Introduction and Background to the problem
With the alarming growth in the energy costs and environmental concern in construction projects there is a continuous demand for sustainable buildings. LEED® evaluates the sustainable performance through a 69-point credit system which mainly emphasizes Indoor environmental quality, energy and atmosphere, sustainable sites, water efficiency, materials and resources and innovation in design (Azhar, Carlton, Olsen and Ahmad (2011)).
The advent of Building Information Modeling (BIM) actuated the integration of different construction data in a single model. Bynum, Issa and Olbina (2012) suggested the implementation of BIM in the Design phase of construction to enhance the sustainable aspects of the design and construction. Azhar et al. (2011) described the use of BIM in determining material’s reuse, effective building orientation and perform daylight analysis to increase the sustainability of the building. According to the previous research the use of BIM during the design phase to perform the energy analysis will result in an efficient design minimizing the energy consumption of the building resulting in a sustainable building.
Problem Statement
The proposed study will identify and assess the impact of Building Information Modeling for LEED® rating analysis of newly constructed multi-story buildings in Texas.
Objectives
The objectives of the research are
1. Investigation of the BIM contribution for LEED rating analysis.
2. Analysis of the benefits and obstacles of using BIM to support the LEED rating system.
3. To provide recommendations on how to apply BIM for LEED rating analysis.
Delimitations
The delimitations of this research are
1. The study is limited to new multi-story ...
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LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a certification program for green buildings with stringent requirements for building energy efficient and environmentally responsible structures. Some requirements of this program include specific building materials, smart grid capable, gray water reclamation systems, green space minimums, high levels of insulation and low thermal transfer glass (US Green Building Council). Green buildings are a must if we are to sustain our current level of growth. Despite the higher initial cost of these buildings, the long term energy savings make these buildings a smarter choice for
The paper presents a detailed discussion on implementation of BIM in a construction project by defining a BIM team in the various phases of construction i.e. from conception to commissioning. Also, the paper presents a brief discussion on processing the information utilizing the i-rooms.
There is a growing interest in integrated project delivery (IPD) and the role building information modeling (BIM) can play in promoting integration among building professionals and improving design outcomes. This report reviews the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) method of building design and construction and the main obstacles that are preventing it from being regularly adopted throughout the industry. Within the building industry, IPD is referred to by many names such as whole building design, integrated building design and so on. In this report IPD will be the nomenclature used throughout for consistency sake. This report covers briefly the background of BIM, IPD, how it is implemented, and reviews its advantages and disadvantages focusing more on the strengths and limitations of IPD in terms of Reducing Errors, Providing Greater Cost Certainty and Improving program duration. The last portion of the report identifies some of general solutions to obstacles to IPD implementation.
Little, B., & Morton, T. (2001). Building with earth in scotland : Innovative design and sustainability. Retrieved from http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/156686/0042109.pdf
BIM contains precise geometry and relevant data needed to support the design, procurement, fabrication, and construction required to recognize the building (Eastman et al. 2008). Basically, the purpose of BIM is to simulate the construction environment in a virtual database that can be used during the physical construction as well as a virtual model for operations and maintenance after construction is finished. In the beginning, you have access all areas of the project and can determine whether certain areas will need more time in design, where various clashes may happen, or what could be changed for a lower cost. or to speed up the building phase. In his article, Salaman Azhar said, “It is important to note that BIM is not just software, it is a process and software. BIM means not only using three-dimensional intelligent models but also making sig...
A green building (also referred to as sustainable building or green construction) is a structure that employs an approach that is responsible for the environment besides being efficient in regard to resources all through its life cycle: This is from selecting the site to designing it, constructing, operating, maintaining, renovating and demolishing it. To achieve this, the client, the engineers, the architects and the entire design team closely cooperate at all stages of a project (Yan and Paliniotis, 2006). Practicing Green Building complements and expands the conventional building design areas of comfort, durability, utility and economy.
Cost Planning of Buildings 6th Ed. - Douglas J. Ferry & Peter S. Brandon Blackwell Science - 1991
Sustainable buildings are becoming somewhat of a necessity in the world today. As the demand for green building develops, so does the demand for green building materials. Just as the old techniques and building materials seem to disappear in the assembly of things, they are now making a come back. Green building focuses on the efficiency of major resources like water and energy. As the cost for sustainable materials and products are on the decline, building green seems to be the most cost effective kind of design and construction. Looking specifically at green materials and their impact on the production of structures, it is evident that they are a prime choice for building material. The use of green materials should be promoted because they are better for the environment, more healthful for the consumer, and better for the economy.
The recognition of climate change by scientists, politicians and general public as a great challenge has led to adoption of conservation measures of all resources, energy, water and materials as well as has encouraged sustainable development and building practices. Within the definition of sustainable development, which requires that ‘development meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations’ (WCED, 1987), buildings have an important potential role. As they are made of long-life energy intensive materials and pass on to future generations, if they do not meet the needs of the future, then they can not be considered as sustainable. Furthermore, they are responsible for a great deal of natural resources consumption and consequently for greenhouse gases emissions (Fisk, 2001).
The beginnings of today's green revolution can be traced back to the environmental awareness of the 1960s and European design. New construction techniques have lead to the development of innovative materials and design concepts. Green buildings are designed, constructed and commissioned to ensure they are healthy for their occupants. Successfully designed green projects can involve an extensive array of factors, ranging from the resourceful use of materials, to careful consideration of function, climate, and location.
Global warming and other catastrophes are always in the news these day. There are so many movements to save the environment and to limit our carbon footprint. A recent trend in building to help out with the environment is called Green Building. Green Building is energy efficient building that saves money, energy and helps the planet out. Green building is a viable alternative to traditional materials that everyone can benefit from.
The main argument of this text is that understanding the historical context, how the city runs, and how the city has evolved, is important when designing sustainable and “environmentally friendly” buildings. The following 3 related ideas support this argument:
All in all, green building is gaining significant momentum as the new major trend in the construction industry. The payoff in employee health, community benefits, energy efficiency, construction process efficiency, and efficient use of waste is worth the significant up-front cost. This trend will proliferate, and green building will likely become an industry norm. According to the US Green Building Council, “Within the next two years, more than half of all commercial and institutional construction will have a decided tint of green.”
The statistics shown by The Environmental Protection agency claim that buildings in the United States contribute about 40 % of the nation’s total carbon dioxide emissions (2). Green building is the process of construction that is done in a way to conserve natural resources and reduce the harmful impact that construction has on the environment. Green building includes environmentally sound design, construction, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. Greenhouse emission is the release of gases, like methane gas and carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere. Construction waste management is the concept of reducing, reusing, recycling, and design in a way that uses the least amount of resources as possible and minimizing the amount of waste.Environmentally friendly construction will have a positive impact on the environment by reducing pollution, reducing waste, conserving energy, conserving water, and using eco-friendly building materials.
Maczulack, Anne, Elizabeth. Environmental Engineering: Designing a Sustainable Future. New York, NY: Facts on File Publishers, 2010. Print.