Economic Performance Resources

10.0 Economic Performance Resources

Picture of the Arcata Wastewater Reclamation system courtesy of the EPA.

"At the same time that wetland wastewater technology has been used to successfully meet water quality criteria, it has also aided in restoring a degraded urban waterfront." USEPA report Arcata, California - A Natural System for Wastewater Reclamation and Resource Enhancement.

The enduring legacy of the environmental movement is that it has taught us the distinction between price and cost. Price is what the individual pays. Cost is what the community pays. The marketplace works efficiently only when guided by accurate price signals.

-- D. Morris, 1990

...a constructed wetland system can be a cost efficient and environmentally sound wastewater treatment solution.

-- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, 2000
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10.1 Life-Cycle Assessment (EC1)

Such high performance buildings can earn long term life cycle savings for New York City, and may also help stimulate the markets for environmentally efficient technologies.

-- Luis M. Tormenta, P.E., New York City Department of Design and Construction, High Performance Building Guidelines, 1999

The great news is that enhanced environmental responsibility in high-rise construction does not have to significantly increase the cost of the project.

-- Dan Tishman, President, Tishman Construction, Lessons Learned, Four Times Square, NYC
Modelling Software The Building Life Cycle Cost (BLCC) Program
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Contact / Resource Found at the US Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) website
Description
  • This program provides software that calculates capital, operating and maintenance costs over the lifetime of the building.
  • Also provides a guide for estimating energy costs and discount rates, "Energy Price Indices and Discount Factors for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis".
  • BLCC is straightforward to use, and the reference provides credible escalation rates.
  • The BLCC tools can be obtained free of charge from the FEMP Help Desk (800-363-3732) or from the FEMP Web site under "Order FEMP Materials" or "Analytical Software Tools."
Modelling Software eVALUator : Building Life-Cycle Cost Assessment Program
US DOE Energy Design Resources
Contact / Resource http://www.energydesignresources.com/resource/131/
Description This software program is free to download and calculates lifecycle benefits of building design investments. It examines financial benefits from building investments that may:
  • reduce energy cost,
  • raise employee productivity,
  • or enhance tenant satisfaction.
Book Life-Cycle Costing for Design Professionals, 2nd Edition
Kirk, Stephen J. and Dell'Isola, Alphonse. (1995)
Contact / Resource McGraw-Hill Companies, New York.
Description This is an excellent overall resource for designers; this book explains in plain language how life cycle costing can be done.
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10.1.1 Life-Cycle Case Studies
Pennsylvania's First green Building: Department of Environmental Protection
Contact / Resource http://www.gggc.state.pa.us/gggc/site/default.asp
Description This case study provides some description of the life-cycle costs assessed for this building.
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