The economic impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic have compounded the terrible toll of human suffering. Business losses, and the inevitable cost-cutting and travel restrictions associated with them, have had an immediate impact on...
This short quiz focuses on ways to achieve building energy efficiency, including the use of three powerful tools that are available free online!
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) developed Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification to evaluate the environmental performance of buildings. LEED certification verifies building design, construction, operations and maintenance to ensure they are...
In my first article[1] for EcoPreserve, I wrote about mass timber products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) and nail-laminated timber (NLT) and their growing use in the U.S. south. Those materials continue to draw...
The report is prepared in accordance with the recommendations of ASTM E2018-15, Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments. This is a partial list of contents:
The Baseline Property Condition Assessments described in ASTM E2018-15 do not specify consideration of infectious disease transmission concerns. In a pandemic and post-pandemic environment, that inspection and documentation is essential.
Buildings open to the public must comply with local regulations. For best results and greatest public acceptance, any planning for building repairs and maintenance should not overlook current CDC and NIH guidelines.
Optionally, ecoPreserve's can assist with a comprehensive GBAC STAR™ Accreditation which extends beyond the building to include the goals, actions, equipment, and supplies needed to implement best practices for outbreak prevention, response, and recovery.
Certified Sustainability Consultants on a facility assessment team can discover ways to lower energy costs. Their understanding of HVAC equipment suitability and condition along with the specifics of LED lighting retrofits can provide offsets for needed investments in upgrades and replacements.
Knowledge of water systems can bring further savings while averting water waste. It can all be part of an assessment which might otherwise overlook water fixtures and irrigation schedules.
A thorough facility assessment finds the issues - on the surface or below - which have a potential negative impact on the building. That brings the facility to meet building codes. Beyond that, the assessment proactively addresses the deficiencies not covered by code.
The occupants of a building benefit as the assessment reveals conditions having a potential impact on their health or safety. The assessment must not overlook those conditions, nor fail to consider the frequency and duration of occupant visits.