Integrated sustainable design for research laboratories

In the new millennium; the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), facility managers and most international organizations are stressing the need for more environmentally conscious facility designs. The sustainable design approach not only emphasizes energy savings, but also accounts for issues such as impact on the local economy, resources, transportation, waste management, water management, and air quality. In 2000 the LEEDTM (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification system was unveiled for the evaluation of the sustainability of architectural projects. Refer to the LEEDTM criteria for sustainable options. [1] This criteria has been selected by National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to be applied to the design of its Honolulu Laboratory Renewal Project. The sustainable design process implemented by the design team includes: project approach, evaluation criteria, benchmarks, design concepts and future trends. Research facilities are energy intensive and potentially hazardous in nature. Indoor air quality, ventilation and energy conservation requires integrated architectural and engineering.