Defining Sustainability

by Jen Luoni

Widely accepted as a business obligation, sustainable design is a key precept to corporate social responsibility. Protecting environmental interests is not simply altruistic. Actions in repurposing, waste reduction and energy optimization are core contributors to profitability, group culture and overall corporate enterprise. While many identify with the merits of sustainability, understanding the gamut of design elements and analyzing returns is often beyond the limits of paper. Many struggle with distinguishing what gives the best ROI and balancing architectural desires versus profit generators.

Mission vs. Operations

Delineating core elements and approach begins with the mission. Goals can be accomplished in a variety of ways. As such, there exists a plurality of views in assessing elements and viable pathways. A true understanding of green design requires viewing each initiative for their social, economic and environmental impact.

Value-added features, which seemingly bolster operational budgets, need consideration not solely from a savings perspective, but also from what they cost to install and operate. An example of this is daylight harvesting, which uses additional glass and controls to maximize the presence of sunlight. This increased placement of glass calls for expanded energy utilization in heating and cooling loads. Given the efficiency of LED lighting, the cost savings off-set may not be an advantage. Yet from a human impact perspective, a well environment maximizes daylight for employee emotional comfort. In this case, aesthetic desires versus operational gains are noncongruent.

Another misconstrued feature are loading docks. For warehouse and manufacturing facilities, they are the interface between business operations and society. Yet interior loading docks, lauded for reducing heating and cooling loss, also increase exhaust energy use.

Region remains one of the strongest influences on sustainability, as seen in light colored roofing and photovoltaic arrays, two building elements which are often misperceived. Popular for a time, light colored roofing was positioned to help with cooling loads in the summer. However in regions like New England where heated months are limited to a quarter of the year, a black roof performs better in countering longer winter heating loads. In the south they remain a popular option.   Photovoltaic arrays are strongly susceptible to regional locations and need to be examined for potential, as roof size and quantity of sun days may not adequately justify installation costs.

Today’s Relevance

Sustainability has deeper purpose beyond altruism. It can maximize profit or produce zero gain. While it is easy to agree that waste reduction, recycling and decreased fuel consumption are tenets of sustainable design, an optimized ROI calls for a deeper analysis and pragmatic balance between architectural ideation and strategy. Those within our profession are obligated to show the full spectrum of impact to create positive and lasting facilities for society and the planet.

Jen Luoni is director of operations – architecture at Dacon Corporation.