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So much for LEED
- Thread starter Coug Dad
- Start date
mjesse
Registered User
“What LEED designers deliver is what most LEED building owners want—namely, green publicity, not energy savings,”
The ICC is heading toward becoming nothing more than a publicity machine as well. "We've built to the 2015 standard!" they'll say as the sales price continues to rise.
The ICC is heading toward becoming nothing more than a publicity machine as well. "We've built to the 2015 standard!" they'll say as the sales price continues to rise.
MASSDRIVER
Registered User
Another "great idea" by the smartest people in the room.
Need to scrap the whole thing.
Brent.
Need to scrap the whole thing.
Brent.
tmurray
SAWHORSE
There was an engineer in New York who plotted energy usage of both LEED and non-LEED buildings to compare them. He discovered that the non-LEED buildings actually consumed less energy than LEED buildings. This isn't exactly a surprise when you understand the LEED system and its origin. While LEED does take more into account than just building energy usage (materials used, proximity to mass transit, etc.) the main caveat is that this is a program for and by architects. Now, as a rule I don't have anything against architects, I have a problem with anyone who doesn't work together for the greater benefit. ASHREA has an energy efficiency standard (90.1). This standard works (well, up until recently). So if any reasonable person were to come up with a "green" code or standard they would save themselves some time and make ASHRAE 90.1 a necessary component, then you just slap on the other "green" stuff you want and shove it out the door. Unfortunately the creators of LEED weren't smart enough to take advantage of this. All the mechanical engineer has to do is take the building they are building and model one thats worse and it meets LEED requirements.
I'm not a big proponent of "feel good" green requirements being built into the code, but I do think energy efficiency should be a code requirement. Time after time I see people forgoing additional insulation in their building envelope because they want nicer cabinets or that nice bathroom. So, in a hundred year building they are not putting money into the enclosure that is going to result in a less costs in energy. The energy savings then could be used to buy the updates at a later date since most people do renovations to their home every 7 sears and commercial buildings every 15 years. Now you are updating the building for free, since that money would have been spent on energy anyway. It's telling of the times that everyone is willing to shoot themselves in the foot just so they can get the nicest house. Meanwhile they can't afford to heat it or buy furniture.
There, rant over...
I'm not a big proponent of "feel good" green requirements being built into the code, but I do think energy efficiency should be a code requirement. Time after time I see people forgoing additional insulation in their building envelope because they want nicer cabinets or that nice bathroom. So, in a hundred year building they are not putting money into the enclosure that is going to result in a less costs in energy. The energy savings then could be used to buy the updates at a later date since most people do renovations to their home every 7 sears and commercial buildings every 15 years. Now you are updating the building for free, since that money would have been spent on energy anyway. It's telling of the times that everyone is willing to shoot themselves in the foot just so they can get the nicest house. Meanwhile they can't afford to heat it or buy furniture.
There, rant over...
Sandman
Bronze Member
The Federal Government still requires LEED certification. The Navy & Marines relaxed the requirement from Gold to Silver.
"Navy and Marine Corps facilities are required to meet aggressive Federal, Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Navy (DON) energy and sustainability requirements. Recent DoD direction returned the requirement to design and construct buildings back to LEED Silver standards. NAVFAC SE requires LEED Silver standards, with an emphasis on maximizing potential points in the Energy and Atmosphere (EA) category.
The document “NAVFAC SE Interim Design Guidance – Integrating Energy and Water Efficiencies Into Contracts” has been created to further the achievement of DoD energy and water conservation goals by establishing new minimum requirements, generally exceeding current baseline requirements, for specific energy and water applications. It is intended to cost effectively integrate enhanced energy and water saving strategies into building design, construction and maintenance while ensuring the functional needs of the facility to meet the mission requirements.
The items included in this document are considered MANDATORY for all new construction, repair, and maintenance activity, unless otherwise indicated. Select the icon for the Technical Design Guidance document."
"Navy and Marine Corps facilities are required to meet aggressive Federal, Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Navy (DON) energy and sustainability requirements. Recent DoD direction returned the requirement to design and construct buildings back to LEED Silver standards. NAVFAC SE requires LEED Silver standards, with an emphasis on maximizing potential points in the Energy and Atmosphere (EA) category.
The document “NAVFAC SE Interim Design Guidance – Integrating Energy and Water Efficiencies Into Contracts” has been created to further the achievement of DoD energy and water conservation goals by establishing new minimum requirements, generally exceeding current baseline requirements, for specific energy and water applications. It is intended to cost effectively integrate enhanced energy and water saving strategies into building design, construction and maintenance while ensuring the functional needs of the facility to meet the mission requirements.
The items included in this document are considered MANDATORY for all new construction, repair, and maintenance activity, unless otherwise indicated. Select the icon for the Technical Design Guidance document."