The LEED Guide
July 2011
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GREENBUILDEXPO.ORG TORONTO OCT. 4–7, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011 celebrates what's NEXT for green building. The world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building, Greenbuild is where the world’s innovators and pioneers will lead the way into what’s next – for the green building movement, for the new green economy and for our global community. Learn more at greenbuildexpo.org.
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CONTENTS
JULY 2011 VOLUME 14 NUMBER 7
In This Issue 14
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A Fresh Take on the LEED Guide
Helping to Grow LEED USGBC members
Keeping Up
An introduction.
make it happen.
Growth opportunities for LEED APs.
By Rick Fedrizzi
By Meaghan Bixby
By Erin Emery
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22
24
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The Tech Side of LEED
Added Significance
A Smart Solution
Cheat Sheets
ANNUAL L
GUIDE
E E D
54
Online apps.
Measurement and verification’s role.
LEED Volume Program.
Resources for green schools.
By Jennifer Easton
By Don Millstein
By Jennifer Easton
By Marisa Long
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30
32
34
Accountability and Performance The
Cross-Country Tour
Global Strides LEED progress continues.
What’s NEXT at Greenbuild The show
Better Buildings Initiative.
LEED across the U.S.
By Marisa Long
By Ashley Katz
By Caitlyn MacAllister
By Meaghan Bixby
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38
40
44
Cycling Improvement
The Road to 100
On the Record
Sustainability Solution Campus
The next update to LEED.
LEED lessons learned.
By Lonny Blumenthal
goes international.
By Tony Layne, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Net-zero energy buildings expert roundtable: schools.
certification. By Michael J. Berning, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C
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46
50
54
The Green Practitioner
The Envelope, Please
Affordable Platinum
Pearl of Wisdom
Incrementalism and LEED.
ED+C’s Single-Family Residential award winner.
ED+C’s Multifamily Residential award winner.
Nature influences design.
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In Every Issue 7
WEB TOC
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EDITOR’S NOTE
10
NEW + NOTABLE
62
CROSSWORD
64
ADVERTISER’S INDEX
66
PARTING SHOT
By Tommy Linstroth, LEED AP
By Derrick Teal
On the Cover: The Pearl’s design is directly derived from nature’s experience. See page 54 for the full story. Image by Labulle. Courtesy of Solaleya Design.
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IMAGE BY ZANE WILLIAMS, COURTESY OF THE KUBALA WASHATKO ARCHITECTS INC.
TOC
WEB
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IMAGE COURTESY OF LEWIS AND CLARK COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
IMAGES © SIME DARBY PROPERTY BERHAD.
THIS MONTH’S WEB EXCLUSIVE FEATURES INCLUDE:
Living Lab is in the LEED
Adding to a National Treasure
One with Nature
A Bright Idea
By Nina Wolgelenter
By Wayne Reckard
By Dennis Hallahan, MSPE, and Lossie Morris, AC, LEED AP
By Sufian Adbullah
DPR Construction set out to build an office that showcases ideas for green design after realizing it was hard to sell clients on green design concepts without providing viable proof.
TKWA’s addition to the Frank Lloyd Wrightdesigned Meeting House maintains the integrity of the original design, provides space for daily needs and aligns construction with its deeply held environmental values.
The NGRREC provides scientific resources and public outreach related to improving the sustainable management of large rivers while mimicking the Mississippi river bluffs.
Idea House was conceived as a test bed for new ideas in sustainable architecture within a tropical setting. The house is targeted to be a carbon-neutral residence, believed to be the first in Southeast Asia.
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EDITOR’S
NOTE
Dog Days of Employment Searching
It was a different time when I participated in my first LEED Guide back in 2007. The U.S. housing bubble had yet to burst, and business was booming for many architects and contractors focused on sustainability. When that bubble did burst, it combined with additional economic factors and dragged the U.S. into a recession. Construction projects began drying up. Employers began laying off employees, and the number of people out of a job began rivaling the worst economic times in U.S. history — even in the green sector. Whether you agree with the action or not, the government eventually stepped in with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Part of this act was designed to create new jobs and save existing ones through government investment in energy and the environment in addition to tax benefits for home energy efficiency improvements and tax credits for alternative energy equipment. Based on where the money was supposed to go, it made sense that readers of ED+C would see, directly or indirectly, an improvement in employment opportunities. And many readers did — but many didn’t. Hearing from a reader describing his or her trouble finding a job is difficult, especially when they’re looking to you to help them find answers. So, we wanted to provide our readers with the answers they were looking for. Being a publication, doing an article about finding a job and where all the funding for jobs was heading was a natural fit. Our staff began collecting everything it could find regarding the job situation. In the end, we realized, there was no magic bullet, single-answer solution regarding where the jobs were. (Well, actually, there was an answer: service industry. But, we figured our audience wasn’t interested in those types of jobs.) In our opinion, a reader’s job search came down to a caseby-case basis.
The Perfect Fit Maybe not surprisingly, our publication’s readers weren’t the only ones feeling the employment crunch. Readers of many of the A/E/C publications at ED+C’s parent company, BNP Media, were having the same troubles. Like ED+C, these other publications came to the same conclusion. That’s why BNP Media partnered with BirdDog Career Centers. During its 14-year history, BirdDog has helped more than 3,500 employers in specialized industries move to a strategy of planned hiring. In addition, the combined BirdDog family of sites and solutions has attracted more than 100,000 job seekers. “We are excited to partner with BirdDog to provide job placement and career counseling solutions for our markets,” said BNP Media Publishing Director Tim Fausch. “Many of our markets are rebounding from hard times. This new career center allows us to help strengthen the architectural, design, engineering, construction, sheet metal, facilities and data center management markets by matching employers with ideal employees.” Companies seeking employees or job seekers can access the Career Center by clicking on the BNP/BirdDog widget found on the home page of www.EDCmag.com. We at ED+C don’t want to get back to the level of employment in 2007: We want the employment level of our readers to be better than back then. Given the optimized nature of BirdDog’s Career Center in matching qualified candidates with the right company, we feel it’s entirely possible to surpass even our expectations. Cheers,
Derrick Teal Editor
2401 W. Big Beaver, Suite 700 | Troy, MI 48084 | 248.362.3700 | www.EDCmag.com Group Publisher Diana Brown
[email protected] Phone: 248.244.6258 Fax: 248.244.3911
Associate Publisher Michelle Hucal, LEED AP
[email protected] Phone: 248.244.1280 Fax: 248.786.1394
Editor Derrick Teal
[email protected] Phone: 248.786.1645 Fax: 248.283.6560
Associate Editor Laura Zielinski
[email protected] Phone: 248.786.1680 Fax: 248.502.9016
West Coast Sales Manager Karrie Laughlin
[email protected] Phone: 248.786.1657 Fax: 248.502.2065
List Rentals For postal information please contact Kevin Collopy at 800-223-2194 x684 or email him at
[email protected]
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Tree(s): 94 Solid waste: 11,514 lb Water: 91,087 gal Air emissions: 29,930 lb
PRODUCTION + ART
ADVERTISING + SALES East Coast Sales Manager Carrie Burrows
[email protected] Phone: 248.525.3363 Fax: 248.502.9018
Web Editor Stephanie Fujiwara
[email protected]
ED+C’s use of Rolland Enviro100 Print instead of virgin fibers paper reduced its ecological footprint by:
Reprint Sales Jill DeVries
[email protected] Phone: 248.244.1726 Fax: 248.244.3934
For email information please contact Shawn Kingston at 800-409-4443 x828 or email her at
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Production Manager Jeff Bagwell
[email protected] Phone: 248.244.6481 Fax: 248.283.6589
Art Director Shannon Shortt
[email protected]
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SBIC
Having trouble figuring out which wall protection is safest for the environment?
That’s because most manufacturers are making environmental claims designed to confuse you. Not us. Acrovyn® 4000 contains no PVC, PBTs, or any other harmful chemicals—and we can prove it! Acrovyn® 4000 is the only wall protection that’s MBDC Gold or Silver Certified, so you can be sure it’s the healthiest product available. Other companies don’t disclose what chemicals their products contain. So if protecting people is as important as protecting walls, choose Acrovyn®. Visit www.c-sgroup.com for a chemical analysis, call 888-621-3344 or find Construction Specialties on ®, ® or twitter.com/acrovyn. &
Protection for tomorrow’s environment Reader Service No. 43 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
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NEW + NOTABLE
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To request more information on these products, visit www.EDCmag.com/webcard and enter the corresponding reader service numbers.
