Determination of exterior material in sustainable buildings by value engineering method according to LEED criteria

Abstract

Factors such as the rapid depletion of natural resources and environmental pollution enable us to understand the importance of sustainability better today. With the introduction of the concept of sustainability into the construction sector, the design of buildings according to the environmentally friendly “Green Building” approach has come to the forefront, and various certification systems have been developed. Due to these certification systems, various building materials must be used in buildings. However, since many materials are on the market, it is a problem which materials should be preferred according to the green building criteria. Although there are various approaches in this regard, the value engineering method is ideal as it considers both the criteria the materials must meet and their costs. Value Engineering is the teamwork to analyze the building properties, systems, equipment, and material selections while considering the costs to perform the necessary performance, quality, reliability, and essential functions. In this article, a method on how to choose a value-based, sustainable material was proposed, and as a case study, a product that can be used as an exterior cladding material of a building using LEED criteria, which is used for providing certification for sustainable green buildings, was selected. Initially, a value engineering team was formed. This team determined the product’s qualities based on LEED criteria and the eight material alternatives that can meet these qualities. Subsequently, value analysis was conducted, and the highest-value exterior coating material was determined.