Integrative Process-Value Engineering

You may have heard the saying that “value engineering” has nothing to do with either value or engineering. What we call “VE” usually involves late-in-the-game redesign, cutting costs to bring a project in on budget. Too often, VE is false economy. Cuts often occur based solely on the first costs of individual items with little consideration for how those cuts can increase costs elsewhere. One common example: Reducing the thermal performance of the building envelope might save initially on enclosure costs, but increasing the thermal load could require redesigning the mechanical systems for greater capacity. Bigger equipment costs more. The up-front savings shrinks, and future operating costs balloon. This Pilot Credit’s requirements describe cost analyses that “bundle” interrelated systems to account for these ripples. Done right, this process occurs throughout design, rather than just at the end, to eliminate the ill-considered, last-minute changes commonly called “Value Engineering.” For more on the Integrative Process, see the ANSI Standard Guide: http://www.usgbc.org/resources/integrative-process-ip-ansi-consensus-national-standard-guide%C2%A9-20-design-and-construction-.

I'd say yes, include the VE adjustments. While we can chuckle about the array of VE jokes, please note that smart VE (during the early phases) can stave off harsher cuts later.