basics of green building

The Green Roundtable(copyright © Green Roundtable 2007)

1

The Green Roundtable

Introduction

to

Green Building

and


Green Roundtable

Consulting, education, training and strategic planning

to create healthy environments by integrating principles of

sustainability into mainstream planning, design and construction.


• What is the imperative of green building?

• How do we define green building?

• How do we create green buildings?

• How do we measure green?

• What do I do next?

Questions for tonight


5

Global Warming??


Even if you‟re a GW skeptic,

here‟s the problem…


8

Some sad realities….

• Ozone depletion

• Air & water pollution

• Destruction of worlds forests & green spaces

• Species & biodiversity loss

• Acid rain

• Collapse of world‟s fisheries

• Fresh water scarcity

• Topsoil loss; Soil contamination

Even if you don‟t believe that the global warming

threat is real, we are facing these certain realities:


9

And if global warming is real…

• Crop failure on a massive scale

• Increases in drought frequency

• Deadly heat waves

• Rising sea levels/ coastal flooding

• Increased frequency & duration of storm activity

• Expansion of desert areas

• Increases in disease vectors


10

On a more local or personal level…

• Rapidly rising energy costs

• Escalating prices on consumer goods

• Blackouts/ brownouts

• Water shortages

• Supply chain interruptions

• More frequent economic losses due to increased

storm intensity & flooding


11

The United States produces 25% of global

greenhouse gas emissions. Americans

produce twice as much per person than other

industrialized nations

Some sobering facts…


12

Water tables are now falling in countries that

contain over half the world‟s people



There are currently 1,243 EPA Superfund sites

on the National Priorities List and 60 more

proposed (as of 3/20/07)



14

The incidence of asthma has increased

dramatically over the last 25 years in the U.S.

and other industrialized nations.



15

The EPA estimates that indoor air can be up

to five times as contaminated with VOCs as

outside air.



The EPA also reports that the airborne

contaminants found in our homes are three

times more likely to cause cancer than the

pollutants outside



17

Cancer clusters have been identified in

some more-affluent communities and have

been attributed to chemically-intensive

landscape management practices



A 15-year study in Oregon concluded that

women who work in the home have a 54%

higher death rate from cancer than women

who work outside the home



19

China recently caught up to the United States

in terms of overall energy consumption.

India isn‟t far behind.

The U.S. & Canada are still the per capita

leaders by far



20


The U.S., with 5% of the worlds population,

consumes more than a third of it‟s resources

and over a quarter of its energy resources.


21

Half of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions come from

buildings (construction/ operation)

Buildings account for nearly half of the total energy

use in the United States

Buildings represent the single largest energy

consumer in the U.S., followed by the transportation

sector

Where do buildings fit in…


22


Additional housing sector facts…

According to HUD, if Americans can reduce

home energy use by 10% over the next ten

years (a doable number!), it will be the

energy equivalent of 40 new power plants

(600 Mw) and the greenhouse gas equivalent

of 25 million vehicles


Additional housing sector facts…

There are more than 76 million residential

buildings in the USA today

Estimates of residential energy consumption

as a proportion of the nation‟s total energy

load range from around 20 – 40%

From 2000 to 2005, winter heating costs for

natural gas increased by 115%, oil by 135%,

and electricity by 18%


25

Food for thought….


26


27

Perhaps the most sobering fact of all…


It has been estimated that in order for

the current population of the Earth to

live at the same quality of life as the

industrialized nations, it would require

the resources of four „Earth

equivalents‟.

Yikes!


29

This we know…

As a nation, the United States uses a disproportionate

share of the world‟s natural resources

We live on a planet of finite natural resources

We are currently using those resources at an

unsustainable rate


30

This we know…

These conclusions are rooted in simple physics,

chemistry, biology and economics

Energy prices are likely to trend in only one direction

for the foreseeable future! Most other resource prices

are likely to follow the same trend


31

Carbon Footprint

The amount of CO2 released to the atmosphere as a

result of a given process, enterprise or activity (used to

measure global warming potential)

See:

http://www.carbonfootprint.com/USA/calculator.html

http://www.carbonfootprint.com/USA/calculator.html


32

The bottom line:

As resource consumers, we all bear

some responsibility!


