Why is Green Development So Important?
The environmental problems which face us today have now grown to the point that they affect our very quality of life. There is increasing demand for a limited supply of natural resources used in the industry.
Building Industry Responsibilities
Public and private interests must work together and begin to redesign the built environment. The entire building industry—including owners, design professionals, facility managers, construction workers and technicians—can and should contribute to this effort. A 1995 report by the prestigious environmental research organization, the Worldwatch Institute, begins to quantify the tremendous effect that buildings have on the environment.
Buildings account for:
one-sixth of the world’s fresh water withdrawals
one-quarter of the world’s wood harvest
two-fifths of the world’s material and energy flows
Side effects from this massive resource use include deforestation, air and water pollution, stratospheric ozone depletion, and the risk of global warming. Unlike pollution from cars and factories, which have been the subject of public battles in many parts of the world, the harm caused by buildings has largely escaped scrutiny. This is ironic, since there are now cost effective ways to lessen the negative environmental impact of new and retrofitted buildings. If people were only more aware of these facts, we could preserve the security, comfort, and amenities that people expect from modern buildings without injuring the environment as much.
Building Industry Opportunities
While the construction and operation of buildings take a great toll on the earth, there are already many practical, cost effective ways to improve the environmental and technological performance of buildings while enhancing functionality, comfort and aesthetics. If we can embrace a conservative ethic that advocates the efficient use of natural resources and seeks to eliminate waste and pollution, we will be making a valuable contribution toward our future.
Green buildings take into account the full life-cycle of building materials. From the acquisition of natural resources, product manufacture and construction, installation and use, to their ultimate salvage or reuse, environmental impacts are minimized at every stage.
Significant long-term financial benefits can be gained due to increased building durability, lower maintenance and energy costs, and greater efficiency. In addition, many U.S. utility companies are willing to help defray the incremental costs of high efficiency motors, equipment, lighting and glazing, by offering cash rebates to encourage use of these energy efficient strategies.
Where productivity is figured into life cycle cost accounting, building green becomes even more compelling: see enclosed article "The Economics of Environmentally Responsible Buildings", by Barry H. Dimson, President of EcoSmart Healthy Properties, LLC.
This data suggests that if a building owner takes into account the quality of life of a building’s occupants, the total life cycle costs can be substantially reduced due to better morale, less absenteeism, and increased productivity and creativity.
Evidence indicates that green design is the right thing to do for the environment and the bottom line. Organizations and corporations can benefit by committing to environmental policies. By displaying environmental leadership they will attract trade and public support for their company, products, and technological services.
10 Simple Things You Can Do - Architecture
1. Establish an Energy Budget
An energy budget accounts for all energy use for heating, cooling, lighting, fans and motors, and plug loads per gross square foot per year and is generally expressed in BTU/SF/YR. Work with an energy model (use Doe-2, Blast, Trane, or Trace) from the beginning of conceptual design to develop your program and site specific energy budget, and then to test design options. A good minimum goal is to improve upon ASHRAE 90.1-1989 by 30%, but you may be able to do much better.
2. Optimize the Design of the Building Envelope
First consider building orientation, sunshading, thermal mass and the color and reflectivity of walls and roof surfaces. Then develop optimal design criteria for insulation and windows. Do not rely on code minimums. Maximize the use of natural light using a holistic approach that addresses artificial light and heat gain. Use daylighting models to ensure that lighting is effective.
3. Use High Efficiency Standards for Electric Lighting
Use of high efficiency lamps and ballasts, task lighting, reduced ambient lighting and smart controls such as occupancy sensors and daylight dimming can dramatically reduce energy usage associated with electric lighting. California Title 24, a good minimum standard for electric lighting, establishes limits for w/sf, requires dual level switching and establishes zones for lighting controls in daylit areas.
4. Design for Good Indoor Air Quality
Use ASHRAE 62-1989 as a design guideline for Indoor Air Quality. ASHRAE 62-1989 addresses issues such as minimum ventilation rates, documentation of HVAC design decisions and building systems. Evaluate ambient air quality at the fresh air intake, and carefully locate intake and exhaust air locations to avoid contamination of the building’s fresh air supply.
5. Use Water Efficient Plumbing Fixtures
Follow the low-flow fixture requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 at a minimum. Use self-closing or electronic faucets for lavatories.
6. Investigate Building Materials
Compare the environmental impacts of material options throughout their life cycles, from raw materials; production process; packaging and shipping; installation and use; and disposal or reuse. Investigate associated materials for installation, finishing, and maintenance. Select preferred products and require environmental improvements in the specification (include low VOC requirements, minimum recycled content, avoidance of toxic materials and admixtures).
7. Manage Stormwater
Design drainage systems that will allow stormwater to leave the site at a rate that is equal to or less than the rate that stormwater left the site prior to development. Utilize existing site drainage patterns and provide on-site stormwater retention or detention where necessary to decrease the intensity of runoff and maximize groundwater recharge. Minimize the use of impervious surfaces through compact development and use of pervious paving materials.
8. Use Suitable Plant Material
Use plant material tolerant of the site’s soils, climate, and water availability. Plants should not require supplemental irrigation or excessive maintenance or fertilization once established. If water intensive plantings are desired, identify a limited zone for their use, and consider rainwater catchment strategies for irrigation.
9. Plan for Occupant Recycling
Provide facilities for recycling at the point of use on each floor (e.g. galleys and copy rooms) and a staging area at the loading dock. Consider recycling chutes in multi-story buildings. Common recyclables are white paper, newspaper, glass, aluminum, and plastic. Some buildings also recycle cardboard, mixed paper, and organic waste.
