Page 22 - The Engineering Guide to LEED-New Construction Sustainable Construction for Engineers

Intr oduction 5

FIGURE 1.1.2 Landscaped amphitheater also functions as a stormwater management feature
at the LEED-certifi ed West Quad Housing Complex at the University of South Carolina.
(Photograph taken in September 2006.)

The text is also intended to be used by other engineers and professionals such as
mechanical engineers, architects, planners, community leaders, and construction
managers, as it does present the overall holistic approach of the LEED rating system
and can facilitate the understanding of many of the credits and criteria outside the
traditional purview of these disciplines. Again, the intention is to let all the professionals
and affected parties learn to “talk the talk” of the other team members and understand
the viewpoints and engineering decisions in an interdisciplinary fashion. It is very
important that all interested parties, including the community, be involved in the
sustainable construction process. Criteria that are important to many participants can
be incorporated into the design and implementation of green construction. One
example concerns the maintenance of the “historical” feel in a community. Green does
not mean the buildings and facilities have to look different. Figure 1.1.3 depicts a
structure built in 1939 at the University of South Carolina, and it shows how the new
“green” building in Fig. 1.1.2 can still fit in well with the other historic buildings at this
university.
There are many other excellent references to consult in the understanding and
educating of others about sustainable construction and green building. Several of these
are also focused on the USGBC LEED. However, this book is different from many of the
other references that cover the LEED rating system. It presents the information and
criteria in a fashion that is useful, then doing mathematical and design exercises for
further understanding and familiarity with the criteria and parameters in use. Several
excellent references on sustainable development, industrial ecology (terminology
referring to sustainable development from a more industrial viewpoint), sustainable
construction, and green building are listed in the References section of this chapter.