AFE May/June 2012 : Page 21

prescriptive requirements for energy effi -ciency ratings, coeffi cients of performance and other measurements of effi ciency. Energy effi ciencies, however, are not the only parameter in modern high-performance buildings. Energy usage also directly correlates to greenhouse gas production and is extremely important from a sustainability perspective. Th e concepts of sustainability and green con-struction and operation have come to the forefront over the past 10 years. Today, it is necessary for facility managers to comply with state and federal energy and sustainability regulations and to become familiar with voluntary environmental and sustainability programs. In some areas, voluntary adherence to these pro-grams (such as the LEED program) has become a de facto standard. How can your facility comply with energy-effi ciency laws and voluntary programs, while remaining within your organization’s budget — or even saving money over the long term? Th is paper provides an evaluation of fi ve modern buildings (see Table 1) that incorporated sustainability and energy effi ciency in their design, construction and opera-tion. Th e buildings were selected from a recent literature search to show various important features that are currently tally conscious) facility is also included as a basis for the discussion. Sustainability is defi ned in overall terms by the Brundtland Report 2 as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet TABLE 1. FIVE HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS ■ Normand Maurice Building Montreal, Canada ■ Holy Wisdom Monastery Middleton, Wisconsin TIAA-CREF Headquarters New York, New York ■ UMass Healthcare Renovation Worcester , Massachusetts ORNL Ofﬁ ce Building Oak Ridge, Tennessee ■ ■ being employed in modern, high-performance green buildings. Th ree are modifi cations to existing buildings and two are new construction. A brief over-view of what makes an energy-effi cient, sustainable and “green” (environmen-their own needs.” Plans such as the LEED rating system and California state law require specifi c numerical goals for waste reduction, energy consumption, water usage, and other economic and environmental characteristics. Green Looking to replace your HVAC system? Need to repave your parking lot? Planning to install a new security system? The Blue Book Network’s Project Communication Group is dedicated to helping you find the qualified contractors and suppliers you need for your next building, renovation or maintenance project quickly and effectively – and at no charge! Your personal “Project Concierge” is ready to message your project needs to qualified vendors from your private list, from The Blue Book Network’s database – or both! If you need bids fast, one phone call is all it takes to help get your project off the ground. Call ( 888) 720-1710 to get connected to the people and the products you need now! 2012 EVERY BUILDING CONFERENCE & EXPO Presented by BOMA International and BUILDINGS Project Communication Group www.thebluebook.com/myprojectteam WASHINGTON STATE CONVENTION CENTER June 24-26, 2012 • Seattle, Washington Visit us at Booth # 644 May | June 2012 ■ Facilities Engineering Journal ■ www.AFE.org 21