Sustainable Buildings and the Surety

Fall 2008 Vol 33, No 3 Abstract: Sureties play an important role in guaranteeing building performance. Almost all governmental projects on the federal, state and municipal level statutorily require the use of surety bonds as a result of the passage of the Federal Miller Act and the Little Miller Acts adopted by the states. Sustainable building… Read more

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Expanding the Principles of Performance to Sustainable Buildings

Fall 2008 Vol 33, No 3 Abstract: Criteria with which to measure and evaluate actual building performance are seldom defined in objective and measurable terms. As a consequence, accountability is imprecise and risks of unfulfilled promises are incurred for the performance of buildings during both normal and extraordinary conditions. This article reviews the concepts and principles… Read more

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Trust, but Verify: Building Enclosure Commissioning in Sustainable Design

Fall 2008 Vol 33, No 3 Abstract: Optimum building performance begins at conception. That is both the premise and the promise of the Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECx) process. The traditional Commissioning (Cx) process has long held that optimum building performance can be achieved through the proper design, balancing and operation of base-building mechanical systems. The BECx… Read more

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Greening the Standard of Care: Evolving Legal Standards of Practice for the Architect in a Sustainable World

Fall 2008 Vol 33, No 3 Abstract: As energy costs escalate, more building owners expect their architects and engineers to provide advice related to sustainability. When owners rely on that advice to guide their decisions, unmet expectations create a new source of risk for the design professional. It is important for owners to understand the consequences… Read more

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Selling and Governing the Green Project: Owner Risks in Marketing, Entitlement and Project Governance

Fall 2008 Vol 33, No 3 Abstract: While critical thinking about the legal issues spawned by utilization of third-party green building rating systems is in its infancy, many reasons for concern are already apparent. Owners and developers seeking green certification must have sound strategies for managing risk relating to emerging legal matters. This article discusses issues… Read more

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Weather-Related Losses in the Built Environment: Societal Change and Climate Change

Fall 2008 Vol 33, No 3 Abstract: Economic losses due to extreme weather events such as floods and tropical cyclones have increased dramatically in recent decades. Despite concerns among many scientists about the relationship of greenhouse gas emissions to climate extremes, the major reason for these losses is population growth and the location of property in harm’s way. Looking to the future, the role of societal development will almost... Read More

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