Provides detailed maintenance and repair costs for 75 building and utility types in all major U.S., Canadian, and international areas. Data is included for over 1,600 building components, over 30 trades, and more than 4,500 maintenance tasks. 688p

This study examines the relationship between environmental sustainability and green schools, seeking to highlight the benefits and determine the Net Present Value (NPV) installing vegetative roofs on all schools in the Atlanta Public Schools District. This study quantifies the costs and benefits of thin-layer, or extensive, green roof systems as they compare to typical flat roofs on Atlanta Public Schools. Quantifiable benefits are detailed and suggestions are made to create the means by which other social benefits may be quantified. The purpose of this thesis is to establish proof to the Atlanta Public Schools District that over a 40 year period there are more benefits associated with installing vegetative roofs on all of their flat roofs than there are costs. While some may argue that greens roof are more costly than traditional roof systems, this study provides evidence that the cumulative benefits over a 40 year life cycle associated with large scale green roof installations, such as on all Atlanta Public Schools, are greater than the initial costs incurred. Factors included in the analysis of benefits were reductions to energy/utility costs, reduced emissions, and avoided best management practices (BMPs). Other considerations include social benefits resulting from the mitigation of storm water runoff, reductions to the urban heat island, productivity level increases (students and teachers), and avoided regulatory fees. [Author's abstract]

Provides an evaluation of current and emerging materials, products, and systems for application to the construction of educational facilities in Florida, based on a wide range of cost and performance criteria. Current data regarding first cost, operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, and replacement costs were used in the life cycle evaluation of the materials, products, and systems. The ratings for each material, product, or system are indicated using a matrix of systems versus criteria for ranking the systems. Each material, product, or system typically or potentially used for educational facilities has been evaluated with respect to life cycle and other performance criteria. 242p.

Provides information to assess the cost of operating a facility over its lifetime, the effect of inflation rates on operating costs, regional differences in operating costs, and the effect of varying levels of service on costs. 320p.

Advises on a variety of building features that impact energy consumption. The publication opens with a discussion of life cycle costing, building modeling, and performance verification. Subsequent sections cover building orientation, architectural design, building materials, plumbing, HVAC systems, building controls, and lighting and power systems.. The publication describes varieties of systems available under each category, advises on their costs, and illustrates the energy impact of each. 27p.

Life-cycle cost analysis is an economic method for assessing the total cost of facility ownership. It involves translating all expenses associated with building ownership over a prescribed "life cycle" period into current dollars. These include costs arising from owning, operating, maintaining, and ultimately disposing of a facility. This section from the Whole Building Design Guide provides a description, application opportunities, relevant codes and standards, and additional resources.

This describes how college and university food service facilities can be designed to be more green by focusing on HVAC systems, water conservation, energy efficiencies, lifecycle metrics, and recyclables.

Presents a glossary of terms commonly used to communicate facilities-related issues, including space planning, construction, operations, maintenance, upgrades, and demolition/replacement. The glossary was developed by a consortium of facilities management associations and is organized within their "Asset Lifecycle Model for Total Cost of Ownership Management" which correlates to the physical asset's useful life. 28p.

Provides guidance for performing energy life cycle cost analyses (ELCCA) in Washington State and promoting the selection of low life cycle cost alternatives. Chapters 1 and 2 define energy life cycle cost analysis and explain which agencies and projects are affected by the ELCCA requirements. Chapters 3 through 7 provide the instructions and forms needed to prepare the ELCCA submittals. Chapter 8 is the ELCCA submittal evaluation that addresses the timing and completeness of each ELCCA submittal. Many components of this document are specific to Washington State building owners, but the auditing, reporting, and product selection procedures are generally applicable nationwide. 21p.

Explains the value of total masonry construction in K-12 schools for the purpose of reduced life-cycle costs, safety, and mold resistance. A discussion of the importance of the building envelope, testimonials, a comparison of total masonry and tilt-up construction, and an explanation of the systems, costs, and properties of total masonry construction are provided. 58p.

