High Performance Buildings[1] are more economic and environmentally responsive than conventional buildings in many respects. High performance buildings improve:

• the comfort, health, and safety of occupants and visitors,
• limit detrimental effects on the environment, and
• provide operational energy savings through greater efficiency.

HPBD is an integrated process that unites design professionals, facility planners, project managers, and future occupants at the beginning of the design process to create healthy and productive learning spaces. High performance designers evaluate the entire life cycle of the building materials and systems, analyzing economic and environmental performance in comparison to typical design results. HPBD also promotes resource conservation, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation features. Highlighting the social and environmental considerations of HPBD will provide an opportunity to educate the Brown community about its connection to the natural environment and enhance the University's reputation and neighborhood relationships.

Initiatives encouraging environmentally responsible building across the United States are increasingly reporting successes. Hundreds of buildings already maximize the health and safety of the occupants, minimize energy and other operational costs while reducing negative impacts on the natural environment. HPBD resources have been growing rapidly, with new technical knowledge, literature, and products coming out daily. A recent national study confirmed the business case for HPBD.

Responding to economic motivations and national trends, designers, contractors, and building owners are becoming more and more interested and involved in HPBD projects. Academic campuses are increasingly leading the trend by including high performance building principles in their planning processes and producing high performance facilities. Although Brown once led the nation in environmental responsible campus building projects, early efforts have not been fully supported recently, causing Brown to lose its leadership position. It is imperative that Brown regain its place as a leader in responsible building design.

HPBD is economically, socially, and environmentally effective. In educational buildings, it is not sufficient to view resource efficient design as an act of goodwill; the maximum benefits and minimum financial risk must be emphasized. The potential benefits of HPBD outweigh any additional costs; my thesis aims to make this connection clear.

Why should Brown adopt High Performance Building practices now?

Buildings last a long time. The longevity of an institution like Brown creates the need for durable, healthy buildings that payback throughout their lives. Once a conventional facility is completed, it is much more difficult and costly to reduce energy and water use, improve air quality, or adjust for new applications than it is to design responsibly from the start. HPBD addresses a range of short and long-term consequences. High performance building is about doing it right the first time. Global warming threats, rising energy costs, and Brown's standard of excellence demand proactive action today rather than reaction tomorrow.

Given the $200-300 million of new campus construction planned over the next ten years, Brown University has a unique opportunity to take advantage of these cost-effective HPBD methods and materials to reduce operating costs, restrict negative environmental impacts, and promote increased student, faculty, and staff productivity and health. Emphasizing the environmental and economic benefits of its new resource-efficient buildings will educate Brown's students, staff, faculty, parents, alumni, and supporters. Brown's new status as a responsible developer will earn respect from the greater community.

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[1] Throughout the website, terms like "green building", "sustainable," "environmentally responsible," and "resource efficient" are used synonymously with "high performance building."