Over the last decade it has not gone unnoticed that there is an increase of green buildings. People have started to take into consideration that the environment is in need of help and that the construction and real estate sector has been contributing to a high environmental impact. There have been several studies about how to lower this impact and one way is the green certifications. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether it is more economically worth demolishing and rebuilding than renovating an older building. As this is a real estate economics paper this will only focus on the economic benefits and values. In addition, investigate the impact of the EU Taxonomy on the certifications. To be able to find the answers a qualitative research method will be used, with semi-structured interviews and secondary data. There were 6 conducted interviews with each from a different responsibility area, different companies, different amounts of experience and different actors in the real estate sector. The results showed a slight advantage of demolishing and rebuilding as most newly produced buildings have higher value as well as higher rent levels throughout the city. Renovating can have its advantages at some point but depreciation will have its impact on the older buildings. This study will contribute to existing literature on the subject as well as taking it further for those wanting to compare with actual numbers. / Under det senaste decenniet har det inte gått obemärkt förbi att det sker en ökning av gröna byggnader. Man har börjat ta hänsyn till att miljön är i behov av hjälp och att bygg- och fastighetssektorn har bidragit till en hög miljöpåverkan. Det har gjorts flera studier om hur man kan minska denna påverkan och ett sätt är de gröna certifieringarna. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka om det är mer ekonomiskt värt att riva och bygga nytt än att renovera en äldre byggnad. Eftersom detta är en fastighetsekonomisk papper kommer detta endast att fokusera på de ekonomiska fördelarna och nackdelarna. Även undersöka EU-taxonomins påverkan på certifieringarna. För att kunna hitta svaren kommer en kvalitativ forskningsmetod att användas, med semistrukturerade intervjuer och sekundärdata. Det gjordes 6 intervjuer med var och en från olika ansvarsområde, olika företag, olika erfarenheter och olika aktörer inom fastighetssektorn. Resultaten visade på en liten fördel med att riva och bygga nytt då de flesta nyproducerade byggnader har högre värde samt högre hyresnivåer i hela staden. Att renovera kan ha sina fördelar men avskrivningar kommer att påverka de äldre byggnaderna. Denna studie kommer att bidra till befintlig litteratur i ämnet samt ta den vidare för de som vill jämföra med faktiska siffror.

Master of Science / Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science / Fred L. Hasler / The purpose of this report is to provide an introduction to the new ASHRAE Standard 189.1-2009, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings. The report will include an overview of the standard to detail what the purpose, scope and requirements for high-performance buildings will be. The entire standard will be overviewed, but the focus of this paper is in the areas of energy efficiency and building performance. Next, the report will examine further impacts that the standard will have on the building design and construction industry. Chapter 3 includes the impact on other standards, specification writing and coordination of the design and construction teams. A case study of an office building is performed to compare a baseline building meeting ASHRAE Standard 90.1 to a building meeting the minimum standards of ASHRAE Standard 189.1. The case study compares the total annual energy use of the two projects to determine an expected energy savings. Based on this information, recommendations about the new standard will be discussed. Universities and government entities should require ASHRAE Standard 189.1 for new construction projects, to show willingness to provide sustainability in buildings. Finally, conclusions about how the standard will change and impact industry will be addressed. These conclusions will include issues with adopting ASHRAE Standard 189.1 as code as well as discussion on the LEED rating system.