10. Recycle Construction Waste
Contact local solid waste representatives to determine the local infrastructure for recycling. Require the mandatory recycling of common recyclables (such as: asphalt, concrete, wood, metals, plastic containers and cardboard) and the optional recycling of other materials.
10 Simple Things You Can Do - Planning
1. Get involved in a region's local policy review and development process
Attend local planning board meetings or volunteer as a member. Encourage officials and the public to address the social, natural, historic and cultural impacts of proposed developments.
2. Redevelop existing urban areas
Reduce disturbance of undevelopd land and the negative effects of suburban sprawl by redeveloping existing urban areas or through urban infill. Develop neighborhood services such as housing, grocery stores, dry cleaners, doctors' offices and other professional services to use existing infrasturcture and to economically strengthen existing urban areas.
3. Encourage higher density developments
To encourage use of mass transit, develop higher density mixed-use developments with pedestrian connections near transit nodes. Develop a balance of "homes-to-jobs" within communities to reduce commute times.
4. Encourage pedestrian circulation
Animate streets by prohibiting blank building facades and encouraging access to retail space at street level. Promote the use of pedestrian networks to connect neighborhoods, offices, schools and shopping centers. In undeveloped areas, use stream cooridors and flood plains for pedestrian and bicycle transportation networks.
5. Plan developments to be in harmony with the area's natural environment
Provide development patterns and densities that complement the existing context. Use tools such as overlay districts to preserve historical or cultural areas.
6. Plan developments in response to the historic and cultural context
Use natural areas as land use buffers between conflicting land uses to decrease noise, light and air pollution associated with some types of development. Working with the natural environment can reduce development costs.
7. Protect hydrological systems from development
Identify issues regarding the 100-year flood plain, wetlands, stream corridors and aquifer recharge zones as open space preservation areas. Use this understanding to protect wildlife habitats, provide for natural water treatment and preserve vegetation.
8. Manage storm water runoff and quality
Use detention and retention ponds to allow storm water to enter the existing natural drainage system at a rate equal to or less than it entered the system before development. Understand the options for water quality management, which include multi-sourcing water for domestic and irrigation purposes.
9. Locate development within appropriate topographical areas
Reduce grading and erosion by locating developments that require large footprints or parking areas - typically industrial and commercial - on slight (0-5%) slopes and developments that require smaller footprints and parking areas (residential) on moderate (5-12%) slopes. In areas with severe slopes (above 12%), encourage open space preservation.
10. Locate development within appropriate vegetative areas
Minimize vegetative disturbance by locating higher densities and uses that typically require large building footprints or parking areas around heavily treed areas. Heavily forested areas should be developed with lower densities and uses that require smaller footprints. When economics dictate a higher density, increase the site's floor area ratio to protect forested areas. Use existing forested areas as buffers between conflicting land uses, such as residential and industrial.
10 Simple Things You Can Do - Interior Design
1. Design for flexibility.
By designing in flexibility through the use of modular planning, future renovations can limit waste. Considering future needs and designing for ease of expansion also conserves resources.
2. Maximize the use of natural daylight.
Develop space planning to maximize access to natural light, avoid closed spaces such as walled offices at the perimeter. Consider light colored finishes to maximize daylight distribution. Specify internal shading devices at windows that contribute to energy-efficiency and daylighting strategies.
3. Set high lighting efficiency standards.
You can dramatically reduce energy use with high efficiency lamps, reflectors, and ballasts, a combination of task and reduced ambient lighting, and smart controls such as occupancy sensors and daylight dimming. Specify light-emitting diode (LED) exit lights. Incorporate daylight in building interiors as a source of ambient light.
4. Design for good Indoor Air Quality.
Ventilation rates are determined by the design of the base building HVAC system; however, interior designers should explore opportunities to upgrade systems where necessary to meet current standards. Develop space planning to isolate potential sources of contamination such as print rooms and food service areas. Carefully select building materials to limit the introduction of pollutants into the building (see #5).
5. Reuse existing materials, use less materials, and specify environmentally responsible building materials.
Evaluate life cycle environmental impacts to select environmentally preferable options. Specify quantifiable improvements such as low VOC requirements, minimum recycled content, and avoidance of toxic materials and/or admixtures. Consider use of refurbished furniture, carpet, and systems furniture instead of new.
6. Specify energy-efficient and water saving appliances.
Encourage the use of EPA Energy Star copiers, fax machines, computers, and printers. Specify energy and water efficient dishwashers and refrigerators.
7. Use water efficient plumbing fixtures.
The minimum standard should be the low-flow fixture requirements of the 1992 Energy Policy Act. Use of aerators and self-closing or electronic faucets for lavatories can further reduce water usage.
8. Design for ease of maintenance and the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products.
Select materials that are low maintenance and that have compatible maintenance requirements. Consult with cleaning specialists during the design process to develop a plan for future cleaning procedures that use non-toxic, low VOC cleansers. Accommodate needs for proper storage of chemicals and equipment.
9. Make room for building recycling facilities.
Provide facilities for recycling at the point of use on each floor (e.g. galleys and copy rooms). Consider the use of recycling chutes in multi-story buildings. Common recyclables are white paper, newspaper, glass, aluminum and plastic. Other potential recyclables include cardboard, mixed paper, and organic waste (food and soiled paper). Staging areas need to be provided at the loading dock and a compactor for cardboard may be desirable.
10. Recycle demolition and construction waste.
During demolition recycle steel studs, metal from ceiling grids, ductwork, metal frames, doors, and carpet. Salvage cabinets, plumbing fixtures, hardware, and equipment by donating them to Habitat for Humanity or other local nonprofit. Use construction waste specification that mandates recycling of concrete, wood, metals, plastic containers, and cardboard and encourages recycling of other materials.
