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Process Overview: Design

Below is a brief overview of the first part of the design process for high-performance buildings.

Predesign

Because all commercial building components must work together successfully long after project completion, it is essential that sufficient time be set aside in the beginning of a project for design team development, goal setting, and project planning. A sustainable building can only be accomplished when everyone (the building owner, future occupants, design team) have the same energy and environmental goals for the project from the start. In short, everyone that is affected by this building in a decision making position should be involved at the project's beginning. Ultimately, the building owner is responsible for setting the goals and their implementation. It is the design team's responsibility to translate goals and budget for the project into measurable benchmarks for design, construction, and operations so the project will be successful.

Sample integrated design team:

Design Team - Commissioning Agent, Project Manager, Mechanical Engineer, Constructions Contractor and Inspector, Electrical Engineer, Interior Designer, Architect, Landscaping Architect and Site Planner, Building Operator, Building Owner, Energy Consultant, Building Users

Design

Traditionally, commercial building design choices are based on budget or time considerations. Single building components are added or deleted to meet time or budget constraints without evaluating their impact on total building performance. Yet basic design goals such as minimizing energy consumption or maximizing daylight cannot be done without understanding the impact of interrelations between parts of the building including window glazing systems, thermal envelope, mechanical system integration, orientation, and floor plate proportions. High performance building design must ensure complete integration to achieve optimal building performance. These interrelations are very complex. As a result, computerized simulation studies are necessary to properly account for interrelationships. Tools such as DOE-2 and Energy-Plus can help guide the design process by quickly evaluating many design alternatives. Water and resource conservation along with recycled, reusable, and nontoxic sustainable materials should also be considered in the design stage.
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Last updated: 10 August 2006