Appendix E: Comments Received from First NZGBC Rating Tools Workshop, April 2006

Issues put forward for debate during workshop consultation and feedback comments made.

Management Systems, Plans and Procedures
1	Independent verification of information supplied to assessment authority
2	Quality monitoring of contractors during construction
3	Monitoring of building control systems
4	Follow-up measures to ensure the building is running as planned
5	Information sources for continued efficiency of building systems supplied to building operations manager
6	Environmental management systems in place
7	Procedures to manage waste and recycling
8	Development of a maintenance and facility management plan
9	Development of a final environmental impact management plan
10	Ongoing review of all management plans and procedures
	Workshop Feedback Comments on Management Systems, Plans and Procedures
	Guidelines for management plans should be provided and followed Management criteria need to reflect the different stages of design, construction and operation Incentives or credits can be offered for the establishment of management plans Needs to be undertaken by trained and accredited professionals Need measures in place to ensure that building is constructed and operates as planned Systems to be as user friendly as possible Verification manager to be part of client's design team Give building rating an expiry date to ensure periodic review of the building
Environmental Quality within the Building
1	Ventilation satisfaction: air freshness, air movement, draughts
2	Humidity control / mould protection
3	Carbon dioxide monitoring and control
4	Natural light levels, requirements and controls
5	Lighting requirements, levels and controls
6	External views
7	Temperature assessment and control
8	Asbestos minimisation / removal
9	Noise satisfaction: office noise, air/lighting noise, external noise
10	Air quality standards and measures
	Workshop Feedback Comments on Environmental Quality within the Building
	Priority given to individual preference control Social and technical aspects ought to be separated Minimisation and removal of asbestos largely irrelevant as covered by legislation Add indoor vegetation Consider other irritants and pollutants such as emissions for carpets, laminates etc, and chemical issues, for example, off-gassing Also consider ambience, odour, materials (toxicity, colour, texture), and space, particularly issues of colour and shape
Energy Efficiency
1	Energy rating incorporated into design
2	Level of energy use
3	Electrical sub-metering for different tenants, uses and floors
4	Office lighting energy requirements
5	Presence of peak energy demand infrastructure
6	Renewable energy sourcing (type and quantity)
7	Passive heating and cooling design
8	Presence of a lighting control system
9	Potential for passive solar energy collection and storage
10	Consideration of alternative energy sources
	Workshop Feedback Comments on Energy Efficiency
	Energy costs should reflect the true environmental cost long term An energy rating is only of use if there are strong follow-up measures in place to ensure that the theoretical rating is achieved Carbon emissions produced under building usage of energy Natural ventilation Heat recovery on ventilation systems Optimising all HVAC systems also important Importance of retrospective measuring: tool should measure actual energy use rather than estimated or design energy consumption / demand
Transport
1	Reduce number of car parking spaces available
2	Provision of cyclist facilities
3	Integrated public transport systems in close proximity to building
4	Communication of public transport availability
5	Calculation of carbon dioxide emissions from transport
6	Increase number of ‘small’ car park spaces available
7	Policies to encourage the use of public transport
	Workshop Feedback Comments on Transport
	Need for promotion and provision of carpooling Need shower and change facilities for cyclists/runners Development of wider-integrated citywide systems Alternative fuel users and motorcyclists should have priority parking over conventional fuel users and larger vehicles Reduce necessity of transport through better urban design (mixed use) Integration of city planning with public transport systems Need a minimisation of emissions from transport rather than a calculation Provision for pedestrian traffic is missing Efficiency and reliability of public transport needs to be addressed Park and ride facilities Flexible hours of operation Public transport difficult to influence on project basis Component of working at home Offer incentives for distance cycled/walked Emissions, energy and social responsibility involved with transport of materials to site Encourage corporate transport plans
Water Efficiency
1	Water meters installed for each tenancy and major user
2	Landscape irrigation water efficiency
3	Rainwater capture, storage and use
4	Water consumption by cooling or alternative systems
5	Fire system water consumption efficiency and management measures
6	Potable water efficiency monitoring
7	Evaporative cooling water loss
8	Metered stormwater reuse
9	Minimise volume of externally reticulated greywater
10	Area of impervious/semi-pervious/pervious surfaces to control stormwater run-off
	Workshop Feedback Comments on Water Efficiency
