Page 238 - Green Building Through Integrated Design

214 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

7 If we are planning to use “structure as finish” to reduce the use of finishes in the
building, is this acceptable to our client and the key stakeholders? If polished con-
crete will be used, have we taken acoustics into account?
8 What are trade-offs in using unconventional materials such as bio-based MDF
board; can these materials have an instructional value through signage and other
forms of communication?
9 Are the materials under consideration durable and easy to maintain, for example,
flooring products and systems?
10 Where are the materials coming from—are they local or regional? Can we source
them within 500 miles? How do we know we can do this?
11 Are life-cycle assessment data available for the materials we plan to use? How
will we incorporate this information into our choices of materials?
12 What do we know about the environmental and business practices of the manu-
facturers? Are they acceptable to our stakeholders?
13 Are we designing for disassembly and recycling of materials during the life of the
building or at the end of its useful life? What elements of the structure can be eas-
ily disassembled and reused, particularly if the site is needed for other uses? (This
is easier in smaller buildings, of course.)
14 Does the design take advantage of standard dimensions for materials and assem-
blies, instead of specifying custom dimensions that might create more waste?
15 What materials entail the most toxic production processes? Are there workable
alternatives to them?
16 What materials can help reduce or eliminate any toxic off-gassing in the air that
our staff and clients will breathe? Can we avoid a lot of finished materials that
have toxic or noxious chemical constituents?
17 Will the manufacturer reclaim materials (such as carpets) when they are ultimately
removed from the project? What is the proof of that intention and/or practice?
18 If we are planning on significant use of salvaged, reclaimed, or recycled materials
in the building, is this acceptable to our client and the key stakeholders? Will they
see these materials as adding value or reducing it?
19 Is it possible to lease some of the building materials (such as carpet tiles) from the
manufacturer rather than buying them?
20 Have we considered the use of carpet tiles instead of rolled goods, so that worn
areas can be more easily replaced without removing good carpet?
21 What is the total embodied energy of this building (i.e., the energy required to
extract, process, and transport the materials to the site and to build the building)?
How can we determine this, or at least get a handle on it? Will it make a differ-
ence in our choices of finishes or other building materials?
22 Where did the wood for this project originate? Was the forest managed in an eco-
logically responsible way? Is a reliable third-party certification available?
23 Will the recycled products that we’re considering hold up in the long run? Have
we considered durability as a key component of sustainable design?
24 Will our design allow us to change out materials and whole systems in this build-
ing over its long life without major disruption? (This might dictate placing HVAC
equipment in a more accessible location, for example.)