Sustainable Building Technical Manual - Etn-presco.net

CHAPTER 25The Future ofGreen BuildingsIntroductionTo many in the building industry, investment in green building practices may be a leapof faith. Further research and successful examples of sustainable building will advancethis developing technology and provide direct proof of its economic and health-relatedbenefits, encouraging its greater adoption. More research is needed in life-cycle costanalysis over the full spectrum of building fabrication, ownership, operation, andreuse/disposal. As the data become more widespread and the impacts—including externalcosts associated with pollution, waste, and environmental-resource consumption—of conventional practices become better known, green building practices will becomemore widespread.AuthorDavid A. GottfriedThe green building movement has started to gain momentum. Each year yields additionaldemonstration projects; dozens of new efficient and healthy technologies; andexpanded research, standards, codes, and regulations. This chapter provides informationon new developments in these areas and new issues that should be considered by thebuilding industry and building owners.These include rating systems to evaluate a building’s environmental performance, certificationprograms for green building products, and the adoption of green building standardsand practices by recognized standard-setting organizations. The availability ofincreasingly sophisticated computer software programs also fosters the growth of greenbuilding practices by making it easier to identify and evaluate options for a buildingproject. Other new trends and emerging concepts affecting the building industryinclude performance-based contracts, remanufacturing and product leasing, telecommutingand “virtual offices,” and efforts to mitigate natural-disaster losses throughimproved building practices.