Basics of Green Building

The Green Roundtable
(copyright Green Roundtable 2007)

and
Introduction to Green Building
Green Roundtable
Consulting, education, training and strategic planning

to create healthy environments by integrating principles of sustainability into mainstream planning, design and construction.

Questions for tonight
What is the imperative of green building? How do we define green building? How do we create green buildings? How do we measure green? What do I do next?

Global Warming??


Even if youre a GW skeptic, heres the problem

Some sad realities.

Even if you dont believe that the global warming threat is real, we are facing these certain realities:
Ozone depletion
Air & water pollution Destruction of worlds forests & green spaces Species & biodiversity loss Acid rain
Collapse of worlds fisheries

Fresh water scarcity Topsoil loss; Soil contamination
And if global warming is real

Crop failure on a massive scale Increases in drought frequency Deadly heat waves Rising sea levels/ coastal flooding
Increased frequency & duration of storm activity

Expansion of desert areas Increases in disease vectors

On a more local or personal level

Rapidly rising energy costs Escalating prices on consumer goods Blackouts/ brownouts Water shortages
Supply chain interruptions

More frequent economic losses due to increased storm intensity & flooding

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Some sobering facts
The United States produces 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Americans produce twice as much per person than other industrialized nations

11
Some sobering facts
Water tables are now falling in countries that contain over half the worlds people

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Some sobering facts
There are currently 1,243 EPA Superfund sites on the National Priorities List and 60 more proposed (as of 3/20/07)

Some sobering facts
The incidence of asthma has increased dramatically over the last 25 years in the U.S. and other industrialized nations.

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Some sobering facts
The EPA estimates that indoor air can be up to five times as contaminated with VOCs as outside air.

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Some sobering facts
The EPA also reports that the airborne contaminants found in our homes are three times more likely to cause cancer than the pollutants outside

Some sobering facts
Cancer clusters have been identified in some more-affluent communities and have been attributed to chemically-intensive landscape management practices

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Some sobering facts
A 15-year study in Oregon concluded that women who work in the home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than women who work outside the home

Some sobering facts China recently caught up to the United States in terms of overall energy consumption. India isnt far behind. The U.S. & Canada are still the per capita leaders by far

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Some sobering facts
The U.S., with 5% of the worlds population, consumes more than a third of its resources and over a quarter of its energy resources.

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Where do buildings fit in

Half of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings (construction/ operation)
Buildings account for nearly half of the total energy use in the United States
Buildings represent the single largest energy consumer in the U.S., followed by the transportation sector
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Additional housing sector facts
According to HUD, if Americans can reduce home energy use by 10% over the next ten years (a doable number!), it will be the energy equivalent of 40 new power plants (600 Mw) and the greenhouse gas equivalent of 25 million vehicles

Additional housing sector facts There are more than 76 million residential buildings in the USA today Estimates of residential energy consumption as a proportion of the nations total energy load range from around 20 40% From 2000 to 2005, winter heating costs for natural gas increased by 115%, oil by 135%, and electricity by 18%

Food for thought.

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Perhaps the most sobering fact of all

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Yikes!
It has been estimated that in order for the current population of the Earth to live at the same quality of life as the industrialized nations, it would require the resources of four Earth equivalents.

This we know
We live on a planet of finite natural resources
We are currently using those resources at an unsustainable rate

As a nation, the United States uses a disproportionate share of the worlds natural resources

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This we know
Energy prices are likely to trend in only one direction for the foreseeable future! Most other resource prices are likely to follow the same trend
These conclusions are rooted in simple physics, chemistry, biology and economics

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Carbon Footprint
The amount of CO2 released to the atmosphere as a result of a given process, enterprise or activity (used to measure global warming potential) See: http://www.carbonfootprint.com/USA/calculator.html

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The bottom line:
As resource consumers, we all bear some responsibility!