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Permeable Concrete
Hydromedia is a new, fast-draining concrete pavement solution engineered to rapidly direct stormwater, a major source of pollution, from streets, parking surfaces, driveways and sidewalks. The aggregate matrix is designed to minimize compaction and provide permeability in the final hardened product. Hydromedia reportedly minimizes long-term maintenance costs and is intended to be a sustainable solution that combines the durability of concrete with triple bottom line values as defined by the ICLEI. www.lafarge.com Lafarge | Reader Service No. 20
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Fiberglass Insulation
Sustainable Insulation is a fiberglass insulation manufactured with renewable and recycled content, including an organic, plant-based binder. Sustainable Insulation is designed to offer excellent acoustical performance and thermal properties. The product exceeds stringent CARB indoor air quality regulations and is GREENGUARD Children & Schools certified. In addition to sand, Sustainable Insulation fibers consist of a 50 percent renewable content and a recycled glass content of 35 or 70 percent. www.certainteed.com CertainTeed | Reader Service No. 21
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GREENGUARD-Certified Seating
Working hand-in-hand with a team of healthcare clients to meet its specific requirements, Stylex introduced its first line of healthcare seating. The line is available with all of Stylex’s in-graded fabrics and the newly added CF Stinson high-performance textiles. The collection includes a love seat, guest chair and bariatric chair, which have all been tested to accommodate up to 1,000 pounds. Key sustainable attributes include a recycled content frame, CARB-compliant seat pan, CFC-free cushions and low-VOC adhesives and finishes. www.stylexseating.com Stylex | Reader Service No. 22
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Rapidly Renewable Hardwood
Lyptus is a durable exotic hardwood derived from eucalyptus trees that mature within 14 to 16 years of planting. By comparison, temperate species can take decades to mature. Rapid growth and careful management of the Lyptus plantations help to meet increasing demand for wood products and still ensure a continuing supply of hardwood for future generations. Grown in Brazil, the hardwood is certified to Brazil’s national sustainable forestry standard, Cerflor, and endorsed by the PEFC. Lyptus is available for cabinets, millwork, trim, furniture and solid and engineered flooring. www.lyptus.com Lyptus | Reader Service No. 23
Modular Casework
Air-Cleaning Panel
Dwyer Products Corporation’s line of medical modular casework is designed to contribute to healthy and flexible indoor environments. By manufacturing durable, reconfigurable and reusable casework, the product line supports its customers’ bottom line by being less disrup-
Alcoa’s Reynobond with EcoClean is a coilcoated architectural panel that reportedly helps clean itself and the air around it. The titanium dioxide particles in EcoClean break down nitrogen oxides (smog) and other organic matter in the air while turning the Reynobond panel into a slick hydrophilic surface in the presence of water. Even a small amount of rain reportedly helps the building rinse away surface contaminants. The EcoClean coating can be used with a broad palette of Reynobond paint colors and finishes. Several select fin-
tive to install and staying in service longer than traditional millwork, as facility operators no longer have to tear down and throw out casework when remodeling or updating spaces. Most of Dwyer’s modular cabinetry and casework is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality certified. www.dwyerproducts.com Dwyer | Reader Service No. 24
ishes are already available with the EcoClean coating. www.ecoclean.com Alcoa Architectural Products | Reader Service No. 25
High-Performance Wood Accoya wood, a leading sustainable high-performance wood, uses a non-toxic proprietary acetylation technology which alters the wood’s
reaction with water by permanently replacing free hydroxyls within the wood with naturally occurring stable acetyl groups. This substitution results in a solid wood product with exceptional durability, dimensional stability and other substantial benefits, the company reports. Accoya wood is designed to be suitable for
Reader Service No. 70 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
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NEW + NOTABLE demanding outdoor applications. The wood is sustainably sourced from fast growing species and Cradle to Cradle certified. www.accoya.com Accoya | Reader Service No. 27
Exterior Panels VIVIX Exterior Architectural Panels are solid phenolic façade panels manufactured for external, vertical applications. The panels are supported with an attachment system for open
Stormwater Management System Storm Capture is an underground structural precast concrete system for stormwater management. The modules are constructed of high-strength concrete and are installed on a simple setting bed of stone that is reportedly up to 20 percent less than other systems. Their ability to support traffic allows for minimal cov-
excellent test results for thermal resistance, air and water infiltration and fire. MBCI’s Ecoficient insulated metal panels offer an R-value of 7.69 per inch of insulation. www.mbci.com MBCI | Reader Service No. 34
Recycled-Content Curtain Wall
er with pavement options of asphalt, concrete or concrete pavers. Inlet grates allow stormwater direct entry from a roadway surface into the system. www.oldcastleprecast.com Oldcastle Precast Inc. | Reader Service No. 28
Ultra Thermal Curtain Wall System Kawneer Company Inc. introduces its 1600UT (Ultra Thermal) Curtain Wall System. The system proactively addresses code requirements including the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); ASHRAE/INESA 90.1, 189.1; and state codes. The 1600UT Curtain Wall System is reportedly capable of beating these code requirements with double- and triple-glazed configurations. The system is tested in accordance with North American performance standards, including seismic, thermal cycling and dynamic water. www.kawneer.com Kawneer Company Inc. | Reader Service No. 29
High-Performance Glass Guardian Industries’ SNX 62/27 is the latest product in the SunGuard SuperNeutral (SN) series of advanced architectural glass. A new solution for architects who specify exterior glass for commercial projects, SNX 62/27 offers natural light with an improved solar heat gain coefficient that reportedly raises the glazing light-to-solar gain ratio to 2.30. The product also features a neutral exterior appearance, so buildings reap performance benefits without a dark or overly reflective look. www.sunguardglass.com Guardian Industries Corp. | Reader Service No. 30
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joint, drained and back-ventilated rainscreen construction. VIVIX panels include 3 percent pre-consumer recycled wood fiber content, the use of wood fibers derived from responsibly managed forests, and are GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality certified. www.formica.com Formica Group | Reader Service No. 32
Solar Charging Station According to the company, Duo-Guard’s solarpowered stations are scaled to the size of the project and the charging needs involved. A turnkey approach includes in-house design, engineering, fabrication and installation services, as well as technical support to specify, plus field support on photovoltaics, inverters
ForceFront Blast curtain wall and entry door systems are now available for high-security projects seeking blast hazard mitigation in low- and mid-rise applications. ForceFront curtain wall and entry door products are manufactured using EcoLuminum, a high recycled-content aluminum billet composition with eco-friendly, durable finishes. The doors feature durable tie-rod construction, 6-inch-wide stiles and heavy-duty hardware. A 5.5-inch back member reinforces the curtain wall system’s structural performance. www.tubeliteinc.com Tubelite | Reader Service No. 35
High-Efficiency Toilet
and metering required to connect to the grid. The stations can be engineered to provide free services or to function with machines for payments, including credit cards, creating a profit center that would help recoup the initial investment. www.duo-gard.com Duo-Gard Industries Inc. | Reader Service No. 33
Horizontal Wall Panel MBCI has expanded its Eco-ficient insulated metal panel (IMP) product line to include the Grand H Series, a horizontal wall panel reportedly ideal for architectural applications. All Eco-ficient panels have reportedly achieved
The Invisi Series II wall-hung toilet suites hover above the floor, only visibly attaching to a wall. Plumbing is hidden inside the wall with the intention of creating a more spacious and luxurious look for bathrooms. With the tank, flush-valve and trap designed to work as one optimized system, all Invisi Series II suites are designed to flush with less water without impacting performance. They include two buttons for flushing; the half flush which uses 0.8gpf/3L for liquid, and the full flush which uses 1.28gal/4.8L for solids, for an average flush of 0.9gpf (3.6L). www.caromausa.com Caroma | Reader Service No. 36
Concealed Ceilings
Photovoltaic Racking
High-Performance Roof
WoodWorks Concealed ceilings provide the opportunity to create a natural, custom look using standard panels and grid. Available in five standard veneers and three standard panel sizes, the new FSC-certified and CARB-compliant wood ceilings feature a narrow .25-inch reveal. When backed with an acoustical infill, perforated panels can reportedly attain a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) up to 0.65, meaning they can absorb 65 percent of the sound that strikes them. The new additions are well suited for use in many healthcare, office, education, hospitality and retail applications. www.armstrong.com/woodworks Armstrong World Industries Inc. | Reader Service No. 37
TerraFarm, the one source ground mount, is engineered to increase the rate of installation in the solar industry. This elevated rate of performance is designed to aid installers in saving costs and assist in winning RFPs. TerraFarm’s technology serves as a pivotal part of the vertical support system reducing significant weight of the overall mounting system. TerraFarm’s integrated foundation reportedly results in
Duro-Last HPR systems reportedly have closely related attributes that make them cost-effective, leak-proof, reliable, long-lasting and environmentally friendly. HPR systems may reduce
7+(
each installation project requiring less material and ultimately lower project costs. TerraFarm offers solar integrators on any size ground mount installation and a turnkey approach. www.terrasmart.com TerraSmart | Reader Service No. 38
energy consumption and improve the energy efficiency of the building envelope. HPR systems meet or exceed traditional performance standards in terms of longevity, all-weather reliability, water absorption, wind and fire resistance, low-maintenance and simple repair. www.duro-last.com Duro-Last | Reader Service No. 40
3DWKZD\726XVWDLQDELOLW\ ',12)/(;*URXS/3 ZZZGLQRÀH[FRP Reader Service No. 71 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
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ANNUAL L
GUIDE
E E D By Rick Fedrizzi
A Fresh Take on the LEED Guide EVERY ARTICLE IN THE LEED GUIDE HIGHLIGHTS
A LETTER FROM RICK FEDRIZZI.
A NEW ASPECT TO LEED AND USGBC.
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Since its inception, LEED has been at the forefront of the green building industry, pushing those new to green building to adopt sustainable practices and encouraging tried-and-true experts to bring their specialties to the table. LEED, and its community of implementers and supporters, has always been cutting-edge. But now more than ever, LEED and the U.S. Green Building Council are evolving in ways we only dreamed possible at the beginning of our journey: technology tools to enhance LEED’s functionality, international partners and mainstream adoption in nearly every building sector. This year’s LEED Guide highlights what’s next for LEED. In a changing and growing industry, it must continually adapt in order to provide the most current and complete benchmarks for green building. The development of LEED 2012 and the launch of the LEED Volume Program represent two cornerstone initiatives in our efforts to keep LEED’s offerings current. On top of that, we work to bring industry professionals and project teams the best possible resources for achieving LEED certification. New technology-based tools that support LEED will help spread green building knowledge and certification assistance as fast as a Wi-Fi connection: The LEED for Homes Scoring tool allows green building newcomers as well as experts to rapidly assess their projects. Our Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) brings the global stock of efficient buildings into a point-and-click perspective. USGBC’s Building Performance Partnership (BPP) uses technology to gather and monitor building
performance and suggest improvements. While high-tech tools are crucial to LEED’s evolution, USGBC is quickly growing far beyond the confines of computer screens. On the global stage, USGBC collaborates with 19 other countries on the LEED International Roundtable. Customer service is now offered in Spanish and soon, Chinese. LEED professional credential exams are available in French. Two LEED-certified schools are in the works in Beijing and Changsha, China, and USGBC is working to expand LEED for Homes pilot programs internationally. These global strides are crucial to the future development of LEED and for the broader goal of greening not just our country, but also our world. Last year, Greenbuild, USGBC’s annual conference, showcased our growing international presence, drawing attendees from an impressive 114 countries. To celebrate the international green building movement, this year’s Greenbuild NEXT is based in Toronto, one of the most cosmopolitan and innovative global cities in the world. As the name suggests, Greenbuild NEXT will usher in a new era of green building. These improvements are just the tip of the iceberg. Every article in the LEED Guide highlights a new aspect to LEED and USGBC. One thing that hasn’t changed is USGBC’s mission: to green the world’s building stock to reduce environmental impact and enhance the lives of people everywhere. While USGBC is celebrating our founding vision in new and more exciting ways than ever, we stay grounded and united behind our goal to enact monumental change in the built environment. It’s the motivation pulsing through every USGBC program. I applaud the green building community for its commitment to this noble cause, and I thank you for inspiring USGBC’s new initiatives with your own innovation and passion. Please reach out with your suggestions and comments on our evolving programs. I’m active on Twitter and would love to get your feedback: @RickFedrizzi. My excitement about the evolution of LEED and green building is eclipsed only by what will come next. Stay tuned!
RICK FEDRIZZI IS PRESIDENT, CEO AND FOUNDING CHAIR OF U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL.
CEILING&WALL
SY STEMS Between us, ideas become reality™
100,000 sq ft of recycled ceiling tile saves
94,600 gallons of potable water
1.1 million lbs of virgin material
69,500 kWh of electricity
A little ceiling recycling can go a long way. The Greenville County School District in Greenville, SC recycled 100,000 sq ft of old ceiling tile and made a big difference. The Armstrong Ceiling Recycling Program has recycled over 100 million sq ft of old ceiling tiles in its first 10 years – diverting over 50,000 tons from the landfill. Help close the loop by including ceiling recycling in your next specification.
armstrong.com/recycle7edc 1 877 ARMSTRONG Reader Service No. 3 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
To specify products made from recycled ceilings, just look for the Ceiling-2-Ceiling™ icon
ANNUAL L
GUIDE
E E D By Meaghan Bixby
Helping to Grow LEED USGBC MEMBERS ARE CENTRAL TO THE COUNCIL’S MISSION OF TRANSFORMING THE WAY BUILDINGS AND COMMUNITIES ARE DESIGNED. As the green building industry grows, evolves and prospers, the U.S. Green Building Council has remained true to its mission — to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, constructed, operated and maintained, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. And central to realizing this mission is the USGBC member community.
IMAGE COURTESY OF USGBC.
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This community of dedicated member organizations and their employees, green building leaders and volunteers is at the core of everything USGBC does, from expanding the LEED rating systems and education, to the Greenbuild Conference and Expo, to the Center for Green Schools at USGBC. They are a part of every building that achieves LEED certification, every milestone we reach and the continued growth and evolution of our industry.