33

A solution:

Green Building


34

Defining green building:

The effective and responsible integration

of the built environment into the natural

world to protect natural resources and

ensure healthy and comfortable indoor

environments


The primary key to success:

MINDSET

• Understanding that virtually everything that

we consume has some kind of impact

• Accepting accountability for that impact


Green Design and Construction is NOT:

• Applying „green‟ add on stuff

Green Design and Construction IS:

• Looking at what we do in a new way

• More closely aligning natural and human systems

• Don‟t limit discussion just to “green”

Mindset


“Going beyond”

Much of the focus in green building is on how we can

minimize harm to the natural world and human

systems while creating the built environment

Perhaps we can shift the focus to how the built

environment can have a net positive impact on the

natural environment & the human sphere of activity

“Regenerative design”


Keys to success

Maintaining an awareness throughout that all

products have life-cycle impacts will go a long

way toward helping you to green your projects

Taking a systems approach to project design

and viewing the building holistically, with

the understanding that any given element or

system could have an impact on all others


Keys to success

• Careful design

• Using a team approach between owners,

design professionals and code officials, and

bringing everybody together early in the

process

• Early planning

• Taking a systems approach


Keys to success: Integrated Design Process

Goto:

www.nexusboston.com/space/events/ar

chived_events.html

http://www.nexusboston.com/space/events/archived_events.html

http://www.nexusboston.com/space/events/archived_events.html


Mindset


Why build green?

• Reduces the ecological footprint of the building

• Creates a safer and healthier indoor environment

• May improve property resale value

• Saves on utility expenses

• May increase affordability

• Typically results in a more durable, maintenance-free

building

• Reduces our dependence on foreign oil

Building green:

• Provides security/ passive survivability


43

• People

• Planet

• Prosperity

“The Triple Bottom Line”


44

• Economics- Reducing energy cost/ protecting the

bottom line

• Health- Maintaining a safe and healthy environment

for one‟s family & oneself

• Personal impact- Addressing the greater good-

minimizing environmental footprint

The three prime movers (in order):


What makes it green?

• Low embodied energy (entire lifecycle)

• Minimizes impact on wildlife habitat, green space,

waterways, etc

• Minimizes depletion of natural resources

• Poses minimal harm to humans during its

manufacture, transport, installation, end-use or

disposal


The quantity of energy required to manufacture, andsupply to the point of use including:

• Extraction • Transportation• Manufacturing

• Assembly • Installation• Some definitions also include:

Disassembly & Removal

What is embodied energy?


48

• Incorporate energy efficient design details

• Create a high-performance building envelope

• Employ water conservation strategies

• Employ natural daylighting techniques

• Use energy-efficient lighting, equipment & appliances

General strategies:

• Create comfortable & healthy indoor environments

• Minimize impact on building sites/ area


Underlying all:

ScaleScaleScale


The average size of a U.S. single-family

house has increased by 33% since 1975. At

the same time average family size has

decreased

Consider this:


How green is it?

• The “no-build” option is always the greenest way

• Smaller is greener

• More efficient material resource use is better

• The more durable (in use) & maintenance free the

better

• The lower the required operating energy, the better


Measuring green: Design Standards

• LEED - www.usgbc.org

• Energy Star Homes - www.energystar.gov

• International Energy Conservation Code (IEEC) -

http://www.iccsafe.org/

• Home Efficiency Rating System (HERS) -

http://www.energy.ca.gov/HERS

http://www.usgbc.org/

http://www.energystar.gov/

http://www.iccsafe.org/

http://www.energy.ca.gov/HERS


Measuring green: Design resources

• Building America-

http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/

about.html

• Environmental Building News/ Greenspec-

http://www.buildinggreen.com

•http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/P

rograms/Green%20Building/Sourcebook/index.htm

•http://www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings/residential/pdfs/

guide07.pdf

•DOE‟s High Performance Building Case Studies DB:

http://eere.energy.gov/buildings/database

http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/about.html

http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/about.html

http://www.buildinggreen.com/

http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy Efficiency/Programs/Green Building/Sourcebook/index.htm


http://www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings/residential/pdfs/guide07.pdf

http://www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings/residential/pdfs/guide07.pdf

http://eere.energy.gov/buildings/database

USGBC

Architects

Building

Owners

Planners

Federal,

Local,

and State

Governments

Utility

Managers

Nonprofit

Leaders

Engineers

Building

TenantsProperty

Managers

Product

Manufacturer

s

Interior

Designers

Code

Officials

Landscape

Architects

Financial

Planners

2002:

More than

80 million

square feet.

2003:

More than

141 million

square feet.

2004:

More than

180 million

square feet.

2005:

500 million

square feet.

Increase

in LEED

Projects

2006:

642 million

square feet.