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A solution: Green Building

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Defining green building:
The effective and responsible integration of the built environment into the natural world to protect natural resources and ensure healthy and comfortable indoor environments

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The primary key to success:
MINDSET
Understanding that virtually everything that we consume has some kind of impact Accepting accountability for that impact

Mindset
Green Design and Construction is NOT: Applying green add on stuff
Green Design and Construction IS: Looking at what we do in a new way More closely aligning natural and human systems Dont limit discussion just to green

Going beyond
Much of the focus in green building is on how we can minimize harm to the natural world and human systems while creating the built environment
Perhaps we can shift the focus to how the built environment can have a net positive impact on the natural environment & the human sphere of activity
Regenerative design

Keys to success Maintaining an awareness throughout that all products have life-cycle impacts will go a long way toward helping you to green your projects
Taking a systems approach to project design and viewing the building holistically, with the understanding that any given element or system could have an impact on all others

Keys to success Careful design Early planning Taking a systems approach Using a team approach between owners, design professionals and code officials, and bringing everybody together early in the process
Keys to success: Integrated Design Process
Goto: www.nexusboston.com/space/events/ar chived_events.html

Mindset

Why build green?

Building green: Reduces the ecological footprint of the building
Creates a safer and healthier indoor environment

Saves on utility expenses
May improve property resale value

May increase affordability Typically results in a more durable, maintenance-free building Provides security/ passive survivability
Reduces our dependence on foreign oil

The Triple Bottom Line

People
Planet
Prosperity

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The three prime movers (in order):

Economics- Reducing energy cost/ protecting the bottom line Health- Maintaining a safe and healthy environment for ones family & oneself Personal impact- Addressing the greater goodminimizing environmental footprint

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What makes it green?

Low embodied energy (entire lifecycle) Minimizes impact on wildlife habitat, green space, waterways, etc Minimizes depletion of natural resources Poses minimal harm to humans during its manufacture, transport, installation, end-use or disposal

What is embodied energy?

The quantity of energy required to manufacture, and supply to the point of use including:
Extraction Transportation Manufacturing
Assembly Installation Some definitions also include: Disassembly & Removal


General strategies:
Minimize impact on building sites/ area Incorporate energy efficient design details
Create a high-performance building envelope

Use energy-efficient lighting, equipment & appliances Employ water conservation strategies Employ natural daylighting techniques Create comfortable & healthy indoor environments
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Underlying all:
Scale
Scale
Scale

Consider this:
The average size of a U.S. single-family house has increased by 33% since 1975. At the same time average family size has decreased

How green is it?

The no-build option is always the greenest way Smaller is greener More efficient material resource use is better The more durable (in use) & maintenance free the better The lower the required operating energy, the better

Measuring green: Design Standards
LEED - www.usgbc.org
Energy Star Homes - www.energystar.gov

Home Efficiency Rating System (HERS) http://www.energy.ca.gov/HERS International Energy Conservation Code (IEEC) http://www.iccsafe.org/

Measuring green: Design resources

Building Americahttp://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/ about.html Environmental Building News/ Greenspechttp://www.buildinggreen.com
http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/P rograms/Green%20Building/Sourcebook/index.htm
http://www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings/residential/pdfs/ guide07.pdf DOEs High Performance Building Case Studies DB: http://eere.energy.gov/buildings/database
Architects Federal, Local, and State Governments

Planners Product Manufacturer s Nonprofit Leaders Engineers
Building Owners
USGBC
Landscape Architects Property Managers Interior Designers
Financial Planners
Building Tenants
Utility Managers
Code Officials
Increase in LEED Projects
2006: 642 million square feet. 2005: 500 million square feet.
2004: More than 180 million square feet.

2003: More than 141 million square feet. 2002: More than 80 million square feet.
INSERT GRAPH FROM LEED BROCHURE HERE

Launched in late 07

Additional construction costs

The LEED Credit Categories

Sustainable Sites Water Efficiency Energy & Atmosphere Materials & Resources
Indoor Environmental Quality

Innovation & Design Process

More info on LEED & LEED Accreditation:

http://www.nexusboston.com/action/information_resources/ leed_at_a_glance.html http://www.usgbc.org http://www.gbci.org

What is LEED?
LEED
Leeds
Famous Green Buildings in the Area
Boston Nature Center, Boston MA
Genzyme Center, Cambridge MA
Forbes Lofts, Chelsea MA
Macallen Building South Boston MA
Manulife Building, Boston MA

Cornerstones of green building (structure itself)

Site Site
Site
Site

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A sampling of strategies & approaches

63
General strategies:
Energy

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Energy: A green building key
Improving energy efficiency might be considered the bedrock of green building

Since buildings are so energy-intensive in their construction, operation and maintenance, much of green design focuses on ways to moderate this energy consumption

A University of Michigan study demonstrated that greater than 90% of the embodied energy in a home is attributable to operating energy

Key Principle- Saving energy
As a general rule the greatest energy savings will be achieved through managing the demand side of the equation, rather than the supply side.
In other words, youll get better bang for your buck through energy conservation measures, like insulating & minimizing air infiltration, than incorporating expensive renewable energy systems such as wind and solar.