Addresses doubts about the merits of paying more to construct high performance schools to realize life cycle, environmental, and social cost savings. The perception that such an investment provides only marginal returns is being met on several fronts as more and more independent studies move the argument from the speculative to the statistically and clinical verifiable. 3p.

Presents a detailed analysis of costs and financial benefits of environmentally sensitive building design and occupancy practices. The study concludes that an upfront investment of about two percent of construction costs typically yields life cycle savings of over ten times the initial investment. Topics covered include reduced energy and water use, less waste, lower operations and maintenance costs, and increased occupant health and productivity. (Includes 20 annotated references.) 120p.

Offers a list of typical building components organized by building system, along with the typical life span of the item. The useful lives of the listed items vary directly with their initial quality and level of maintenance. The list data is based on good quality components and a level of maintenance over the useful life that is consistent with manufacturer specifications. 2p.

Presents life cycle cost analyses of school building floors with light-to-medium traffic and heavy traffic, comparing them with the figures for carpet and vinyl composition tile (VCT). The initial purchase cost, installation charges, maintenance requirements and associated costs, plus the costs of cleaning chemicals are factored into the analysis to yield the true outlay of monies over time. The analysis envisions a twenty-two (22) year time period, which is the expected usable life of VCT flooring in schools. 11p.

The purpose of these guidelines is to assist architects and engineers in completing life cycle cost analysis reports required by the Code of Iowa for publicly owned facilities. Life cycle cost analysis is an economic analysis method of project alternative evaluation in which all ownership costs are considered. The guidelines cover project identification, analysis for domestic hot water, lighting, building envelope and HVAC systems, on-site electric generation, and recommended systems. 51p.

The focus of this comparative case study was to test, discern, and document whether the theory of the construct of sustainability, specifically in the area of renewable energy systems, could be utilized in educational facilities as measured by cost effectiveness and efficacy. This study examined two Texas schools that approached supplying their energy needs in the two different ways: one using traditional methods and one incorporating the use of renewable energy. Data were collected to establish a life-cycle cost model for assessing the cost-benefit of sustainable renewable energy systems in place in educational facilities. Efficacy of the systems was established from the perceptions of the participant users of the facilities by use of an oral survey. It was the purpose of this study to test the theory for appropriate utilization of sustainable renewable energy systems in educational facilities in anticipation of providing the needed documentation to support a policy change in the design and construction of educational facilities. [Author's abstract]

Tools for analyzing, comparing, anticipating, and managing the implications of engineering, maintenance, operating, and design decisions, and integrating facility systems for best results. The Handbook's life-cycle approach helps put relevant issues in context -- cost, durability, maintainability, operability, safety, and more. Includes information on facility financial management; facilities management; facility life-cycle process; facilities engineering; electrical, lighting, and mechanical systems; facility construction process; and facilities maintenance. 1,100p.

This paper discusses five key issues in the design phase of a construction project that can improve the quality, cost, or time of construction. These five ways are: education specifications, design standards, prototype designs, value engineering, and selecting a qualified architect. To facilitate discussion, the background section of this paper first explains the overall project delivery process. In the background section educational specifications, design standards, prototypes, value engineering, and selecting an architect are defined and each is discussed based on current best practices. Then there is a discussion of the level of input a state may have when implementing each of these practices. Next, in the "Current Conditions" section, the paper explains what is currently being done regarding each of the five topics in Georgia and nationally. The third section of the paper highlights key findings about these topics. The final section of the paper presents various alternatives for each topic discussed. 40p.

This report presents findings and recommendations of the Little Hoover Commission regarding California's efforts to provide schools that are economically built, adequate, safe, and well- maintained. Findings and recommendations are presented in the following areas: school facility building and maintenance; leadership needs in managing construction projects; State oversight unification; life cycle investing; needs determination; investment adequacy; and specific findings regarding the Los Angeles Unified School District. 90p.

Includes information on maintenance and repair; preventive maintenance; general maintenance; facilities audits; life cycle costing; equipment rental rates; travel cost tables; crews; city adjustments and cost indexes, and location factors. 620p.

