Better Buildings

Hannah Fleck, PE, LEED AP BD+C  |  Civil Engineer & Sustainability Lead
​Quality of Life describes the degree to which a person, and by extension their community, is able to participate in and enjoy life events. Unfortunately, one person’s quality of life can have adverse impacts on another’s without someone even realizing the affect that their lifestyle might have. An inventory of one’s ecological footprint quickly illustrates the impact that we have on our planet and by extension those around us.

Here are few action items that organizations in the design and construction community can undertake to make better buildings:

1. Support and promote LEED credentials and building certifications. Is LEED perfect? No, but it is still the highest standard for green building and the most effective tool for driving sustainability into the pockets of projects.
2. Benchmark your building’s Energy Star score. Whether you are involved in the design or operation of a building the best way to understand its energy performance is to benchmark it against another building of its type.
3. Participate in the AIA 2030 commitment. The commitment is a two-part commitment which relies on architectural firms to implement their own sustainability policy AND report building performance to the AIA for distribution and analysis.
4. Reuse, reduce, recycle is still relevant. Reuse furniture when possible, reduce construction waste by making a plan ahead of construction, and enforce and encourage recycling on job sites and in building’s operations.
5. Protect the indoor air quality of buildings during construction. Check out this article which describes the methodology for protecting HVAC systems during construction using the SMACNA guidelines.

​JQOL Quality of Life offers sustainability services that can help shape your organization’s mission. Feel free to reach out with inquiries about LEED or sustainability – hfleck@jqolusa.com