Some potential exceptions:

Exceptions to this may include passive solar, and situations where you qualify for a substantial rebate and/or credit for other renewable energy systems (keep in mind the embodied energy of systems though!) There are other compelling reasons to perform upgrades like this, such as reduced reliance on foreign energy resources, promotion of renewable energy & local industry, passive survivability, etc.

General strategies:
Incorporate energy efficient design details Create a high-performance building envelope Use energy-efficient equipment & appliances Right-size heating & cooling equipment Use energy-efficient lighting Employ natural daylighting techniques Incorporate renewable energy sources
Educate building occupants on use of systems!

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Preventing heat loss- building envelope

Insulate
Air seal (prevent infiltration)

Use landscape features- vegetative shields, etc.
Address lifestyle issues

Best bang for buck (residential) through air sealing! Begin here!

Minimizing air infiltration

(sealing building envelope) Min .35 Air changes per hour (ACH) for good ventilation; max .50 for energy efficiency (Energy Star)
Seal obvious openings- pipe penetrations, attic scuttles, electrical receptacles, recessed lights, etc.
Openings to attic spaces are some of worst offenders Any place where two building planes meet is good candidate for air sealing For additions/ new construction, use exterior air barrier to minimize infiltration
Building wrap to minimize air infiltration & protect from moisture

Blower door test to measure air leakage

Air leakage pathways

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

Air sealing, online product sources
efi.org
conservationtechnology.com

Insulating
Resistance to heat flow (insulating ability) measured in R-value; relative scale of effectiveness, and the higher the R value, the better the insulating value Code represents absolute minimum; newer code has more stringent requirements; tied to window area; R-49 ceiling, R-21 walls, R-30 floors, R-13 basement typical

Insulating guidelines
Go for low-hanging fruit- e.g. add more attic insulation first if it is accessible and is not well insulated; Dont forget the basement! Remember that insulation reduces cooling load as well! Try to eliminate bridging (perimeter) heat loss through structural elements, as it greatly reduces overall insulation effectiveness Look for additional opportunities to insulate (other than typical wall/ ceiling cavity insulation)
Bridging heat loss caused wall-staining over structural members


Windows
Typical heat loss through windows about 20%
Performance measured in U-value; inverse of Rvalue; measure of materials ability to conduct heat; the lower the U-value, the better
Look for U-value of .35 or less
Double-glazed, argon filled preferred; Diminishing returns with triple glazing

Low-e coating reflects heat back into structure Always look for Energy Star & NFRC labels (energystar.gov; nfrc.org)
NFRC Label

Windows
Used tuned glazing strategies E.g., Use windows w/ low SHGC on west-facing windows; high SHGC on south-facing Incorporate/ install overhangs & other shading devices where appropriate
Provide nighttime insulation


Green Practice: HVAC/ Plumbing/ Lighting

High-efficiency heating
Choose Energy Star! Right-size systems using analysis tools (Manual J) rather than rule-of-thumb methods; a right-sized system can be up to 40% smaller than a conventionally-sized system Make sure heating systems have Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of at least 83% for oilfired and 90% for gas-fired, and Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) of at least 13 for cooling systems
Boilers tend to have higher AFUE than furnaces


High-efficiency heating
Closed-cycle, condensing-type boilers and furnaces are more efficient; they extract additional heat from water vapor in flue gases These systems often dont need conventional flue pipe, they can side vent, but they require a dedicated combustion air source (coaxial flue pipe)

HVAC & Plumbing Systems

Use zoned heating
Use demand pumps in DHW supply system (gothotwater.com)

Use heat recovery devices on DWV pipes (gfxtechnology.com) Use instantaneous hot water heaters (tankless)
Use structured plumbing & PEX piping