The guidelines incorporated in this handbook have been developed to assist Alaskan school districts, their consultants, and communities in evaluating the life cycle cost of school construction decisions. Life cycle cost is defined as the total discounted dollar cost of owning, operating, maintaining, and disposing of a building or a building system over a period of time. 30p.

Complete system for understanding and conducting Value Engineering and Life Cycle Costing Studies--for design, construction, and facilities operation. Along with step-by-step instructional chapters, includes seven case studies on major facility types, with currently applicable data and examples. 450p.

Guide to understanding the life-cycle cost methodology and criteria established by the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) for the economic evaluation of energy and water conservation projects and renewable energy projects on all federal buildings. 210p.

All aspects of construction have environmental consequences. To better understand construction's impact, an overview of building ecology as a concept and as a decision-making model for school systems is provided. "Building ecology" is defined as the interrelationships among people, the built environment, and the natural environment. It has special relevance for school design because most of the users are children; therefore it is important that administrators fully understand the types of materials used in building schools. A material's energy efficiency can be important, as is the lifecycle of any material. A decision-making model is presented, which offers a step-by-step process for determining the best materials to use. How to choose flooring is featured as an extended example of this process. The environmental issues connected with various flooring such as vinyl composition tile, linoleum flooring, carpet, terrazzo, wood flooring, and ceramic tile are detailed. A hypothetical material selection process is offered, along with general recommendations in choosing, installing, and maintaining flooring. (Contains 13 references.) 10p.

Includes step-by-step methods for selecting the best designs for peak energy efficiency, low materials and construction costs, and cost-effective maintenance. Covers applying economic models for energy conservation; conducting accurate economic risk assessments; doing financial forecasting; specifying materials with long life and low-maintenance costs; and performing economic feasibility analyses.

Value Engineering (VE) is a cost optimizing technique used to analyze design quality and cost-effectiveness. The application of VE procedures to the design and construction of school facilities has been adopted by the state of Washington. By using VE, the optimum value for every life cycle dollar spent on a facility is obtained by identifying not only initial costs but also operations, maintenance, and replacement costs. This paper outlines the contents of a manual to be prepared that would assist school districts to implement VE procedures in specific school facilities projects. 24p.

To determine whether initial facility improvement costs were paid back by the reduced operational costs resulting from the improvement projects, this study examined the relationship between initial costs and operational costs of fourteen school buildings improved during the 1978-79 school year in Greenville County, South Carolina. With energy conservation as a goal, windows were replaced, roofs were insulated and HVAC systems were modified or replaced. Estimated annual dollar savings (from electricity payment records) were divided into the amount spent on improvement to determine the number of years required for payback. The findings indicated that ten of the fourteen buildings became more energy efficient and eight were able to pay back the initial improvement costs within their expected life span. A relationship between initial improvement costs and operational costs of school buildings was supported in that the initial costs of improvement could be repaid by the resultant reduction in operational costs.

Describes the main issues affecting high-performance school design. Discusses strategies for enhancing learning environments using retrofit or renovation strategies to improve daylighting, flexibility of use, or energy efficiency. Provides examples of building techniques and technologies specifically designed to improve student health or the life cycle and durability of educational buildings.

In 2007 the Portuguese government launched a major school modernization program, and has taken steps to ensure the long-term sustainability of facilities. Projects now anticipate use by the broader community, allow for possible income-generating opportunities during the design phase and include custom-designed energy management systems.

Examines how school districts can reap benefits if they include energy modeling in their efforts for new and renovated buildings. As energy costs continue to rise, the ability to predict and correct building energy performance can lead to more efficient operations and significant cost savings. Provides case studies of Carrie Busey Elementary School in Illinois and Roosevelt Middle School.

A holistic approach to facility sustainability considers healthy, productive environments; capital costs; sustainable design and delivery; and life-cycle cost savings.

