Design for Green BuildingDesign for Green Building
Corinne Marzullo
April 23, 2001
Why build green
Benefits
Materials
Case studies
Conclusions
Why Build GreenWhy Build Green
U.S. consumes 20,000 pounds per year of active materials– Active materials include:
Virgin forest products Fuels Steel Glass Cement Plastics
Why Build GreenWhy Build Green
90% become waste in less than one yearNon-hazardous industrial waste could be
reduced from 11 billion tons to 4.5 billion tons by design decisions and improved recycling
Benefits of Building GreenBenefits of Building Green Reduce environmental impact Respect their sites Use fresh water efficiently Good indoor air quality Resource and energy efficient High environmental performance Make use of construction material wisely More durable/less maintenance Lower operating costs
Respect Their SitesRespect Their Sites
Well-designed building– Shape and orientation
optimized to take advantage of sunlight, site, and natural features
Oriented on an east-west axis
Existing buildings can benefit from the landscape– Deciduous trees along a southwest to northwest
feature can reduce the impact of solar heat gains
Use Fresh Water EfficientlyUse Fresh Water Efficiently
Homes use hundreds of gallons of water each day Reduce water use by about half compared to
homes constructed in 1980’s– Low-flush toilets– Well insulated hot water piping– Low-flow shower heads and faucets – Dishwashers and clothes washers that have water-miser
features
Efficient Use of Fresh Water Efficient Use of Fresh Water Cont’d.Cont’d.
Main solar heated tankInstantaneous water heatersPlanned plumbing Catchment systems Use native plants with high drought
resistanceUse drought resistant grassUse lawn chemicals and fertilizer sparingly
Good Indoor Air QualityGood Indoor Air Quality
Free of unhealthy levels of indoor air pollutants – Radon gas– Excess moisture– Mold and mildew– Formaldehyde– Passive tobacco smoke– Particles and dust– Mite allergen
Good Indoor Air Quality Good Indoor Air Quality Cont’d.Cont’d.
Low cost ventilation techniques– Boost indoor air quality
Benefit allergy sufferers– Reduces their discomfort– Lower air leakage and fewer spores, pollen
grains, and less duct
Reduce Energy WasteReduce Energy Waste
Air tight construction– High levels of insulation– High performance windows and doors
Using efficient electric lighting and plug-in appliances
Upgrading to high efficiency furnaces, heat pumps, and boilers
Reduce Energy Waste Cont’d.Reduce Energy Waste Cont’d.Building orientation
– Collect winter solar heat – Avoid summertime sun– Solar energy
provides a significant amount of natural light passive solar heat gain natural ventilation
Up to 65 – 75 % of utility bills could be saved compared to a conventional home
Conventional HomesConventional Homes
Misuse water, energy, and materialsNot oriented for passive solar heatingPoorer indoor air qualityUse toxic substancesNot designed for re-use and disassembly
Materials to be ChosenMaterials to be Chosen
Value-engineered products– Advanced framing and composite truss joists
Durable materials– Thermal mass
Natural materials– No exposure to toxic or dangerous working
conditions
Materials to be ChosenMaterials to be Chosen
Products not heavily packaged– Reduce waste– Minimize construction site and landfill disposal
problems
Water-based paints, adhesives, sealants, and finishes– Reduce use of petrochemicals– Simplifies cleanup
Dimensional LumberDimensional LumberWood used in constructing the wall, floor,
and roof framing Advantages of wood
– Tolerant to novices– Very attractive– Special tools are not needed
Disadvantages– Termite or moisture failure
Engineered WoodEngineered Wood
Recycled wood materials– Laminated wood chips– Strands and fingerjointing
Products– I-beams– Laminated beams– Fingerjointed studs
Engineered Wood Cont’d.Engineered Wood Cont’d. Advantages
– Waste wood and entire trees can be used Minimizes waste
– Uses smaller dimensional wood Less than 2x10 Allows smaller trees to be used
– Higher tolerances in stability, consistence, straightness, and strength are more precise than dimensional lumber
– Maintenance free– Slip resistant– No warping, splintering, cracking, rotting, or
refinishing
Engineered Wood Cont’d.Engineered Wood Cont’d.
Disadvantages– General public is not aware of this product– Cost is higher than for standard lumber unless
ordered in large quantity Limited sources Cost will go down as public becomes more aware Highly competitive because of labor savings and
reduced job site waste
Composite DeckingComposite Decking
Engineered Sheet MaterialsEngineered Sheet MaterialsMade of recycled content or reconstituted
materialsRecycled content sheet products
– Include any percentage of recycled material newsprint Agricultural byproducts Wood waste
Reconstituted materials– Use chipped or stranded small-diameter trees– Bound together into forms suitable for building
Engineered Sheet Materials Engineered Sheet Materials Cont’d.Cont’d.
