CSBR PERFORMANCE METRICS
The Center for Sustainable Building Research has developed a set of performance metrics for sustainable development and building projects. They have evolved and continue to be refined through a process of applied research including work on public policy. Arch 5550 used the metrics as a point of departure for the evaluation of design solutions. In addition to the CSBR metrics, students were free to propose alternative methods to determine and measure performance of outcomes for their projects.
EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS USING THE CSBR METRICS
ST PAUL GREEN DEVELOPMENT POLICY»
The Center for Sustainable Building Research assisted the City of Saint Paul to create local policies, procedures and regulations that support and guide green development. The policy permits the use of any one of a number of commonly applied rating systems and guidelines as long as certain key performance criteria are met. Known as the Saint Paul Overlay, these requirements include high standards for energy, water, waste, stormwater, and indoor environmental quality.
PERFORMANCE-BASED RESEARCH ON HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AT UMORE PARK»
On a 5000-acre site in Rosemount, the impacts of different development scenarios were studied. Three infrastructure types (conventional, autonomous, and district) are compared for two different development types (large lot single-family dwellings and townhouses). Four critical infrastructure systems are examined (energy, water, wastewater, and stormwater) in the context of a 200-dwelling unit neighborhood. Team members include Energy Systems Design Program and Kestrel Design Group.
FORD SITE SUSTAINABLE REDEVELOPMENT STANDARDS»
The Center for Sustainable Building Research participated with the Ford Site Sustainable Redevelopment Team to create a sustainable redevelopment platform for the Saint Paul Ford site. This platform will be utilized with the goal of making the site a national and replicable model of sustainable brownfield redevelopment within a market context. The team developed a set of 14 metrics that guide the redevelopment of the site. For each of these metrics a minimum performance standard was determined as well as an optimal or sustainable performance standard.