Tankless water heaters

Examples of brands: Rinnai, Noritz, Takagi Gas-fired typically more responsive and can provide needed capacity more effectively
Cost more than standard water heaters but last longer

More choices as to location/ placement Direct-venting; e.g. can exhaust through wall Look for min. flow rates of 0.3 0.5 gal./min. Save energy by eliminating standing heat loss (vs. conventional tank-style water heater); estimated savings 24 34%
Ductwork
Move duct runs into conditioned spaces (thermal envelope) if possible
Seal ducts; use duct mastic for this if possible, otherwise make sure duct tape is UL listed
Insulate ducts in unconditioned spaces; for cooling (A/C) ductwork, make sure insulation has external vapor barrier to minimize condensation When insulating ducts in unconditioned basement, you may make basement too cold; insulate basement walls instead
Lighting strategies
High-efficiency lighting (CFLs, LED, etc) Zone lighting Solar landscape/ parking lot lighting
Motion sensor outdoor lights

Timer switches on bathroom fans Natural daylighting strategies Dimmer switches, dimming ballasts, etc. (especially where natural daylighting employed)

Appliances
Buy Energy Star!
Specify horizontal axis washing machines-They can have fast payback

because they save water as well as energy
Specify dishwashers w/ booster heater Dont specify oversized AC equipment!


General analysis tools

A general list of tools offered by the U.S. Department of Energy are available over the web at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory/subjects. cfm/pagename=subjects/pagename_menu=whole_building_analysis /pagename_submenu=load_calculation

Online Business Energy Analyzer (Keyspan)

www.freeenergyanalysis.com/KeySpanbusiness

General strategies:
Materials

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A new paradigm:
The Cradle-to-Cradle Lifecycle

See McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry
http://www.mbdc.com/c2c_home.htm

Old Cradle to Grave Model: Linear flow
Materials extraction/ harvesting
Mfg/ Processing
End Use
Disposal

Cradle to Cradle: Cyclical, Regenerative
End Use
Re-Manufacture/ Re-Processing
Demolition/ Removal/ Collection

Selection criteria: Materials

Efficiently uses energy & resources
Derived from rapidly renewable resources

Contains re-used/ salvaged material
Contains high recycled material content

Can be reused/ recycled at the end of its useful life Can be down-cycled at the end of its useful life

Selection criteria: Materials

Biodegradable Locally sourced Poses minimal harm in production, use, disposal Economics & environmental justice also important!

Recycled Content
Post-Consumer
vs.
Pre-Consumer aka Post-Industrial

Points to remember
It may be difficult to determine the best-in-class for a product category Determining most important criteria can be very subjective
Certain greenness criteria may be more important/ applicable to some product classes than to others
A product may be green on some attributes but not on others Need to be wary of so-called green resources sponsored by manufacturer associations
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The Precautionary Principle

Precautionary Principle: "When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. In this context the proponent of an activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof." Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary Principle, Jan. 1998 (http://www.sehn.org/wing.html)

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Some things we may want to write off:

Vinyl-based products Products containing heavy metals like arsenic Products containing halogenated fire-retardants Products that emit excessive amounts of formaldehyde Appliances that contain HCFCs and do not meet the standards referenced by LEED

3rd Party Resources for Judging Products

Online green product databases (e.g. GreenSpec) Certification organizations (GreenSeal, FSC, etc.) LCA software tools (BEES, PHAROS, etc.) Manufacturer Material Safety Data Sheets Other online databases like NIH hazardous materials database (http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm)

Online resources
Environmental Building News/ Greenspechttp://www.buildinggreen.com http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/Progr ams/Green%20Building/Sourcebook/index.htm

Product Certification
GreenSeal (www.greenseal.org)
Scientific Certification Systems (www.scscertified.com)
GreenGuard (www.greenguard.org)

Product Certification
Green Label (http://www.carpet-rug.org/) (2nd party)
Forest Stewardship Council (http://www.fscus.org/)

Green Seal Product Categories

Anti-Corrosive Paints (GC-03)** Commercial Adhesives (GS-36) Compact Fluorescent Lamps (GS-05)+ Degreasers (GS-34)
Food Service Packaging (GS-35)

