In an effort to guarantee that blast resistance is included as a key element of high-performance building attributes, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science and Technology Directorate’s Infrastructure and Geophysical Division (IGD) has entered into a contract with the National Institute of Building Sciences to expand the concept of high-performance buildings.

Often the first line of protection, the building envelope can also be the weakest element of a building. Addressing that challenge, along with the significant role that envelope systems play in making buildings more energy efficient, the project aims to establish benchmarks beyond the minimum levels often expressed in codes to guide building owners and designers weighing tradeoffs between these objectives. In October, expert committees focusing on architectural, fenestration, mechanical, structural and owner requirements began work to establish benchmarks for building envelope related systems for each of the high performance attributes in the Whole Building Design Guide. Results will be reviewed by the High Performance Building Council and shared with industry as work progresses on the project. The resulting design tool, due in a little over a year’s time, will help the building owner establish owner performance requirements that allow for the selection of the best combination of envelope system attributes that balance safety, security, energy, and sustainability performance to meet the owner’s needs for the project. Subsequent phases of the DHS IGD project will focus on testing prototypes designed using the tool and incorporating high performance building systems (mechanical, lighting, etc.) into the tool.

Workshop Focuses on Improving Building Design
for Persons with Low Vision

Although codes, standards and guidelines in the United States consider people who are blind, there is very little design guidance available that addresses the needs of the growing population of citizens who are partially sighted.

In late September, the Institute and the U.S. General Services Administration conducted a workshop, Improving Building Design for Persons with Low Vision, in Washington, D.C. Participants from the fields of medicine (specialists in ophthalmology and low vision), architecture, engineering, interior design, lighting design, professional associations, government, academia, advocacy, and research and development convened to tackle the issue. While federal accessibility laws and regulations have been in place for 40 years, this was the first time an interdisciplinary workshop focused specifically on developing building design guidelines to improve the work environment for persons with low vision.

The intent is to take the results from the workshop and create a plan of action to develop a draft document, Guidance for Persons with Low Vision, to be considered for inclusion in GSA’s Facilities Standards for the Public Building Service and the U.S. Access Board’s ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines. Read GSA’s coverage of the event.

DOE Announces Energy Empowers Blog

The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy kicked off a new clean energy blog in October. Energy Empowers is the source for the nation's clean energy stories. So far, the Empowers team has posted approximately 500 articles about energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable transportation. The team also launched three regular newsletters on energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable transportation. Read the blog.