• INSERT GRAPH FROM LEED

BROCHURE HERELaunched in late „07


Additional construction costs


Water Efficiency

Sustainable Sites

Energy & Atmosphere

Materials & Resources

Indoor Environmental Quality

Innovation & Design Process

The LEED Credit Categories


More info on LEED & LEED Accreditation:

http://www.nexusboston.com/action/information_resources/

leed_at_a_glance.html

http://www.usgbc.org

http://www.gbci.org

http://www.nexusboston.com/action/information_resources/leed_at_a_glance.html

http://www.nexusboston.com/action/information_resources/leed_at_a_glance.html


http://www.gbci.org/


LEED Leeds

What is LEED?


Famous Green Buildings in the Area

Forbes Lofts, Chelsea MA Macallen Building South Boston MA Manulife Building, Boston MA

Genzyme Center, Cambridge MABoston Nature Center, Boston MA


62

Cornerstones of green building (structure

itself)

Site Site

Site Site


63

A sampling of strategies &

approaches


64

Energy

General strategies:


Energy: A green building key…

Improving energy efficiency might be

considered the bedrock of green

building


Since buildings are so energy-intensive

in their construction, operation and

maintenance, much of green design

focuses on ways to moderate this

energy consumption



A University of Michigan study demonstrated that

greater than 90% of the embodied energy in a home

is attributable to operating energy



Key Principle- Saving energy

As a general rule the greatest energy savings will

be achieved through managing the demand side of

the equation, rather than the supply side.

In other words, you’ll get better bang for your buck

through energy conservation measures, like insulating

& minimizing air infiltration, than incorporating

expensive renewable energy systems such as wind

and solar.


Some potential exceptions:

Exceptions to this may include passive solar, and

situations where you qualify for a substantial rebate

and/or credit for other renewable energy systems

(keep in mind the embodied energy of systems

though!)

There are other compelling reasons to perform

upgrades like this, such as reduced reliance on

foreign energy resources, promotion of renewable

energy & local industry, passive survivability, etc.


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• Incorporate energy efficient design details

• Create a high-performance building envelope

• Use energy-efficient equipment & appliances

• Employ natural daylighting techniques

• Right-size heating & cooling equipment

• Use energy-efficient lighting

General strategies:

• Incorporate renewable energy sources

• Educate building occupants on use of systems!


Preventing heat loss- building envelope

• Air seal (prevent infiltration)

• Best bang for buck (residential) through air sealing!

Begin here!

• Insulate

• Use landscape features- vegetative shields, etc.

• Address lifestyle issues


Minimizing air infiltration(sealing building envelope)

• Min .35 Air changes per hour (ACH) for good

ventilation; max .50 for energy efficiency (Energy

Star)

• Openings to attic spaces are some of worst offenders

• Seal obvious openings- pipe penetrations, attic

scuttles, electrical receptacles, recessed lights, etc.

• Any place where two building planes meet is good

candidate for air sealing

• For additions/ new construction, use exterior air

barrier to minimize infiltration


Building wrap to

minimize air

infiltration &

protect from

moisture


Blower door

test to

measure air

leakage


Air leakage pathways


Insulate header/ rim joists w/ rigid foam & expanding foam


Air sealing, online product sources

• efi.org

• conservationtechnology.com


Insulating

• Resistance to heat flow (insulating ability) measured

in R-value; relative scale of effectiveness, and the

higher the R value, the better the insulating value

• Code represents absolute minimum; newer code

has more stringent requirements; tied to window area;

R-49 ceiling, R-21 walls, R-30 floors, R-13 basement

typical


Insulating guidelines

• Remember that insulation reduces cooling load as well!

• Go for low-hanging fruit- e.g. add more attic

insulation first if it is accessible and is not well

insulated; Don‟t forget the basement!

• Look for additional opportunities to insulate (other

than typical wall/ ceiling cavity insulation)

• Try to eliminate bridging (perimeter) heat loss

through structural elements, as it greatly reduces

overall insulation effectiveness


Bridging heat loss caused wall-staining over structural members


Windows

• „Low-e‟ coating reflects heat back into structure

• Performance measured in “U-value”; inverse of R-

value; measure of material‟s ability to conduct heat;

the lower the U-value, the better

• Double-glazed, argon filled preferred; Diminishing

returns with triple glazing

• Typical heat loss through windows about 20%

• Look for U-value of .35 or less

• Always look for Energy Star & NFRC labels

(energystar.gov; nfrc.org)


NFRC Label


Windows

• Provide nighttime insulation

• Used „tuned” glazing strategies

• Incorporate/ install overhangs & other shading

devices where appropriate

• E.g., Use windows w/ low SHGC on west-facing

windows; high SHGC on south-facing


Green Practice:

HVAC/ Plumbing/ Lighting


High-efficiency heating

• Boilers tend to have higher AFUE than furnaces

• Make sure heating systems have Annual Fuel

Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of at least 83% for oil-

fired and 90% for gas-fired, and Seasonal Energy

Efficiency Rating (SEER) of at least 13 for cooling

systems

• Choose Energy Star!

