Richard Paradis, P.E., BSCP, Bd. Cert. NCENational Institute of Building Sciences

- The Whole Building Design Guide –A High-Performance Primer

NFMT High Performance Buildings – June 03, 2015Session W1.04

High‐Performance building means a building that integrates 

and optimizes on a life‐cycle basis allmajor high‐

performance attributes, including energy [and water] 

conservation, environment, safety, security, durability, 

accessibility, cost‐benefit, productivity, sustainability, 

functionality, and operational considerations.‐Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 §401 (PL 110‐140)

High-Performance Buildings Defined

Sustainable

Accessible

Historic

Functional

Attributes for High Performance

Why is this important to you?

How can the Whole Building Design Guide help you achieve High-Performance?

Factors Influencing Current & Future Building Projects

Executive Order 13693

… and these are just some of the Sustainability Factors!!!

What Is Whole Building Design?

To achieve high‐performance buildings• It takes an Integrated Design Approach and it requires an

• Integrated Team Process

‘Whole Building’ Approach

• Materials, systems, and assemblies reviewed from many different perspectives 

• Building components, sub‐systems and materials are interdependent, can impact the total performance of the whole, and can perform ‘double duty’

NREL Solar LaboratoryGolden, CO

Integrated Project Team

Comprehensive Stakeholder involvement throughout the building’s life cycle

Evaluation for cost, quality‐of‐life, future flexibility, energy efficiency, overall environmental impact, productivity, creativity, and how the occupants will be enlivened

The George D. Aiken Center at theUniversity of Vermont

Photo Credit: Jim Westphalen(WBDG Award Winning Case Study)

Applying the Integrated Team Process

Who needs to be at the table at the outset of your project to ensure an integrated team process?

• Architect / Landscape Architect• Owner, Client, Tenants• Engineers• Programmers• Interior Designer• Contractor• Specialists (Security, IT/Telecom, Acoustics)• Community Members or Other Stakeholders• Operations and Maintenance Personnel• Others???? (Real Estate Buyer)

An Integrated Team can find a single design strategy that meets multiple design objectivesThis is a tactic that can control project cost!

Building Site Selection Solar Access* Sea Level Rise Stormwater Management Undeveloped Land/Wetlands Public Transportation Occupant Amenities Compatible Functions Security (ATFP, CPTED) Disaster Avoidance*Building orientation for passive solar heating, daylighting, natural ventilation, views, potential impacts of future development.

[Real Estate Buyer must be informed!!!]Note: Applies to Selecting an Existing Building, as well!

Chemeketa Community CollegeHealth Sciences Complex

(WBDG Award Winning Case Study)

LEED

Green Globes

The Building as a System

• the building enclosure (building envelope system);

• the inhabitants (humans and/or animals and/or plants, etc.);

• the building services (electrical/mechanical systems);

• the site, with its landscape and services infrastructure; and

• the external environment (weather and micro‐climate).

From Prof. KesicBuilding Science Concepts WBDG Resource Page

Harmonization of these elements is the key to achieving high 

performing buildings.

Attributes for High Performance = WBDG Design Objectives

• Accessible • Aesthetic• Cost-Effective • Functional/Operational • Historic Preservation • Productive • Secure/Safe • Sustainable

WBDG Sustainable Design Topics

Energy & Sustainability Resource Pages

• Air Barrier Systems in Buildings• Building Enclosure Design 

Principles and Strategies• Cool Metal Roofing• Daylighting• Electric Lighting Controls• Energy Efficient Lighting• Evaluating and Selecting Green 

Products• Extensive Vegetative Roofs• High‐Performance EIFS• High‐Performance HVAC

• HVAC System Design for Humid Climates

• Indoor Air Quality and Mold Prevention of the Building Envelope

• Measuring Performance of Sustainable Buildings

• Natural Ventilation• Passive Solar Heating• Sun Control and Shading Devices • Sustainable O&M Practices• Water Conservation• Windows and Glazing

Leading-Edge Energy/Sustainable Content

• Green Building Standards & Certification Systems• Living, Regenerative & Adaptive Buildings• Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Federal Buildings• Biomimicry: Designing to Model Nature• Alternative Energy• Net Zero Energy Buildings• Distributed Energy Resources• Smart Controls• Combined Heat & Power (CHP)• Microgrids*• Energy Storage*• Green Plumbing*

* Coming soon

EcoSense in British Columbia is one of the first 3 Living Buildings certified in the world  (Photo Credit: ILBI.org.)

Renewable Energy TopicsThe Federal Energy Management Program Guide is available online at http://energy.gov/eere/femp/downloads/guide‐integrating‐renewable‐energy‐federal‐construction .

The WBDG resources pages accompanying the Guide are:• Biogas Biomass for Electricity Generation• Biomass for Heat Daylighting• Fuel Cells & Renewable Hydrogen• Geothermal Electric Technology Geothermal Energy – Direct‐Use• Geothermal Heat Pumps Hydropower • Ocean Energy Photovoltaics• Passive Solar Heating Wind Technology • Solar Ventilation Air Preheating Solar Water Heating

Recently added: • Fuel Cell Flexibility & Sustainability• Resiliency of Stationary Fuel Cells & the Natural Gas Grid

Renewable Energy Resource Pages

• Description: How does it work; types & cost of technology

• Application: Economics; assessing resource availability

• Design & Procurement considerations 

• Operations & Maintenance

• Special considerations

Typical grid‐connected photovoltaic system

The Judith Gap Wind Energy Center in Montana is comprised of 90 GE 1.5‐MW turbines, for a total capacity of 135 MW

