How Can I Determine If a Building Is Green?
Typically, buildings are designed to meet building code requirements, whereas green building design challenges designers to go beyond the codes to improve overall building performance and minimize life-cycle environmental impact and cost. But how does one determine if a building is green? There are several good tools that can assist in analyzing energy use and savings in a building. A good place to start is with the National Institute of Building Sciences' Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG). The WBDG is the only Web-based portal providing government and industry practitioners with one-stop access to up-to-date information on a wide range of building-related guidance, criteria, and technology from a whole-buildings perspective.
Another great resource is Energy Star®, a program offered jointly by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Energy Star® provides the public and private sector alike with the means to save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices. Among other things, the DOE and EPA rate the energy efficiency of buildings, and grant the Energy Star® label to buildings that achieve significant annual energy savings. Energy Star® also offers a free Web-based service called Target Finder, which allows architects and designers of new buildings (as well as those under major retrofit) to establish an energy budget and performance target and provides many other online resources that allow you to plan, track, and manage energy reduction goals in the built environment.
Private green building rating systems are another important tool in building green because they help to transform this design goal into specific performance objectives and provide a framework to assess the overall design. In order to increase the architect's ability to advocate for green buildings, in December 2005, the AIA Board of Directors passed a Sustainable Rating Systems Position Statement. The position establishes general support for green building rating systems and identifies criteria that the Institute deems important for inclusion in any green rating program. It is important to note that the AIA position does not endorse any specific green building rating system; rather, it establishes specific criteria that architects deem important for inclusion in any green rating system.
To help you decide what rating system is best for your community, this CD allows you to link directly to the Web sites of two publishers of green building rating systems: the United States Green Building Council, publishers of the LEED rating system, and the Green Building Initiative, the parent organization for the US version of Green Globes.
NEXT: Steps You Can Take to "Go Green"
Checklist for Environmentally Responsible Design and Construction
Design
* Design and energy efficient building:
Use high levels of insulation, high performance windows and tight construction. (seal air leaks in windows/doors)
Choose glazings with low solar heat gain and dual pane. Recycleable aluminum or vinyl (window replacement)
* Design buildings to use renewable energy:
Passive solar heating
Daylighting (addition of skylights)
Natural cooling (provide adequate ventilation and planting of shade trees on East and West sides of a building)
Solar water heating or tankless electric
Photovoltaics
* Make it easy for occupants to recycle waste:
Make provisions for storage and processing of recyclables (recycling bins near or in the kitchen and under-sink compost receptacles
* Avoid potential health hazards radon, mold, pesticides:
Follow recommended practices to minimize radon entry into the building and provide for future mitigation if necessary provide detailing to avoid moisture problems, which could cause mold and mildew growth. Design insect resistant detailing to minimize pesticide use.
Materials
* Use durable products and materials:
Because manufacturing is very energy intensive, a product that lasts longer or requires less maintenance usually saves energy. Durable products also contribute less to our solid waste problems.
* Choose low-maintenance building materials:
Where possible, select building materials that require little maintenance (painting, re-treatment, waterproofing etc.), or whose maintenance will have little environmental impact.
* Chose building materials with low embodied energy:
Heavily processed or manufactured products and materials are usually more energy intensive. As long as durability and performance will not be sacrificed, chose low embodied-energy materials.
* Buy locally produced building materials:
Transportation is costly in both energy and pollution generation. Look for locally produced materials. Local hardwoods for example, are preferable to tropical woods.
* Use building products made from recycled materials:
Building products made from recycled materials reduce solid waste problems, cut energy consumption in manufacturing, and save on natural resource use. Examples of materials with recycled content are cellulose insulation. Homasote, Thermo-ply, floor tile made from ground glass and recycled plastic lumber.
* Use salvaged building materials when possible:
Reduce landfill pressure and save natural resources by using salvaged materials: lumber, millwork, certain plumbing fixtures and hardware for example. Make sure these materials are safe (test for lead, paint and asbestos), and don’t sacrifice energy efficiency by using old windows or toilets.
* Seek responsible wood supplies:
Use lumber from independently certified well managed forests. Avoid lumber products produced from old-growth timber unless they are certified. Engineered woods can be substituted for old-growth Douglas fir, for example. Don’t buy tropical hardwoods unless the seller can document that the wood comes from well-managed forests.
* Avoid materials that will outgas pollutants:
Solvent-based finishes, adhesives, carpeting, particle board and many other building products release formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds(VOCs) into the air; these chemicals can affect the workers’ and occupants’ health as well as contribute to smog and ground-level ozone pollution outside. Avoid materials that outgas HCFC’s, such as extruded polystyrene and polyisocyanurate foam insulation.
* Minimize use of pressure treated lumber: Use detailing that will prevent soil contact and rot. Where possible, use alternatives such as recycled plastic lumber. Scraps of pressure treated wood should never be incinerated.
* Minimize packing waste: Avoid excessive packaging, such as plastic-wrapped plumbing fixtures or fasteners unavailable in bulk. Tell suppliers why you are avoiding over-packed products. (Some products require careful packaging to prevent damage-and resulting waste).
Equipment
* Install high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment: well designed
high efficiency furnaces, boilers, and air conditioners (and distribution systems) not only save building occupants money, but also produce less pollution. Install equipment with minimal risk of combustion gas spillage, such as sealed-combustion appliances.
* Avoid ozone depleting chemicals in mechanical equipment and insulation:
CFC’s have been phased out but their primary replacement-HCFC’s-also damage the ozone layer and should be avoided where possible. Reclaim CFC’s when servicing or disposing of equipment.
* Install high-efficiency lights and appliances: Florescent lighting has improved dramatically in recent years and is now suitable for homes. High efficiency appliances offer both economic and environmental advantages over their conventional counterparts.
* Install water-efficient equipment: Water-conserving toilets, showerheads, and faucet aerators reduce water use as well as the demand on septic system or sewage treatment plants. Reducing hot water use also saves energy.
* Install mechanical ventilation equipment: Mechanical ventilation is usually required to ensure healthy indoor air.