Operations representativesy can help to bridge the gap between capital and operations budgets by participating in life cycle cost analyses, especially relating to maintenance costs. Involving operations staff in the building design provides a practical perspective regarding the impacts of design concepts, while reducing the operations learning curve at the start of occupancy.

Cost estimators can track additional capital costs or savings resulting from green design. Working together with energy modelers, design engineers, and operations staff, they can also take a leading role in developing life cycle cost analyses.

Commissioning agents are essential for ensuring that a building's mechanical systems are constructed to specifications and capable of operating as designed. Yet they also have a role to play in reviewing the Owner's Project Requirements, Basis of Design, and Schematic, Design and Construction Documents. As an independent, third party that works for the owner, the Commissioning Agent is in an idea position to make recommendations for the most efficient, cost-effective designs.

Many new controls strategies such as demand-control ventilation or measurement and verification requiments will not be included in the basic packages offered by controls vendors. It is therefore important that specialized controls requirements are communicated and incorporated into contracts early to avoid project delays or added costs.

Energy modeling is an essential tool for high performance building design. Results from multiple parametric runs (i.e., design variations) will enable the team to make design decisions that are based on projected life cycle costs, not just capital costs. Retaining an energy modeler early in the Schematic phase will make this process easier, as well as result in a more robust energy model.

Sustainability Consultant

Sustainability consultants can help to frame the sustainability goals of the project as early as Pre-design. In the early stages of the project, sustainability consultants can discuss the financial and environmental benefits of green building, as well as available green buildings resources.

The Harvard Green Campus Initiative is available to develop project goals using the Harvard Sustainability Principles and Harvard's Green Building Guidelines, set an expectation that the project team will follow integrated design strategies, and discuss green design precedents at Harvard.