Feb 9 2011
Noblis, in collaboration with CTG Energetics and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is pleased to announce the release of the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA’s) Sustainable Facilities Tool.
GSA has been at the forefront of sustainability initiatives within the government, including providing the GSA Carbon Footprint Tool, and has set ambitious goals to embrace a zero environmental footprint.
GSA is rolling out their latest sustainability initiative, a web-based tool–the Sustainable Facilities Tool–to help government and industry personnel identify and prioritize cost-effective, sustainable strategies for small projects that do not normally engage workplace consultants or designers. The Sustainable Facilities Tool’s initial focus is on workplace projects under 10,000 sq ft.
“Understanding the whole lifecycle of a building enables us to most effectively incorporate sustainable features at every opportunity,” said Don Horn, Deputy Director of GSA’s Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings. “A 3-D interactive walkthrough of office interiors and built-in material comparisons are wonderful features. Sustainability planning, case studies, design guidance, and links to relevant regulations, make the Sustainable Facilities Tool invaluable to a project manager.”
Noblis, in conjunction with USGBC and CTG Energetics, developed the Sustainable Facilities Tool for GSA. The team offered an integrated sustainability-focused approach with extensive sustainable building and online systems development expertise. Noblis, with its proven track record of providing excellent project management, system architecture, and web-based application development, was responsible for overall project management and technical implementation of the online environment. Noblis designed a technical platform that is a custom content management system tailored to assist in building sustainable communities. USGBC’s Education and Research department participated in project team workshops and provided expert peer review. CTG Energetics, a green building specialist with practical expertise in sustainable site planning, sustainable design, construction, and facilities management was responsible for the sustainability content and developing the computer-aided design models.
“We are delighted and proud of the continuing opportunity to work with GSA in their efforts and exciting new initiatives for promoting sustainability throughout their organization and the federal government,” said David Evans, Director, Center for Sustainability, Noblis. “This latest initiative, the new Sustainable Facilities Tool, is a testament to the efficiency and effectiveness which can be produced with close cooperation between the public and private sectors.”
The Sustainable Facilities Tool is intended for facility managers, realty specialists, project managers from governmental agencies and private sector developers, as well as, building occupants and owners who require more guidance about sustainability, why it matters, and how to implement sustainable solutions.
Source: http://www.noblis.org/