Domestic and Global New Building Construction: A Tool for Selecting Green and Sustainable Building Systems and Components

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of how to design a cost effective and environmentally responsible, green and sustainable, commercial building. Specifically included is the selection process for proper building components which will identify all factors that must receive design phase consideration and ultimately lead to the desired outcome. The process takes into consideration the appropriate aspects of various green building environmental assessment tools, such as, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Green Globes (GG), Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), to identify important elements for design, construction, operation and maintenance of a building. Such a selection process involves many building components, but the focus of this paper is roofing systems. Specifically, the roofing system selection process will use a weighting scheme, which will be described later in this paper. This example selection process will illustrate how to identify all important factors that must be considered when choosing the best environmentally responsible and sustainable building components that are appropriate for the specific design and construction project. The weighting scheme will be useful and applicable not only for specific projects at the local level but globally as well. Factors taken into consideration are building use; geographic location and climate; budget; and any additional considerations deemed necessary by the design and construction project team.