What's the Buzz? Use BEES to Design Greener, Lower-Cost Buildings

Published

October 1, 2000

Author(s)

Barbara C. Lippiatt

Abstract

The BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) version 2.0 software implements a rational, systematic technique for selecting environmentally and economically balanced building products. The technique is based on consensus standards and designed to be practical, flexible, and transparent. The Windows-based decision support software, aimed at designers, builders, and product manufacturers, includes actual environmental and economic performance data for 65 building products across a range of functional applications. BEES measures the environmental performance of building products using the environmental life-cycle assessment approach specified in ISO 14040 standards. All stages in the life of a product are analyzed: raw material acquisition, manufacture, transportation, installation, use, and waste management. Economic performance is measured using the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard life-cycle cost method (E 917), which covers the costs of initial investment, replacement, operation, maintenance and repair, and disposal. Environmental and economic performance are combined into an overall performance measure using the ASTM standard for Multiattribute Decision Analysis (E 1765). For the entire BEES analysis, building products are defined and classified based on the ASTM standard classification for building elements known as UNIFORMAT II(E 1557). This article explains how BEES 2.0 benefits architects.

Citation

Architectural Record

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

building products, economic performance, environmntal performance, green buildings, life cycle assessment

Citation

Lippiatt, B. (2000), What's the Buzz? Use BEES to Design Greener, Lower-Cost Buildings, Architectural Record, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=860039 (Accessed April 19, 2024)