Examples– Hardboard made from waste wood– Wallboard made from perlite, gypsum, and
recycled post-consumer newsprint– 100% recycled newsprint fiberboard– Fiberboard made from straw
Engineered Sheet Materials Engineered Sheet Materials Cont’d.Cont’d.
Advantages– Most of the products are derived from
manufacturing processes which are more material-efficient than past processes
– Newer recycled content and reconstituted materials are fabricated in modern facilities that are efficient and compliant with strict environmental regulations
Disadvantages– Cost more than traditional sheet materials– Shipping costs for small quantities are quite
expensive
Engineered SidingEngineered Siding Reconstituted and recycled content Steel and aluminum
– Primarily fabricated from recycled material
Advantages– Offers superior longevity compared to wood siding– Require much less energy in a recycled form– Steel is a strong, termite resistant, nonrenewable
resource– Offers some fire protection
Cost is competitive
Flyash ConcreteFlyash ConcreteDefined by the ACE Committee 116 as “the
finely divided residue resulting from the combustion of ground or powdered coal, which is transported from the firebox through the boiler by flue gases”
By-product of coal-fired electric generating plants
Flyash Concrete Cont’d.Flyash Concrete Cont’d.Technical Benefits of using high volume
flyash– Higher compressive strength over time– More durable concrete– Less permeable concrete– Less shrinkage– Less creep– Lower heat of hydration– Less migration of bleed water to the slab
surface– Better pumpablilty
Flyash Concrete Cont’d.Flyash Concrete Cont’d.Technical drawbacks
– Slower rate of compressive strength gain– May be more difficult to finish– One more product to control at the point of
batchingEnvironmental and non-technical benefits
– Costs less than cement– Saves the energy required for making cement– Reduces the emissions of global warming
gasses– Usefully employs a waste product
Earth MaterialsEarth Materials
Brick & Stone productsCalicheSoil blocksRammed earth
Locally Available Earth Locally Available Earth MaterialsMaterials
Advantages– Reduces energy costs and materials costs due to
reduced transportation costs– Brick and stone
aesthetically pleasing Durable Low maintenance Provide excellent thermal mass Can be used to provide radiant heat for interior use Weather well which eliminates the need for
refinishing and sealing
Earth Materials Cont’d.Earth Materials Cont’d. Caliche block
– Soft limestone material – used for applications similar to brick and stone
Special structural and finishing characteristics
Rammed earth– Walls made from moist, sandy soil– 30% clay and 70% sand
Advantages of both – used for structural walls– offer great potential as low-cost material alternatives
with low embodied energy– Can be produced on-site– fireproof
Cost for Earth MaterialsCost for Earth MaterialsBrick Approx. $2 per square
foot (4 inch diameter) and up depending on thickness
Stone $4 to $15 per square foot (material) depending on type
Compressed Soil Block Approx. $1.80 per square foot (9 inches thick)
Earth Block made from Labor-intensive Methods
Cost is significantly less
Floor CoveringsFloor Coverings
Carpeting and paddingCement materialsStone and MarbleSheet goods
– Vinyl and linoleum– Tile– Rubber– Cork
Wood
Carpeting and PaddingCarpeting and PaddingRecycled-content carpeting
– PET– Nylon– Wool
Recycled-content padding– Old padding– Reclaimed carpet fibers– Rubber-based recycled padding
Carpeting and PaddingCarpeting and PaddingAdvantages
– Materials avoid landfill– PET
Durable Stain resistant
– Nylon Durable Aesthetically pleasing
– Wool Durable Flame resistant Provides excellent indoor environmental quality
Carpeting and PaddingCarpeting and PaddingDisadvantages
– Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Present in the binders
– Formaldehyde Outgassing– Rubber-based recycled padding can outgas– Excellent medium for dust mites and microbial
agents
Carpet emissions will dissipate within 48-72 hours with proper ventilation
Alternatives to Alternatives to Commercialized CarpetsCommercialized Carpets
Carpet tiles with tackless installation– Aid in spot replacement– Longer life
Fusion-bonded carpets– Use heat instead of adhesives– Reduces VOCs
Natural CarpetsNatural Carpets
Made from grasses, cotton, and wool Advantages
– Minimal treatment– Use renewable resources– Durable– Aesthetically pleasing
Disadvantages– Costly
Cementitious MaterialsCementitious MaterialsProvide opportunities for integrating the