The construction industry has a significant impact on the environment. It is responsible for a large proportion of global CO2 emissions, as well as the use of both natural resources and energy reserves. Green building practices are becoming increasingly recognised as a way of mitigating CO2 emissions and energy consumption, with economic, environmental, social and financial benefits accruing. The aim of the research reported here is to investigate the opportunities to promote sustainable construction practices in Kuwait. This entails identifying the current status of green construction practices, the awareness level of construction stakeholders, the key drivers that motivate the implementation of green practices, as well as barriers to green construction and the risks associated with its implementation. After comprehensively reviewing the literature, primary data were collected and analysed in three phases, using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The three phases of primary data gathering consist of conducting a questionnaire survey, an interview survey and running a simulation. Local stakeholders associated with the Kuwaiti construction industry are the target population and are used as a platform from which to obtain the data. A total of 678 questionnaires were distributed and 504 completed questionnaires were received, while a total of 96 interviews were conducted. The quantitative data is then analysed through descriptive analysis and inferential statistics with the help of SPSS and Microsoft Excel, while the qualitative data is analysed using the content analysis method. Simulation analysis is performed using IES VE (Integrate Environmental Solution) computer simulation software in order to demonstrate the impact different construction materials have on the energy efficiency of the building. The main findings of this research are as follows: implementation of the concept of sustainability is low in the Kuwaiti construction industry; more action and strategies to improve and encourage this concept are therefore required in order for it to be applied efficiently in future construction projects; lack of awareness is found to be the main barrier to the use of green construction methods in Kuwait; the Kuwaiti government must take initiatives in terms of introducing standards, policies and incentives to promote green construction; the risks affecting the development of green construction processes vary and are unevenly distributed throughout the construction industry in Kuwait, but common risks, such as ‘lack of experts’, ‘limit of a green supply chain’, ‘lack of experts ‘ and ‘higher cost’, are considered the most important risks overall; improved measures concerning the use of energy-saving materials can facilitate the achievement of energy-effective building design. The findings of this study provide valuable information for organisations that intend to participate in green construction projects in Kuwait. Recommendations based on the research findings and conclusions are offered to the Kuwaiti construction industry and government. Recommendations for further research are identified.

Green building has become a popular topic of debate and discussion among stakeholders in higher education. Public expectations for colleges and universities to invest in green building are on the rise. These expectations are fueled in large part by the growing awareness of the detrimental impact of traditional building practices among students and other stakeholders. Community college leaders find themselves on the cusp of a serendipitous convergence—evidence suggests that green building is becoming increasingly cost effective, and supports positive growth of student learning outputs on standardized tests. This research was designed to capitalize on the tremendous opportunity to probe the experiences of faculty and students in these new green facilities, towards a more robust understanding of how educators can maximize the effect of new and emerging building projects across the country. Using reflexive photography, photo elicitation, and qualitative interviews, compelling stories from teachers and learners were collected and analyzed. Research synthesis includes recommendations for communication and organizational learning strategies, an argument for using green community colleges as a testing ground for innovation, and notes on the unique needs of faculty and students in a green community college. / text

O crescimento industrial, comercial e de serviços traz para as sociedades mais evoluídas uma série de benefícios, como o desenvolvimento econômico e o crescimento populacional, aliados a maiores oportunidades de emprego e renda. Entretanto, pela falta de uma consciência mais apurada sobre os possíveis impactos negativos de ritmo acelerado de crescimento, acaba-se verificando uma série de problemas sociais e, sobretudo, ambientais. Em razão disso, nos últimos anos, constata-se a preocupação de alguns setores da sociedade na busca do desenvolvimento fundamentado em práticas mais sustentáveis. Isso não tem sido diferente no setor da construção civil. A preocupação com a sustentabilidade nos empreendimentos é tema e foco de diversos eventos, tanto no meio acadêmico, como no profissional e governamental. Particularmente, o segmento de mercado de EDIFÍCIOS DE ESCRITÓRIOS CORPORATIVOS tem sido alvo de pressão para o uso de práticas mais sustentáveis em todo o seu ciclo de vida, desde sua concepção, projeto, implantação e operação até a sua revitalização. Para aferir a sustentabilidade dos EDIFÍCIOS DE ESCRITÓRIOS CORPORATIVOS, muitas empresas do setor buscam certificações de origem estrangeira, que possuem certas limitações em sua aplicabilidade no Brasil, as quais são discutidas neste trabalho. Neste contexto, esta tese visa à construção da CERTIFICAÇÃO DA SUSTENTABILIDADE DE EDIFÍCIOS DE ESCRITÓRIOS CORPORATIVOS no Brasil, que é oportuna e necessária para tratar das condições de contorno e de realidade nacional. Para isso, foram realizados: [i] levantamento do estado da arte deste tema; [ii] construção da MATRIZ DE ATRIBUTOS para a avaliação da sustentabilidade dos EDIFÍCIOS DE ESCRITÓRIOS CORPORATIVOS; [iii] entrevistas com formadores de opinião deste segmento do mercado imobiliário; [iv] visitas em EDIFÍCIOS DE ESCRITÓRIOS CORPORATIVOS relevantes para as arbitragens iniciais; [v] a construção dos procedimentos, regras e rotina, com testes de validação e calibragem do SISTEMA PARA CLASSIFICAÇÃO. / The industrial, commercial and service growth provided the developed societies with many benefits, such as the economic development and the population increase, along with greater work and income opportunities. However, due to the lack of a better understanding about any possible negative impacts the fast growth pace created many social and environmental issues. Because of that, in the last years, there has been a greater concern of a few society groups aiming at using more sustainable practices. The civil construction segment has been no different. The concern with sustainability is a primary topic of several corporate events, either academically, professionally and governmentally. Especially the Office Buildings market has been a target for the use of more sustainable practices, both in its design, project, implementation, operation and revitalization. In order to measure the sustainability of Office Buildings, many companies seek for foreign certificates, with specific limitations as for their use in Brazil, which will be detailed in this paper. In this context, this Thesis aims at designing a system for the SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATE OF OFFICES BUILDINGS in Brazil, convenient and needed to treat the national conditions. That required: [i] a bibliographical research on the topic; [ii] building the ATTRIBUTE MATRIX to evaluate the sustainability of OFFICES BUILDINGS; [iii] interviews with influent people in the real estate segment; [iv] visits to relevant OFFICES BUILDINGS for the initial arbitrations; [v] setting the procedures, rules and routine, with validation tests.

College campuses, with significant numbers of older facilities, have the opportunity to lead the green building movement while reaping economic, health, environmental, educational, and marketing benefits. This project assessed the current status of green building programs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), the costs and benefits of building green, and the costs and benefits of LEED certification to make the business case for LEED-certified buildings. This project also proposed a strategic plan for green building programs at WPI to promote and measure green building improvements to new and existing facilities. Lastly, this project assessed the feasibility of certifying existing facilities with the LEED Existing Building rating system. By evaluating all of the costs and the major benefits, the results of this project demonstrate that the benefits of building green and LEED certification outweigh the costs and that through strategic planning WPI can become a leader among colleges implementing green building programs.

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2010. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 88-89). / Preservation of buildings is an important process for both cultural and environmental sustainability. Buildings are frequently demolished and rebuilt long before necessitated by structural or material deterioration, wasting both materials and energy. Preservation can be seen as the ultimate form of recycling; it allows existing buildings to be updated and retrofitted for continued use, optimizing the longevity of the structure while protecting its cultural significance. Currently, there is a lack of motivation and regulation for choosing preservation over new construction. The LEED guidelines give only a small number of points for building reuse, and frequently historic restrictions interfere with measures that would produce the same types of energy savings seen in new construction. This project will use several case studies, including the preservation of Pier A in New York City's Battery Park, as examples of contemporary restoration projects that have received or are anticipating LEED ratings. I will look at these projects in the context of current LEED guidelines and proposed future revisions to investigate how the LEED system addresses issues regarding preservation, and how they could be improved to encourage more sustainable renovation practices. / by Lori Ferriss. / M.Eng.

The administrations of several universities have developed strategies to reduce the negative environmental effects created by their institutions. Because no single, comprehensive methodology to guide institutions to sustainability exists, these strategies range widely in scope. As well, the definition of "sustainability" differs for these various institutions, resulting in strategies ranging from small-scale recycling programs to major initiatives to incorporate green building and revamping curricula. This study attempts to create the first comprehensive methodology to guide university campuses and processes to become regenerative. Regenerative systems "produce more resources than needed, provide resources for other projects, and enhance [the] environment" (Bernheim 2003), and are synonymous with the "triple top line" of sustainability presented by Braungart and McDonough (2002). Sustainability plans of other universities were reviewed to determine what strategies have been successful for these institutions. These data were synthesized to create the comprehensive methodology. The methodology is incremental to allow time for institutions to adjust their financial plans and facilities management practices. Subsequently, the University of South Florida's Tampa campus (USF) served as a case study. Buildings and other infrastructure were reviewed, as were the curricula, buying practices, food service, and other university processes. Finally, a survey was presented to the primary decision-makers for USF to identify obstacles to implementation of the sustainability methodology. Recommendations for overcoming these obstacles were then be devised, incorporating solutions developed at other institutions as well as novel ideas.