Green Procurement Criteria (GS-38)*** Household Cleaners (GS-08) Industrial & Institutional Cleaners (GS-37)# Occupancy Sensors (GC-12)
Green Seal Product Categories

Paints (GS-11)** Powdered Laundry Bleach (GC-11)
Printing and Writing Paper (GS-07)

Recycled Content Latex Paint Standard (GS-43) Re-Refined Engine Oil (GS-03) Tissue Paper (GS-01) Windows (GS-13) Window Films (GS-14)

Software tools

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A sampling of software tools

BEES 4.0 (http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/software/bees.htm) Pharos (http://www.healthybuilding.net; http://www.pharosproject.net/) Sylvatica (http://www.sylvatica.com/tools.html) LISA (http://www.lisa.au.com)


PHAROS

General strategies:
Choose materials that produce minimal off-gassing
Use salvaged materials whenever possible

Look for high (post-consumer) recycled content
Source locally
Use structure as finish Ask: What happens to this at the end of its useful life? Dont forget durability! Keep it small!
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Last but not least: Effectively manage construction waste

Reduce construction waste in the first place by employing resource-efficient design strategies such as advanced framing

123
General strategies:
Water

124
General strategies:
Use low-flow & automatic fixtures Use dual-flush toilets & waterless urinals (or micro-flush) Some Brands: Caroma, Kohler, Toto, Waterless Collect & use rainwater for utility purposes Incorporate gray water systems Use composting toilets Use demand pumps (see www.gothotwater.com)
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www.gothotwater.com
127
Gray water
Collected from drain-waste-vent system other than toilets, dishwashers & kitchen sinks with garbage disposals (Black water) Generally used for flushing toilets, landscape irrigation & other non-potable, utility purposes May be difficult to get local code approval


Gray water: A direct approach
http://www.gaiam.com/product/eco-home-outdoor/energyefficient-climate-control/energy-saving-tools/toilet+lid+sink.do
MWRA- A water conservation resource
Order a free water saving kit at: www.mwra.com/04water/html/watsense.htm

Water conservation resources

http://www.mwra.com/comsupport/conservation/ gardeningtips.htm www.waterwiser.org www.irrigation.org www.epa.gov/watersense See also: Reliable Rain- A Practical Guide to Landscape
Irrigation, Howard Hendrix & Stuart Straw, Taunton Press, 1998

General strategies:
Durability

133
Consequences of ignoring durability

Early failure of systems More intensive maintenance routines Reduced indoor environmental quality Increased cost of ownership Reduced resale value Aesthetic issues

Why is durable design greener?

Fewer replacement cycles Simplified maintenance routines Healthier indoor environments

General strategies:
Keep it small, keep it low to minimize maintenance
Avoid complicated designs w/ many intersecting planes Manage air, vapor & moisture flows w/ effectively detailed wall sections (e.g. rain screen wall systems)
Choose best-in-class, durable materials

136

General strategies:
Use products suited to climate & conditions Incorporate protective design elements like overhangs
Minimize roof penetrations

Employ effective flashing details

138

Design for durability Overhangs

Effective overhangs:
Protect the walls from precipitation

Protect wall finishes from UV Help to direct water away from the structure May facilitate attic ventilation May help to minimize ice dams Provide summer shade to reduce unwanted solar gains
General strategies:
IEQ

141
General strategies:
Minimize indoor pollutants Provide adequate ventilation Allow occupant control of comfort Use effective lighting techniques
Incorporate natural daylighting Ensure acoustic comfort

Employ Universal Design elements
142
Skylights may contribute to summer overheating and winter heat loss.


Sky tube (TDD)


General strategies:
Site

147
General strategies:
Goals: Minimizing heat urban island effect Effectively managing stormwater (LID) Conserving water in landscape maintenance Minimizing light pollution
Minimizing toxic & sediment run-off

Providing good transportation access
Maintain wild spaces if possible

Stormwater management
Effective stormwater management can:
Assure effective groundwater recharge

Minimize flooding potential Reduce contamination of oceans, lakes, rivers Promote lush, green landscapes Provide secondary benefit of reducing urban heat island effect

Stormwater Mgmt: Strategies

Slow water down/ retain on site Increase permeability of ground surfaces Minimize soil compaction Use collected water for landscape irrigation