floor finish with the building structureDurableLow maintenanceProvide the opportunity for using recycled
materials
Stone and MarbleStone and Marble
Low-embodied-energy materialsLow maintenanceDurableRegional sources save transportation costs
Sheet GoodsSheet GoodsAvailable in rolls or tilesRequire adhesives for installationVinyl and Linoleum
– Advantages Low cost Durable Low maintenance
– Disadvantages Extremely difficult to recycle
Sheet Goods Cont’d.Sheet Goods Cont’d.Recycled-content tile
– Waste glass Light bulbs and auto windshields
– Byproduct of feldspar mining– Higher priced than average tile products
Rubber– Highly recycled content
Cork– Excellent sound-absorbing material– recyclable
Recycled Tire Rubber FlooringRecycled Tire Rubber Flooring
Cork Floor TilesCork Floor Tiles
WoodWoodProvide optimal environmental benefitsRenewable and long lasting materialEasy maintenanceAesthetically pleasingReuse and disassembly
Bamboo FlooringBamboo Flooring
Roofing MaterialsRoofing Materials Shingles, tile, and roof panels Slate, clay, and cementitious roof materials
– Advantages Very durable
– Disadvantages Very heavy Clay roof materials are costly
Fiber-cement composite roof materials– Advantages
Lighter (325-500 pounds per square) Use fiber materials resourcefully Some use waste paper and wood fiber 60-year warranties
Roofing Materials Cont’d.Roofing Materials Cont’d.Metal roof materialsSteel and aluminum
– Advantages Contain high percentages of recycled content (up to
100% in many aluminum products) Shingle appearance Easily recycled Lightweight Durable
– Disadvantages Requires premium metal coatings, factory-finished
panel, or watertight construction detailing when used for housing
Roof Materials Cont’d.Roof Materials Cont’d.Asphalt shingles
– Advantages Up to 25% recycled content
– Mixed paper in the base
– Reclaimed minerals in the surface aggregate
– Disadvantages Weigh approx. 230 pounds per square Not easily recycled Typical life is 20-30 years
Eco-ShakeEco-Shake
100% recycled materials– Reinforced vinyl– Cellulose fiber
Designed to resemble and replace wood shake shingles
Does not crack, fade, or curlRequires no maintenance50 year warranty
Structural Wall PanelsStructural Wall PanelsStructural insulated building panel
– Foam sandwiched in between two panels of structural sheathing material
– Foam is similar to a foam coffee cup 6 – 12 inches thick
Replace standard stud/insulation/sheathing wall system
Fabricated with 3 types of foam cores:– Molded expanded polystyrene (MEPS)– Extruded polystyrene (XEPS)– Urethane (polyurethane and polyisocyanurate)
Structural Wall Panels Cont’d.Structural Wall Panels Cont’d.
Structural sheathing material– Plywood– Waferboard– Oriented strand board (OSB)– Sheetrock– Metal
Structural Wall Panels Cont’d.Structural Wall Panels Cont’d.Advantages
– Environmentally friendly– Very effective insulating qualities– Rapid installation– Consistent quality which minimizes waste– Oriented strand board uses fast growing trees
which can not be used for dimensional lumber specifications
Disadvantages– Cost for material alone
$1.75 to $2.75 per square foot or higher Slightly higher than conventional framing costs
WindowsWindows
Fingerjointed windows– Use small pieces of wood – Need to be painted for aesthetic reasons
Recycled windows – Reuse of salvaged windows– Windows of recycled content
Windows Cont’d.Windows Cont’d.Glazing systems
– Single pane, double glazed, triple glazed, low-E, and gas filled
– Determine R – value– Light transmission characteristics
Window style– Double hung, casement, awning– Indicate operating characteristics
Windows Cont’d.Windows Cont’d.Window frames
– Wood Advantages
– Natural product
– Moderate insulator (R1 per inch)
Disadvantages– Requires some maintenance
– Vinyl Advantages
– Lifetime free maintenance
Disadvantages– Uses nonrenewable petroleum source for extrusion
Windows Cont’d.Windows Cont’d.Window frames
– Aluminum Advantages
– Lifetime free maintenance
Disadvantages– Oxidize over the years
Green Home in Bowie, MDGreen Home in Bowie, MD $225,000 Two-story 3,600 square feet Foundation-forming system
– Factory manufactured wall system in PA– Includes recycled polystyrene– Foam - 2 inches thick– Superior wall
Extremely dense Resistant to moisture
– Concrete support studs Long lived product Put on gravel footer that drains well
Green Home in Bowie, MDGreen Home in Bowie, MD
Walls– Autoclaved aerated concrete block
Uses aerated silicate