As a community, we’ve celebrated tremendous growth during a time when odds were stacked against our industry. In 2010, we observed the 10th anniversary of the launch of the LEED rating system. Since its initial launch, through the consensus-based approach taken by members, LEED has evolved to include rating systems for existing buildings, schools, healthcare and neighborhood development. This suite of rating systems culminated this year in achievements once unimaginable — more than one billion square feet of LEED-certified space and more than 100,000 registered and certified projects around the world. With member support, the Center for Green Schools launched in 2010, along with the promise of sustainable learning environments for all students within a generation. Because of member feedback, new tools have been developed for green building practitioners to utilize as they implement LEED in projects. Members have supported a global presence, resulting in a record number of international attendees at Greenbuild 2010 and a seat at the LEED International Roundtable along with 20 other countries. Growth. Modernization. Globalization. How is all of this possible? Our members are our greatest resource. These achievements are the direct result of the collaboration and innovation of the USGBC community. Our members’ engagement, participation and unique points-of-view lead us to the successes we are able to celebrate together. USGBC’s member community brings together a wide and varied group of green building practi-
tioners, champions and believers. This diverse group applies what is happening at the drafting table, on the jobsite and in buildings to USGBC programs and initiatives. Our members’ experience and feedback represents real market demand and is a powerful force in driving advancements made at the organizational level. Our member organizations demonstrate a commitment to and support of transforming buildings and the building industry through education, evolution and collaboration, not only to their customers and clients, but to their employees as well. If your organization has a stake in the green building industry and isn’t a member of USGBC, it is missing an opportunity to connect with and influence the programs, knowledge and tools that drive the greening of the built environment. The green building movement offers us an unprecedented opportunity to respond to the most important challenges of our time. The leadership, commitment and vision of our members are why we will successfully take advantage of this opportunity. People who join together to take collective action can affect change in a profound way, and the USGBC community has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to driving meaningful change. Visit www.usgbc.org/membership for more information. MEAGHAN BIXBY IS A SPECIALIST FOR U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL.
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Reader Service No. 26 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
ANNUAL L
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E E D By Erin Emery
Keeping Up GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEED APS: SPECIALTY CREDENTIALS IN THE GREEN BUILDING MARKETPLACE.
AS LEED AND THE GREEN BUILDING INDUSTRY CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AT A RAPID PACE, THEY MUST BE SUPPORTED BY A GLOBAL COMMUNIT Y COMMITTED TO MARKET TRANSFORMATION.
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This year, the global footprint of LEED-registered and certified projects surpassed eight billion square feet. Technological and scientific innovation, increased resources and wider consumer acceptance have resulted in a sophisticated and dynamic industry that continues to advance at a rapid pace. Increasing adoption of LEED has amplified the demand for professionals who understand the LEED rating system. In 2009, GBCI introduced a new suite of LEED Credentials that recognize the necessity of keeping up with the swift progression of the green building industry: the LEED Green Associate and five LEED AP with specialty credentials. To date, more than166,000 individuals hold a LEED AP, LEED AP with specialty or LEED Green Associate credential. The LEED AP with specialty credentials allow professionals to demonstrate their expertise in related fields: building design and construction; interior design and construction; operations and maintenance; homes and neighborhood development. The credentials are maintained through continuing education on a two-year cycle, which ensures that LEED Professionals keep up with green building innovation, current standards and practices and the continuous evolution of the LEED rating system. For LEED APs who tested between 2001 and 2009, GBCI has provided a limited window of time during which these current LEED APs can sign up to add a specialty to their credential. After enrolling, they will have two years to complete 30 hours of relevant
continuing education activities within their specialized field. The individual deadlines to enroll in this program end between Aug. 7 and Oct. 27 of this year. The LEED Green Associate was created for professionals in a variety of fields involved in green building, including students, real estate professionals, journalists, attorneys and a host of other professions. The LEED Green Associate demonstrates credibility in green building and a baseline of knowledge of green and LEED. The LEED Green Associate credential is a mark of recognition for professionals who may not have direct involvement on a LEED project but who work closely with the sustainable building industry in other capacities. The credential is maintained with 15 hours of continuing education every two years. The LEED AP with specialty credentials consist of the LEED AP Building Design + Construction, LEED AP Interior Design + Construction, LEED AP Operations + Maintenance, LEED AP Homes and LEED AP Neighborhood Development designations. These credentials are the marks of the most qualified green building professionals in the marketplace and demonstrate particular expertise in these five specializations within green building. The specialty credentials are maintained with 30 hours of continuing education every two years. The continuing education requirement guarantees that credential holders are exposed to the most current industry information and are equipped to apply that knowledge to their work. GBCI developed the Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) as a
way to help LEED credential holders keep current while providing easy access to existing continuing education opportunities. The variety of ways to earn required hours makes the process of maintaining the LEED credential flexible, personal and meaningful to the credential holder’s professional goals. This fall, GBCI will announce its first class of LEED Fellows, its newest and most prestigious designation. LEED Fellows are the world’s most distinguished green building professionals. Nominated by their peers, LEED Fellows are selected based on their body of work and their contribution to advancing the industry. Among other eligibility requirements, both candidates and nominators must hold the LEED AP with specialty credential or enroll to add the specialty before their fall 2011 deadline. As LEED and the green building industry continue to evolve at a rapid pace, they must be supported by a global community committed to market transformation. LEED Professionals have proven themselves to be the movement’s most visionary in thought, innovative in design and tireless in determination. As they grow in education and experience, they will continue to play an even stronger role in raising the bar and making greater strides in green building achievement around the world. ERIN EMERY IS MANAGER, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL.
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ANNUAL L
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E E D By Jennifer Easton
The Tech Side of LEED QUICK, EASY AND FREE PROGRAMS ARE GIVING AN EVER-GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ACCESS TO LEED.
Technology is essential to green building. While sustainability is rooted in basic concepts, such as conserving resources and creating healthier indoor environments, it is often technology that helps accomplish these goals. Computer and tech-based tools have proved instrumental to the development and dispersion of LEED. The launch of LEED Online brought certification tools to the fingertips of project managers, and the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) suite of online learning resources offer up green building knowledge at the click of a mouse. Three new technologybased offerings, the LEED for Homes Scoring Tool, the Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) and the Building Performance Partnership (BPP), represent exciting new initiatives that will expand on USGBC’s tech-side efforts. Deployed in March of this year, the LEED for Homes Scoring Tool offers anyone at any level a simple and free way to explore the LEED for Homes program (www.leedforhomes.org). The tool’s main function is to give users a realistic idea of where their project stands in the realm of LEED certification: which green features and building strategies will push a project to a specific level of certification, and how to get there. The QuickScore path offers a rapid evaluation of any project, and the deeper Credit by Credit path allows any project team member the opportunity to explore which green features they want to incorporate. Many users find that they are much closer to LEED certification than they thought, and that the path to certification is simple and straightforward. To date, around 4,000 people have accessed the LEED for Homes tool to evaluate their project. The high level of interest reflects a major milestone that LEED for Homes hit in March of this year: 10,000 LEED-certified homes. With the rapid growth of residential green building and certified projects, the LEED for Homes tool is more relevant than ever.
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Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) is not a single program or tool, but rather a family of resources. While many aspects of GBIG are still evolving and in development stages, it will ultimately consist of a suite of tools and apps that will make green building stats, from specific project information to regional climate zone data (and much in between), accessible in a variety of ways. The best part? It’s free. GBIG Analyst, a benchmarking tool that’s currently available on the Web, displays green buildings on a navigable map of the U.S. Users can access performance metrics for buildings and compare projects based on LEED credit achievement. The mobile app version allows users to keep this handy data in their back pockets — literally. A new app, Explorer Place, summarizes green building activity in a given area, allowing users to make comparisons between counties, cities, states and more. The data available on this app goes beyond singular buildings: The app tracks policies and a variety of other green building indicators, culminating in a green building score for geographic areas. Visit GBIG.org for more information, or visit the App Store on Apple.com to download GBIG Analyst. Building Performance Partnership (BPP), a free building performance tracking and reporting program, is currently an optional leadership tool for LEED-certified projects. USGBC works directly with projects to collect performance data, offering participating projects annual feedback on building performance. Through basic analysis, strategies to optimize performance per building can be identified and implemented. Perhaps most importantly, BPP fosters a partnership between USGBC and the community of thousands of LEED project owners. USGBC will apply the performance data collected from BPP to populate a comprehensive green building performance database, enabling standardization of reporting metrics and analytics as well as establishing new performance benchmarks. BPP will be integral in LEED’s evolution. Visit USGBC.org/BPP for more information on the Building Performance Partnership. JENNIFER EASTON IS A COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE FOR U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL.
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ANNUAL L
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E E D By Don Millstein
Added Significance DRAMATIC CREDIT INCREASES IN SUSTAINABLE SITES, WE AND EA CATEGORIES RE-ENERGIZE SUBMETERS FOR MEASUREMENT AND VERIFICATION ROLE UNDER LEED 3.0.
THE BACKBONE OF THE MEASUREMENT AND VERIFICATION (M&V) PROCESS REQUIRED FOR LEED CERTIFICATION AT EVERY LEVEL IS THE ELECTRIC SUBMETER. THE PRIMARY BUILDING PERFORMANCE CATEGORY IN WHICH SUBMETERING PLAYS A KEY ROLE IS THE ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE (EA) SUBSET THAT RUNS ALL OF THE MAJOR ASSESSMENT CATEGORIES.
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LEED has marched steadily into virtually every corner of the institutional, commercial and industrial facility sector. Its various iterations have gone far toward generating industry-wide awareness and acceptance of green design, operations and maintenance. Released in April 2009, LEED 3.0, also called LEED v3 and LEED 2009, raises the bar relative to previous specifications by, for example, requiring a 10 percent energy reduction versus ASHRAE 90.1-2007 for new buildings, as well as an ENERGY STAR performance rating of at least 69 for existing facilities. Metering, alternative energy use, commissioning and other energy-efficiency strategies that reduce carbon-dioxide emissions are also weighted more significantly in LEED 2009. In the latest spec for Existing Buildings: Operations & Management (EBOM), for example, facilities can obtain up to six points for renewable energy use as opposed to only four under the previous LEED 2.2 version. Likewise in LEED 3.0, available credits for Water Efficiency and Energy & Atmosphere have seen dramatic increases of almost 67 and 106 percent, respectively, versus LEED 2.2. Figure 1 illustrates the many credit categories in which submeters can contribute points for LEED certification ratings in Schools, EBOM, New Construction (NC), Retail NC, Commercial Interiors (CI), Retail CI, Core & Shell (CS) and Healthcare. Another key difference in terms of credit requirements in LEED 3.0 for New Construction is a 20 percent reduction of in-building water use that is now required —
FIGURE 1. ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE
DESCRIPTION
POINTS
SCHOOLS
Prereq 1
Fundamental Commissioning of Building Systems
Required
x
Prereq 2
Minimum Energy Performance
Required
x
Credit 1
Optimize Energy Performance
Up to 18
EBOM
x
NC
RETAIL NC
CI
CS
RETAIL CI
HEALTHCARE
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Credit 1
Optimize Energy Performance
Up to 19
Credit 1
Optimized Energy Performance
Up to 24
x
Credit 2
On-Site Renewable Energy
Up to 7
Credit 2
On-Site Renewable Energy
Up to 8
Credit 2
Enhanced Commissioning
Up to 5
Credit 3
Enhanced Commissioning
Up to 2
x
Credit 5
Measurement & Verification
Up to 2
x
Credit 5
Measurement & Verification
Up to 3
Credit 3
Measurement & Verification
Up to 5
x
x
Credit 4
Green Power
Up to 5
x
x
Credit 6
Green Power
1 Point
x x
x
x x x
x x x
x
x
x
Credit 6
Green Power
Up to 2
Credit 2.1
Existing Building CommissioningInvestigation & Analysis
Up to 2
x x
x
x
Credit 2.3
Existing Building CommissioningOngoing Commissioning
Up to 2
x
Credit 3.2
Performance Measurement-System Level Monitoring
Up to 2
x
Credit 4
On-site and Off-Site Renewable Energy
Up to 6
x
Credit 5.1
Measurement & Verification Base Building
Up to 3
x
Credit 5.2
Measurement & Verifications Tenant Submetering
Up to 3
x
Tenant Design & Construction Guidelines
1 Point
x
Credit 1
Water Performance Measurement
Up to 2
Credit 2
Water Use Reduction (Measurement & Verification)
Up to 2
Credit 3
Water Efficient Landscaping
Up to 5
x
Credit 4
Cooling Tower Water Management
Up to 2
x
SUSTAINABLE SITES
Credit 9 WATER EFFICIENCY
x x
REGIONAL PRIORITY
Credit 1
Regional Priority
CHART COURTESY OF E-MON.
