NAVFAC releases guidelines for sustainable reconstruction of Navy facilities

The guidelines provide specific guidance for installation commanders, assessment teams, estimators, programmers and building designers for identifying the sustainable opportunities, synergies, strategies, features and benefits for improving installations following a disaster instead of simply repairing or replacing them as they were prior to the disaster. 

The guidelines are unique in that they deal with construction and rebuilding decisions that are the result of a catastrophic event such as a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or act of terrorism, and the resulting damage from wind, water, and fire. For that reason, concise and specific recommendations are offered for recovering from the disaster and rebuilding in the most sustainable manner, recognizing that the actual situation will dictate the appropriate response. Guidance is provided for the response, recovery, and rebuilding phases.

According to the new guidelines, a sustainable installation is one that fulfills its mission while ensuring that its buildings and infrastructure:
• Minimize negative environmental impact or restore natural systems;
• Employ integrated design principles;
• Optimize energy performance;
• Use renewable energy where possible;
• Protect and conserve water;
• Enhance indoor environmental quality;
• Reduce the environmental impact of materials;
• Are protected from natural and manmade hazards.

The guidelines are available for free at Whole Building Design Guide at: http://www.wbdg.org/docs/sustain_reconstr_guide_v2.doc