• “Right-size” systems using analysis tools (Manual J)

rather than rule-of-thumb methods; a right-sized

system can be up to 40% smaller than a

conventionally-sized system


High-efficiency heating

• Closed-cycle, condensing-type boilers and furnaces

are more efficient; they extract additional heat from

water vapor in flue gases

• These systems often don‟t need conventional flue pipe,

they can side vent, but they require a dedicated

combustion air source (coaxial flue pipe)


HVAC & Plumbing Systems

• Use structured plumbing & PEX piping

• Use demand pumps in DHW supply system

(gothotwater.com)

• Use heat recovery devices on DWV pipes

(gfxtechnology.com)

• Use instantaneous hot water heaters (tankless)

• Use zoned heating


Tankless water heaters

• Examples of brands: Rinnai, Noritz, Takagi

• Gas-fired typically more responsive and can provide

needed capacity more effectively

• Cost more than standard water heaters but last longer

• More choices as to location/ placement

• Direct-venting; e.g. can exhaust through wall

• Save energy by eliminating standing heat loss (vs.

conventional tank-style water heater); estimated savings

24 – 34%

• Look for min. flow rates of 0.3 – 0.5 gal./min.


Ductwork

• Move duct runs into conditioned spaces (thermal

envelope) if possible

• Seal ducts; use duct mastic for this if possible,

otherwise make sure duct tape is UL listed

• Insulate ducts in unconditioned spaces; for cooling

(A/C) ductwork, make sure insulation has external

vapor barrier to minimize condensation

• When insulating ducts in unconditioned basement,

you may make basement too cold; insulate

basement walls instead


Lighting strategies

• Natural daylighting strategies

• Zone lighting

• Solar landscape/ parking lot lighting

• Motion sensor outdoor lights

• Timer switches on bathroom fans

• High-efficiency lighting (CFLs, LED, etc)

• Dimmer switches, dimming ballasts, etc.

(especially where natural daylighting employed)


Appliances

• Buy Energy Star!

• Specify horizontal axis washing

machines-They can have fast payback

because they save water as well as energy

• Specify dishwashers w/ booster heater

• Don‟t specify oversized AC equipment!


A general list of tools offered by the U.S. Department of Energy

are available over the web at:http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory/subjects.cfm/pagename=subjects/pagename_menu=whole_building_analysis/pagename_submenu=load_calculation

General analysis tools

http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory/subjects.cfm/pagename=subjects/pagename_menu=whole_building_analysis/pagename_submenu=load_calculation





www.freeenergyanalysis.com/KeySpanbusiness

Online Business Energy Analyzer (Keyspan)

http://www.freeenergyanalysis.com/KeySpanbusiness


102

Materials

General strategies:


A new paradigm:

The Cradle-to-Cradle Lifecycle

See McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry

http://www.mbdc.com/c2c_home.htm

http://www.mbdc.com/c2c_home.htm


Materialsextraction/harvesting

Mfg/Processing End Use Disposal

Old Cradle to Grave Model: Linear flow


Cradle to Cradle: Cyclical, Regenerative

End Use

Demolition/Removal/Collection

Re-Manufacture/Re-Processing


Selection criteria: Materials

• Efficiently uses energy & resources

• Contains high recycled material content

• Derived from rapidly renewable resources

• Can be reused/ recycled at the end of it‟s useful life

• Can be down-cycled at the end of it‟s useful life

• Contains re-used/ salvaged material


Selection criteria: Materials

• Biodegradable

• Locally sourced

• Poses minimal harm in production, use, disposal

• Economics & environmental justice also important!


