Standards for Building Sustainable Federal Buildings
July 31, 2015
Sustainable architecture design and construction aims to reduce the environmental impact of human habitation on both local and global scales. The United States Federal Government is the largest consumer of land and energy in terms of building ownership. In an effort to reduce the environmental footprint of new and existing federal facilities, several standards have been put into place to improve the sustainability of government buildings.
Standards for New Buildings
During the design stages, new federal buildings must go through a process of integrated architectural design that establishes the building’s goals for energy, water, and materials usage, as well as how these goals will be met through design and construction. Steps must be taken to optimize energy efficiency, such as establishing systems to provide 30% or more of the building’s hot water via solar water heaters. Other standards for sustainable new construction include water recycling for outdoor use, window placement to maximize daylighting and reduce the amount of electricity consumed during peak operating hours, and the use of recycled or low-emitting construction materials for human and environmental considerations.
Standards for Existing Buildings
Standards exist for sustainability in existing federal buildings as well; currently, at least 15% of each agency’s existing buildings must meet the standards for sustainability by the end of the 2015 fiscal year. These standards focus on the establishment of operational goals for lowering water and energy usage compared with each building’s baseline or certain standard performance requirements. In terms of energy, this means attaining a minimum ENERGY STAR rating of 75 or reducing building energy usage by 20%. Indoor water usage must be reduced by 20%, while outdoor water use must be reduced by 50% and exclude potable water sources.
Sears Gerbo Architecture, LLC specializes in sustainable architecture, building design, and site evaluation in Tucson. We have experience working with the federal government, higher education facilities, advanced manufacturing corporations, and more to create buildings that are functional and eco-friendly. You can explore our past designs and learn more about our services when you visit us on the web, or speak with an architect directly by calling (520) 722-5079.