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Green Building Consultant
John A Herbert | Director | Kelcroft
It’s
easy to imagine the perfect green building,
actually building it can be a lot more difficult. Every decision you
make has an impact on your wallet and the world around you.
That’s why making wise choices is important.
Building sustainably has to be carefully planned, commercial and
residential buildings are in focus because the energy
consumption both in construction, and more particularly operation is
directly linked with the production
of greenhouse gases.
Increasing the energy efficiency of your building through better sustainable design, retro-fitting and active management is more important than ever before especially since two thirds of people would rather deal with a low carbon company.
Presently, Hong Kong buildings account for sixty five percent (65%) of the Hong Kong's carbon footprint, and consume eighty nine percent (89%) of all the electricity generated - and that is not sustainable.
There is absolutely positively no
excuse for non-green facilities—old or new
- Tom Peters
In China buildings consume twenty percent (20%) of total energy, and the predicted growth will rapidly increase that to more than thirty percent (30%) before the year 2020.
So building improvements are an obvious target for energy efficiency improvements.
Building Green
Benefits of Green Building
We face a silent crisis, we are burning through our finite resources faster than the planet can sustain. Add to that, pressure for change from customers, and the general public this environmental tsunami towers above our heads every day.Environmental
benefits:
* Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity
* Improve air and water quality
* Reduce solid waste
*
Conserve natural resources
Economic
benefits:
* Reduce operating costs
*
Enhance asset value and profits
* Improve employee productivity and satisfaction
* Optimize life-cycle economic performance
Health
and community benefits:
* Improve air, thermal, and acoustic environments
* Enhance occupant comfort and health
* Minimize strain on local infrastructure
* Contribute to overall quality of life
Kelcroft helps advise stakeholders to help create healthier, energy efficient and more livable environment, and for businesses that want to stay in business.
Don't be mislead by the media - "greening" or greener does not mean sacrifice! It is a smart strategy, it lowers the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) year after year. It is the only insurance against the future increasing costs, helping to futureproof your business and investments against the forthcoming resource shortages.
"Even in tough times, and perhaps
particularly in tough times customers will
demand more in terms of efficiency, quality and productivity. A built
environment that is sustainable economically, socially, and
environmentally is the only one worth investing in now."
- Mr Paul King, Chief Executive, UK Green
Building Council
Kelcroft
advises architects, engineers, and
building owners helping develop high performance low demand buildings,
in a sustainable way today, and before the planet's resources are
exhausted.
Green Building Labels
Building owners and developers find green building labels valuable as an independently certified green credential, it is especially useful to attract and retain high value tenants.
Different countries use different green building labeling systems:
- BEAM is the Hong Kong Building Environmental Assessment Method, also used in China
- LEED (USA)
- BREEAM (UK)
- Green Mark (Singapore)
- Green Star (Australia)
- Green Globe (Canada)
Whilst each green building rating tool
is different,each has
the same
underlying goal, to provide a benchmark for sustainable and
environmentally aware building - the resultant buildings that are lower
cost
because Kelcroft uses the integrated design approach.
Green Roof
Here
is a link to an article regarding green roof construction
Green Building Strategy
Here is a link to a page regarding green building strategyGreener Business
Overflowing landfills, higher energy costs,
and the increasing cost of pollution are some of the factors that
continue to drive business
costs higher but it does not need to be that way. Smarter
high performance buildings coupled with greener business practices
lower
your business costs. Kelcroft helps improve
your environmental yield using tried and test techniques. Call us today
Tel +(852) 2335
9830 if you have questions about your greening consultants.
Greener Industry
Industry and manufacturing faces the same challenge, our
energy and process experts take a fresh view of your process, the
energy
view,helping lower those all important production costs.
This is not a sigma six exercise, were are
energy
focused, conducted by professionals backed up with years of engineering
experience in Hong Kong, China, and Asia.
Call us today Tel +(852) 2335 9830 if you have
questions about your
greening production operations.
Corporate Interiors (CI)
Green building rating tools developed from certifying whole buildings to handling individual offices. LEED CI and BEAM interiors (to be released in 2009) provide a means to build sustainable, efficient and healthy office accommodation within a building. You dont need a certificate to build green. However for the owner it provides evidence that your designers create a sustainable environment for your business.....click here to learn more about corporate interiors
High Performance Buildings
Click here to learn more about High performance buildingsBuilding Audits
Click here to learn more about building auditsWhy build Green?
Green building provides high quality, more durable, efficient, environmentally sensible buildings. Building green helps reduce excess, and waste creating a sustainable, efficient, high performance building. It could also keep your business viable, as old inefficient plants are forced to close.
Click any link below to learn more about how Kelcroft can help you develop a futureproof your buildings:
- 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 about different stages
- Can I build green without LEED or BEAM certification
- What is the next step
What is BEAM
BEAM is the Building
Environmental
Assessment Method, it 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 eighty 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 (2007 data) more than sixty million
square
feet including residential and commercial
accommodation, 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, it also covers both new build and existing buildings.
The assessment is comprehensive and wide
ranging, including design,
master planning, construction through to commissioning and
operation. Impacts of site, water, energy, materials, and
construction are
covered under this assessment method.
What are the benefits?
BEAM and LEED are no marketing tricks, they are independently
assessed rating tools for building construction and performance. It
also allows
prospective tenants to compare one building with another, without
marketing hype.
Certified buildings are rewarded with BEAM or
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
emissions scheme, 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?
All the major developers for Commercial, Residential 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 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 your
decision to lower the environmental damage of the construction
project or office and
enjoy lower operating costs in the future. The certificate merely
provides a third party independent proof that the brief was achieved.
What is the next step?
One point to consider, it is vital to appoint your green
building
consultant 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, saving costly resubmission fees
Kelcroft is a member of the Hong Kong Green Building Council, the Hong Kong BEAM Society, and
US Green
Building Council. We help you plan, design, and build sustainably - don't hesitate to
contact us to discuss your requirements - Call us today Tel +(852) 2335
9830 if you have questions about green building consultants.