Post-Consumer vs. Pre-Consumer

aka Post-Industrial

Recycled Content

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.schoolinsites.com/SiSFiles/Schools/AL/LimestoneCounty/ElkmontHigh/Uploads/Other/%257BD0E8ED10-9FA7-4C2E-B31D-A38107E41C40%257D_recycle_logo.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.elkmonthigh.org/&h=325&w=324&sz=2&hl=en&start=11&tbnid=q4fvtRJNi7vexM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=118&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drecycle%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN


109

• Need to be wary of so-called “green” resources

sponsored by manufacturer associations

• Determining most important criteria can be very

subjective

Points to remember

• It may be difficult to determine the best-in-class

for a product category

• A product may be green on some attributes but not

on others

• Certain greenness criteria may be more important/

applicable to some product classes than to others


110

The Precautionary Principle

Precautionary Principle: "When an activity raises

threats of harm to human health or the

environment, precautionary measures should be

taken even if some cause and effect relationships

are not fully established scientifically. In this

context the proponent of an activity, rather than

the public, should bear the burden of proof." -

Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary

Principle, Jan. 1998

(http://www.sehn.org/wing.html)


Some things we may want to write off:

• Vinyl-based products

• Products containing halogenated fire-retardants

• Products containing heavy metals like arsenic

• Products that emit excessive amounts of

formaldehyde

• Appliances that contain HCFC‟s and do not meet the

standards referenced by LEED


3rd Party Resources for Judging Products

• Certification organizations (GreenSeal, FSC, etc.)

• LCA software tools (BEES, PHAROS, etc.)

• Online green product databases (e.g. GreenSpec)

• Manufacturer Material Safety Data Sheets

• Other online databases like NIH hazardous materials

database

(http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm)

http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm


Online resources

• Environmental Building News/ Greenspec-

http://www.buildinggreen.com

•http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/Progr

ams/Green%20Building/Sourcebook/index.htm





Product Certification

• Scientific Certification Systems

(www.scscertified.com)

• GreenSeal (www.greenseal.org)

• GreenGuard (www.greenguard.org)

http://www.scscertified.com/

http://www.greenseal.org/

http://www.greenguard.org/


Product Certification

• Green Label (http://www.carpet-rug.org/) (2nd party)

• Forest Stewardship Council (http://www.fscus.org/)

http://www.carpet-rug.org/



http://www.fscus.org/


Green Seal Product Categories

• Anti-Corrosive Paints (GC-03)**

• Commercial Adhesives (GS-36)

• Compact Fluorescent Lamps (GS-05)+

• Degreasers (GS-34)

• Food Service Packaging (GS-35)

• Green Procurement Criteria (GS-38)***

• Household Cleaners (GS-08)

• Industrial & Institutional Cleaners (GS-37)#

• Occupancy Sensors (GC-12)


• Paints (GS-11)**

• Powdered Laundry Bleach (GC-11)

• Printing and Writing Paper (GS-07)

• Recycled Content Latex Paint Standard (GS-43)

• Re-Refined Engine Oil (GS-03)

• Tissue Paper (GS-01)

• Windows (GS-13)

• Window Films (GS-14)

Green Seal Product Categories


118

Software tools


• BEES 4.0

(http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/software/bees.htm)

• Pharos (http://www.healthybuilding.net;

http://www.pharosproject.net/)

• Sylvatica (http://www.sylvatica.com/tools.html)

• LISA (http://www.lisa.au.com)

A sampling of software tools

http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/software/bees.htm

http://www.healthybuilding.net/

http://www.pharosproject.net/

http://www.sylvatica.com/tools.html

http://www.lisa.au.com/


PHAROS


122

• Choose materials that produce minimal off-gassing

• Look for high (post-consumer) recycled content

• Source locally

• Ask: What happens to this at the end of its useful life?

General strategies:

• Don‟t forget durability!

• Use salvaged materials whenever possible

• Keep it small!

• Use structure as finish


123

Last but not least:

Effectively manage construction waste

Reduce construction waste in the first place by

employing resource-efficient design strategies such

as advanced framing


124

Water

General strategies:


125

• Incorporate gray water systems

• Use low-flow & automatic fixtures

• Use dual-flush toilets & waterless urinals (or “micro-flush”)

Some Brands: Caroma, Kohler, Toto, Waterless

• Use composting toilets

General strategies:

• Use demand pumps (see www.gothotwater.com)

• Collect & use rainwater for utility purposes

http://www.gothotwater.com/


127

www.gothotwater.com


Gray water

• Collected from drain-waste-vent system other than

toilets, dishwashers & kitchen sinks with garbage

disposals (“Black water”)

