Green Building: Sustainability and Cost

This assignment delves into the realm of green building, exploring its significance in achieving sustainability within the construction industry. It requires a critical analysis of existing research on green building trends, focusing on market readiness, policy implications, and cost-benefit predictions. Students must examine various green building certification systems and their impact on sustainable construction practices. The assignment emphasizes understanding the economic viability and environmental benefits associated with green buildings.

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GREEN BUILDING PROJECT
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Executive Summary
Climate change is a global concern that is affecting lives of many people in different parts of the
world. Construction industry contributes significantly to climate change. This has led to
promotion of sustainable development in construction industry. Green building is one of the
major approaches of sustainable development in construction industry. This report aims at
investigating various phases and aspects of green building projects. The phases discussed are:
preliminary design; detailed design; and testing, evaluation & validation and optimization
phases. Each of these phases plays a key role in successful implementation of green building
projects. Human factors such as comfort, safety, air quality and operating and maintenance costs
should also be considered when implementing green building projects. Finally, the report
recommends involvement of all stakeholders from early stages of the project so that they can
have better understanding, give opinions and accomplish their roles and responsibilities as
expected towards successful completion of these projects.

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction.......................................................................................................................................4
2. Preliminary design phase..................................................................................................................5
3. Detailed design and development phases.........................................................................................6
4. System test, evaluation & validation and optimization...................................................................7
5. Human factors...................................................................................................................................9
6. Conclusion and Recommendations.................................................................................................10
References................................................................................................................................................11

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1. Introduction
The benefits of green building projects cannot be overemphasized. In recent years, these
projects have become the top in sustainable development (Darko & Chan, 2016). Many countries
are making significant efforts to promote green building projects so that they can realize their
potential economic, environmental and social benefits (Hwang, et al., 2017). Research about
green building projects has also increased because of public concerns regarding the impacts that
construction industry has on global climate change (Tathagat & Dod, 2015), energy use and
human health (Khoshbakht, et al., 2017) and wellbeing (Thatcher & Milner, 2014). The main
objectives of green building projects are to minimize resource utilization, improve human
comfort and health (Singh, et al., 2010), boost utilization of renewable energy and minimize
waste generation and environmental disturbances throughout the project’s lifecycle (Gou, et al.,
2013). In general, green building approach aims at ensuring that buildings and other structures
are designed, constructed, operated and maintained with minimal resource usage (Wedding,
2008) thus reducing unfavorable impacts that these structures would have on the environment
(Kubba, 2010). In other words, green building projects aim at increasing efficiency of the
building throughout its lifecycle (Owensby-Conte & Yepes, 2012).
Achieving the benefits of green building requires that the project is implemented using green
building approach from start to finish (Zigenfus, 2008). All stakeholders involved in green
building projects, including client, architect, specialized engineers, contractor and suppliers,
must also collaborate so as to achieve expected goals (Ahn, et al., 2016). These projects have to
be completed through an integrated process right from conceptual phase all the way to
demolition phase. This report analyzes the preliminary design phase; detailed design phase; test,
evaluation and validation; and optimization of green building projects. The report also discusses

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human factors that are critical in green building projects. Analyzing these aspects helps
stakeholders in the construction industry to implement green building projects more effectively
and realize all their potential benefits.
2. Preliminary design phase
This phase is very important because it marks the start of communicating the design concepts
developed in the conceptual design phase by turning them into drawings. In this phase, the
project team defines the overall green building configuration and creates schematic layouts and
drawings. Available data at this stage is usually limited thus most assessments are done based on
assumptions (Braganca, et al., 2014). As stated before, the drawings made at this stage are only
schematic and show the basics such as size and shape of the building and its orientation and
location on the site. The project team uses this information and other assumed data to select the
suitable type of superstructure for the building and estimate bill of materials for the
superstructure and building envelope.
It is in this phase that the project team comprehensively discusses various technical and
performance requirements of the green building and how its components shall be integrated to
create an integrated system. Construction methods to be used are also proposed in this phase.
Several site investigation studies are also carried out to collect data that helps in making the right
decisions on various elements of the building and construction process. When performing
preliminary design, the project team has to consider local building policies and codes, technical
and design rules, environmental concerns, community impact, operating and maintenance needs,
and feasibility of the project. Concrete project brief and cost estimations are done in this phase.