Net Zero Energy Buildings

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Research and Support Facility (RSF)Golden, CO is currently the largest NZEB in the U.S. The 220,000 sq. ft. project achieved

the Net Zero site energy goal through a performance-based design/build process. Numerous energy efficiency strategies were implemented including incorporating

advanced heat recovery technologies that were developed and designed by researchers at the Lab and installing 1.6 megawatts of photovoltaic power on the campus through a

Power Purchase Agreement. Additionally, daylighting, natural ventilation, and a next-generation, energy efficient data center are among other energy features of the building.

http://www.wbdg.org/resources/netzeroenergybuildings.php

Living, Regenerative, and Adaptive Buildings

This Arboretum and Research Visitor's Center designed for adaptability, optimizes

material use over the life cycle of the building by integrating flexibility and disassembly into

the design.(Photo Credit: Lifecycle Building Challenge Awards)

These Eco-Machines are wastewater filtration systems that utilize multiple filtration processes from anaerobic to

mechanical.

http://www.wbdg.org/resources/livingbuildings.php

Biomimicry: Designing to Model Nature

Inspired by biological systems that heal themselves when damaged, a self-healing polymer, created at the Beckman Institute, University of Illinois is being applied to the development

of a structural polymeric building material, such as cladding, with the ability to self-heal cracks.

http://www.wbdg.org/resources/biomimicry.php

Security/Safety & Related Pages in WBDG

• Glazing Hazard Mitigation• Landscape Architecture & the Site 

Security Design Process• Life‐Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA)• Retrofitting Buildings to Resist Explosive 

Threats• Security and Safety in Laboratories• Seismic Design Principles • Seismic Safety of the Building Envelope• The Site Security Design Process• Threat/Vulnerability Assessments and

Risk Analysis• UFC/ISC Security Design Criteria 

Overview & Comparison • Wind Safety of the Building Envelope • Windows and Glazing

• Air Decontamination• Balancing Security/Safety & Sustainability 

Objectives• Blast Safety of the Building Envelope• The Bollard: Crash‐ & Attack‐Resistant 

Models• The Bollard: Non‐Crash & Non‐Attack‐

Resistant Models• CBR Safety of the Building Envelope• Cost Impact of the ISC Security Criteria• Cybersecurity• Designing Buildings to Resist Explosive 

Threats• Effective Site Security Design• Facility Performance Evaluation (FPE)• Flood Resistance of the Building Envelope

Security Design Strategies

• Security Issues must be addressed in concert with other design objectives and integrated into the overall building design early in the process to ensure a high‐performance building with effective security.

Multi‐Hazard DesignLooks at impact of all hazards on project: Natural, Criminal, Terrorist, Accidental

Critical to Balance Security & Sustainability Objectives

• These objectives appear in every project to varying degrees

• Conflicting requirements lead to compromises and tradeoffs

• Synergies can be found when considered early in the project development process

SITE BLDG ENVELOPE STRUCTURELIGHTING  ELECTRIC POWER     HVAC/IEQ

Site Tradeoffs

A facility's risk can be increased and security can be compromised by: 

• siting it in an urban area to protectgreenfields and preserve habitat and natural resources; 

• locating carpool/vanpool parking and bike racks nearby to promote alternative transportation; 

• constructing under‐building parking to minimize habitat disturbance; and 

• installing covered walkways and landscaping to reduce heat islands and control erosion. 

Site Tradeoffs

On the other hand, security measures such as • building setbacks, or standoff distances, to create 

protective building perimeters and to restrict access; 

• installing barriers (e.g., bollards, reinforced planters, & site furnishings)to withstand assaults by moving vehicles 

• locating parking areas in remote areas and/or eliminating under‐building parking areas to minimize blast effects from potential vehicle bombs usually result in increased development of open space, habitat disturbance, and possibly erosion.

Training Courses – WBDG Continuing Education Program

Over 70 freecourses

High Performance Federal BuildingsDatabase

Performance IssuesThermal Performance Moisture ProtectionFire Safety AcousticsMaterial/Finish DurabilityMaintainability

Will be updatedto cite EO 13693requirements

Resilience

• Resilience relates to the design, construction, and operation of buildings and infrastructures that are resilient to natural and man‐caused disasters. Buildings designed for resilience can absorb and rapidly recover from a disruptive event. 

• Essentially, it is the capacity of a building to continue to function and operate under extreme conditions, such as (but not limited to) extreme temperatures, sea level rise, natural & man‐caused disasters, etc. 

• Continuity of operations is a major focus of resilience. 

Are people getting the message that WBDG is the best resource to achieve

high-performance buildings?

WBDG averages 600,000 unique visitors per month from all over the globe who download over 6 million documents each month

Other NIBS Resources

• OPR

www.oprtool.org

National PBD Guide

http://pbdg.wbdg.org/

• JNIBS is published 6 times/year• Free subscription via WBDG

Starting with the October 2014 edition, JNIBS will include a glossary of WBDG links related to that issue’s articles

Benefits of High-Performance Buildings

• Achieve long‐term value and performance• Are enduring assets in their communities• Support and enhance human performance• Reduce operating costs• Are safe, secure, accessible • Protect the environment• Are the result of using a whole building approach 

Getting to High-Performance

A high‐performance, energy‐efficient building is best achieved using the integrated design approach 

Conduct charrettes & project team meetings from concept through planning, design & construction (include O&M folks)

So, now you know that the best resource available to plan, design, construct, operate & maintain New Buildings and major Building Renovation Projects is the

Whole Building Design Guide

Richard R. Paradis, P.E., BSCP, Bd. Cert. NCENational Institute of Building Sciences

202‐289‐7800 X129rparadis@nibs.orgwww.WBDG.org

Twitter: @wholebldgdesign

Whole Building Design Guide