Up to 4
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
not optional as before. Additionally, the USGBC provides a free online tool that project teams can use to upload building energy and water data in order to establish a five-year database for analyzing and comparing water and energy use between buildings.
Submeters Facilitate LEED M&V
cuits of interest. In post-certification scenarios, for instance, metering provides an ongoing hedge against losing visibility on potential energy savings due to staff changes, equipment replacement, shifting utility rate structures and other changes in the facility’s operational dynamics. As a scalable, easily installed data acquisition solution to help identify energy savings over the course of the facility’s entire operational lifetime, submeters more than justify their initial installed cost.
Green Building Metering Pays for Itself
DON MILLSTEIN IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF E-MON (WWW.EMON.COM), A LEADING MANUFACTURER OF ELECTRIC SUBMETERING EQUIPMENT, ENERGY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AND SERVICES. MILLSTEIN IS A MEMBER OF THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL, FEMP TASK FORCE, ALLIANCE TO SAVE ENERGY AND OTHER ENERGY CONSERVATION-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS. HE MAY BE CONTACTED AT
[email protected].
As the primary energy data acquisition “front end” for LEED 3.0 and other green building assessment systems, submeters are installable at key building locations to provide “before, during and after” monitoring and reportage of various building systems, equipment and cir-
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The energy section offers some of the 3.0 specification’s most targeted guidelines for decreasing energy consumption and increasing alternative energy use. It also provides guidance on commissioning so that facility executives can be sure their systems are functioning at peak efficiency. The backbone of the measurement and verification (M&V) process required for LEED certification at every level is the electric submeter. As shown in the table, the primary building performance category in which submetering plays a key role is the
Energy & Atmosphere (EA) subset that runs all of the major assessment categories, including Schools, EBOM, NC, Healthcare and others. Another important LEED 3.0 change occurred in the rating system itself. Credits have been realigned along a 100-point scale that allows six more points for innovation and four for the newly added regional priority subcategory. In LEED 3.0, certification levels are based on: 40-49, Certified; 50-59, Silver; 60-79, Gold; 80 or above, Platinum.
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ANNUAL L
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E E D By Jennifer Easton
A Smart Solution LEED VOLUME PROGRAM OFFERS LARGE USERS OF LEED A COST-EFFECTIVE METHOD OF CERTIFYING A LARGE NUMBER OF BUILDINGS.
THIS ORLANDO, FLA., BEST BUY RECEIVED LEED GOLD CERTIFICATION THROUGH THE VOLUME PROGRAM. IMAGE COURTESY OF BEST BUY.
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LEED certification was created in 2000 by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to provide third-party verification of a building’s sustainable features. Beginning with commercial buildings and ultimately expanding coverage to a variety of industries, from homes to healthcare facilities, LEED was designed to green the built environment one building project at a time. But what about organizations seeking to green many of their structures — or their entire building stock? Cue the LEED Volume Program, developed for organizations and companies that are large users of LEED. The Volume Program leverages uniformity in design to offer a cost-effective method of certifying a large number of buildings while preserving the integrity of LEED benchmarks and standards. Instead of undergoing certification at a per-building rate, the LEED Volume Program offers organizations the option to first create a prototype, which, upon precertification, can be applied to certify like buildings and spaces throughout their building portfolios. Since the program is based on design uniformity, like buildings in any geographic area are eligible for certification, whether they are 100 feet apart or 1000 miles. By simplifying LEED documentation, the Volume Program provides a cost-effective, timesaving and ultimately streamlined approach for organizations to incorporate highperformance buildings across their entire building stock. The LEED Volume Program was conceptualized in 2006 and officially launched at USGBC Greenbuild 2010 Conference and Expo in Chicago to a strong industry response. The program is currently available for Design + Construction projects, and the LEED Volume Program for Existing Buildings was unrolled at the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International Conference at the end of June 2011. To date, participants in the LEED Volume Program include Verizon Wireless, Kohl’s, McDonald’s, the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and more. Here’s how it works: Interested organizations begin by applying to USGBC to use the LEED Volume Program. Once accepted, they gain access to a variety of services and online tools that facilitate prototype de-
velopment, including account management services, USGBC education resources, an orientation program and other applicable tools. Next step: Creation of a prototype. The prototype itself is not a building or material project, but a design scheme: a mock-up and plan for forthcoming volume projects to adhere, mapping out sustainable design features and protocol. Once the prototype is reviewed and approved by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), the applicant may begin work on all volume projects. Since the program is geared toward large-scale users of LEED, per-project certification costs drop significantly as the quantity of volume projects increases. To ensure these projects keep with LEED rigor, GBCI conducts random audits of a percentage of the organization’s volume projects. This third and final phase of the LEED Volume Program is called “ongoing certification” for this reason. The LEED Volume Program underscores USGBC’s commitment to provide smart solutions for large users of LEED. The impacts and advantages are far-reaching. Organizations that participate in the LEED Volume Program reap the repertoire of green building benefits across their portfolio: betterperforming buildings that save money, reduce harm to the environment and appeal to environmentally conscious tenants and customers. With the LEED Volume Program’s streamlined certification process, organizations can achieve this at lower per-project certification costs, all without compromising the technical rigor of LEED. On a broader scale, the LEED Volume Program accelerates the process of bringing sustainable structures to our organizations, companies and communities; benefiting the environment, building occupants and communities as a whole. It’s a win-win for volume participants, and an illustration of how LEED offers innovative implementation strategies that can benefit an organization’s bottom line. To learn more about the LEED Volume Program, visit usgbc.org/leedvolume. JENNIFER EASTON IS A COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE FOR U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL.
Gateway Community & Technical College, Boone Campus for KCTCS, Mt. Zion, KY photo: Frank Doring www.doeringphoto.com
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creating better environments Reader Service No. 16 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
with
ANNUAL L
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Learn more about green schools during the Virtual Green Expo on Aug.4, 2011 at www.thevirtual greenexpo.com.
By Marisa Long
Cheat Sheets THE CENTER OF GREEN SCHOOLS OFFERS A NUMBER OF STUDY AIDS TO HELP PROFESSIONALS PASS THEIR NEXT GREEN SCHOOL TEST. The U.S. Green Building Council launched the Center for Green Schools at USGBC in 2010 to help green our schools. The center’s vision is a bold one: green schools for everyone within this generation. Approximately 25 percent of our national population goes to school every day. There are currently more than 2,000 LEED registered or certified K-12 schools throughout the United States and more than 4,000 LEED registered or certified buildings on college and university campuses. Great strides have been made in green building, and government initiatives such as the Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools program are elevating the issue for K-12 schools. However, there are more than 133,000 schools and 83,000 college buildings across the country, which leaves much work to be done. Green schools reduce energy consumption, save money and, most importantly, foster healthier learning environments for students and educators. Much of the focus on green building has been on new construction. However, the Center for Green Schools at USGBC is also offering support to educational leaders looking to enhance the performance of their existing buildings and infrastructure — with the understanding that the people who build, retrofit and operate these buildings are at the core of achieving high-performing and healthy educational spaces. The Center for Green Schools at USGBC has developed an array of resources to help guide professionals in the greening of existing buildings:
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The Green Existing Schools Project Management Guide provides guidance, best practices, policy and planning templates to assist K-12 school officials in seeking LEED-EBOM certification, and is designed to be used in conjunction with additional resources contained in the USGBC’s Green Existing Schools Toolkit. The Paid-from-Savings Guide to Green Existing Buildings provides information to help building facilities managers and energy service
THE CENTER FOR GREEN SCHOOLS AT USGBC HAS DEVELOPED AN ARRAY OF RESOURCES TO HELP GUIDE PROFESSIONALS IN THE GREENING OF EXISTING BUILDINGS. companies (ESCOs) leverage utility cost savings to fund comprehensive green building retrofits. The resource provides detailed information on how to aggregate green improvement measures to optimize project economics and achieve LEED-EBOM certification. In addition, two resources have been created for colleges and universities: 1. The Roadmap to a Green Campus is a strategy guide for using the LEED green building certification program as a framework for developing and evolving campus-wide sustainability plans. Contained within the 100-plus page document are more than 100 tools and resources to support campuses in their greening efforts and more than 20 unique profiles of college and university success stories. The guide was
created with the support of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). 2. Hands-On LEED: Guiding College Student Engagement is a document that speaks exclusively about the role students can play supporting green building projects and how they can contribute to LEED certification efforts. The guide outlines three options for engaging students: coursework, internships and volunteer opportunities. It details the benefits of involving students and outlines ways to initiate the process of developing an engagement program. The center also offers a variety of additional programs and resources that are supported in part through financial contributions, grants and partnerships, including a multi-year, multimillion-dollar financial commitment from the center’s first founding sponsor, United Technologies Corp. While the Center for Green Schools at USGBC engages various groups of leaders who want to make a difference, we have only just begun to scratch the surface. From the kindergartner entering the classroom, to the Ph.D. student performing research in a lab — the center believes that everyone deserves to attend a green school within this generation. For more information on the resources and programs made available through the Center for Green Schools, visit centerforgreenschools.org. MARISA LONG IS MANAGER OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS FOR U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL.
Reader Service No. 220 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
ANNUAL L
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E E D By Marisa Long
Accountability and Performance THOSE WHO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THEIR COMMITMENT TO HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDING ARE HELPING TO CREATE BETTER BUILDNGS.
BY HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE, THESE PARTNERS WILL COMMIT TO A SERIES OF ACTIONS TO MAKE THEIR FACILITIES MORE EFFICIENT AND HIGH PERFORMING.