Three part series looks at the cost of owning and operating a mower. Part 1: Focus on Life-Cycle Costs Can Deliver Big Benefits; Part 2: Components of a Mower's Life-Cycle Cost; Part 3: Landscape Changing for Mower Specification.

Transforming decisionmaking processes regarding energy efficiency can affect the design of an education building. Discusses factors affecting the carbon dioxide (CO2) footprint of a building, and describes several steps and considerations required during the design, construction and life cycle of a building to achieve carbon neutrality. Provides a case study of a residence hall at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Discusses the system components and designs that should be considered for a classroom amplification system, where they should be installed, price considerations, how to integrate these into existing systems, and the expected life cycle.

Discusses properties of light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, addressing their appropriate applications, life cycle, energy efficiency, light output, and color rendering.

Argues that interior green products must perform as well as non-green products for there to be any real sustainable benefit. In addition to other well-documented considerations for use of green products, the article provides procedures to evaluate a product's lifecycle as well. Facilities managers must develop performance standards accountability records.

Reviews six strategies used to assess the value of energy-saving features in a laboratory model. The return on investment, annual cost savings, and cost per LEED credit is described for heat recovery, a ground source heat pump, glazing, wind turbines, a high efficiencies boiler, photovoltaics, chilled beam cooling, and a green roof.

Cites Washington's Federal Way School District to illustrate cost-effective plans for constructing schools that do not need to be razed and re-built every 10 to 20 years. Plans for flexibility allow for easier adaptation of the existing facilities as educational philosophies change.

Discusses the design of Richardsville Elementary in Kentucky, to be an affordable net zero facility. By reducing energy use to 19.31 kBtus annually, the net zero goal could be realized through the implementation of a solar array capable of producing enough energy to meet the school's operating demands. Coupled with the goal of a LEED certified facility, the building's components were identified and implemented to affordably attain a facility that demonstrates a sustainable site, net zero energy, water efficiency, materials and resources conservation, and an indoor/outdoor environment that promotes a healthy, progressive learning atmosphere while reducing life cycle maintenance costs and zeroing out electricity costs.

Discusses the benefits of life-cycle costing to create value in spending on long-term campus improvements. More expensive, but energy saving systems are gaining popularity as energy prices rise. Also, the use of efficient and long-lasting materials and systems are viewed as contributions to sustainability. Advice on conducting a life- cycle cost determination is included

Advises on combining building information modeling (BIM), which gathers data at the beginning of a building project, with total cost of ownership (TCO), which gathers information over the life of the building.

Advises on using a life cycle cost analysis when purchasing school HVAC equipment, rather than just accepting the lowest initial cost bid. Sections of the article describe the variables to be considered in a life cycle cost analysis: initial expenses, future expenses, and non-monetary costs and benefits.

Describes how early commitment to "green" design and construction, as well as careful attention to life-cycle costs yielded a the highly-rated LEED-Platinum Applied Research Development Building at Northern Arizona University.

Describes the benefits of building information modeling (BIM) software, including virtual three-dimensional construction of a building, ease and accuracy of information exchange between design and construction parties, better code compliance, improved cost estimating, shorter construction time, life-cycle cost analysis, and others.

Defines what a truly sustainable facility model should look like. The article provides a compelling reason for advocating planned capital renewal of facilities as the most effective method for addressing the rising sustainable needs of facilities. It also describes the "50-year facility design" model and its 12, 25, and 38th year sub-cycles as a perfect opportunity to earmark facilities for sustainable renewal in a way that is both manageable from a budget perspective and predictable.

Details total cost of school building ownership in terms of initial and operating costs, the typical stages of school building design and what cost analyses occur in each, software programs for building management from design through maintenance, and elements of a successful school building maintenance plan.

Advises serious consideration of life cycle costs when planning school construction and renovation, advocating tolerance of higher construction costs when life cycle cost savings justify it. Examples of cost-saving design features and systems are included.

More and more, green criteria factor into product selection. An environmental life-cycle assessment can help facility managers identify what’s important. From green building rating systems, to green certifications, to guides for particular types of buildings, to tools for performing life cycle assessments, there are more tools now than ever to assist facility executives in identifying the criteria and products that meet their green needs.

