IWBDP produces higher-performance buildings. They tend to be more energy efficient, have a better internal environment, are more comfortable and have less operating and maintenance issues and costs than other buildings. They are also more in tune with the environment.
Buildings designed through IWBDP have a better indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Recent studies have shown that occupants who work in buildings with good IEQ are healthier, happier and more productive. Fisk (2002) states in his study that speed or accuracy of workers can change by 2 to 20 percent for various office tasks due to a change in temperature of just a few degrees. Staff may find it easier to concentrate and are less likely to take sick days. Companies may find their popularity as an employer increases and staff turnover is reduced. All these things can improve the marketability of these buildings and they can be sold or rented out for higher amounts than conventionally designed buildings.
There are benefits to the actual IWBDP itself as it stimulates a team spirit among designers and the client, since everyone plays a vital role in the project. Designers are encouraged to be more innovative and expressive with their ideas and solutions, which makes IWBDP projects more interesting to work on. The IWBDP requires feedback and the project team learn from their mistakes as well as their achievements. Table 3 gives the benefits of the IWBDP.
Table 3: The benefits of IWBDP
| IWBDP principle | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Whole team involved from the beginning of the design process |
|
| Continuing team collaboration and sharing of knowledge |
|
| Project goals clearly identified |
|
| Feedback loops throughout the process and ongoing evaluation |
|
| Holistic thinking |
|
| Life-cycle costing |
|
| Commissioning |
|
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The benefits
October 2008
© Ministry for the Environment