A cost-based improvement model for the Semaan Tool for assessing and rating sustainability CCO-STARS

Abstract

The construction industry requires the consumption of large amount of natural resources causing various environmental problems. In order to minimize this consumption, scientists and engineers diverted to green building in an effort to become environmentally friendly. Many green rating systems exists for green building assessment; to name few: LEED, BREEAM, ARZ, STARS etc....In 2015, Semaan Tools For Assessing And Rating Sustainability (STARS) was developed to suits the special content of Lebanon. However, one of the main defacing in this system is the lack of tools for cost analysis allocation specific to criteria of green building construction industry. To fill in this gap, this project uses STARS model, and develops a Cost-based improvement model to it, entitled the CCO-STARS. The CCO-STARS evaluates the original Bill of Quantities of the building project, and rates the building according to STARS. Then, it evaluates the potential cost improvement in order to increase the 'green' rate of STARS. This version of the system gives the option to the manager to choose which improvement he prefers, and evaluates the total improvement cost for each STARS increase In a nutshell, the CCO-STARS model is applied to a building case study in order to test its functionality.