Approaches
Minimize building footprint & hardscaping Use light-colored roof finishes & pavement Use water-retaining/ filtering landscape features like bio-swales & rain gardens Install pervious paving Incorporate green roofs Provide rainwater collection systems
Employ xeriscaping methods in landscape maintenance

Install full cut-off lighting Provide bicycle racks
Slowing down/ retaining stormwater
Retention Pond
Bioswale/ Raingarden
Vegetated Buffer

Cistern
Drywell

Permeable surface options

Brick/ masonry pavers Gravel
Stabilized soil/ stone dust

Recycle rubber paver mats/ bricks Plastic driveway mats Permeable asphalt


Gravel driveways & walkways: Simple, low-cost, effective!


Drivable grass

See www.rubbersidewalks.com
Green roofs
Can provide stormwater management
Reduce urban heat islands

Help to minimize global warming by conserving energy May extend the life of your roof Provide green space & wildlife habitat Improve acoustic comfort

Green roofs

Modular green roof system
See: http://www.liveroof.net/ & http://www.westonsolutions.com/pdf_docs/B-D066GreenGrid.pdf

Green roofs
Properly designed, can pay for themselves in 10 15 years via reduced energy cost Especially effective in reducing cooling costs By some estimates, can reduce cooling costs by up to 30% in single-story structures See www.greenroofs.com (industry assn) & www.conservationtechnology.com (supplier example)


Stormwater mgmt resources

http://www.unh.edu/erg/cstev/ http://www.mapc.org (email lid@mapc.org) http://nemo.uconn.edu/tools/publications/tech_papers/tech_paper_8.p df
http://www.georgiastormwater.com/
http://www.georgiastormwater.com/vol2/3-3-8.pdf
http://extension.missouri.edu/xplor/envqual/eqm102f.htm
http://www.lid-stormwater.net/background.htm http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/docs.cfm?program_id=6&view=allprog&sort =name#retrofit_manual
Rainwater collection
For 1000 sq ft roof area, 15 25,000 gallons of rainwater can be collected annually in Eastern states Combined with drip-irrigation systems, collected rainwater can keep landscaping vibrant even during drought conditions Using rainwater helps to maintain aquifers and public water supplies at adequate levels
Rainwater does not contain chlorine so it is better for plants, garden ponds, etc.
Rainwater is free, and inexpensive to collect & store!

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


The simplest approach to collecting rainwater
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/33galrainbar.html


Xeriscaping (low-water-landscaping)
Major principles: -Making maximum use of available precipitation -Selecting species with low water requirements Use mulches Create water retaining landscape features Use drip irrigation Group plants Use plantings to create windbreaks & shade to protect from drying winds and sun Use native plantings, they are better suited to natural rainfall patterns
Landscaping- The single best thing you can do:
LOSE THE LAWN!!!

The trouble with turf

Lawn maintenance routines create multiple threats to the environment through: Heavy fertilizer requirements Pesticide and herbicide use Need to mow regularly and the resources that this requires (gas, electricity, equip. maint., etc)
Water use
They are energy and resource intensive. If possible, LOSE THE LAWN! Substitute ground covers, shrubs, flower beds, vegetable gardens, rock gardens, etc.
The Low-impact landscape

Minimizing light pollution
Source: International Dark Sky Association

BAD FIXTURES
Flood Light If used as in the picture. 30-50% light goes upward (If pointed downZero light loss.) Decorative ~70% upward
photo BGE photo BGE
Cobra Head The most used design for street lights Unchanged since 1960s ~30% upward
photo BGE
Source: Baltimore Gas & Electric

Residential accent lights can be some of worst offenders; they can be energy wasters too

GOOD FIXTURES
Box Design.
Can have round, cylindrical or other shape head. Receded bulb Flat lens 100% downward
photo BGE
Decorative
Only ~5% upward
Source: Baltimore Gas & Electric

Resources
For a examination of some of the issues, and and an example of zoning restrictions on outdoor lighting see: http://www.ci.neptune-beach.fl.us/2007agenda/ 4_16_07/2007-XXProposedLightingOrdinance.pdf
For some outdoor lighting design tips see: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/resources/ darksky/3307541.html?showAll=y&c=y

