Sustainable Design

According to the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Green Facts Report, “Buildings are one of the heaviest consumers of natural resources and account for a significant portion of the greenhouse gas emissions that affect climate change”.

Green building may be one of the very few industries that is growing and sustaining in spite of economic downturn. As indicated in the McGraw Hill Construction 2009 Green Outlook Report, the green market was 2 percent of non-residential construction starts in 2005; 10-12 percent in 2008; and will grow to 20-25 percent by 2013. An economic reason to focus on this sector is that the business may help you weather the economic storm.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) green building rating system covers all building life cycles, and is clearly gaining momentum and evolving into a defacto green standard for high performance/sustainable buildings.

As you plan and design a LEED® project, consider that more than 50 percent of LEED points are related directly to HVAC systems; therefore, it’s important to have a knowledgeable partner throughout the entire building process. Trane has the most LEED Accredited Professionals in the industry and is ready to help you plan and execute your green building projects.

Trane is proud to be an AIA Cornerstone Partner. You may be aware that AIA actively collaborates with USGBC and others in the industry. These strategic actions underscore that AIA is continuing its strong foothold in many leading building programs such as education, advocacy, research, and sustainability for the interests of its members.

As many architects around the world are embracing sustainable design and development into their work, more than ever, high performance HVAC systems become a key integral part of the building systems that could dominate the building’s energy scorecard. Learn more about Trane events that are registered under sustainable design of AIA’s continuing education credits.