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What do LEED, the White House’s newly launched Better Buildings Initiative (BBI) and USGBC’s Building Performance Partnership (BPP) have in common? Accountability and performance. In February 2011, President Obama announced the Better Buildings Initiative, which seeks to cut energy consumption in commercial buildings by 20 percent while saving businesses $40 billion per year. Most of the $1.2 trillion energy-efficiency opportunity is in buildings, and the bigger the building, the larger the opportunity to save energy.1 The president is challenging CEOs and university presidents to make their organizations leaders in saving energy, which will save them money and improve productivity. By holding them accountable, these partners will commit to a series of actions to make their facilities more energy efficient and high performing. They will in turn become eligible for benefits including public recognition, technical assistance and best practices sharing through a network of peers. The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) member companies are already turning existing buildings into higher performing facilities through the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Rating System, which creates the infrastructure necessary for programs like BBI to be successful. During the last two decades, USGBC and its members have worked through LEED, the nation’s premier green building verification tool, to fulfill the mission of green buildings for everyone within a generation. LEED provides the
tools, accountability and verification for all aspects of green buildings, including energy efficiency. USGBC’s network of 16,000 member companies, 79 chapters and 166,000 LEED professional credential holders have been, and will continue to be, dedicated to better building operations. A better building isn’t just energy efficient; it’s also healthier and saves water and other resources. BBI’s focus on existing commercial building energy efficiency will lead to scores of more efficient buildings, and CEOs and university presidents demonstrate leadership by improving in other areas of sustainability and certifying through LEED-EBOM. USGBC’s BPP is a way for USGBC to collect the building performance data and capture feedback on LEED-certified projects. The performance data collected from BPP will be used to populate a comprehensive green building performance database, enabling standardization of reporting metrics and analytics,
as well as establishing new performance benchmarks that will help BBI in its success. Greater building efficiency can meet 85 percent of future U.S. demand for energy.2 A national commitment to green building has the potential to support 7.9 million American jobs, according to a 2009 study by Booz Allen Hamilton. By providing accountability and verification for green building performance through initiatives like LEED, BBI and BPP, we will drastically reduce resource consumption of our buildings and create a healthier environment for everyone. MARISA LONG IS MANAGER, EXTERNAL RELATIONS FOR THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL.
1. http://www.mckinsey.com/en/Client_Service/ Electric_Power_and_Natural_Gas/Latest_ thinking/Unlocking_energy_efficiency_in_the_ US_economy.aspx 2. Center for American Progress
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E E D By Ashley Katz
Cross-Country Tour A SNAPSHOT OF SOME OF THE PROMINENT GREEN BUILDING PROGRESS IN THE U.S.
MUCH OF THE COUNTRY’S GREEN BUILDING PROJECTS CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD, IN NO SMALL PART DUE TO THE HUNGER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
There’s no denying that 2010 was a challenging year for most of the building industry, but despite the challenges, much of the country’s green building projects continued to move forward, in no small part due to the hunger for sustainable development and its myriad y ad benefits. be e ts.
From school buildings and residences to corporate offices and hospitals, the growing list of LEED-certified projects across the
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U.S. are as diverse as the country itself. In a city where each square foot matters, Washington, D.C., clocked in at 25 square feet of LEED-certified space per person. H.D. Cooke Elementary School, PNC’s LEED Platinum regional eadqua te s the Embassy of headquarters, Finland and a converted Bureau of National Af Affairs office into a LEED Gold apartment ap building are among the th notable area projects that certified last year. other side of the On the oth Nevada has seen country, Nev building growth in green build certifying 22 projects, 2010, certif including a JC Penney Distribution Center, a Verizon C Wireless store, the Venetian s Resort on the Las Vegas strip and Centennial Hills Library. Nevada residents and visitors can now enjoy visi more than th 62 LEED-certified pr projects and can look forward forwa to an additional 100 in the pipeline. Colorado’s green Co building presence has build been bee long established, but in 2010, it lish excelled even further: exc nearly 100 projects ne were we certified during in the course of the th year. The state added 10 new proja ects to its growing list of green higher education projects, nearly all at the LEED Gold level. lev Colorado State University, whose student body wh passed a referendum in 2006 refer requiring all student-funded s buildings on campus to achieve c
a minimum of LEED Silver, certified four projects over the course of the year. Its Rockwell Hall-West academic building, the Human Performance Clinical/Research Laboratory, its Academic Training Center and its Aspen Hall residential hall all received LEED Gold. South Carolina’s list of certified project expanded by 30, with the certification of its Children’s Museum of the Upstate in downtown Greenville, a Food Lion grocery store in Summit Commons and the first LEEDcertified neighborhood in the state — The Navy Yard at Noisette, a 340-acre urban redevelopment that includes parts of the former Charleston Naval Base. South Carolina already has nearly 100 LEED-certified projects and more than 320 in the pipeline. A variety of corporate staples certified their facilities in Arkansas last year, including Frito-Lay’s Jonesboro food manufacturing site, Coca-Cola’s offices and Hanesbrands Inc.’s area sales office. These newly certified projects joined a growing list of global companies certifying their projects in the state which includes Diamond Foods and Mars Petcare. Nearly 150 projects throughout the state have earned LEED certification with an additional 285 registered. To see a full list of certified projects, visit www.usgbc.org/press. ASHLEY KATZ IS MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL.
Our lifecycle approach to sustainability 1 Product Design We strive to design products that reduce consumption across the whole lifecycle.
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4 Transport We continue to develop more efficient ways of packing, handling and transporting our products to reduce the impact of their distribution.
Reduce Today, Respect Tomorrow* is the KIMBERLY-CLARK PROFESSIONAL* approach to sustainability. It begins with the understanding that the way we use resources today shapes the world of tomorrow. And it has led us to focus on reducing consumption at every stage of the product lifecycle – from design and manufacture to distribution and disposal. Reduction is the key to lowering the environmental impact of our activities as well as those of customers. To learn more about Reduce Today, Respect Tomorrow* and how we can reduce consumption in your business, visit www.kcpreducetoday.com/us ®/*Trademarks of Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. or its affiliates. Marques deposees de Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. ou de ses filiales. ©2011 KCWW. K02249 K6483-11-01
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E E D By Caitlyn MacAllister
Global Strides LEED INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM ADVANCES GREEN BUILDING AND GREEN BUILDING KNOWLEDGE ON A GLOBAL SCALE. Through the commitment and success of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) member companies and LEED professionals, LEED has become one of the most well-known and widely used green building rating systems in the world, with projects in more than 110 countries and still growing. In 2010, USGBC created the LEED International Program, which supports members and professionals in the global community and advances the LEED rating system and surrounding programs to accommodate international outreach.
LEED
L EED L ANGUAGE ADVOCACY GREENBUILD
USGBC has applied the lessons learned from the LEED green building community in order to create the LEED International Program, with global consistency at its core. To support this, the LEED International Roundtable, made up of representatives from 20 countries, was created to work with USGBC to bring international perspectives by collaboratively identifying common non-country specific solutions to shared regional issues. Later this year, USGBC will also be releasing its first round of alternative compliance paths for LEED credits for projects outside the U.S. These alternative compliance paths will offer country-neutral options to reach the intent of specific LEED credits. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months.
Language Real change in the marketplace occurs when information is accessible to all. To advance this, USGBC customer service is now available in Spanish, and a Chinese-speaking customer service line will launch by 2012. In the same spirit, the LEED 101: Green Building Basics & LEED online course is also available in Spanish, and additional materials in Chinese, including a collection of project profiles and other basic resource materials, will be available by summer of 2011. Also new this year: The LEED AP and Green Associate exams are now available in French.
Advocacy USGBC and its community continue to lead in promoting green building legislation domestically, but also globally by participating in the World Green Building Council, the Conference of Parties (COP) and the United Nations Sustainable Building and Climate Initiative, among others. USGBC’s own Global Leadership in Our Built Environment (GLOBE) alliance brings together 50 partners from around the world in a call to action for the international community to invest in
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LEED INTERNATIONAL ROUNDTABLE RECEPTION, LEFT TO RIGHT: JOEL TODD (USGBC STEERING COMMITTEE), RICK FEDRIZZI (USGBC), GHILDA SINAWI (EMIRATES GBC), ALFONSO PONCE (CSTB FRANCE, OBSERVER), SCERRE TILTNES (NORWAY GBC) AND ROGER PLATT (USGBC). IMAGE COURTESY OF USGBC.
the built environment as a leading strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For more information and to learn how your company or organization can become a partner, visit www.globealliance.org.
Greenbuild Greenbuild 2011 will be held this October in Toronto and marks the first time that USGBC will be taking its signature conference and expo outside of the United States. Similarly, increasing numbers of international delegations that attend Greenbuild have underlined Greenbuild’s role as the epicenter for global green building collaboration: Last year, people from 114 countries attended Greenbuild. The Greenbuild International Summit, a one-day event held in conjunction with Greenbuild, continues to be a gathering place for the international community. This year, USGBC will also be introducing an International Delegation Program, complete with special activities and services, to better engage large delegations with more than 25 people traveling to Greenbuild from outside the U.S. and Canada. Details of this program can be found at www.usgbc.org/international or write to
[email protected]. CAITLYN MACALLISTER IS INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR FOR U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL.
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ANNUAL L
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E E D By Meaghan Bixby
What’s NEXT at Greenbuild FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE USGBC’S PREMIER EVENT IS CROSSING THE LINE.
TORONTO REPRESENTS WHAT’S NEXT IN THE INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE AND GREEN BUILDING PRACTICES.
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When the green building industry convenes at the U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild International Conference and Expo each year, something special happens. A sense of purpose, community and hope abounds, reinforcing the importance of the work taken on by the green building movement. In 2010, Generation Green redefined the future in Chicago. This year, as Greenbuild celebrates its 10th anniversary, we look forward to what comes next. And as we travel down the path to what’s next, things are changing quickly. For the first time, the U.S. Green Building Council is taking Greenbuild outside the U.S., crossing the Canadian border and heading to Toronto, Oct. 4-7, 2011, for Greenbuild NEXT. Diverse, cosmopolitan and home to a growing number of registered and certified LEED buildings, Toronto represents what’s next in the international adoption of sustainable and green building practices. International communities are embracing LEED and green building at a staggering rate. Last year, attendees from 114 countries, totaling nearly 60 percent of the world’s countries, were represented at Greenbuild. Delegations from South America, Asia, Africa and beyond descended on Greenbuild to learn about what’s new and different in the building industry and how they can incorporate the knowledge gained through the conference and sustainable innovations and solutions found at the expo in the buildings in their native countries. And Greenbuild, as the world’s largest conference and
expo dedicated to green building, is the place where industry leaders and newcomers alike connect to learn about what’s new — and next — in green building practices, technology and innovation. The atmosphere at Greenbuild fosters an environment that encourages conversation and collaboration to come up with solutions for changing the status quo. In the exhibit hall, attendees meet face-to-face with the companies and organizations that supply the tools they need to create change and realize what’s next. PASSPORTS American citizens are required to provide a current passport for entry in Canada. Be sure to apply for or renew your passport now so you can see what’s NEXT at Greenbuild 2011!
