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Building Green
John
A Herbert | Director
What is a Building Green? Broadly the term Building Green covers a range of practices, these are all designed to minimise the impact on the natural environment.
The
benefits of building green are wide-ranging - from providing increased operating efficiency in the
facility, enhanced property value, improved employee
health, and productivity gains generating good community and
stakeholder relations.
So, how can your
company "go green?" Kelcroft helps business create advanced Green
Building strategies that addresses the Green Building mandate, or help to
address how Green Building can be implemented across your building
portfolio and ongoing operations. Kelcroft can help you
identify and implement systems and procedures to achieve your organisation's
Green Building vision and goals.
Kelcroft is at the forefront of new green
technologies and our Energy and Environmental Solutions team consistently delivers high-performance buildings with
established green practices.
Why build green?
Faced with increased energy and environmental regulations, a financial crisis, and pressure for change from customers and the general public, building owners have found sustainable building benefits their business.
Don't be mislead, building green does not mean sacrifice, it
is smart application of knowledge that provides year after year cost
savings, lowering the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) for your
estate / property.
Green Building Roof
Here
is a link to an article regarding green roof construction
Green Building Labels
Green building assessments and labels, such as BEAM (formerly
HK-BEAM) and LEED are not a necessary require build
green.
Why build Green?
Do you want healthier, high quality, more durable, efficient, environmentally sensible building? building green creates a healthier living environment, whilst reducing excess, and waste, or more put simply sustainable building.
Learn more about how Kelcroft can help:
- What is BEAM
- Why chose green building with BEAM
- What is covered under green building
- What are the benefits
- What about existing buildings
- Who is using BEAM
- What is the next step
- What about different stages
- Can I build green without LEED or BEAM certification
- Need more information
What is BEAM
BEAM provides an equitable framework for measuring, rewarding
and
recognizing superior building performance.
A BEAM project will have been
designed, installed and
commissioned using best practice, having all aspects of energy and
sustainability, and waste considered.
BEAM is undoubtedly the leading initiative to
improve environmental
performance of buildings in Hong Kong, with nearly sixty million square
feet assessed and certified. Unlike other initiatives BEAM
certification is only completed after the project is completed, to
ensure the promised performance is achieved.
Prospective owners or tenants are assured that
the best practice for
sustainable building has been employed and achieved, adding value.
Why chose BEAM
BEAM has already certified more than sixty million square
feet (2007 data) including residential and commercial
accommodation, and on a per capita basis, it exceeds
every other assessment method, BEAM is a world
leader.
What is covered under BEAM
BEAM is a complete and comprehensive standard, that provides a
supporting framework covering various building types, including mixed
use complexes, both new and existing.
The assessment is comprehensive and wide
ranging, including design,
master planning, construction through to commissioning and
operation. Impacts of water, energy, and construction materials are
covered under the system.
What are the benefits?
BEAM and LEED are no marketing trick, it is an independently
assessed benchmark. For speculative commercial and residential
accommodation it allows
prospective tenants to compare one building with another, without
marketing hype.
Certified buildings are rewarded with BEAM/LEED
certificate,
providing evidence of lower energy consumption and reduced
environmental footprint.
Coupled with lower environmental impact, and
lower energy consumption -
a certified building reduces
ownership costs (saving you money) and also reducing future
environmental pollution.
Interestingly Australia is considering introducing a carbon
cap and trade system for Buildings.
(Oct. 2008)
What about existing buildings?
The BEAM framework can be employed to certify existing
building, credits are awarded for improve performance and lowering
energy consumption.
Whether a new or refurbishment project,
strategies can be employed to
reduce building energy costs and improve
performance.
Who is using BEAM?
Commercial, residential, institutional and government
sector projects use BEAM to monitor, improve and assess the
environmental performance and sustainability of buildings.
Recognizing that no single document can serve
every building classification, BEAM provides the framework for assessment of
every building type, including mixed use facilities.
What is the next step?
One point to consider, it is vital that your green building
consultant is appointed from day
one, early in the process, to ensure the entire team are are on the
same page from project commencement.
Why? there are several positive benefits for implementing methodologies from day one.
Environmental methodologies and physical
improvements (to increase credits attended) implemented after the contract documents are signed
will almost certainly require contract variations and that could open
the door for potential dispute.
Let's take a simple example, if the BEAM metering and sub
metering methodology was incorporated at the planning stage:
- lower first cost - extra cost for overtime is averted
- avoids utility disconnection preventing tenant disruption
- documentation is an important element, early adoption avoids change orders and VO's
Additionally, actively
encouraging design
innovation is a far simpler process before the design is submitted for
approved by AHJ and other government agencies.
What about buildings at different stages?
Q. I have already started construction, Can LEED or BEAM be implemented later? can my building be certified?
A.
Buildings and complexes, at all stages of procurement,
whether underway, nearing completion, or newly occupied can be
assessed. However, some opportunities to change the specification may
have been lost which may impact the rating of your building.
Can I build Green without certification?
Q.
Can I build green without LEED or BEAM certification?
A.
Yes.
Certainly there is no requirement to have your building project
certified by LEED or BEAM.
Building green is a strategy, no certificates are required, it is a
decision to lower the environmental damage of the construction
and
enjoy lower operating costs in the future.
Need more information?
Kelcroft is a member of the Hong Kong BEAM society, and US Green Building Council - we are here to help you build sustainably. Don't hesitate to contact us to discuss your requirements.
Call us today Tel +(852) 2335
9830 if you have questions about BEAM green building.