Discusses life-cycle costing in the context of renewed public interest in creating durable schools that are efficient to operate and maintain. The continuing difficulty of convincing officials and taxpayers to pay slightly higher construction costs may be mitigated by combined considerations of capital and operating budgets, which are too often assessed separately.

Urges accommodation of small increases in building costs that can obtain life cycle cost savings of 10-25 percent. Typical ways that school systems are realizing these savings are highlighted.

Suggests ways to help determine a building's total cost of ownership through building condition assessment and life-cycle cost analysis. Points to be considered in each process and publications that can help are listed, along with advice on how to make facilities data more integral to the overall institutional budget.

Advocates more involvement by design professionals in helping educational clients to understand the importance of system life-cycle cost considerations when building new facilities.

Discusses lifecycle costs considerations for insulation within walls, window films, and roofing.

Describes the struggle between lowest construction cost and life-cycle cost in the deliberation over new school construction, and the difficulty of convincing voters and school board members to fund quality sustainable design in order to save energy and maintenance costs.

Answers to a question about a tool that will allow one to inventory a facility and project life cycles.

Advises on calculating the total cost of an athletic floor by factoring installation, maintenance, life expectancy, refurbishment/replacement. A lifecycle cost comparison worksheet and analysis table is provided.

Contends that life cycle modeling should be considered as an addition to a facility condition analysis, but not a replacement for it. A facilities condition analysis will document short-term needs and help plan for addressing those needs, added to that, a life cycle model will account for future needs, changing uses and expectations for the facilities, and variable costs.

From specification and commissioning to installation and maintenance, a range of factors can affect a pump’s overall performance and cost.

Provides guidance in assessing the life expectancy and costs of ownership for flooring. Consideration of factors such as suitability for the area, years of use, maintenance, and cost of removal at replacement time help determine the best value.

Discusses types of roofing, their configuration, and respective life cycle and energy savings attributes.

Examines the benefits of protected membrane roofing (PMR) for school buildings. PMR uses an upside-down approach, where the insulation is placed on top of the waterproofing membrane to improve membrane effectiveness, reduce ultraviolet degradation, and improve insulation efficiency. The article explains what makes PMR sustainable, focusing on life-cycle costing and reducing, recycling, and reusing of materials.

Presents factors to consider when determining roofing life-cycle costs, explaining that costs do not tell the whole story; discussing components that should go into the decision (cost, maintenance, energy use, and environmental costs); and concluding that important elements in reducing life-cycle costs include energy savings through increased insulation, reduced maintenance costs through design and system protection, and reuse or recycling at the end of the systems useful life.

Outlines a "total asset management" plan of managing facilities, organizing facilities management around concepts of planning, prevention, life-cycle costing, standardization, proactivity and communication.

This article covers life cycle comparison and more accurate budgeting through life cycle analysis of flooring materials. Key points include: comparison of the performance characteristics of rubber, vinyl, and carpet; whether low initial cost products deliver long-term value; and variables to consider when making an accurate life cycle cost analysis.

The past five years have seen a true paradigm shift in the way higher education plans for capital renewal. An estimated 10 percent now utilize some form of life cycle planning for capital renewal. Life cycle planning is a methodology that allows campuses to easily create multi-year plans for facilities renewal. It is based on two key elements: (a) Building systems have known life expectancies; and (b) the remaining life of each building system can be estimated.

When planning for a new facility, consideration of maintenance needs is crucial to successful design. Designing for maintenance needs involves considering such factors as the durability of materials used, the cost and lifecycle of the materials, and the flexibility of the maintenance staff. Stresses the importance of including key members of the school system's maintenance staff in decision making processes and establishing maintenance standards from the beginning.