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3. Detailed design and development phases
Detailed design phase is where comprehensive drawings (comprising of engineering and
architectural drawings) of the green building are created. These drawings are also known as final
drawings or blueprints and are the ones encompassed in tender documents. The drawings contain
all necessary details of the building’s physical components to help contractors build them on site.
These details include dimensions of the building components and specifications of their
materials, equipment and machinery to be used. For instance, the project team has to decide
suitable renewable energies, light-efficient fixtures, water efficient fixtures, energy efficient
electrical appliances, natural ventilation systems, energy efficient heating and cooling systems,
etc. After preparing detailed drawings, the project team also examines possible risks that may be
faced during development phase. Proposed construction methods are also analyzed to select the
most suitable method to be used. Accurate estimations costs to be incurred in constructing and
operating the building are also prepared. To come up with more accurate estimations, building
mockups and prototypes are usually developed so as to visualize how the building will be
constructed, look like and perform during operating cycle. Based on information obtained from
mockups, prototypes, simulations and analyses, relevant changes can be made to improve the
green building’s performance, functionality, efficiency, safety, constructability, sustainability,
affordability and maintainability. This being a green building project, a lot of simulations and
studies are carried out to find best practices of improving the building’s resource efficiency
throughout its lifecycle. The schedule of the project is also prepared by considering construction
works to be done and possible constraints. At the end of this phase, the project team should be
able to show that the green building project to be constructed is feasible and economically viable.
The main outputs of this phase are bid specifications and construction documents.

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Development phase is where actual construction of the green building takes place. This
basically means transferring the blueprints into physical structures on the selected site. The
process starts with construction of substructure then continues to superstructure. Most of the
activities in this phase are done by the contractor who has been awarded the tender but with
collaboration, cooperation and close supervision of other key stakeholders such as the client,
design team and consultants. Every milestone made during the development phase must be
appraised to ensure that the element constructed is as per the specifications outlined in the
contract documents. At the end of the development phase, the green building should be ready for
occupation and achieve its anticipated economic, environmental and social benefits.
4. System test, evaluation & validation and optimization
For a building to receive green accreditation, it must pass through a series of tests,
evaluations and validations. Testing and evaluation are processes that are performed on
individual components of the building to establish whether they meet client needs and other
technical, functional and performance specifications stated in contract documents. The specific
testing and evaluation processes to be performed are identified during conceptual, preliminary
and detailed design phases. In this case, the components may be tested ad evaluated to determine
their performance, water and energy efficiency. These processes are carried out based on
procedures of different green building standards and/or systems such as Leadership in Energy
and Environmental design (LEED), Green Star, National Australian Built Environment Rating
System (NABERS) and Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) (Dunya, 2014),
among others. Some of the key parameters that are tested and evaluated in green building
projects include: building size and location, building design and engineering, building materials,
energy efficiency, green building construction methods, water efficiency, renewable energy

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sources, water conservation, utility policies and return on investment (BPC Green Builders,
2015). The main importance of system test and evaluation is that they help to determine need to
change building design or components, or construction methods so as to avoid unnecessary costs
and ensure that the structure built meets the needs of the client. Examples of tests that are
performed on green buildings include: environmental tests, structural tests, technical tests,
constructability tests, performance tests, maintenance tests, building management system tests,
etc. It is also very important to test the building or system under worst-case scenarios (Zapata, et
al., 2013), such as performance of the building in case of an earthquake or when renewable
energy source becomes unreliable.
Validation process is carried out to establish whether products or practices used in
construction of green buildings meet the required specifications, purpose and function (Luna, et
al., 2013). Occupancy permit for a green building can only be issued if the building is validated,
meaning that it meets all minimum technical, functional and performance requirements. Each
component of the building has a unique validation process, which comes after testing and
evaluation processes. As a result of this, a component gets validated based on data obtained from
test and evaluation process. If a component is invalidated, the project team has to re-evaluate it
and find ways of improving it so as to meet the minimum requirements. Necessary validation
processes to be performed are also identified during conceptual design phase hence the project
team has to plan and prepare the necessary tools and equipment to perform these processes.
Another key goal of system test, evaluation and validation is to identify areas that need to be
optimized so as to improve the green building’s overall performance. There are various ways in
which a green building project can be optimized. Some of these ways include: change of building
layout, orientation, materials or envelope, use of lean construction and building information

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modelling (BIM) processes, change of heating and cooling systems, etc. The main objective of
optimization is to improve indoor air quality and comfort and safety of occupants, and increase
the building’s resource efficiency by reducing the amount of energy and water consumed at all
stages of the building’s lifecycle. Generally, optimization becomes easier if test, evaluation and
validation processes are done comprehensively and effectively.
5. Human factors
It is also important to consider various human factors when executing a green building
project. These factors ensure that the interaction between the green building and occupants is
flawless. One of the fundamental human factors in a green building project is comfort. The
building must be designed and constructed to ensure that its occupants are comfortable at all
times. This is achieved through proper orientation of the building, use of suitable construction
materials, proper insulation, installation of efficient heating and cooling systems, installation of
lifts and escalators and automation of heating, cooling and air ventilation in the building.
Thermal comfort should always be optimum and adjusted automatically so as to meet the
specific needs of the occupants. Safety is another crucial human factor. The green building
should be designed with efficient, state-of-the-art and reliable safety and security systems such as
fire alarm systems. Above all, the structural soundness of the building should be overboard.
Another human factor to be considered in a green building project is air quality, which is related
to health of occupants. The building should maintain optimum indoor air quality so as to improve
the health of occupants. This is achieved through appropriate air ventilation using natural an
artificial ventilation systems. Besides indoor air quality, the building should also have near-zero
emissions to the environment. Ways of achieving this include use of renewable energy, natural
air ventilation, efficient lighting fixtures, energy efficient electrical and electronic systems and