Each year, the packed exhibit hall leaves both exhibitors and attendees with the renewed assurance that green means business — and Greenbuild is the place to do business. Information on innovative products and technologies is available to attendees, while exhibitors leave knowing that their products allow the building community to make sustainable choices. Both groups take away the understanding that utilizing green really does grow business. Conference attendees sharpen their competitive edge with the first-class educational content found in the sessions and summits. Greenbuild is the place for every sector of the green building community — from finance or policy to building
technology and LEED implementation to marketing — to learn about the changes in our rapidly evolving industry and anticipate what’s next. Greenbuild is an educational oasis, featuring more than 90 education sessions. Whether you are interested in taking a pre- or postshow LEED workshop, attending a sector-specific summit or learning about a niche topic, you will find it at Greenbuild. The majority of sessions at Greenbuild are approved for continuing education credits for LEED and other professional credentials, making it a one-stopshop for credential maintenance. LEED APs who are eligible to enroll in the LEED AP with specialty program should seize the opportunity to earn LEED-specific hours and attain a specialty credential. The suite of LEED AP with specialty credentials is what’s next in demonstrating proficiency in green building knowledge. If you are interested in what’s next — with LEED, in the globalization of green or in green building knowledge — Greenbuild is the can’t miss event of the year. Registration is open, and employees of USGBC member companies who register before Aug. 15, will save nearly $400 off full conference registrations. Start collecting your ideas, get your passport ready and register for Greenbuild NEXT. For information about education, exhibitors and to register, visit greenbuildexpo.org. MEAGHAN BIXBY IS A SPECIALIST IN COMMUNICATIONS FOR U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL.
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E E D By Lonny Blumenthal
Cycling Improvement THE NEXT UPDATE TO LEED WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE CLARITY, USABILITY, FUNCTIONALITY AND INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF THE RATING SYSTEMS. The hallmark of the LEED green building program lies in its evolution and continuous improvement cycle. By constantly raising the green building bar, the rating system is flexible in its scope and stringency as acceptance in the market evolves and new technologies become widely available. Following the release of the LEED 2009 rating systems, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) began working on an update to LEED to continue to support the transformation of how buildings and communities are designed, built and operated. Updating LEED presents opportunities for green building stakeholders to engage directly with the development of the LEED rating system. USGBC offers multiple public comment periods as part of the LEED development process. There is also a ballot vote among USGBC’s membership in addition to a Pilot Credit Library where project teams can submit feedback on various LEED credits that USGBC is offering for pilot testing. For LEED 2012, USGBC is focusing on the technical rigor of the rating system, incorporating building performance metrics and expanding the market sectors able to use LEED. The update builds on LEED 2009 and will continue to improve the clarity, usability, functionality and interconnectedness of the ratings systems through future version development. The following rating systems are included in the update: Building Design + Construction; Interior Design + Construction; Operations + Maintenance; Neighborhood Development; and LEED for Homes. LEED 2012 will supply three new credit categories and a revised point distribution. The new credit categories that will be introduced include:
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Integrated Process, Location and Transportation, and Performance. Revising the point distribution will more closely align the rating system requirements to the environmental, social and economic priorities articulated by the USGBC community. In November 2010, USGBC launched the first public comment period for LEED 2012, which provided the first look at the next update to LEED. The proposed version reflected a year’s worth of development by USGBC’s committees. The public comment period closed on Jan. 19, 2011 and gen-
LEED 2012 WILL SUPPLY THREE NEW CREDIT CATEGORIES AND A REVISED POINT DISTRIBUTION. erated more than 5,000 comments. Comments and recommendations have been reviewed by staff and LEED committees during the last few months and revisions will be made to the rating system language based on comments, emerging themes and knowledge gained from participants in the Pilot Credit Library. Credit revisions will be made available during the second public comment period which is expected to begin in July 2011. At the end of the public comment process, a final draft will go before USGBC’s membership for a vote. The extent to which LEED can continue to evolve and create market transformation is dependent upon the feedback USGBC receives from its stakeholders. USGBC encourages all green building stakeholders to participate in the second public comment period so they can have an opportunity to influence the development of the content as it moves towards becoming a balloted rating system. Together, USGBC and its passionate and engaged members will continuously improve the rating system and move one step closer to achieving the shared vision of a sustainable built environment for everyone within a generation. LONNY BLUMENTHAL IS A LEED ASSOCIATE FOR THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL.
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E E D By Tony Layne, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
The Road to 100 THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LESSONS TO BE LEARNED ON THE WAY TO ACHIEVING 100 LEED CERTIFICATIONS, SOME THAT APPLY TO ANY SUSTAINABLE PROJECT. Every project is different and has its own set of challenges and possibilities. At Perkins+Will, we strive to leverage the unique opportunities that building programs, clients and sites provide. But, after 75 years of design and 100 LEED-certified buildings, we have found some principles apply to any sustainable project. Here is our short list:
Get Your Own House in Order
Stay Late (and Measure Everything)
It’s tough to sell a client on the value of sustainability when you haven’t bought into it yourself. The first step to credibility is to walk the talk. At Perkins+Will, aligning our operations with our values was essential. The development of our Green Operations Plan forced us to look critically at our own energy and water use, waste generation and CO2 emissions and to set hard targets for reductions. It led to a mandate that all new or major renovations of our offices would achieve LEED Gold or Platinum certification. This allows us to learn by doing. Our offices have become labs for testing design strategies and demonstrating sustainable performance.
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Start Early One criticism of LEED is that you can “buy” a sustainable rating. Add a bike rack here or photovoltaic panels there and before you know it, your building is LEED certified. This has been partially remedied with the prerequisite energy requirement of LEED 2009. But, if you start with an institutional-quality building there is truth to this, especially in achieving LEED Certified or low Silver ratings. However, you can’t get to Platinum (or high Gold) with this
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approach. It is prohibitively expensive. Achieving a Platinum rating requires a fundamental change in thinking. It requires all of the building’s systems be designed from the beginning with the common goal of achieving significant energy use reductions and high levels of sustainability. The window to effect change at a reasonable cost during the design process closes quickly; you must start early.
Another criticism of LEED buildings is they don’t perform any better than non-LEED buildings. In terms of energy performance this is true without proper follow through. Buildings are designed based on predictive models. Those models are based on a multitude of assumptions about how a client will occupy the space, climate and how systems will perform. Even in the best case, assumptions will not be 100 percent correct. Robust enhanced commissioning and extensive measurement and verification are critical for buildings to perform at levels matching predictive energy models. This means continual measurement, analysis and adjustment of building systems for at least 18 months after occupancy.
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Get All Hands on Deck You can start on the path to sustainability with a few energetic early adopters, but to effect real change you need everyone involved. This means making sure your teams are pulling in the same direction and there aren’t two or three “sustainability experts” doing the heavy lifting while everyone else goes on with business as usual. At Perkins+Will, we require LEED Accreditation of all design professionals. This gives all our designers baseline knowledge of sustainability and an ability to engage in a sustainable dialogue. It lets everyone know, internally and externally, that we are serious about sustainable, high-performance design. And, it attracts like-minded clients and designers.
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Frame Your Argument Every client has different values, goals and motivations. Sustainability framed in terms of benefit to the environment may not resonate with everyone. Knowing your audience allows you to discuss the value of
sustainability and LEED in terms that resonate with the audience’s core values. One client may kick you out of the room for bringing up climate change, but would quickly sign on to high-performance building that saves energy costs. Another client may not be interested in sustainability, but is concerned about health and retention of staff. Instead of fighting a client’s point of view, work with it. You will get more traction and, ultimately, a better project for it.
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TONY LAYNE, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, IS A DESIGN ARCHITECT WITH PERKINS+WILL MINNEAPOLIS. LAYNE IS THE CO-DIRECTOR OF PERKINS+WILL’S SUSTAINABLE DESIGN INITIATIVE, CHAIRS THE MINNEAPOLIS OFFICE’S DESIGN LAB PROGRAM AND IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE INNOVATION INCUBATOR INITIATIVE. HIS PROFESSIONAL HONORS AND CREDITS INCLUDE THE 2010 AIA MINNESOTA YOUNG ARCHITECTS AWARD AND VARIOUS PROJECT AWARDS.
Take a Systems Approach One objection to sustainability is it is too expensive. This is common because we live with a reductionist world view. We break everything into parts and analyze them individually. We assume they are additive. The problem is that all parts interact and are dynamic. So, you have to look at them holistically. Indeed, adding a sustainable feature like daylight dimming will cost more upfront than not having it. Even with an argument of reasonable payback over time through saved energy, an owner is often hard pressed to come up with additional first-cost funding. But when viewed as part of a system, the reduced electric lighting levels may produce less internal heat and allow a smaller mechanical system. The dollar savings on mechanicals may offset increased first costs for daylight dimming. Only when the systems are designed holistically is this possible.
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Optimize, Don’t Maximize In western culture, especially in the United States, we often believe that more is better. If two is good, then ten is great. One key to achieving sustainability is knowing which strategies to apply, when to apply them, and in what amount. For instance, it would be easy to assume adding insulation to a building envelope is always a worthwhile strategy. While this is often the case in an externally load-dominated building like your house, added insulation to an internally loaddominated building like an office rarely pays for itself. The money spent on added insulation would likely be better spent on a more efficient mechanical system. Even in your house there is a point of diminishing return where the amount of energy saved per inch of insulation added no longer provides worthwhile value. Knowing where to spend your budget is critical in achieving high sustainable performance. The road to 100 LEED Certifications has been invigorating. Each project is a step forward in our sustainable journey. They teach us something new. And by leveraging the cumulative lessons learned, we continually push forward toward our collective sustainable future.
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ON THE RECORD
School STRATEGIES NET-ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS EXPERT ROUNDTABLE V
T
he fifth Net-Zero Energy (NZE) Roundtable focused its discussion on schools. The teams on these recently-built, or still-in-design or in-construction, schools wanted to share their experiences in order to help other professionals improve the energy performance on their future projects. The roundtable was broken down into two groups: the first group of schools is functioning (or will in the near future) as NZE schools now; the second group is designed to be NZE, but is still waiting to install the final, cost-prohibited items (such as solar collectors) to complete the process. The full transcript of the roundtable, as well as ED+C’s webinar featuring Richardsville Elementary School, can be found on EDCmag.com.
MARIN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL IN CORTE MADERA, CALIF. Architect: EHDD Architecture Construction budget: $12,800,000 Cost per Square Foot: $380
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Floor Area: 23,094 GSF (new); 33,740 GSF (total) Roof Area: 19,369 (new) Site Area: 78,696 square feet (1.8 acres) Climate Zone: 3 Q
Scott Shell, principal, EHDD Architecture.
[email protected] Alice Moore, director of Environmental Sustainability, Marin Country Day School.
[email protected] Q John Andary, principal, Stantec in San Francisco.
[email protected] Q
Now in its second phase, Marin Country Day School site overlooks the San Francisco Bay. The design emphasized connecting the children with the site’s natural ecology as a part of imparting ecological literacy with the students as called for by the school’s new Strategic Plan. The building itself set out to achieve LEED Platinum in addition to net-zero energy. Strategies that worked with the school’s environment were employed. For example, a radiant slab with concrete fill over an exposed metal EPIC deck cools the facility. The design reduces the need for cooling enough that a cooling tower was used in place of an energy chiller. Climate conditions also allowed for a baseboard heating system.
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Scott Layne, assistant superintendent for Support Services, Irving Independent School District.
[email protected] Q Susan Smith, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, vice president, Corgan Associates Inc. susan.
[email protected] Q Don Penn, president, Image Engineering Group (IEG).
[email protected] Q Robert Frick, LEED AP, director of Education Division, IEG.