The tight schedule of developing, designing, and managing educational facilities limits the time and resources needed to correctly assess the full cost of building materials. As a result, the selection of interior finishing materials is commonly driven solely by initial cost. This study evaluates interior floor materials currently available for use in K-12 educational facilities in the State of Florida. The range of materials chosen for the comparison encompasses common flooring materials installed over appropriate sub-floor materials. The flooring alternatives are evaluated using a service life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis based on the 50-year service life specified by the Florida Department of Education. A net present worth (NPW) analysis that includes initial costs, operation and maintenance costs, and replacement costs of each selection is used to evaluate the materials. Interior floorings initial cost, replacement cost, service life, and operations and maintenance costs are compared to the materials resulting. [Authors' abstract]

Nevada's Clark County, the fastest growing school district in the nation, uses a life-cycle facilities management approach that monitors the individual components of each building on a database. The district's 10-year building program is addressing facilities infrastructure renewal, deferred maintenance, replacement, and new school construction.

Discusses life cycle cost analysis when deciding on flooring finishes and examines operations and maintenance cost effectiveness relative to hard, resilient, and soft flooring. A chart of evaluated flooring materials' characteristics, appropriate maintenance procedures, and recommended frequency is included.

Discusses how architects and school districts can learn from the past to avoid repeating costly mistakes. Addressed are architectural fees and the importance of not severely reducing time and cost spent in design to help ensure better facility performance later. Life-cycle costs are described.

Examines a Pennsylvania school's successful planning, design, and bidding process for acquiring a geothermal heat pump(GHP)system whose subsequent efficiency became award-winning for environmental excellence. Charts and statistical tables describe the GHP's energy-savings. Concluding comments review the lessons learned from the process.

Presents the lessons learned when facility use and abuse and proper planning are not adequately done in the school design and construction process. Eleven steps for building durability into schools to decrease the effects of prolonged use and stretch a school's life expectancy are outlined.

This discusses committing the time, manpower, and money to help the HVAC industry learn to speak the financial language, to move more applications to life-cycle cost evaluations, and to make decisions that are both business- and earth-wise.

The author discusses using life-cycle costs to evaluate facilities management decisions with James McMahon, deputy director for Wisconsin’s Bureau of Engineering and Energy Management.

In buying school supplies and roofing, school districts need to realize that low bid too often equates to low quality, high maintenance, poor performance, and short life. The key is to write bid specifications that look at the life-cycle cost, not just the initial cost.

Most facility and finance managers cannot adequately handle school infrastructure issues because they lack the tools to describe the problem appropriately. Facility accounting gives managers accurate deferral and projected replacement costs, using nationally recognized life-cycle and cost data. Facility accounting enables proper management of physical assets, ensuring that they contribute to an institution's overall competitiveness.

The Tacoma (Washington) School District has been using life-cycle costing successfully for several years to compare energy efficiency of climate-control systems for new schools. The analysis includes initial cost, energy cost, operational cost, and maintenance cost. Life-cycle costing was used to determine which of two roofing systems to use on a new building.

Life cycle costing establishes a realistic comparison of the cost of owning and operating products. The formula of initial cost plus maintenance plus operation divided by useful life identifies the best price over the lifetime of the product purchased.

A heat pump life-cycle cost analysis is used to explain the technique. Items suggested for the life-cycle analysis approach include lighting, longer-life batteries, site maintenance, and retaining experts to inspect specific building components.

Presents a quantitative method developed at Stanford University that allows administrators to accurately assess the future capital requirements necessary for renewal and replacement of campus buildings.

Compares the life cycle approach for campus building repair and renovation to the University of California's comprehensive building maintenance formula and advises that formulas be used cautiously as a method of determining appropriate budget levels.

Results of two value engineering studies have shown that a review early in the design process can help save costs in school construction, maintenance, operation, and replacement. The value engineering concepts and technical manual are being presented throughout the state of Washington.

Examples show that operation and maintenance costs often mean that the cheaper model costs more per hour of use than a more expensive, but longer lasting, model.

Life-cycle costing helped design a modernization program at four elementary schools in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Life-cycle cost analysis deals with both present and future costs and attempts to relate the two as a basis for making decisions. This article lays the groundwork for a better understanding of the techniques of life-cycle cost analysis.