From the Editor
If you’re sitting at your desk reading this right now, and you can hear a jackhammer outside, the hum of a nearby fluorescent light or even the smooth jazz on your cubicle neighbor’s radio, your office may have acoustical issues.

As more and more companies switch to space-efficient open office plans, acoustical considerations are gaining momentum as a key consideration. A key tenet of green design is occupant-friendliness, and almost nothing affects an occupant’s experience in a space more than acoustics, according to the Center for the Built Environment.

Though there are no LEED credits for acoustics, a few projects have received Innovation in Design credits for strategies like using soundmasking systems in open office plans or considering how HVAC system choices affect the decibel level inside a building. Dozens of building choices — from windows to exterior claddings to lighting to building orientation — may affect acoustics, so LEED credits for acoustics may be a possibility in the relatively near future.

Like many other aspects of green building and design, an integrated design process is critical to identifying how all these building parts intersect. So, acoustics is clearly an issue that will, if you’ll forgive the terrible pun, continue to generate a ton of buzz. As always, I’d love to hear your feedback. What have you done to address acoustics in your green space?

Cheers,

Green Strategies
Listen Up: Consider How Acoustics Can Complement Green Design
Facility executives should consider acoustics as a fundamental part of a green building. Here are some things to consider.

In the News
USGBC Opens Call for Ideas About LEED
The U.S. Green Building Councils has set up a Website for the public to add suggestions about the various LEED rating systems. One possibility is to suggest adding a credit or two for acoustics.

Green Toolkit
Acoustics: Discover the Advantage in Design
This site includes just about everything you’d ever care to learn about office acoustics, including a search engine for acoustical consultants, a list of codes and standards, case studies, and project design tips and remedies.

Green Pulse

How much effort do you put into considering acoustics in office space?
— It is a top priority.
— It is of medium importance.
— We don’t really think much about acoustics.

Click here to respond to the poll. If you are not yet a member of MyFacilitiesnet.com, please click here first to register, then sign into your account, and then click here to vote.

GreenTech Conference & Exposition

An Introduction to Retro-commissioning

This presentation from GreenTech 2009, by James Huber, president of Complete Commissioning gives a concise overview of how to return building systems – HVAC especially — to original specifications….and make sure they stay that way.

Also, registration for Facility Decisions is now open. The show is being held Sept. 22-23, 2009, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.