There is currently high demand for new building materials which are considered "environmentally friendly" or "green" for both new construction and renovations. Spray polyurethane foam (SPUF) insulation has gained significant acceptance by both consumers and the construction industry due to its high R-value, which results into significant energy savings among other things. Despite its acceptance by consumers and the construction industry, consideration must be given to potential chemical exposures to applicators installing these products. This study sought to determine, through quantitative experimentation, if there was a release of glycol derivatives including, diethylene glycol (DEG), ethylene glycol (EG), and propylene glycol (PEG), during the application of SPUF. In addition, total volatile organic Compounds (tVOCs) and various environmental parameters were also collected during this research. This study utilized a two-component small-scale SPUF kit manufactured by the Dow Chemical Company, known as the FROTH-PAK™ kit. This specific kit is typically used by the construction industry to fill cavities, cracks, floor and wall penetrations, and expansion joints of buildings. In order to determine the presence of these glycol derivatives, personal breathing zone samples were collected during the application of the SPUF during three application trials. Glycols derivatives were measured using active sampling techniques. Supplementary parameters including tVOCs, ambient and wet-bulb temperature, relative humidity, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, were measured using direct-reading techniques. During this study several modifications were made to the work area and the air sampling methodology to assist in verifying the presence of the glycols and the conditions in which they may be present in the air during the application of SPUF insulation. All samples were sent to an accredited laboratory and were analyzed by the Nation Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Method 5523. During this study, measurable amounts of diethylene glycol and propylene glycol were detected in two of the trials in which no ventilation in the work area was utilized. During one trial in which a work area ventilation system was utilized, none of the glycols were detected in the laboratory analysis above the limit of detection given the analytical method. Ethylene glycol was not detected in any of the samples submitted for analysis. The results for the tVOC measurements were inconclusive. Based on the results of the air sampling, it is likely that exposure to diethylene glycol and propylene glycol may occur under certain conditions. However, due to the limited number of samples and the variation between the samples collected in this study, a generation rate or concentration buildup estimate for comparison of the OELs was not conducted. These conditions include the quantity of ventilation used during application, the application duration, and proper operation of the SPUF application equipment. Based on the results, there is evidence that additional research may be needed in this area.

<p>The examination has been performed at Bjerking AB, which is an architectural and engineering company. Bjerking AB has the ambition to be a member of Green Building.</p><p>The Green Building program developed in year 2005 by The European Commission, the program is an environmental system with the aim to improving energy efficiency within the sectors of non-residential buildings. The minimum requirements to participate the program are following: in new-built buildings the calculated energy consumption must be 25 % lower than the requirements in the BBR (Building regulations) and in refurbishment the reduction must be 25 % lower than before the optimization.</p><p>The aim of this study has been to examine and review the company Bjerking AB's energy efficiency work in the project of building the school/kindergarten S:ta Maria Alsike, where the goal is to get this building Green Building classed. A description of requirements to become a member of the Green Building has also accomplished in the thesis.</p><p>The methods performed in this study are literature review, searches on the Internet, studies on the project database for facts/values, calculation of energy consumption and interviews of members of the Green Building. </p><p>The following issues have been dealt with in the report;</p><p>-          Did the building in the project manage the requirement to achieve an   energy consumption that is 25% lower than the requirements in BBR?</p><p>-          What technical measures/system was selected in the building?</p><p>-          What kind of cooperation was the project based on?</p><p>-          What is required for consultancy companies and real estate owners to become members of the Green Building?</p><p>The study of the project and calculation of estimated energy consumption in the building, give the result 47 kWh/m², year. This is 60 % lower than the requirements of BBR. The Green Building requirement is that the building's energy consumption should be at least 25% less than the requirements in BBR. The building fulfills this requirement by a significant margin. It can therefore be concluded that the technical solutions carried out in the building are energy efficient. The project consisted of the cooperation shape “partnering ", which can be assumed to be a good form of cooperation in order to achieve an energy efficient building. The consultancy company Bjerking AB and the landlord Knivsta Pastorat has the potential to become members of Green Building, as Green Building Endorser respective Green Building Partner.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> energy efficiency, requirements of BBR, technical systems, cooperation, consultancy companies, real estate owners, estimated energy consumption, partnering, Green Building Partner, Green Building Endorser.</p> / Utbildningsprogram: Civilingenjör i samhällsteknik, 180 p (270 hp).