Sustainable design goes beyond building phase, according to an article by Healthcare Design magazine. But sustainability and sound environmental practices include how the building is maintained and operated throughout its lifespan.
For green buildings to realize their promise of enhanced environmental and economic performance, operational considerations need to be part of the discussion during every phase of the building's development, from design through occupancy.
According to the article, when data on the actual energy use of some New York City buildings was released, some newer LEED-certified buildings that had undergone pre-occupancy commissioning to test their performance didn’t score as well as some older buildings. Possible problems include a lack of ongoing building monitoring, ineffective building operations and maintenance, inadequate training for facility staff and lack of operational planning during the commissioning process.
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