Costing Whole Life Performance
what we understand,” he says. “We have a fear about the process better and be able to implement a
how to cost the future so it falls into the ‘too difficult’ WLC approach as part of their overall strategy.
box.” Clients appreciate having budget options and clear
Green argues that the industry needs a new payment methodologies for working out how much things cost
structure that rewards the design team for learning the throughout their operational life – that way they are
skills required to cost the future. The methodology for able to assess the true cost of sustainability, according
carrying out these tasks is outlined in BS ISO 15686 to Green.
Part 5, but Green believes the key is for clients to start David Churcher of the Building Services Research
thinking about their building costs as part of their and Information Association believes there are a
mainstream business. growing number of persuasive arguments for adopting
Says Green: “We must stop clients from asking for this approach. “Fluctuating running costs produce
whole life costing because most of the time they don’t nasty surprises for clients and business profits are
know what they are asking for. It is better for building directly linked to worker productivity. Estate costs are
professionals to work with them on their overall increasingly under the spotlight as areas where savings
business costs.” can be made.”
By making the building design issues part of He also points out that BREEAM credits are
mainstream business cost, clients will understand awarded for taking a WLC approach and says more
clients are determined to achieve ‘excellent’ ratings to
boost their green credentials – which in turn helps to
Clients
attract and retain quality staff and customers.
appreciate
However, he adds that estimating operating,
maintenance, energy and replacement costs is a
having budget complex and difficult exercise. It is also very hard
options
to estimate when plant will have to be replaced. But
and clear
by adopting a clear methodology and then running a
number of ‘what if’ scenarios, engineers can make
methodologies a persuasive case to their clients for the upfront
for working
investment needed.
out how much
Generally, clients are interested in adopting WLC
techniques and the sustainability agenda is driving
things will cost them in that direction but, as the CIBSE seminar
throughout their
showed, there are some very tricky barriers to be
operational life
overcome.
The new British Standards will clearly help, but
there is growing pressure on the building services
industry to produce properly costed, evidence-based
evaluations to persuade clients to look beyond their
current short-term cost worries and take a brave
step into the future. l
To order a copy of CIBSE Guide M, please visit the online
bookshop at
www.cibse.org
David Churcher: avoiding nasty surprises for clients
www.cibsejournal.com March 2009 CIBSE Journal 57
CIBSEmar09 pp54-57 Costing.indd 57 5/3/09 14:16:09
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