New Building Institute rolls out green structure database
The New Building Institute rolled out a database where users can look up sustainability performance data for buildings in 44 states.
If you've been wondering where the greenest buildings are — including those with net-zero energy consumption — take a look at New Building Institute's Getting to Zero Buildings Database.
So far, it includes 280 buildings in the U.S. and Canada (and select projects elsewhere), in all climate zones and sizes. Most entries are office buildings (134) and schools (69), but other types of buildings such as wineries, nursing homes and courthouses make a showing as well. Thirty-seven of them are net-zero energy, all of which have at least a year's worth of data proving performance. There are also some notable community solutions, such as the Greensburg, Kan., Sustainable Master Plan.
"This new tool will be a boon for information sharing and will help speed the adoption of new thinking and technologies in green building," said Denis Hayes, who is behind the now-famous net-zero energy Bullitt Center in Seattle — the greenest office building in the world.
In the U.S. you'll find buildings in 44 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
You can search the database by building type, size, location, efficiency level and retrofit versus new construction. Each profile includes details on energy use, design features and firms involved in the project.
Design teams and building owners can submit projects for the database, which will be evaluated for performance before being included.
Another tool is the 2030 Design Data Exchange, under development by American Institute of Architects and the Department of Energy. Architects will be able to easily enter data and anonymously compare their project performance with those in the AIA 2030 Commitment portfolio.
In August, architects around the world unanimously adopted the 2050 Imperative, which commits them to 100 percent net-zero energy design and construction by then.
This article first appeared at SustainableBusiness.