[email protected]
Scheduled to open in August 2011, the new middle school will serve as Irving Intermediate School District’s eighth middle school. Incorporated into the main circulation spine of the school are four educational displays called “nodes.” Each node is dedicated to a sustainable principle: solar, geothermal, wind and water conservation. Each node has three components: a graphic display where printed material can be displayed and easily changed, a digital display of four large touchscreen monitors that can display real-time data for all of the systems (as well as video or other data needed to support the curriculum), and a threedimensional interactive display. Building efficiencies and energy reduction are accomplished by a geothermal HVAC system, increased wall and roof insulation as well as insulation under the floor slab, due to the crawl space required by soil conditions. The electric plug load in the building has been reduced by half because of a district commitment to student laptops and wireless networking that allows for the elimination of all computer labs and banks of library computers. RICHARDSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN BOWLING GREEN, KY. Architect: Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects Construction budget: $12,160,000 for building; $2,766,664 for solar package and structure Cost per Square Foot: $168.22/square foot. (Building); $206.50/square foot (building and solar package) Floor Area: 72,285 square feet (77,466 square feet with exterior covered structured overhangs and outdoor classroom) Roof Area: 47,442 square feet Site Area: 10.2 acres Climate Zone: 4
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS NZE SCHOOL AT WWW.EDCMAG. COM/EVENTS/494
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LADY BIRD JOHNSON MIDDLE SCHOOL IN IRVING, TEXAS Architect: Corgan Architects Construction budget: $29,610,423
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Cost per Square Foot: $194/square foot Floor Area: 152,250 square feet Roof Area: 111,306 square feet Site Area: 17 acres Climate Zone: 3A
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Kenny Stanfield, AIA, LEED AP, principal in charge of the Education studio, Sherman Carter Barnhart’s Louisville office.
[email protected] Q Ken Seibert, PE, LEED AP, president, CMTA Inc.
[email protected] Q Jay Wilson, energy manager, Warren County Public Schools. jay.wilson@warren. kyschools.us
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A very compact, two-story building with a “doughnut” design helps to minimize the lighting energy intensity. Additionally, all first- and second-floor classrooms are daylit. The south facing classrooms included a 20-foot long by 20-inch high clerestory window located above the view window. An exterior light shelf shades the view glass and provides additional reflected light to the clerestory. A sloped ceiling
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RI CH AR DS VI LL E EL helps project light toward the back of the classroom. To supplement the daylight strategy on the second floor, two tubular daylighting devices were located in the back of the classroom to help distribute the daylight evenly. The building’s climate required year-round heating and cooling. Therefore, it was decided early on that a high-performance envelope was necessary. Insulated concrete forms for both the perimeter and interior walls of the building were chosen. For the roof, six inches of polyisocyanurate insulation was selected in order to increase the roof R-value to 42.
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PART II SAMUEL BRIGHOUSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA Architect: Busby Perkins and Will Construction budget: $10.6 M (building) Cost per Square Foot: $215 (building) Floor Area: 4,600 m2 (49,515 square feet) Roof Area: 4,085 m2 (43,975 square feet) Site Area: 32,370 m2 (3.2 hectare) Climate Zone: 5 Q
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Robert Drew, MAIBC, LEED BD+C, associate principal and technical director, Perkins+Will’s Vancouver Office.
[email protected] Eric Thorliefson, P. Eng, manager of Facilities, Richmond School District,
[email protected] Jean-Sebastien Tessier, P.Eng, project manager and engineer, Cobalt Engineering LLP.
[email protected] Julie Verville, MAIBC, OAQ, LEED AP, architect, Perkins+Will’s Vancouver office. julie.
[email protected] Robert Drew, MAIBC, LEED BD+C, associate principal and technical director for Perkins+Will’s Vancouver Office.
[email protected] Russ Drinker, AIA, LEED AP, managing principal of the San Francisco Office for Perkins+Will.
[email protected]
This design explores a number of passive and active green strategies including daylighting, displacement ventilation, wood-frame construction, onsite stormwater retention, geo-exchange, green roofs and solar hot water heating. The long axis of the school is oriented east-west to best take advantage of passive strategies related to solar access and direction of prevailing winds. Based on a study that collected information from hundreds of school across Canada, the design team was challenged to be as efficient as possible and is aggressively targeting an annual kilowatt usage between 60 and 70 kilowatt hours per square meter. www.EDCmag.com g
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SANGRE DE CRISTO SCHOOL IN MOSCA, COLO.
HAYES FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL IN CAMAS, WASH.
Architect: klipp| Hutton
Architect: Mahlum Architects
Construction budget: $17,400,000
Construction budget: 3,800,000
Cost per Square Foot: $217/square foot
Cost per Square Foot: $185
Floor Area: 80,025 square feet (main building)
Floor Area: 20,500 square feet
Roof Area: 80,025 square feet
Roof Area: 21,000 square feet
Site Area: 40 acres
Site Area: 1 acre
Climate Zone: 6B
Climate Zone: 4C
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Paul Hutton, AIA, LEED AP, principal/founder, Hutton Architecture Studio.
[email protected] Q Brian Walsh, principal, Catalyst Planning Group.
[email protected] Q Pete Jefferson, principal in charge, M.E. GROUP’s Denver office.
[email protected] Q Mike Kosters, senior project manager, GE Johnson.
[email protected]
In a harsh climate where there are 8,500 heating degree days and only 51 cooling degree days, a well-insulated building that makes use of passive solar strategies was necessary. The project used funding from Colorado’s BEST Program, which stands for Building Excellent Schools Today. The BEST program is funded by the State of Colorado’s land trust, which manages three million acres of land and four million acres of mineral rights, established by the Colorado State Legislature and the Colorado Department of Education in 2008. This program provides an annual amount of funding in the form of competitive grants to school districts and charter schools throughout the state.
InsulBloc® SPF Insulation The Science of Comfort
Seals walls to roof decks creating a water and air barrier.
Joren Bass, AIA, LEED AP, project architect, Mahlum.
[email protected] Heidi Rosenberg, Capital Facilities director, Camas School District. heidi.
[email protected] Q Brian Butler, PE, LEED AP, associate/senior mechanical engineer, Interface Engineering.
[email protected] Q David Chesely, PE, LEED AP, RCDD, associate principal/senior electrical engineer, Interface Engineering.
[email protected] Q
Named after a former graduate and founder of Earth Day, Denis Hayes, the focus of this school’s alternative learning environment focuses on environmental stewardship. Its smaller footprint naturally lent itself to a green design. Student and faculty interest in sustainability features permitted the design team to forego active cooling systems and certain interior finishes, the funds for which were then diverted to upgrades to the sustainable features. The engineering team was engaged early in the project to accurately inform
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“At Fanning Howey, we design high performance schools.
That means every aspect of the building must contribute to energy efficiency and a healthy environment. We use InsulBloc® because it’s high performance insulation— saves on energy costs, and keeps out pollen, dust, mold and moisture.” Clair E. Howey, AIA Vice Chairman Fanning Howey Columbus, OH
Outperforms other types of insulation.
The Science of Comfort
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Reader Service No. 74 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
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the architects and owner of the different energy impacts certain decisions would have on the building. A bulletin board in the school’s main hallway lists the energy used by each teacher and their classrooms, which promotes both competition to lower energy costs and responsible choices among the students.
grass porous pavement
NZE Consultants Q
Peter Rumsey, principal/practicing engineer, Integral Group.
[email protected]
NZE consultants focus on designing a low energy building first so that photovoltaic systems are smaller and more affordable. Photovoltaic systems are then typically used to provide renewable energy to the building. Surprisingly, some school districts have been able to outright pay for these systems stating that it’s easier to get construction dollars rather than operation dollars. Other districts, however, prefer to go with a power purchase agreement (PPA) in which a lease-type of arrangement is made where third-party providers of PV systems can claim the tax credits and the district doesn’t have to pay for the PV system. In addition to the above participants, other industry professionals contributed their expertise to the roundtable, including Rick Cantwell, PE, President/CEO, Odell International LLC, Huntersville, N.C. (cantwellr@ odell-intl.com) and Tom Kubala, principal and the co-founder of The Kubala Washatko Architects Inc., Cedarburg, Wis. (
[email protected])
AEDG the Advanced Energy Design Guide Q
Eric Bonnema, commercial buildings research engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
[email protected]
The ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDGs) are a series of publications designed to provide recommendations for achieving energy savings over the minimum code requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1. The initial series of guides have an energy savings target of 30 percent, which is the first step in the process toward achieving a net-zero energy building, defined as a building that, on an annual basis, draws from outside resources equal or less energy than it provides using on-site renewable energy sources. Each 30% Guide addresses a specific building type. Additional guides for existing buildings and at 50 percent energy savings toward a net-zero energy building are also planned and currently in progress.
Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) Q
Ed Wansing, Associate AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Technical Programs coordinator, Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS).
[email protected]
CHPS is a not-for-profit membership organization established to make schools better places to learn. The organization’s first criteria was created after the original LEED criteria was completed, allowing many of the people who created that original criteria for office buildings was able to create criteria for schools. It started in California, with the California Energy Commission and the major California utilities. The criteria are now in 11 different states, four of which are managed through the national office in California. Those criteria are California Colorado, Texas and Massachusetts. The Marin Country Day School is a CHPS designed project.
NREL Q
Carrie Strahan, EIT, LEED AP BD+C, studio director, Sustainable Building Services, Architectural Energy Corporation’s (AEC) San Francisco office.
[email protected]
To start, define as part of the sustainability goal-setting session, your team’s definition of net-zero energy and/or other energy conservation goals. Grid neutral only considers electricity use, while net-zero energy (site or source) includes electricity and natural gas, and “carbon neutral,” offsets any carbon produced from the natural gas and electricity use of the buildings. Make sure to also define the boundaries of the goal and how the goal will be measured to confirm whether or not the goal has been met. As a recommended net-zero energy design tip, it would be useful to set up a matrix that identifies best practices for achieving net-zero energy and categorize them by climate and building program needs.
invisiblestructures.com 800-233-1510
THE ARTICLE ABOVE WAS WRITTEN BY EDITOR DERRICK TEAL BASED ON THE TELECONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT, WHICH CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT WWW.EDCMAG.COM. Reader Service No. 75 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
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LEED EBOM
By Michael J. Berning, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C
Sustainability Solution: Campus Certification CERTIFYING MULTIPLE BUILDINGS ON A SINGLE SITE BECOMES EASIER WITH THE 2010 AGMBC.
THE LEED GOLD BATTELLE LABORATORY IS ON THE CAMPUS OF OHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY. THIS 25,000-SQUARE-FOOT SCIENCE BUILDING INCLUDES FLEXIBLE TEACHING LABORATORIES, RESEARCH LABORATORIES AND A DAY-LIT ATRIUM THAT SERVES AS A COLLABORATIVE SOCIAL SPACE FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY.
