There are benefits of sustainable design for The W. A. Franke College of Business that occupies the building, the building occupants themselves, the community where the facility is built, as well as the State of Arizona and the public.
Reduced operating expenditures for energy: By employing more energy efficient designs, there are operating savings from reduced energy consumption (as measured against conventional practices under the current design practice and codes.
Reduced operation and maintenance costs: By using more durable low-maintenance materials and systems, facility operating costs will be reduced through savings in labor, waste handling, and streamlining of housekeeping and maintenance procedures.
Personnel expenditure reductions: Healthy, comfortable work environments have been known to lead to reduced absenteeism and increased employee retention. There are potential improvements in
performance/productivity.
Reduced costs for managing change: By designing structures and systems that are flexible and adaptable to other uses, costs of periodic reorganization and renovation are reduced.
Benefits to the Building Users
Healthy, comfortable work environments: Indoor air quality and other human factors issues such as daylight and view will be enhanced to ensure worker comfort as well as productivity.
Benefits to the Communities where Facilities are Located
Positive effect on surrounding community: By preserving ecosystems and minimizing impact, sustainable buildings enhance their communities. Proper location of buildings also can enhance sustainable community transportation and land use patterns.
Reduced municipal operating expenditures: More sustainably designed buildings will mean that during construction and operation, waste is reduced going to landfills. There are also savings resulting from water treatment reduction.
Reduced infrastructure costs: More sustainably designed buildings mean that capital costs for expanding water supply, sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants can be avoided.
Benefits to the State of Arizona and the Public
Reduced life cycle costs in state buildings: There will be a connection of initial investments to life cycle cost and performance including, durability, energy performance, and environmental impact.
Economic development: More efficient buildings mean less money leaves the state for energy. Buildings requiring clean technologies may spur development of these industries within the state. Similarly, development of local environmentally preferable product markets will be facilitated in Arizona.
Emissions reduction/clean air: Cleaner air through reduced consumption of fossil fuels (reduction of carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, and sulfur dioxide, particulates, mercury).
Environmental benefits: Environmental benefits include climate change stabilization; soil, air and water pollution prevention; preservation of forests and biodiversity.
In light of the tremendous impact new buildings can have on the environment and on the health and productivity of it's occupants, NAU The W. A. Franke College of Business have decided it is responsible business to practice sustainable design for the near term and for the future.
NAU has chosen to follow the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ which is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.
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LOCATION OF BUILDING
Benefits
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