	Priority should be potable water efficiency control to save drinking water for example through plumbing fixtures and fittings and water use design parameters/standards Metered stormwater reuse would become the highest priority if credit system is in place Water quality issue is missing Education on water efficiency Points for compost toilets and water-free urinals Standards set for potable water usage; incentives for reduction Require a water efficiency management plan Tank location to minimise pumping cost/losses Maximise reuse of greywater Water conservation fittings
Materials
1	Allocation of space for recycling and waste storage
2	Re-use/recycling of building structure and materials
3	Provisions for shell, core or integrated fit-out
4	Reduction in PVC usage
5	Use of sustainable timber
6	Reduction of materials or components that rely on scarce or non-local resources
7	Selection of durable materials
8	Use of recycled materials
9	Life span and reliability of components
10	Information on hazardous materials available to staff
	Workshop Feedback Comments on Materials
	Full life-cycle analysis is missing Very important to source materials with low embodied energy Recognise alternative fuels in manufacture for example bio-fuels in cement production Use of hazardous materials Mass of materials should be taken into account Consider manufacturers environmental management system Reduction of petroleum based materials More objective measures of the environmental consequences of particular materials is needed Consideration of colour and texture of materials Assessment of quality of recyclable material Environmental choice rating materials for example paint, carpet, flooring End of life: furniture, fit-out, waste, building fabric recyclability and reusability Effectiveness of future proofing If concrete is used CO₂ emissions are an issue
Land Use and Ecology
1	Consideration of consecutive land uses in the planning process
2	Synergy with neighbouring land uses in planning / design stages
3	On-site cut and fill balance
4	Type and size of landscape areas
5	Percentage cover of native plants
6	Complexity index to measure relative areas of lawn, shrubs and trees
7	Measures to minimise construction damage to surface ecology
8	Measures to minimise impacts on subsurface ecology and aquifers
9	Consideration of the ecological value of the site during and after development
10	Use of marginal land ie, previously built on/industrial use
	Workshop Feedback Comments on Land Use and Ecology
	Planting of appropriate plants Penalties and incentives for environmental procedures for example minimise removal of topsoil etc Some other natural factors are missing such as wind/air movement Ecology and natural systems can be seen as ‘global’ planning tools that guide other categories Integration of the project with city plan and process as an overall plan Effects on the surrounding area for example, wind tunnels, light pollution ie, bounce off glass, heat radiation Land use to provide a renewable energy source Rooftop gardens very important Reference to contaminated land Archaeological/cultural/historical value Must have social impact assessment as part of rating system
Emissions, Effluent and Pollution
1	Measurement and reduction of ozone depleting potential and gGlobal warming potential in cooling and insulation design
2	Presence of refrigerant leak detection equipment
3	Refrigerant recovery
4	Treatment or filtration of stormwater to above building code requirements
5	Reduced flow to sewer
6	Requirement that no cooling towers service the building
7	Toxicity and quantity of waste produced during construction and operations
8	Reduction in activities such as fertiliser use, herbicide / pesticide use, car washing, cleaning chemicals present
9	Storage and handling of toxics
10	Disposal methods for toxics and other waste
	Workshop Feedback Comments on Emissions, Effluent and Pollution
	Energy sources of building Credits for designing out emissions as much as possible Numbers 2 and 3 are outdated as few refrigerant systems now use ozone depletion potential On site rainwater capture and sustainable urban drainage systems Greywater and stormwater usage Light and noise pollution to be considered NOx/SOx emissions if gas boilers are in place Consider pollutants emitted during manufacture of materials Noise pollution (construction issue) Plants remove volatile organic compounds, and should be included in new and existing buildings
Quality, Service and Risk
1	Incorporation of tenant requirements and functionality into design and planning procedures
2	Earthquake-resistance measures incorporated into design
3	Increased service life of components and increased reliability
	Workshop Feedback Comments on Quality, Service and Risk
	User feedback essential. As user satisfaction increases so does productivity Urban quality of life impact sustainability Consider health and safety aspects such as Sitesafe construction
Flexibility and Adaptability
1	Increased capacity of floor space to allow for flexibility and growth
2	Facilities to allow for changes in occupant requirements and growth
3	Consideration of hours of occupancy
4	Facilities to allow for changes in number of occupants
5	Review of floor-to-floor height for flexibility to accommodate future uses
6	Flexibility to accommodate future uses
	Workshop Feedback Comments on Flexibility and Adaptability
	Building infrastructure can allow for future growth while having a negative impact on the current users Flexibility of design needed. For example, new tenant can move partitions etc rather than refitting Encourage relationship between developer and tenant to create an ‘holistic’ solution to initial building/fitout while thinking of future users Modular / flexible designs Consideration of hours of occupancy and zoning

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