A model for balancing sustainability vs. security

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

As a pilot program member, the PENREN/C design-build team has integrated the guidelines of LEED[TM] for Existing Buildings (LEED EB[TM]). LEED EB[TM] addresses whole-building cleaning and maintenance issues including chemicals, ongoing Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), energy efficiency performance, water efficiency performance, recycling initiatives and systems upgrades to enhance building performance. Based on performance of the guidelines set forth in the LEED EB[TM] Rating System, successful projects can be certified by the USGBC. LEED EB[TM] requires the support of the design team as well as the building owner and facilities staff. The PENREN/C keeps regular metrics on various projects to track the Programs overall LEED[TM] performance.

Whole Building Design Guide

The model discussed in this paper was designed as a pilot model to demonstrate the concepts and the capabilities of the decision matrix to balance sustainability and antiterrorism issues in construction or renovation. Many other factors, such as first costs, life cycle costs, functionality, etc., must also be balanced with sustainability and antiterrorism. The model should be tailored for each user's priorities and can be tailored for individual projects. For example, PENREN has specific goals for sustainability and antiterrorism, but these may vary slightly for each project. The renovation for the Office of the Secretary of Defense will place higher weights on hardening and protection (antiterrorism factors) than sustainability, but construction of the Pentagon gym, also know as the POAC--Pentagon Officers Athletic Center, will place higher weights on air flow and mold prevention (sustainability features) than window glazing (an antiterrorism factor.) The pilot model was based on the analyses found in the multi-agency Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG) (LEED-ATFP-07 Apr 2004), (www.wbdg.org) quoted in the following paragraphs.

    "In 1999, Executive Order 13123 required federal agencies to
  incorporate sustainable design principles into their projects. A few
  years ago, because of the September 11, 2001 attacks, building
  security also became a top priority. Responding to these two issues, a
  number of agencies adopted the USGBC Leadership in Energy and
  Environmental Design (LEED[TM]) Green Building Rating System to help
  them measure the sustainability of their projects; the Department of
  Defense (DoD) issued its Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 4-010-01,
  DoD Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings to minimize the
  likelihood of mass casualties from terrorist attacks; and the
  Interagency Security Committee (ISC) issued the ISC Security Design
  Criteria for new federal office buildings and major modernizations to
  protect from smaller explosive threats and reduce collateral effects
  from larger threats."

Sustainability and security often may be seen as competing for limited resources. In this time of enhanced security risk and awareness, facility owners and occupants demand that security be an important consideration in facility design and construction. At the same time, as a society, we desire to have functional, efficient and environmentally friendly buildings, and our agencies or companies want to provide the most productive environment for workers health and well being. Hence, the challenge: how do we meet the right balance? This resource page addresses sustainability and anti-terrorism objectives concurrently, from the DoD perspective. Specifically, related DoD antiterrorism standards are identified for each LEED credit. The security implications of strategies used to achieve each LEED credit are discussed with regard to their inter-relationship.