In addition to promoting sustainability/green design and construction, SBIC is eager to share our overarching philosophy that sustainability, while critical, cannot stand alone. We are all aware of the effects, for example, of natural disasters and the importance of disaster resistance in the wake of the Katrina and Rita hurricanes and the increased need for accessibility and security in our buildings.
A more inclusive, integrated perspective, which we call Beyond GreenTM, is required. Understanding and applying a whole building approach from design to turnover makes good sense.
The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council was founded in 1980 as the Passive Solar Industries Council (PSIC). We served as a clearinghouse on passive solar design for the major building trade groups, including those representing architects, home builders, the glass industry, and building owners.
In the 1990s, PSIC’s scope expanded to include the other major aspects of sustainable design and construction including optimizing site potential, minimizing energy use, using renewable energy sources, conserving and protecting water, using environmentally preferable products, enhancing indoor environmental quality, and optimizing operations and maintenance practices.
