Whole Building Systems Thinking
Unlike conventional design processes, where components and disciplines are treated separately, sustainable design requires an evaluation of whole systems. When retrofitting an office, consider the space as a whole. This means thinking not only about the lighting, the flooring, the windows, the HVAC system, and the furniture as separate components, but also thinking about the relationship between each of these components and the ways that those relationships create the space, and how that fits with sustainability goals.
Check out the Whole Building Systems section in Explore for information on building systems, their relationship to one another, and the integrated design team necessary to reach sustainability goals.
For example, if a project’s goal is to save energy from lighting and improve occupant comfort, it should think not only about the type of lighting fixtures needed, but also how the space will be used by the occupants, the amount of sunlight streaming through the windows at different times of year, how that light gets bounced into the space, how the light levels are controlled, and even the colors of the walls. By thinking holistically about the lighting system, rather than simply about the lighting components, a more comfortable, efficient, healthy and productive space can be created. In addition, the project “system” is nested within larger systems, such as a watershed, an air shed, a forest, a neighborhood and city, and so forth; these larger systems should also be considered.
Procure Products
in the Green Procurement Compilation421 Results : whole building systems
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Green Building Certification Systems - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
Green Building Certification Systems What is a green building certification...certification system? Green building certification systems (GBCS) broaden the focus beyondhttps://sftool.gov › learn › about › 668 › green-building-certification-systems -
Building Energy Use - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...Building Energy Use Buildings and facilities rely on mechanical systems and...and electrical systems to operate fixtures, equipment and controls; deliver a thermallyhttps://sftool.gov › learn › about › 44 › building-energy -
Building Decarbonization - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...Building Decarbonization Table of Contents Building Decarbonization Greenhouse...Life Cycle Carbon / Total Carbon Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA) Lifehttps://sftool.gov › learn › about › 657 › building-decarbonization -
Building Energy Storage - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...Building Energy Storage Introduction As the electric grid evolves from a one-way...to a more complex multi-directional system encompassing numerous distributed energyhttps://sftool.gov › learn › about › 649 › building-energy-storage -
System Overview > Lighting - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
Developing a high-performance lighting system involves not only a successful coordination...cognizant integration with the building as a whole....Roof Submetering System Overview Integrative Design Process System Impacts Resources...O&M System Bundling Mandates / Standards Resources / Case Studies System Overviewhttps://sftool.gov › explore › green-building › section › 1 › lighting › system-overview -
Building Water Use - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...Building Water Use Buildings are significant users of the Earth's freshwater...supply. The goal of a responsible building operator should be to encourage ahttps://sftool.gov › learn › about › 45 › building-water -
Building Certification Standards Crosswalk - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...within selected commercial building certification systems and standards that federal...Sustainable Federal Buildings (GP) and other sustainable federal building requirements...Crosswalk of Sustainable Federal Building Requirements and Certification Standards...within selected commercial building certification systems and standards that federalhttps://sftool.gov › learn › GRScrosswalk -
Embodied Carbon - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
Embodied Carbon Table of Contents Building Decarbonization Embodied Carbon Embodied...Definitions Embodied Carbon Components Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA) Embodiedhttps://sftool.gov › learn › about › 658 › embodied-carbon -
Operational Carbon - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
Contents Building Decarbonization Embodied Carbon Operational Carbon Building Operational...Pollution-Free Electricity (CPFE) Building Electrification Building and Grid Integrationhttps://sftool.gov › learn › about › 659 › operational-carbon -
Integrative Design Process > HVAC - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...integrative design process understands that buildings, their components, and their context...representative of the broader whole-building picture....Roof Submetering System Overview Integrative Design Process System Impacts Resources...Resources Human Behavior Financial O&M System Bundling Mandates / Standards Resourceshttps://sftool.gov › explore › green-building › section › 10 › hvac › integrative-design-process -
Tour Sustainable Workspaces and Building Systems - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...the sustainability of materials and systems....BUILDING SYSTEMS Lighting EXPLORE Overview System Impacts Impacts Other Resources...Developing a high-performance lighting system involves not only a successful coordinationhttps://sftool.gov › Explore -
LCA in Building Standards and Certification Systems - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
Planning and Engagement Processes Systems Thinking Integrative Design Process...Assessment and Buildings LCA in Building Standards and Certification Systems LCA Examplehttps://sftool.gov › plan › 628 › lca-building-standards-certification-systems -
System Bundling > Submetering - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...utility information or consumption for a system or space, however, its potential is...with centralized building automation and energy management systems....Planted Roof System Overview Integrative Design Process System Impacts Resources...O&M System Bundling Mandates / Standards Resources / Case Studies System Bundlinghttps://sftool.gov › explore › green-building › section › 89 › submetering › system-bundling -
System Overview > HVAC - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are responsible for providing thermal...comfort and fresh air to building occupants. HVAC systems are often the source of...Roof Submetering System Overview Integrative Design Process System Impacts Resources...O&M System Bundling Mandates / Standards Resources / Case Studies System Overviewhttps://sftool.gov › explore › green-building › section › 9 › hvac › system-overview -
TWS_HealthComfortPerformance_2(2024).xlsx
...and Performance Section) Scorecard: Building: Date: Scorecard Evaluator: II. HEALTH...Instructions/Source 1 Question 0: Is the building HVAC system variable or constant volumehttps://sftool.gov › Content › attachments › TWS_HealthComfortPerformance_2(2024).xlsx -
System Bundling > Solid Waste - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
When specifying or replacing a building component, consider bundling that component...with strategies to reduce waste. Building technologies work best when they work...Roof Submetering System Overview Integrative Design Process System Impacts Resources...O&M System Bundling Mandates / Standards Resources / Case Studies System Bundlinghttps://sftool.gov › explore › green-building › section › 63 › solid-waste › system-bundling -
System Overview > Submetering - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
Submetering systems capture utility and building performance data in real time...time. Well-designed submetering systems generate data that can guide management...Planted Roof System Overview Integrative Design Process System Impacts Resources...O&M System Bundling Mandates / Standards Resources / Case Studies System Overviewhttps://sftool.gov › explore › green-building › section › 86 › submetering › system-overview -
System Bundling > Lighting - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...that component with other related building equipment....Roof Submetering System Overview Integrative Design Process System Impacts Resources...O&M System Bundling Mandates / Standards Resources / Case Studies System Bundlinghttps://sftool.gov › explore › green-building › section › 4 › lighting › system-bundling -
Integrative Design Process > Planted Roof - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...planted roof system with the architecture and other systems of the buildings....Waste Submetering System Overview Integrative Design Process System Impacts Resources...Resources Human Behavior Financial O&M System Bundling Mandates / Standards Resourceshttps://sftool.gov › explore › green-building › section › 77 › planted-roof › integrative-design-process -
PowerPoint Presentation
Connectivity, Energy Management Information System (EMIS), and Agency Metering Plan Overview...Prioritizing Buildings for Energy Management Information System (EMIS) and Grid-Interactivehttps://sftool.gov › Content › attachments › Iswg › iswg-policies-strategies › ISWg Agency Metering Plan Summary Metering Connectivity EMIS_04-11-2024.pdf
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