The Sustainability Committee of the American Society of
Civil Engineers’ Structural Engineering Institute (ASCE-SEI) has re-launched
their website with a new, more dynamic and interactive format. The goal of the
new website is to provide current information, promote discussion, and build
connections between organizations and individuals interested in sustainable
structures.
The new site will present weekly updates from the
committee’s technical working groups. Web 2.0 features will make it easier to
interact with the site and allow visitors to share interesting links with their
personal networks.
The SEI Sustainability Committee was formed in 2005 with the
following mission to:
·
Advance the understanding of sustainability in
the structural community
·
Incorporate concepts of sustainability into
structural engineering standards and practice.
In 2010 the committee published a 300-page book titled Sustainability Guidelines for the Structural
Engineers, available for purchase through ASCE Press. The book provides
guidelines and advice to structural engineers, identifying the important role
that structural engineers play in sustainable development.
Structures take up an enormous amount of material resources
and energy in their manufacture, transport, construction, and end-of-life
disposal. Efficient material use and specification contributes greatly to the
sustainability of a project. Superstructure is also typically the first item
constructed on site and can therefore inhibit or enhance the subsequently
installed systems that greatly affect operational energy performance. Finally,
structural engineers are in a position of influence within the design team, connecting
the purse strings of the developer to the activities of the builder. Communication
and decisions made with the design-build team ultimately determine whether a sustainable
project will be pursued.
To learn more about structures and sustainability continue to explore this site.
The SEI Sustainability Committee welcomes all design professionals.
For additional information about the website’s features and
the public roll-out please contact the website working group lead, Ken Maschke,
kmaschke_at_thorntontomasetti.com