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appliances, and water efficient fixtures and appliances. The building should also be constructed
using non-toxic, recycled and recyclable materials.
The last but not least human factor for consideration in a green building project is operating
and maintenance costs. The building should have low maintenance and operating costs. This is
achieved by lowering the amount of energy and water consumed by the building during its
operating phase. This can also be achieved by ensuring that the building is durable so as to
minimize its maintenance needs. Another way is to ensure that the building can be repaired using
locally available and recycled materials.
6. Conclusion and Recommendations
Climate change, depletion of natural resources and increasing global population are some of
the key concerns for people today. These concerns have devastating impacts on human life and
the environment as a whole. They are also putting future generations at very high risks. Green
building, which is one way of achieving sustainable development, is a practice that is positively
changing the construction industry. This practice has numerous economic, environmental and
social benefits. However, benefits of green construction projects can only be achieved if these
projects are designed and constructed with consideration of end users and the environment. As a
result of this, preliminary design, detailed design, development and testing, evaluation, validation
and optimization phases are very important in successful implementation of green building
projects. These phases help in ensuring that buildings are designed, constructed, operated and
maintained in a sustainable manner. In other words, they improve the building’s performance
and resource efficiency throughout its lifecycle. It is also important to consider human factors
when completing each of these phases. The key human factors include: comfort, safety, air
quality and operating and maintenance costs.

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Efficient implementation of green building projects also requires involvement of all
stakeholders from very early stages of the project. The stakeholders should understand the
project details, goals and objectives, and also know their roles and objectives. These stakeholders
should be allowed to give their opinions and involved in making critical decisions about the
project. Innovation is also allowed during all phases of the project as long as it can help to reduce
resource usage, minimize environmental impacts and improve building efficiency. Considering
the potential benefits of green building, governments, private companies and individuals should
make efforts towards establishing ways of promoting adoption of this practice and solving its
related challenges.
References
Ahn, Y., Jung, C., Suh, M. & Jeon, M., 2016. Integrated construction prcess for green building.
Procedia Engineering, Volume 145, pp. 670-676.
BPC Green Builders, 2015. Factors that make a green home green. [Online]
Available at: http://www.bpcgreenbuilders.com/green-building/factors-that-make-green-homes-
green/
[Accessed 18 September 2017].
Braganca, L., Vieira, S. & Andrade, J., 2014. Early stage design decisions: the way to achieve
sustainable buildings at lower costs. The Scientific World Journal, Volume 2014, pp. 1-8.
Darko, A. & Chan, A., 2016. Critical analysis of green building research trend in construction
journals. Habitat International, Volume 57, pp. 53-63.

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Dunya, 2014. Guide to the most important green building certification systems in the world.
[Online]
Available at: http://www.australianscience.com.au/environmental-science/guide-important-
green-building-certification-systems-world/
[Accessed 18 September 2017].
Gou, Z., Lau, S. & Prasad, D., 2013. Market readiness and policy implications for green
buildings: case study from Hong Kong. Journal of Green Building, 8(2), pp. 162-173.
Hwang, B., Zhu, L., Wang, Y. & Cheong, X., 2017. Green building construction projects in
Singapore. Project Management Journal, 48(4), pp. 67-79.
Khoshbakht, M., Gou, Z. & Dupre, K., 2017. Cost-benefit predction of green buildings: WOT
analysis of research methods and recent applications. Procedia Engineering, Volume 180, pp.
167-178.
Kubba, S., 2010. "Green" and "sustainability" defined. In: Green construction project
management and cost oversight. Boston, MA: Architectural Press, pp. 1-27.
Luna, S. L. A., Tao, H., Zapata, F. & Pineda, R., 2013. Integration, verification, validation, test
and evaluation (IVVT&E) frameowrk for system of systems (SoS). Procedia Engineering,
Volume 20, pp. 295-305.
Owensby-Conte, D. & Yepes, V., 2012. Green buildings: analysis of state of the knowledge.
International Journal of Construction Enginerring and Management, 1(3), pp. 27-32.
Singh, A., Syal, M., Grady, S. & Korkmaz, S., 2010. Effects of green buildings on employee
health and productivity. American Journal of Public Health, 100(9), pp. 1665-1668.

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Tathagat, D. & Dod, R., 2015. Role of green buildings in sustainable construction - need,
challenges and scope in the Indian scenario. Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 12(2),
pp. 1-9.
Thatcher, A. & Milner, K., 2014. Changes in productivity, psychological wellbeing and physical
wellbeing from working in a "green" building. Work, 49(3), pp. 381-393.
Wedding, G., 2008. Understanding sustainability in real estate: a focus on measuring and
communicating success in green building. North Carolina: University of North Carolina.
Zapata, F., Pineda, R. & Ceberio, M., 2013. How to generate worst-case scenarios when testing
already deployed systems against unexpected situations. Edmonton, Canada, North American
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Zigenfus, R., 2008. Element analysis of the green building process. New York, NY: Rochester
Institute of Technology.