Planning New/Remodeled Facilities
The most cost-effective time to impact energy, water and other resource use is during the planning process for a new facility or major remodel. Although your role may be limited in the area of new construction, you can make an impact. Examples of energy design elements that will most likely not be cost-effective after the facility is built include orientation of the building to best utilize solar energy, passive and active solar heating, maximum use of daylighting, and earth berms.
Meet with the capital facilities division within your organization to discuss your role in new facility planning. You should bring to the process resource conservation management concerns such as on-site recycling centers and compost bins, and the importance of separate meters for building water and irrigation. Also discuss including an Energy Management Control System in the plan. As an organization concerned with resource conservation and the environment, consider developing specifications that could be used for any new facility project.
Technological advances such as new lighting technology, gray water reuse systems and ozone water treatment of swimming pools may have a place in your new facility. Contact the experts for the latest advice on new technology. Many vendors will come to your facility to demonstrate their products. Make sure to get several references to confirm their claims. Invite your in-house architect or engineer to sit in on any vendor presentations.
In Washington State there is a requirement to perform life-cycle cost analyses on new construction or major remodels of publicly owned or leased facilities that are 25,000 square feet or more. See the Revised Code of Washington 39.35 Energy conservation in design of public facilities. For school facilities, the Superintendent of Public Instruction may refer to this life-cycle cost analysis as the “Energy Conservation Report.”
Also see the guidebook, Energy Life Cycle Cost Analysis: Guidelines for Public Agencies in Washington State (PDF file), published by the Washington Department of General Administration, Division of Engineering and Architecture. Although the energy life-cycle cost analysis (ELCCA) is not required in other states, this guidebook is an excellent resource for anyone. As the resource efficiency expert, you may get involved in the selection of the energy systems. The guidebook presents a process that can be used to select systems based on their life-cycle cost — not just first cost. Costs for energy, maintenance, equipment replacement, and inflation, as well as first cost, are all considered in the ELCCA process. The ELCCA report is usually prepared by an engineer hired by the design team.