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 Compilation324 Results : whole building systems
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Human Behavior > Solid Waste - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...behavior and interaction with the building space plays a critical component in...Roof Submetering System Overview Integrative Design Process System Impacts Resources...O&M System Bundling Mandates / Standards Resources / Case Studies System Impactshttps://sftool.gov › explore › green-building › section › 71 › solid-waste › human-impact -
Climate Adaptation and Resilience Planning Examples - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
Reduction and Building Resilience Overview Net Zero Energy Building Transformation...Transformation to Net Zero Energy Buildings Net Zero Energy Building Examples Additional Resourceshttps://sftool.gov › plan › 432 › climate-adaptation-resilience-planning-examples -
System Overview > IEQ - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
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 › 30 › ieq › system-overview -
Indoor Water Conservation
...of federAl hiGh-performAnce Green buildinGS | tAke the wAter quiz | mAin menu...water consumption in a typical office building. Executive Order 13514 sets goalshttps://sftool.gov › Content › attachments › Iswg › iswg-case-studies › Indoor Water Conservation.pdf -
Energy Management Systems (EnMS) - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
Energy Management Systems (EnMS) The International Organization for Standardization...defines an Energy Management System (EnMS) as a system “whose purpose is to enablehttps://sftool.gov › learn › about › 480 › energy-management-systems-enms -
recommendations_on_sustainable_landscaping_practices.pdf
...2009 focuses on the area beyond the building footprint and any built landscape...million acres of land 2 and 429,000 building assets, comprising 3.34 billion squarehttps://sftool.gov › Content › attachments › recommendations_on_sustainable_landscaping_practices.pdf -
Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
Renovation, and Construction Building Systems Upgrades Building Operations and Maintenance...connection to the structure of a building. Federal projects should meet or exceedhttps://sftool.gov › plan › 264 › furniture-fixtures-equipment -
Green Procurement - Federal Requirements - Residential Water Heaters - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
Optimization System for Chiller Plants Control Optimization System for Chiller...Non-Mechanical Heat Transfer Systems Non-Mechanical Heat Transfer Systems Non-Pressure Pipeshttps://sftool.gov › greenprocurement › green-products › 24 › hvacmechanical › 1378 › residential-water-heaters › 0 -
water_implementing_instructions.pdf
...the water delivery and containment systems that provide this water. ï‚· Agencies...reject water from water purification systems, water reclaimed on site, or waterhttps://sftool.gov › Content › attachments › water_implementing_instructions.pdf -
Biophilia and Design - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
Office of Federal High-Performance Buildings Table of Contents Origins Theoretical...climate change and its impact on natural systems. This situation has created a growinghttps://sftool.gov › learn › about › 580 › biophilia-design -
Recycling Checklist - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...materials. Whole Building Design Guide | Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) Whole Building...support these efforts. WBDG - Whole Building Design Guide | Optimize Operationalhttps://sftool.gov › learn › about › 617 › recycling-checklist -
Submetering - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...comprehensive uses and benefits of submetering systems by type. You can also mark which benefits...already attained in an already installed system and print or export a customized list...type Electrical Circuit Electrical System Electrical - End Use Device Gas Water...comprehensive uses and benefits of submetering systems. Use the wizard to learn about submeteringhttps://sftool.gov › plan › submetering › water -
Submetering - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...comprehensive uses and benefits of submetering systems by type. You can also mark which benefits...already attained in an already installed system and print or export a customized list...type Electrical Circuit Electrical System Electrical - End Use Device Gas Water...comprehensive uses and benefits of submetering systems. Use the wizard to learn about submeteringhttps://sftool.gov › plan › submetering › electrical-circuit -
Submetering - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...comprehensive uses and benefits of submetering systems by type. You can also mark which benefits...already attained in an already installed system and print or export a customized list...type Electrical Circuit Electrical System Electrical - End Use Device Gas Water...comprehensive uses and benefits of submetering systems. Use the wizard to learn about submeteringhttps://sftool.gov › plan › submetering › electrical---end-device -
Climate Risk Management - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
Reduction and Building Resilience Overview Net Zero Energy Building Transformation...Transformation to Net Zero Energy Buildings Net Zero Energy Building Examples Additional Resourceshttps://sftool.gov › plan › 430 › climate-risk-management -
Submetering - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...comprehensive uses and benefits of submetering systems by type. You can also mark which benefits...already attained in an already installed system and print or export a customized list...type Electrical Circuit Electrical System Electrical - End Use Device Gas Water...comprehensive uses and benefits of submetering systems. Use the wizard to learn about submeteringhttps://sftool.gov › plan › submetering › electrical-system -
Interim Report on Evaluation of GSA Total Estimated Cost Impact (TECI) Metrics Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics Carnegie Mellon University May 31, 2019
Impact (TECI) Metrics Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics Carnegie...Estimated Cost Impact (TECI) Metrics and Building Benchmarking ISWG Presentation Octoberhttps://sftool.gov › Content › attachments › Iswg › iswg-case-studies › GSA CMU TECI ISWG October 2020.pdf -
Submetering - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...comprehensive uses and benefits of submetering systems by type. You can also mark which benefits...already attained in an already installed system and print or export a customized list...type Electrical Circuit Electrical System Electrical - End Use Device Gas Water...comprehensive uses and benefits of submetering systems. Use the wizard to learn about submeteringhttps://sftool.gov › plan › submetering › gas -
Pollinator Health Strategy 2015.pdf
...resources, and exposure to pesticides. Building on the current state of the science...Practice (BMP) guidance for Federal buildings and designed and natural landscapeshttps://sftool.gov › Content › attachments › Pollinator Health Strategy 2015.pdf -
Green Procurement - Federal Requirements - Epoxy Systems - GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool
...category Epoxy Systems Product Details Details Building Insulation Building Insulation...Hybrid Solar Systems Photovoltaic-Thermal (PV-T) Hybrid Solar Systems Roofing Materialshttps://sftool.gov › greenprocurement › green-products › 1 › construction-materials › 1787 › epoxy-systems › 0
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