Additional considerations:
Maintaining IAQ during the construction process - Effective isolation of work areas - Ventilating during process - Pre-occupancy flush-out Effectively managing construction waste - Minimize in the first place using materialefficient design strategies - Recycling/ diverting where possible
Protecting the site during the construction process - Managing erosion & sediment run-off - Avoiding soil compaction - Preserving existing topsoil - Preserving existing vegetation
Dust collector
Portable dust collector

Plastic barrier w/ zippers; see example at:

www.protectiveproducts.com/ zipwall.html

Construction waste management (CWM)

Include a CWM plan in the project docs Minimize waste by employing good design practices and efficient construction methods Choose an environmentally-sensitive waste hauler See recycling services directory at www.wastecap.org Donate new left-over materials to non-profits like the Boston Building Materials Resource Center (www.bostonbmrc.org) & Habitat for Humanity

Construction waste management

See http://www.carpetrecovery.org/index.php and http://www.nps.gov/sustain/spop/carpet.htm for info on carpet recycling/ take-back programs See resources like http://www.recyclenow.com/what_more_can_i_do/ca n_it_be_recycled/ for product specific recycling info See General Service Administrations Construction Waste Management Database at http://www.wbdg.org/tools/cwm.php?a=1 See Institution Recycling Networks website: http://www.wastemiser.com/resources.html
See http://www.greengoat.org/

Drywall recycling (new scrap): GYPSUM RECYCLING AMERICA (GRA) www.gypsumrecycling.us 135 Fawcett Street, Cambridge, MA (near Fresh Pond)
Good general recycling info: http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/ departments/recycle/donaterecycle.html


Donate or harden (kitty litter or commercial product) used latex paint Use curbside recycling for product packaging! Set up recycling containers in work areas
Set up free wood bin on site for cut-offs & scrap; use scraps in woodstoves & sawdust in compost pile (non pressure treated only!)



Key words/ terms

Ecological or environmental footprint Embodied energy Life-cycle impacts Rapidly renewable VOCs- Volatile Organic Compounds
IEQ- Indoor Environmental Quality IAQ- Indoor Air Quality

Building envelope

We have a choice

We have a choice

...to shape the future

Excerpt: Scientific American (Sept. 2006) A choice between two futures

Resources
GRT: www.greenroundtable.org Building Green: www.buildinggreen.com Energy Star: www.energystar.gov Charles River Watershed: www.crwa.org US Green Building Council: www.usgbc.org Renewable Energy: www.nrel.gov US DOE: www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ EPA: www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings Residential Green Building Guide: A Web Source Book for New England www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings NAHB: Model Green Home Building Guidelines: www.nahb.org

And dont forget about NEXUS!
Upcoming workshops Reference library Samples library Cyber Lounge Online resources at nexusboston.com (in the pipeline) Local green building community

Local Resources

THANK YOU
www.greenroundtable.org info@greenroundtable.org 617-374-3740
The Green Roundtable, Inc. (GRT) is an independent non-profit organization whose mission is to mainstream green building and sustainable design and become obsolete. We work toward this goal by promoting and supporting healthy and environmentally integrated building projects through strategic outreach, education, policy advocacy and technical assistance. Located in downtown Boston, NEXUS welcomes all to come ask questions, research topics, and attend tours and events on green building and sustainable design innovation.
www.nexusboston.com
38 Chauncy Street, Boston

Basics of Green Building

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Basics of Green Building

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The Green Roundtable

(copyright Green Roundtable 2007)

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Introduction to Green Building

Consulting, education, training and strategic planning

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Questions for tonight

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Even if youre a GW skeptic, heres the problem

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Some sad realities.

Collapse of worlds fisheries

And if global warming is real

Increased frequency & duration of storm activity

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On a more local or personal level

Supply chain interruptions

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Some sobering facts

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Some sobering facts

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Some sobering facts

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Some sobering facts

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Some sobering facts

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Some sobering facts

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Some sobering facts

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Some sobering facts

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Some sobering facts

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Where do buildings fit in

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Additional housing sector facts

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Food for thought.

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Perhaps the most sobering fact of all

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We are currently using those resources at an unsustainable rate

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The bottom line:

As resource consumers, we all bear some responsibility!

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A solution: Green Building

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Defining green building:

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The primary key to success: