Green Buildings - Energy Efficiency in the Urban Environment - page 199

In the UK, the BRE Green Guide to Specifications offers ratings for 1,500
building materials based on LCA.
In North America, the ATHENA ® EcoCalculator for Assemblies provides LCA
results for several hundred common building assembles based on data gen-
erated by its more complex parent software, the ATHENA ® Impact Estimator
for Buildings . (The EcoCalculator is available free at www.athenasmi.org.)
Athena software tools are especially useful early in the design process when
material choices have far-reaching implications for overall environmental
impact. They allow designers to experiment with different material mixes to
achieve the most effective combination.

8.3 Measures and Assessments
Measures and assessments of green building performance and energy
efficiency can be effected through

1. Design considerations and enforcements

2. Code compliance

3. Post-occupancy assessment

The five guiding principles with which buildings must comply are as
follows:

1. Employ integrated assessment, operation and management
principles

2. Optimise energy performance

3. Protect and conserve water

4. Enhance IEQ

5. Reduce environmental impact of materials

8.3.1 Guiding Principles for Sustainable Existing Buildings

1. Employ Integrated Assessment, Operation and Management
Principles

a. Integrated assessment, operation and management . Use an integrated

team to develop and implement policy regarding sustainable
operations and maintenance.

i. Incorporate sustainable operations and maintenance practices
within the appropriate Environmental Management System.