WAYNE, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#metrics–Bala Consulting Engineers, Inc. (“Bala”) announced the availability of the Bala Sustainability Index™ (BSI) which compiles the most important metrics in the industry today regarding sustainability and community impact into a single view for new construction or major renovations on buildings that are 20,000 sq. ft or more. Until now, it has been difficult for building owners/developers to get a consolidated view of major sustainability metrics on their projects. This proprietary snapshot gives owners and design teams a holistic view of a building’s green initiative baselines and shows how it evolves over the course of the project to highlight the effect of design decisions. The BSI can be used for promoting sustainability goals internally and externally, and provides tracking and ongoing monitoring throughout the project.
The Bala Sustainability Index compares the building to various industry metrics such as AIA 2030 Goals or emissions-based local legislation targets, Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), Energy Use Intensity (EUI), Operational Carbon Intensity (OCI), and Embodied Carbon Intensity (ECI). Additionally, the BSI tracks common project goals such as water reduction, renewable energy use and climate resiliency. This information is presented in a simple to understand graphic which owners can use internally, or with buying or leasing agents to show transparency to tenants. The BSI can also present validation of local law compliance with oversight agencies.
“Sustainability can get complicated very quickly with evolving acronyms, changing legislation/requirements, and the ways in which this information is calculated,” said Kimberly Burkert, CEO of Bala Consulting Engineers. “We believe the Bala Sustainability Index’s consolidated, yet easily understandable, graphics can transform the industry by using simple and common metrics to drive sustainability forward and create real climate action.”
“We use the Bala Sustainability Index because it places the primacy on transparency around the metrics and indices that are important for sustainable development,” said Karen Petersburg, Vice President, Development & Construction for PowerHouse, American Real Estate Partners data center platform. “Setting these benchmarks and monitoring throughout the lifecycle of a project helps us drive the sustainability conversation forward, hold project goals front and center for the design team, and provide future tenants and other stakeholders with a transparent view of PowerHouse’s Sustainability Program initiatives.”
Bala’s proprietary approach provides clients with an initial sample of the BSI at the conclusion of the Concept or Schematic Design Phase. Updates are incorporated through the Design Development and Construction Documents phases as part of Bala’s full suite of services. A final version will be issued after design completion.
Data center applications are leading the use of the BSI to help with industry transparency and community engagement for new construction. Additionally, any large public company with an ESG reporting plan will likely be required to report emissions and climate action to the SEC for compliance. The BSI provides a baseline and ongoing reporting capabilities to meet these requirements.
About Bala
Bala Consulting Engineers has been at the forefront of providing critical and technologically advanced engineering services for more than 40 years. Bala is a dynamic growth-oriented company, built on relationships with our clients, staff, and industry partners. Our breadth of engineering, commissioning and consulting experience for corporate, data center, education, high-rise, healthcare, life science and multi-unit housing projects has resulted in improved returns on investment, better performing buildings and optimal user experiences. Headquartered in Philadelphia, with offices from Boston to Washington DC, our staff of over 200 engineers, designers and support personnel are licensed to practice in 44 states and have completed projects both nationally and internationally. For more information, visit us at bala.com.
Contacts
Jennifer Kamienski, 201.519.4536