• May be difficult to get local code approval

• Generally used for flushing toilets, landscape

irrigation & other non-potable, utility purposes


http://www.gaiam.com/product/eco-home-outdoor/energy-

efficient-climate-control/energy-saving-tools/toilet+lid+sink.do

Gray water: A direct approach

http://www.gaiam.com/product/eco-home-outdoor/energy-efficient-climate-control/energy-saving-tools/toilet+lid+sink.do
















Order a free water saving kit at:

www.mwra.com/04water/html/watsense.htm

MWRA- A water conservation resource


Water conservation resources

•http://www.mwra.com/comsupport/conservation/

gardeningtips.htm

• www.epa.gov/watersense

• www.waterwiser.org

• www.irrigation.org

• See also: Reliable Rain- A Practical Guide to Landscape

Irrigation, Howard Hendrix & Stuart Straw, Taunton Press, 1998

http://www.mwra.com/comsupport/conservation/



http://www.epa.gov/watersense

http://www.waterwiser.org/

http://www.irrigation.org/


133

Durability

General strategies:


Consequences of ignoring durability

• Reduced indoor environmental quality

• Reduced resale value

• Aesthetic issues

• Early failure of systems

• Increased cost of ownership

• More intensive maintenance routines


Why is durable design greener?

• Fewer replacement cycles

• Simplified maintenance routines

• Healthier indoor environments


136

• Keep it small, keep it low to minimize maintenance

• Manage air, vapor & moisture flows w/ effectively

detailed wall sections (e.g. rain screen wall systems)

• Choose best-in-class, durable materials

General strategies:

• Avoid complicated designs w/ many intersecting

planes


138

• Minimize roof penetrations

• Use products suited to climate & conditions

• Employ effective flashing details

General strategies:

• Incorporate protective design elements like

overhangs


Design for durability – Overhangs

Effective overhangs:

• Protect the walls from precipitation

• Protect wall finishes from UV

• Help to direct water away from the structure

• May facilitate attic ventilation

• May help to minimize ice dams

• Provide summer shade to reduce unwanted solar gains


141

IEQ

General strategies:


142

• Incorporate natural daylighting

• Allow occupant control of comfort

• Minimize indoor pollutants

• Ensure acoustic comfort

• Employ Universal Design elements

• Use effective lighting techniques

General strategies:

• Provide adequate ventilation


Skylights may contribute to summer overheating

and winter heat loss.


Sky tube (TDD)


147

Site

General strategies:


• Minimizing heat urban island effect

• Conserving water in landscape maintenance

• Effectively managing stormwater (LID)

• Minimizing light pollution

• Minimizing toxic & sediment run-off

• Providing good transportation access

Goals:

General strategies:

• Maintain „wild spaces‟ if possible


Stormwater management

Effective stormwater management can:

• Assure effective groundwater recharge

• Minimize flooding potential

• Reduce contamination of oceans, lakes, rivers

• Promote lush, green landscapes

• Provide secondary benefit of reducing urban heat

island effect


Stormwater Mgmt: Strategies

• Increase permeability of ground surfaces

• Minimize soil compaction

• Slow water down/ retain on site

• Use collected water for landscape irrigation


Approaches

• Use light-colored roof finishes & pavement

• Install pervious paving

• Incorporate green roofs

• Provide rainwater collection systems

• Use water-retaining/ filtering landscape features like

bio-swales & rain gardens

• Employ xeriscaping methods in landscape maintenance

• Provide bicycle racks

• Install full cut-off lighting

• Minimize building footprint & „hardscaping‟


Slowing down/ retaining stormwater

Retention Pond Bioswale/ Raingarden Vegetated Buffer

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/thisweek/images/wetland.jpg


Drywell

Cistern


Permeable surface options

• Gravel

• Stabilized soil/ stone dust

• Brick/ masonry pavers

• Plastic driveway mats

• Recycle rubber paver mats/ bricks

• Permeable asphalt


Gravel driveways &

walkways: Simple,

low-cost, effective!



„Drivable grass‟



See www.rubbersidewalks.com


http://www.rubbersidewalks.com/


Green roofs

• Can provide stormwater management

• Reduce urban heat islands

• Help to minimize global warming by conserving energy

• May extend the life of your roof

• Provide green space & wildlife habitat

• Improve acoustic comfort


Green roofs


Modular green roof system

See:

http://www.liveroof.net/ &

http://www.westonsolutions.com/pdf_docs/B-D066-

GreenGrid.pdf

http://www.liveroof.net/

http://www.westonsolutions.com/pdf_docs/B-D066-GreenGrid.pdf






Green roofs

• Properly designed, can pay for themselves in 10 –

15 years via reduced energy cost

• Especially effective in reducing cooling costs

• By some estimates, can reduce cooling costs by up

to 30% in single-story structures

• See www.greenroofs.com (industry ass‟n) &

www.conservationtechnology.com (supplier example)

http://www.greenroofs.com/

http://www.conservationtechnology.com/


Stormwater mgmt resources

• http://www.unh.edu/erg/cstev/

• http://www.mapc.org (email [email protected])

• http://nemo.uconn.edu/tools/publications/tech_papers/tech_paper_8.pdf

• http://www.georgiastormwater.com/

• http://www.georgiastormwater.com/vol2/3-3-8.pdf

• http://extension.missouri.edu/xplor/envqual/eqm102f.htm

• http://www.lid-stormwater.net/background.htm

• http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/docs.cfm?program_id=6&view=allprog&sort=name#retrofit_manual

http://www.unh.edu/erg/cstev/

http://www.mapc.org/

mailto:[email protected]

http://nemo.uconn.edu/tools/publications/tech_papers/tech_paper_8.pdf

http://nemo.uconn.edu/tools/publications/tech_papers/tech_paper_8.pdf

http://www.georgiastormwater.com/

http://www.georgiastormwater.com/vol2/3-3-8.pdf





http://extension.missouri.edu/xplor/envqual/eqm102f.htm

http://www.lid-stormwater.net/background.htm



http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/docs.cfm?program_id=6&view=allprog&sort=name

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/docs.cfm?program_id=6&view=allprog&sort=name


Rainwater collection

• For 1000 sq ft roof area, 15 – 25,000 gallons of

rainwater can be collected annually in Eastern states

• Using rainwater helps to maintain aquifers and public

water supplies at adequate levels

• Combined with drip-irrigation systems, collected

rainwater can keep landscaping vibrant even during

drought conditions

• Rainwater does not contain chlorine so it is better for

plants, garden ponds, etc.

• Rainwater is free, and inexpensive to collect & store!


See www.conservationtechnology.com &

http://www.wattsradiant.com/rainwater/?t=professional%20rainwater

http://www.conservationtechnology.com/

http://www.wattsradiant.com/rainwater/?t=professional%20rainwater


http://www.cleanairgardening.com/33galrainbar.html

The simplest

approach to

collecting

rainwater

http://www.cleanairgardening.com/33galrainbar.html


Xeriscaping (low-water-landscaping)

• Major principles:

-Making maximum use of available precipitation

-Selecting species with low water requirements

• Use drip irrigation

• Use mulches

• Create water retaining landscape features

• Group plants

• Use native plantings, they are better suited to natural

rainfall patterns

• Use plantings to create windbreaks & shade to

protect from drying winds and sun


Landscaping- The single best thing you can do:

LOSE THE LAWN!!!


The trouble with turf

Lawn maintenance routines create multiple threats to

the environment through:

• Heavy fertilizer requirements

• Need to mow regularly and the resources that this

requires (gas, electricity, equip. maint., etc)

• Pesticide and herbicide use

• Water use

They are energy and resource intensive. If possible,

LOSE THE LAWN! Substitute ground covers, shrubs,

flower beds, vegetable gardens, rock gardens, etc.


The Low-impact landscape


Source: International Dark Sky Association

Minimizing light pollution


“BAD” FIXTURES

Flood Light

If used as in the picture.

30-50% light goes

upward

(If pointed down-

Zero light loss.)photo © BGE

Decorative

~70%

upward photo © BGE

Cobra Head

The most used

design

for street lights

Unchanged since

1960s

~30% upward photo © BGE

Source: Baltimore Gas & Electric


Residential accent lights

can be some of worst

offenders; they can be

energy wasters too


“GOOD” FIXTURES

Box Design.

Can have round, cylindrical or

other shape head. Receded bulb

Flat lens 100% downward photo © BGE

DecorativeOnly ~5% upward

Source: Baltimore Gas & Electric


http://www.ci.neptune-beach.fl.us/2007agenda/

4_16_07/2007-XXProposedLightingOrdinance.pdf

For a examination of some of the issues, and and an

example of zoning restrictions on outdoor lighting see:

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/resources/

darksky/3307541.html?showAll=y&c=y

For some outdoor lighting design tips see:

Resources


Additional considerations:

• Maintaining IAQ during the construction process

- Effective isolation of work areas

- Ventilating during process

- Pre-occupancy flush-out

• Effectively managing construction waste

- Minimize in the first place using material-

efficient design strategies

- Recycling/ diverting where possible

• Protecting the site during the construction process

- Managing erosion & sediment run-off

- Avoiding soil compaction

- Preserving existing topsoil

- Preserving existing vegetation


Dust collector


Portable dust

collector


Plastic barrier w/ zippers;

see example at:www.protectiveproducts.com/

zipwall.html


Construction waste management (CWM)

• Minimize waste by employing good design

practices and efficient construction methods

• Choose an environmentally-sensitive waste hauler

• Donate new left-over materials to non-profits like the

Boston Building Materials Resource Center

(www.bostonbmrc.org) & Habitat for Humanity

• Include a CWM plan in the project docs

• See recycling services directory at www.wastecap.org

http://www.bostonbmrc.org/

http://www.wastecap.org/


Construction waste management

• See http://www.carpetrecovery.org/index.php and

http://www.nps.gov/sustain/spop/carpet.htm for info

on carpet recycling/ take-back programs

• See resources like

http://www.recyclenow.com/what_more_can_i_do/ca

n_it_be_recycled/ for product specific recycling info

• See General Service Administration‟s Construction

Waste Management Database at

http://www.wbdg.org/tools/cwm.php?a=1

• See Institution Recycling Network‟s website:

http://www.wastemiser.com/resources.html

• See http://www.greengoat.org/

http://www.carpetrecovery.org/index.php and http://www.nps.gov/sustain/spop/carpet.ht

http://www.carpetrecovery.org/index.php and http://www.nps.gov/sustain/spop/carpet.ht

http://www.recyclenow.com/what_more_can_i_do/can_it_be_recycled/

http://www.recyclenow.com/what_more_can_i_do/can_it_be_recycled/

http://www.wbdg.org/tools/cwm.php?a=1

http://www.wastemiser.com/resources.html

http://www.greengoat.org/



• Drywall recycling (new scrap):

GYPSUM RECYCLING AMERICA (GRA)www.gypsumrecycling.us135 Fawcett Street, Cambridge, MA (near Fresh Pond)

• Good general recycling info:

http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/departments/recycle/donaterecycle.html

http://www.gypsumrecycling.us/





• Use curbside recycling for product packaging! Set up

recycling containers in work areas

• Donate or harden (kitty litter or commercial product)

used latex paint

• Set up “free wood” bin on site for cut-offs & scrap;

use scraps in woodstoves & sawdust in compost pile

(non pressure treated only!)


Key words/ terms

• Ecological or environmental footprint

• Embodied energy

• VOC‟s- Volatile Organic Compounds

• IEQ- Indoor Environmental Quality

• IAQ- Indoor Air Quality

• Life-cycle impacts

• Rapidly renewable

• Building envelope


We have a choice……


...to shape the future

Excerpt: Scientific

American

(Sept. 2006)

„A choice between

two futures‟


GRT: www.greenroundtable.orgBuilding Green: www.buildinggreen.comEnergy Star: www.energystar.govCharles River Watershed: www.crwa.orgUS Green Building Council: www.usgbc.orgRenewable Energy: www.nrel.govUS DOE: www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/EPA: www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings

Residential Green Building Guide:A Web Source Book for New Englandwww.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings

NAHB: Model Green Home Building Guidelines: www.nahb.org

Resources

http://www.greenroundtable.org/


http://www.energystar.gov/

http://www.crwa.org/


http://www.nrel.gov/

http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/

http://www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings

http://www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings

http://www.nahb.org/


• Upcoming workshops

• Reference library

• Samples library

• Cyber Lounge

• Online resources at nexusboston.com (in the

pipeline)

• Local green building community

And don‟t forget about NEXUS!


Local Resources


The Green Roundtable, Inc. (GRT) is an independent non-profit

organization whose mission is to mainstream green building and

sustainable design and become obsolete. We work toward this goal

by promoting and supporting healthy and environmentally

integrated building projects through strategic outreach, education,

policy advocacy and technical assistance.

www.greenroundtable.org

[email protected]

617-374-3740

www.nexusboston.com38 Chauncy Street, Boston

Located in downtown Boston, NEXUS

welcomes all to come ask questions,

research topics, and attend tours and

events on green building and

sustainable design innovation.

THANK YOU

http://www.greenroundtable.org/

http://www.nexusboston.com/

basics of green building

Documents

green roundtable consulting

green buildings

imperative of green

sobering factschina

sobering facts water

energy equivalent

energy resources

rising energy costs