A model for balancing sustainability vs. security

Doors and Hardware, Oct, 2007 by Rita Oberle, T. Pohlman, Kathy Roper

INTRODUCTION

IN THESE TIMES OF GLOBAL CHANGE, many facility emphases are competing for limited resources. With antiterrorism we have federal mandates and employee demands for safer and more secure workplaces. These same employees, backed by federal and state environmental guidelines, are also demanding "greener," more environmentally friendly and sustainable facilities. Other examples of competing factors are aesthetics, handicap accessibility, and in some cases, historical preservation. Yet, unlimited resources to fulfill all the needs and wishes are seldom, if ever, available in private or public construction. Although it is currently popular to profess a bias to life cycle costs, first costs are still the main factor for appropriations in public construction and the driving decision for most private construction projects. Making the right balancing decisions is primary, but documenting these decisions and the rationale behind them are equally important both for appropriation committees and for documenting sustainability certification. The Georgia Institute of Technology used guidance from the Pentagon Renovation and Construction Program Office (PENREN/C); the U.S. Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED[TM]) rating system; and the multi-agency draft "Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG), LEED[TM]-DoD Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings: Issues and Strategies." Although this research was based on input from federal agencies, it has applicability to any organization balancing competing factors. The names of decision-makers may change, such as lending institute versus appropriation committee, or force protection versus employee safety; but the decisions are essentially the same for public and private construction planners and decision makers. With minor effort and creativity, this model can be tailored to any organization.

Pentagon Renovation and Construction Program Office (PENREN/C)

The Pentagon Renovation and Construction Program Office (PENREN/C), has a subteam in the Integrated Sustainable Design and Construction Team (ISDT) that is tasked with identifying, implementing, and tracking ways to make the 60-year old Pentagon a healthy, safe, and secure facility. (Renovator, 2003) This ISDC team is an integrated project team that includes members from Pentagon Renovation (PENREN/C) project teams, the Washington Headquarters Services Federal Facilities Division, their contractors, and university research teams. As stated by their team leader, the ISDT "The Pentagon Renovation Program incorporates sustainable design and construction initiatives into its projects to create facilities that are flexible, environmentally-friendly and healthier for Pentagon personnel." (Renovator, 2003)

PENREN/C is using the U. S. Green Building Council's (USGBC), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED[TM]) rating system to track building performance and to report progress toward achieving sustainable goals. PENREN/C's short-term goal is meeting or exceeding environmental building standards and achieving LEED[TM] Certification on all PENREN/C projects. The ISDT leader, states "The LEED[TM] Rating System is an effective tool to track our progress towards building a more sustainable Pentagon." (Renovator, 2003)

However, in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, PENREN/C and its ISDC Team shouldered the additional responsibility of integrating and balancing sustainable design issues with force protection measures necessary for Pentagon protection. PENREN/C's goal is to become a recognized government leader in implementing sustainable design and construction initiatives, while balancing budget constraints and force protection issues. (DBIA, 2004)

LEED[TM]

According to the USGBC, "The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED[TM]) Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings." Composed of representatives from all facets of the building industry, the USGBC is charged with developing LEED[TM] standards to encourage highly efficient sustainable design and construction performance. Currently, the USGBC has developed LEED[TM] standards for "New Construction and Major Renovation Projects" (LEED[TM] 2.1), "Existing Building Operations" (LEED-EB[TM], Pilot version) and "Commercial interiors projects" (LEED-CI[TM], Pilot version). Numerous USGBC committees work collaboratively with one another to develop new standards for the LEED[TM] Rating Systems.

"In conjunction with PENREN/C's existing sustainable design and construction practices, the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED[TM] Rating System provides PENREN/C with a rigorous set of criteria for Existing Buildings (LEED EB[TM]) that was developed on the basis of LEED[TM] 2.0 for New Construction and major renovations. The objective of the LEED EB[TM] Rating System Pilot version is to ensure the system "is practical and workable for application in real buildings," according to the USGBC web site. (Renovator, 2003)