. The location of access roads, parking, vehicle barriers, and perimeter lighting must be integrated into the design along with sustainable site considerations. Site design for security cannot be an afterthought. Along with site design for sustainability, it must be addressed in the preliminary design phase to achieve a successful project.
  
• Optimize Energy Use
  With America's supply of fossil fuel dwindling, concerns for energy security increasing, and the impact of greenhouse gases on world climate rising, it is essential to find ways to reduce load, increase efficiency, and utilize renewable energy resources in federal facilities.
  
• Protect and Conserve Water
  In many parts of the country, fresh water is an increasingly scarce resource. A sustainable building should reduce, control, or treat site-runoff, use water efficiently, and reuse or recycle water for on-site use when feasible.
  
• Use Environmentally Preferable Products
  A sustainable building should be constructed of materials that minimize life-cycle environmental impacts such as global warming, resource depletion, and human toxicity. These environmentally preferable materials are defined by Executive Order 13423 to be "products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose." As such, they contribute to improved worker safety and health, reduced liabilities, reduced disposal costs, and achievement of environmental goals.
  
• Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
  The indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of a building has a significant impact on occupant health, comfort, and productivity. Among other attributes, a sustainable building should maximize daylighting; have appropriate ventilation and moisture control; and avoid the use of materials with high-VOC emissions. Additional consideration must now be given to ventilation and filtration to mitigate chemical, biological, and radiological attack.
  
• Optimize Operational and Maintenance Practices
  Incorporating operating and maintenance considerations into the design of a facility will greatly contribute to improved working environments, higher productivity, and reduced energy and resource costs. Designers are encouraged to specify materials and systems that simplify and reduce maintenance requirements; require less water, energy, and toxic chemicals and cleaners to maintain; and are cost-effective and reduce life-cycle costs.”
  

If we compare this definition to that of the USGBC or the EPA’s Energy Star program, we will see a major difference. The USGBC’s guiding principles support the TBL, but when it comes to a definition of sustainability, a search of their website and reference materials yields no more than goals. As an example:

• Core Purpose
  The U.S. Green Building Council's core purpose is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.
  
• The EPA’s Energy Star “definition” is a bit more direct, but still not as complete as that of NIBS and, once again, is more a statement of goals than a definition:
  Energy Star is designed to overcome many of the market barriers to the adoption of cost-effective energy efficiency products and services in a sustained manner and to help unleash the attendant savings for individuals and organizations.
  
  
• Residential Energy Efficiency
  The residential sector offers sizable opportunities for protecting the environment through energy efficiency. Consisting of more than 100 million households, this sector contributes about 17 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions (see Figure 2) and offers potential energy savings in the range of 25 to 30 percent compared with current consumption.
  
  
• Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency
  Increasing energy efficiency in the commercial and industrial sectors also offers sizable opportunities for cost savings while avoiding emissions of greenhouse gases. These sectors contribute about 37 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gases, with buildings alone contributing 15 percent.
  As a result, these “definitions,” and numerous others like them from different organizations, don’t seem to provide the unified clarity we’re seeking. Until a truly adequate definition comes along, I suggest that those of use in the building industry adopt NIBS six core principles as our guide towards a truly sustainable future.