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A client representing a large multibuilding campus recently asked whether the USGBC’s 2010 LEED Application Guide for Multiple Buildings and On-Campus Building Projects (2010 AGMBC) might provide a specific benefit or applicability to use across this client’s campus building stock. The 2010 AGMBC provides a streamlining of effort (and potential cost savings) for owners with multibuilding campuses. Please note that the 2010 AGMBC is applied on LEED v2009 projects only. Projects registered under previous versions, such as LEED-NC v2.1, 2.2 or LEED-CS v2.0, need to use the 2005 AGMBC as applicable. The 2010 AGMBC can be applied to the New Construction, Core and Shell, Retail, Healthcare and Commercial Interiors as well as the LEED-EBOM rating systems. This “campus” application guide applies to a single site under a single owner or management entity. This can be a college campus, military base, corporate campus, etc. Unlike the LEED Volume Program, which is used to certify a large number of projects based on a uniform building type, the 2010 AGMBC is used to certify multiple buildings not necessarily of the same type but located on a single site. However, on some campuses, owners could apply both programs should their building types be prototypical. Many commercial office campuses meet these criteria. Many of the equipment and material selection-related LEED credits (i.e., water saving fixtures, low-VOC paint, etc.) can be applied fairly universally across an owner’s building portfolio. Plus, when applying the sustainability policies (waste management, water use, purchas-
ing, etc.) required by LEED-EBOM rating system campus-wide, the resulting time and effort savings can be significant. Applying the 2010 AGMBC requires an initial registration submission to the USGBC of a master site. This master site registration should be submitted prior to submitting individual campus projects for their eventual LEED certification review, but they can be done concurrently. Owners need to know that separate LEED registration (and payment of associated fees) is still required for any project being submitted for LEED certification on their campus. Registration fees for the master site are the same as for individual buildings — $1,200 for non-USGBC members and $900 for members. Certification fees for the master site are $2,000 for non-USGBC members and $1,500 for members with a 20 percent discount on certification fees for each individual building applying for certification under the 2010 AGMBC. Thus, perhaps with just two or three buildings, the investment in this campus approach begins to save on overall costs. One of the primary items to be addressed under the 2010 AGMBC is to define the LEED campus boundary in the master site submittal. This has great bearing on the application of credits (specifically any credits addressing site or FTE requirements), as any and all buildings within the campus boundary must be included in the overall calculations — whether those buildings are seeking LEED certification or not. Individual buildings must still be submitted with a defined LEED project boundary. The LEED campus boundary must be a contiguous site, unless specific criteria are met as defined in the
supplemental guidance to the minimum program requirements. Credits can be added to the master site registration via the appeals process in LEED Online at any time. Just a few examples of where campuses can benefit from the master site credit approach include: Using a centralized recycling collection area versus individual building recycling centers, thus alleviating space planning and other associated issues across campus building stock; establishing a non-smoking policy for the campus; purchasing green power and assigning the power purchased on a by-project basis; water-efficient landscaping; and green cleaning and integrated pest management programs. Also to be noted, as updates to the LEED rating systems occur, (the next one is planned for 2012), owners will need to re-review all campus credits (at their own expense) to ensure the credits in their master site will be applicable to the new rating system. Certainly there are substantial benefits an owner could garner by pursuing the campus approach if the intent is to seek LEED certification for multiple campus buildings. The unique aspects of each campus need to be assessed to verify the totality of the benefit, but with the upside potential, this is an option all campuses should consider. MICHAEL BERNING, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C, IS THE DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FOR HEAPY ENGINEERING, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN PROVIDING INNOVATIVE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN, COMMISSIONING, LEED AND ENERGY RELATED SERVICES. HE CAN BE REACHED AT
[email protected] OR 937-224-0861.
THE GREEN
PRACTITIONER By Tommy Linstroth, LEED AP
Incrementalism and LEED THE LEED RATING SYSTEMS HAVE CONSISTENTLY ADAPTED AND BEEN REVISED AS THE GREEN BUILT ENVIRONMENT GROWS.
THERE IS A CONTINUED PUSH FOR LEED REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME MORE STRINGENT AND RIGOROUS.
Ten years ago, there was this fresh new kid on the block, one no one had seen before. Wildly different than the common way of thinking about designing and constructing buildings, this new concept was seen by supporters and critics as visionary, radical, market-changing, unnecessary, useless and industry defining. I’m guessing you won’t have to think too hard to realize I’m talking about the LEED rating system. A mere decade or so ago, LEED was introduced to a range of emotions and reactions on both sides. Indeed, while more commonly accepted today, the system still raises strong feelings, both for and against. What’s odd is that this rating system — or what could even be called a reformed thought process — that was once heralded as a visionary new system for defining green buildings has come to be derided as not stringent enough, not pushing the envelope enough and certainly no longer visionary. This comes from some of the rating system’s most ardent early supporters. That leads me to weigh the pros and cons of both arguments of the future evolution of LEED. I’ve lived neck deep in LEED and green buildings for the better part of the past decade. I’ve dealt with the industry learning curve, the certification frustrations and the perceived cost issues that seem to be brought up by everyone as soon as those four little letters are declared. But I’ve also basked in the glow of project teams hanging their plaques, never looking more satisfied; of communities rallying behind projects because the
developer has made a true commitment toward making buildings and neighborhoods better; of talking to facility people who are amazed by how low the actual utility bills really are. It’s a tough job being a visionary. Actually, being a visionary is easy. Being a successful visionary is something else. Let me explain. There are lots of visionaries. Lots! You’re probably one or are sitting next to one. But the biggest problem with many visionaries, at least the ones I see, is that they have no ability to implement. It’s easy to come up with a visionary idea (this building should run off of smiles and self-esteem!), but taking that vision and getting it done is something else altogether. Visionaries better have some dang good technical and detail-oriented people working with them, a never-ending passion and years of dedication; otherwise, that vision goes nowhere. So — what does that have to do with anything? Well, LEED was visionary 10 years ago. I think the greatest sign of success for something truly visionary is that it doesn’t seem all that out there anymore. In a decade, what was once a wild idea for green building certification has become the norm — elevating building design and construction to a level not usually seen. No, a building doesn’t have to be LEED certified to be green, but as I’ve often wrote about, a lot of those folks I’ve met who’ve told me they “already design/build buildings that would be LEED certified” usually produce projects that don’t measure up. There is a continued push for
LEED to become more stringent and rigorous in determining requirements for a project to gain certification. And the rating system has adapted, consistently, over the past 10 years. That’s the beauty of it. The energy component especially is much more rigorous than it was when it was based off of ASHRAE 90.1-1999. Can you make it tougher for the amount of bike racks and showers? Not really, but you see the improvements where it is really practical and really makes long-term differences, like energy, water and indoor air quality. There are some new rating systems out there looking to push well beyond what LEED is currently prescribing — things like the Living Building Challenge. I certainly hope they succeed and in 10 years I’m writing about the success and market-transformation of those systems. But until then, I’ll leave this question to both the visionaries of great new things to come and the folks who don’t like the incremental improvements to the LEED rating system. Is it better to have one building completely off the grid (perhaps powered by smiles and self-esteem), or 5,000 buildings using 20-30 percent less energy? Visions are great and necessary — but so are things that are so successful they become common. TOMMY LINSTROTH, LEED AP, IS THE PRINCIPAL OF TRIDENT SUSTAINABILITY GROUP (WWW. TRIDENTSUSTAINABILITY.COM), A CONSULTING FIRM FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDING DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. HE CAN BE REACHED AT
[email protected]. www.EDCmag.com
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2011 EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AWARDS
THE ENVELOPE, vid surfers and professors of biology and environmental studies, Arkin Tilt Architects’ clients wanted to push the ecological envelope while providing a fun, comfortable house for the family of six, along with a second unit for rental or aging parents. The result is a 2,500-square-foot two-story house that was awarded as this year’s winner in the SingleFamily Residential category.
The
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Situated in a dense residential neighborhood in Santa Cruz, Calif., the house contains four bedrooms and an office, as well as a small (330 square foot) one-bedroom accessory dwelling unit with its own entrance. The site
borders a linear park that follows a creek two blocks to the ocean. The exuberant south façade and generous terraces play off of the lively public park space while taking advantage of the western shading of the creek-side syca-
Single-Family Residential winner mixes a highly insulated envelope with cutting-edge technology.
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mores. The street side presence is more subdued with smaller glimpses of the active spaces within — through a thick, insulating strawbale wall. Combining cutting-edge mechanical technology with natural building techniques, passive solar strategies and locally sourced elements, this house is designed for net-zero energy and minimal carbon footprint. Good daylighting, supplemented by fluorescent and LED lighting, and ENERGY STARrated appliances keep internal energy loads low. When needed, an ultra-efficient Altherma electric air-to-water heat pump produces hot water for domestic use and space heating via radiant tubing in the concrete slab on the main level and a topping slab at
A MADRONE TREE HIGHLIGHTS THE DINING ROOM’S HEIGHT. www.EDCmag.com
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the upstairs bath. This usage is offset by a 5.2 kW photovoltaic array mounted on the roofs of the office and the stairwell volume. Natural gas is used only for cooking. An efficient plan, solar panels and a wellinsulated envelope mean that little supplementary heat is needed. Strawbale walls wrap the north and west, while the woodframed south wall features extensive glazing,
opening up to the sun to bring daylight far into the living spaces. Deep overhangs and trellises shade the spaces in the summer time while still filling the rooms with daylight. With no mechanical cooling, natural ventilation occurs by simply opening windows, particularly the high windows in the two-story dining space which can be left open for night flushing if necessary.
2011 RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY CATEGORY WINNER Name: Santa Cruz Strawbale House Submitted By: Arkin Tilt Architects Date Completed: June 2010 Size: 2,170 square feet Location: Santa Cruz, Calif. Winning Team
I may not be able to fly, but I can turn construction waste into fuel. Chuck Cox, LEED AP BD+C Lafarge Cement
Lafarge is about so much more than materials. It’s about the people who stand behind them. It’s about the people dedicated to transforming materials to adapt to our everyday environment. These are the people of Lafarge. Those who are totally committed to finding sustainable solutions for a better world. Those who collaborate with architects and engineers, leading universities, research centers, and industry and environmental organizations to make sustainable construction a reality. I’m proud to be one of these people. For more on an innovative project where we turned construction waste into alternative fuel, join me online.
Visit: www.lafarge-na.com/visitwithme
Architects: Arkin Tilt Architects Partner-in-Charge: Anni Tilt and David Arkin, AIA, LEED, AIA Clients: Erika Zavaleta and Bernie Tershy Builder: Marc Susskind of MS Builders
Materials Flooring: Triangle Coatings (concrete stain) Roofing: AEP Span (metal roof) HVAC System and Appliances: Daikin (pump); Frigidaire (Refrigerator); Bosch (dishwasher) Interior Finishes and Furnishings: Vetrazzo (countertops); Fireclay (tile) Paints and Wallcoverings: Benjamin Moore (paint); Osmo (finish) Energy Efficiency: SANYO (PV); Sunny Boy (inverter) Building Envelope: Sierra Pacific (windows and doors) Plumbing Fixtures: Toto (toilets) Landscaping: Turf Block (permeable paving)
Each space serves several functions in the compact house, and the rooms seem to shift and change with the seasons as light and shadow play through them. To wit, the exposed framing in the stairwell becomes a bookcase display, and a built-in bench off the upper hall marks the entry below. The dramatic height of the dining room is accentuated with the natural branching of a madrone tree column, found by the owners on a friend’s nearby property. The open dining room is balanced by an intimate living space with a sitting bay rotated toward the park. Recycled and salvaged doors, interior windows, flooring and driftwood pickets, as well as a driftwood column at the entry, reduces the impact of the building and provides character and sense of place. Open and intimate, flexible and efficient, budget-conscious and playful in overall form and detail, this house speaks to the specificity of its place, reflecting the consciousness and vibe of its urban Santa Cruz site. The above information was provided by Arkin Tilt Architects. For more information on ED+C’s annual Excellence in Design Awards contest, visit eid.EDCmag.com.
© 2011 Lafarge North America Inc. LEED and the related logo is a trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and is used with permission.
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Don’t just go green, go Emerald.
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