– Very resistant to moisture and heat– Require little maintenance– Wallboard
70% gypsum and 30% recycled metal
Green Home in Bowie, MDGreen Home in Bowie, MD Exterior walls
– Autoclaved aerated concrete block only– R-value is low– House is tight
Wall insulation– Spray applied– Recovered newspaper– Not super insulated
Wood siding– Recovered wood fiber – Waste wood byproducts
Green Home in Bowie, MDGreen Home in Bowie, MDCompleted steel frame
– Made largely from recycled metalInsulating board
– Contains recycled polystyrene materialsMetal roof
– Extremely long lived– Requires little maintenance– South portion was laminated
Roofing panels– Lightweight “cedar-shake” Nailite
Resin from recycled old computer housings
Green Home in Bowie, MDGreen Home in Bowie, MD
Windows– Exterior
Low-E argon vinyl Require little maintenance
– Interior Wood
– 50% sawdust
– 50% polyethylene from recycled plastic grocery bags
Requires painting
Green Home in Bowie, MDGreen Home in Bowie, MDHeating system
– Complete heat system by Lennox– Hot water tank
Domestic Coil system One burner 93% efficient
– Water heater and furnace One unit Same high efficiency
Green Home in Bowie, MDGreen Home in Bowie, MDPower display output system
– 1.6 kW system– Charges batteries or parallels the utility grid– Net metering
30 – 40% energy savings
Green Home in Bowie, MDGreen Home in Bowie, MD
DEP South Central Regional DEP South Central Regional Headquarters in HarrisburgHeadquarters in Harrisburg
$5,700,000– Construction only
73,000 square foot high-performance green building
Reused the brownfield siteDOE2 computer simulations
– Optimized building systems– Energy budget cut in half compared to a
conventional office building
DEP South Central Regional DEP South Central Regional HeadquartersHeadquarters
Low velocity, individually controlled air volumes– Delivered at floor level through Krantz
diffusers– Provides cool/warm airflow at around 6’ – 6”
above finished floor– Maximizes electrical flexibility
State-of-the-art quick-release cabling and floor boxes
– Comfortable, productive work environment
DEP South Central Regional DEP South Central Regional HeadquartersHeadquarters
Ceiling plan– 9 foot ceiling height– Acts as a reflecting surface for pendant
mounted indirect illumination
Lighting system– Task and ambient– Reduced from 100 foot-candles to 30 foot-
candles Reduces energy consumption by 50%
DEP South Central Regional DEP South Central Regional HeadquartersHeadquarters
High performance features– Integrated mechanical, lighting, and ventilation
systems Good air quality Good thermal quality Increase in occupant comfort and productivity
– Gas fired adsorption chiller No compressor No ozone-depleting refrigerants
DEP South Central Regional DEP South Central Regional HeadquartersHeadquarters
Other high performance features– Desiccant wheel for
dehumidification/humidification recovery Eliminates the need for energy inefficient
humidification control systems Displace 25 tons of the latent cooling load
– High performance operable windows Argon filled low-E glass
– Increases insulating capacity
DEP South Central Regional DEP South Central Regional HeadquartersHeadquarters
Other high performance features– T8 fluorescent lamps
Electronic ballasts Strategically located motion sensor switching
– Reduce electrical power consumption
– Armstrong high reflectance ceiling tiles 10% more reflective than conventional ceiling tiles
DEP South Central Regional DEP South Central Regional HeadquartersHeadquarters
Ceramic tiles– no toxic substances or waste– 70% recycled post-industrial and post-consumer
glass in a ceramic matrixCarpet
– Nearly 100% recyclableWall finishes
– Cork tilesCarlisle single-ply roofing membrane
– Mechanically fastened Minimized use of solvent-based chemical adhesives
DEP South Central Regional DEP South Central Regional HeadquartersHeadquarters
Other materials used– Recycled structural steel– Solvent-free water-based, non VOC-emitting paint– Recycled asphalt– Acrylic concrete sealer
Eliminates off-gassing in the underfloor supply air plenum
– Window blinds Minimize solar heat gain Maintain high levels of visual access to exterior views
DEP South Central Regional DEP South Central Regional HeadquartersHeadquarters
Conclusions Conclusions Promotes
– Reducing waste– Implementing recycling– Using renewable materials and energy sources– Implementing a better way of manufacturing
Directly benefits you– Energy efficiency – up to 75% savings– Ease on natural resources– High level of comfort– Better value when you sell