Green Buildings

In the future, Rutgers may decide to construct or renovate existing buildings on Campus. Therefore, we will be working with our colleagues in Facilities and Housing to recommend the following guidelines when preparing our campus projects:

Establish your (the client team) definition of sustainability:

• Energy efficiency
• Renewables
• Water
• Materials
• Productivity, comfort, health
• Other:

When writing the RFQ, include specific references for the characteristics you are looking for:

• A history of in-house expertise?
• A record of partnerships?
• Evaluation of previous projects?
• Quantitative targets?

Ask questions specific to Rutgers’ needs; e.g. How would you ensure that measures for sustainability would survive value engineering?

How would you ensure that a LEED rating requirement doesn't lead to gaming credits, but rather to a genuine integrated design?

What is an example of one of your favorite sustainable buildings?

The last project your firm did e.g. the cover project from a design magazine

Provide a project with performance data and costs

Estimated construction cost is $300/ft2. If you had $50/ft2 more/less, what sustainable technologies would you add/drop?

Ask questions about something for which you are very knowledgeable--while asking for what you want:

Can you provide lighting design that meets IES quality guidelines, with lighting power density 20% lower than the California Title 24 maximum, within a normal building budget?

Evaluate the Responses
Look at what the firms have actually done, not just what they say they can do. Everyone will claim to be “sustainable”, but only a few will have a record to support their claims.

It’s All About the Documentation Requirements
“Green” task language should be backed-up with documentation requirements, considering programs in which the project will participate:

“Savings-By-Design” energy efficiency incentives?

Rutgers School Green Building and Clean Energy Policy?

LEED™?

Laboratories for the 21st Century?

Other?

More options are open, and integrated design is more likely if … the first analysis of energy efficiency and other sustainable design approaches is required early in the design process.

Helpful Websites:

US Green Building Council http://www.usgbc.org/

American Institute of Architects http://www.aia.org/

Build It Green http://builditgreen.org/