Sustainable Buildings

and Green Markets

An Engineering Perspective
Presented by:
Haven Alford

Overview
Why

does it matter

Elements

of Sustainable Buildings

Government

Incentives)

Application (Green Market

Environmental Impact of Buildings

(why does it matter?)

US Commercial Buildings Facts:

65.2%

total US electricity consumption

> 36% total US primary energy use
30%
total US greenhouse gas emissions
136
million tons of US
construction/demolition waste (about
2.8 lbs/person/day)
12%
of potable water in the US
40%
(3 billion tons annually) of raw
materials used globally
www.usgbc.org

5 Broad Areas of Application

Sustainable Sites

Energy and Atmosphere

Indoor Environmental Quality

Water Efficiency

Materials and Resources

LEED Concept and Intent

LEED is the standard for sustainable design

worldwide.
Design and construction practices that significantly
reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings
on the environment.
LEED is a point based system that ranks the
sustainability of a buildings design by:

Certified
Silver
Gold
Platinum ratings

(26 32 points)
(33 38 points)
(39 51 points)
(52 69 points)

Why engineers (and you)

should care
Discipline:

MEP
Architect/LA
Civil
Constructor
Undefined

28 points
21
11
4
5

41%
30%
16%
6%
7%

Totals

69 points

100%

Sustainable Sites

Site Selection
Development Density
Brownfield Redevelopment
Alternative Transportation

Public Transportation
Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms
Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Parking Capacity

Reduced Site Disturbance

Storm Water Management

Alternative Fuel Vehicles

www.state.me.us/cleangovt/ ENERGY/energy.htm

Sustainable Sites

Reduced Site Disturbance

Storm Water Management

Rate and Quantity

Treatment

Heat Island Effect

Protect or Restore Open Space

Development Footprint

Non-Roof
Roof

Light Pollution Reduction

Green Roof

www.dep.state.pa.us/.../ se/stormwater.htm

Light Pollution

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/08/24/dimming.the.lights.ap/large.usa.lights.jpg

Water Efficiency
Water

Efficient Landscaping

Reduce by 50%
No Potable Use or No Irrigation

Innovative

Wastewater Technologies
Water Use Reduction

20 30%

Waterless Urinals and

Composting/Waterless Toilets

http://www.aventer.com/toilets/images/t3.jpg
http://www.magic-tec.com/magic_ur.html

Energy and Atmosphere

Fundamental Building System Commissioning

Minimum Energy Performance
CFC Reduction in HVAC&R Equipment
Optimize Energy Performance
Renewable Energy

5 10%

Additional Commissioning
Ozone Protection
Measurement and Verification
Green Power

Example of Natural Ventilation

www.thedalles.k12.or.us/.../ sld018.htm

Renewable Energy

http://www.power-technology.com

Photovoltaic Roof Systems

http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/pvt/education/inspgcps/handbook/images/pvarray.jpg
http://www.alternativeenergyinc.com/images/gallery/roof_mounted_pv.jpg

Materials and Resources

Storage and Collection of Recyclables

Building Reuse

Construction Waste Management

Maintaining 75 100% of Existing Walls, Floor, and Roof

Maintain 100% of the shell/structure and 50% of nonshell/non-structure
Divert 50 75% from a landfill

Resource Reuse

5 10% of materials used are salvaged, refurbished, or

reused materials, products and furnishings

Materials and Resources

Recycled

5 10% (post-consumer + post-industrial)

Regional

Content
Materials

20% manufactured regionally

50% extracted regionally

Rapidly

Renewable Materials
Certified Wood

Recycled and Rapidly

Renewable Materials

http://www.eps.or.kr
http://www.franksupply.com

Indoor Environmental Quality

Minimum

IAQ (Indoor Air Quality)

Performance
Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control
Carbon Dioxide Monitoring
Ventilation Effectiveness
Construction IAQ Management Plan

During Construction
Before Occupancy

Indoor Environmental Quality

Low

Emitting Materials

Adhesives and Sealants

Paints and Coatings
Composite Wood

Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control

Controllability of Systems

Perimeter Spaces
Non-Perimeter Spaces

Indoor Environmental Quality

Thermal

Compliance with ASHRAE 55

Permanent Monitoring System

Daylight

Comfort

and Views

Daylighting in 75% of spaces

Views for 90% of spaces

Example of Daylighting

csep1.phy.ornl.gov/ CSEP/PT/NODE37.html

Federal Government LEED

Applications
General

Services Administration (GSA)

US Air Force
US Army Corps of Engineers
Department of State
Department of Energy (DOE)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
US Navy

State Government LEED

Applications

California
Pennsylvania all new construction
Oregon tax credit
New York
Maryland all buildings over 500,000 ft2
New Jersey schools, and voluntary applications
Arizona
Missouri
Wisconsin

Local Government LEED

Applications

Austin, Texas
Boulder, Colorado
Los Angeles, California
San Diego, California
San Mateo, California
Arlington, Virginia
Cook County, Illinois
Portland, Oregon
San Jose, California
Seattle, Washington

Incentives
Sell

energy back to the utility company

Tax

breaks on new technologies

Rebates,

grants and loans

Sources
Ray

Yunk, Professor of Architectural

Engineering

Dustin

Schafer, Instructor of Architectural

Engineering

www.usgbc.org

Questions?