Sustainable Buildings

Guiding Principles

Overview - The Guiding Principles for Sustainable & High Performance Buildings

The Federal Government has defined a set of sustainable building requirements, which are known as the Guiding Principles.  The Guiding Principles incorporate Federal sustainable building goals required by regulation and executive order (EO), as well as sustainable gulding concepts within private sector green building rating systems.  However, unlike private sector green building rating systems, which allow some choice regarding which credits may be met, all individual requirements within the Guiding Principles must be met by Federal agency buildings targeted to achieve compliance.

The Guiding Principles call for Federal agencies to:

• Employ Integrated Assessment, Operation, and Management Principles (Integrated O&M)
• Protect and Conserve Water
• Optimize Energy Performance
• Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality
• Reduce Environmental Impact of Materials

Guiding Principle focus area below indicate examples of the sustainable building objectives required under each Principle.

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Intergrated Design/EMS

Guiding Principle Requirments
Periodic Assessment
Performance Goals
Building Lifecycle
Green Team
Commissioning
Building Management Plans

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Water Quality & Performance

Guiding Principle Requirements:
Water Metering
Building Water Use - Indoor/Landscape
Stormwater Runoff
Water - Efficient Products

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Energy Performance

Guiding Principle Requirements:
Energy Star Target
Energy Star Performance Rating
Energy Metering
Building Energy Use
On-Site Renewable Energy
Energy Efficient Products

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Materials Selection

Guiding Principle Requirements:
Purchase Green Products:

• Biobased
• Rapidly Ready
• Environmentally Preferable

Eliminate Ozone-Depleting Compounds
Recycle

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Indoor Environmental Quality

Guiding Principle Requirements:
Thermal Comfort
Ventilation
Moisture Control
Daylighting
Low-Emitting Materials
Protection of Air Quality
Environmental Tobacco Smoke