BEES 4.0: Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability. Technical Manual and User Guide

Published

August 1, 2007

Author(s)

Barbara C. Lippiatt

Abstract

The BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) version 4.0 software implements a rational, systematic technique for selecting environmentally-preferred, cost-effective 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 over 230 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 ASTM International 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).

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 7423

Report Number

7423

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

building products, economic performance, enironmental performance, environmental performance, green buildings, life cycle assessment, life-cycle costing, multiattribute decision analysis, sustainable development

Citation

Lippiatt, B. (2007), BEES 4.0: Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability. Technical Manual and User Guide, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=860108 (Accessed April 18, 2024)