SANTIAGO, JOSHUA M.

ARCH4A | FAR4205

GREEN CONSTRUCTION METHODS

6 Sustainable Construction Methods

1. Lean Construction

Lean construction is a collaborative project delivery approach in which all stakeholders

collaborate to optimize the project while minimizing waste wherever possible.

When engineering and construction company BAM Ireland was tasked with constructing
seven new courthouses in Ireland, to complete the project on time, the team employed lean-
construction principles: Rather than one person “pushing” construction schedules to
stakeholders, BAM Ireland implemented a “pull” planning process with the general contractor,
design team, and subcontractors. Whereas the goals of lean construction are short-term
reduction of waste in all of its forms (not just material) and the environmental concerns of
sustainable construction are longer term, both disciplines aim for the efficient use of valuable
resources; an integrated systems approach can help realize hidden cost reductions while
producing more sustainable outcomes.

In some ways, lean construction and sustainable construction are two sides of the same
coin: Both sustainable and lean construction strive for efficient use of resources through the
reduction of waste.

2. Prefab, Modular, and Industrialized Construction

The environmental advantages of industrialized construction are substantial. Processes

of prefabrication:

• Reduce your reliance on natural resources.

• Pollution should be reduced.
• Material utilization should be optimized.

Sites provide safer working conditions and lower operational energy, while off-site
construction has a lower impact on communities.

Prefabrication and the use of digital construction tools have resulted in faster build
times, fewer errors, less waste, and lower cost for BamCore—proof that industrialized
construction can have an impressive impact on sustainability. The company uses sustainably
harvested bamboo as the core element of its custom-engineered, hollow-wall structural lumber
system, as well as data-driven digital construction tools to quickly and efficiently erect the wall
panels at the jobsite.
 Applying DfMA Processes to Construction

DfMA, or design for manufacture and assembly, is a design methodology that enables
and optimizes prefabrication through a set of design choices and principles. Designers can spend
more time focusing on the complex elements of projects while less construction waste is
generated on-site, site logistics are improved, and fewer materials need to be transported to the
site.

3. Sustainable Construction Materials

From the warm, tactile beauty of mass timber—a near-perfect material for
industrialized construction—to the sculptural curves of bamboo structures, to the striking use of
whole trees as structural columns, to shapely sustainable concrete forms made stronger and
lighter through generative design, sustainable construction materials can be thrilling to behold.
4. Carbon-Reduction Tools

The time has come to address the ways in which building materials contribute to carbon
emissions. Because of industry collaboration, open, free carbon-reduction and carbon-calculator
tools are beginning to make the process more transparent.

The Carbon Calculator Incorporated (EC3)

Building Transparency—supported by a consortium of partners including global
construction company Skanska, Autodesk, and others—recently launched the
Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool, a free, open-access platform
for revealing the embodied carbon in building materials.

The EC3 tool compares the carbon intensity of available materials using data from third-
party-verified EPDs, allowing even general practitioners to make quick, carbon-conscious
procurement decisions.

5. Circular Construction
The circular construction economy approaches design and construction with the goal of
reducing, reusing, and recycling as many resources as possible. While the model emphasizes
design, builders can divert construction and demolition materials from landfill by practicing
source reduction, salvaging, recycling, and reusing existing materials, and purchasing used and
recycled materials and products.

6. BIM and Sustainable Construction

Although BIM (Building Information Modeling) is most commonly associated with design
and preconstruction, it is beneficial throughout the project lifecycle. Because BIM processes
introduce so many efficiencies, using BIM almost always reduces the environmental impact of a
construction project.

Sophisticated 4D and 5D BIM projects integrate scheduling and cost/material

estimation, for example, allowing for more efficient management of change orders.
 (Sustainability is emphasized in 6D BIM, which supports facilities management, through energy
analysis and modeling.) BIM and lifecycle assessments can also be integrated to automate
environmental impact assessments of building elements.

Consider the 1,740-foot Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Financial Center, a super-skyscraper
complex in Tianjin, China, built by China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp., Ltd.
(CCEED). CCEED integrated 2,000 different types of materials within a sustainable structure to
achieve LEED Gold certification for one hotel's luxury interior. Using BIM, the team was able to
use prefab construction to produce components precisely according to drawings, reducing
material waste and eliminating the need for on-site material cutting.

GREEN BUILDING METHOD FOR EXTERIOR SOLUTIONS

A. Bird-Friendly Design

Bird-friendly window strategies deter birds by making glass more visible, making spaces appear too
small to fly through, and/or reducing reflections. A strong preference for clear glass indicates that birds
perceive the other pane of glass as an impediment, which is exactly what bird-friendly design requires.
Half of the window is a pane of the tested glass, and the other half is a regular pane of clear glass. A bird
placed in the tunnel will attempt to escape by flying towards the window, but is stopped by netting
before reaching the window, allowing researchers to see which side it prefers.

To be effective at preventing bird collisions, design elements do not need to be added directly to
window panes.

B. Cool Roofs

One of the primary strategies used to prevent future heat island effects is cool roofing. Cool roofing is a
new and powerful technology for controlling the temperature of buildings and areas. A cool roof
deflects the sun's heat and emits it back into the atmosphere, preventing heat absorption. As a result,
cool roofs enable a more comfortable and controlled indoor environment.

Benefits of Cool Roofs

1. Lower Temperatures
2. Reduced Maintenance Costs
3. Reduced Energy Use and Cost
4. Mitigate Heat Island Index
5. Reduced Air Pollutant Emissions
6. Improved Air Quality
7. Utility Rebates

Types of Cool Roofs

1. Low-Sloped Roofs
a. Coated Roofs
b. Foam Roofs
c. Built-Up Roofing Systems
d. Modified Bitumen
 e. Single-Ply Membranes
2. Steep-Slope Roofs

C. Green Roofs

A green roof is a vegetative layer that grows on a building's rooftop. Green roofs, also known as roof
gardens, contribute significantly to building energy efficiency.

Green roofs cool the building and the surrounding air in a variety of ways:

• Shading: They provide shade to the tops of buildings.

• Evapotranspiration: The plants on a green roof absorb water through their roots and then
evaporate the water using heat from the surrounding air.

While some roofs in the summer can reach temperatures of up to 90°F, these two features can allow
green roofs to be cooler than the surrounding air temperature! As a result, the urban heat island effect
is reduced.

The Green Features of a Green Roof

1. Vegetation
2. Growing Medium
3. Root Barrier
4. Drainage
5. Insulation
6. Membrane Protection
7. Membrane

Types of Green Roofs

Green roofs are classified into two types based on their cost, depth of growing medium,
plant types, and potential for accessibility or use.

Extensive green roofs are lighter-weight, simpler systems that are commonly seen on
residential buildings. The idea behind extensive green roofs is to create a tough, long-lasting
roof that requires little maintenance and no human interaction. Hardy, weather-resistant plants
that can adapt to extreme climates are used as vegetation.

Intensive green roofs, on the other hand, resemble traditional roofs more. There are
almost no restrictions on the types of plants that can be used on these roofs, nor on their
weight. Intensive roofs are frequently used in public areas where people can walk around and
enjoy the scenery. The following are some of the key differences between the two roof types:
 D. Energy-Efficient Windows

Energy-efficient windows use a combination of window glazes, multiple panes, tightly-sealed edges,
insulated frames, and gas fills to reduce the need for heating, cooling, and artificial lighting.

Because the success of energy-efficient features varies depending on climate, window orientation, and
how a window fits into overall home design, homeowners should carefully consider which types of
windows best fit their needs. ENERGY STAR, the National Fenestration Rating Council, and the U.S.
Windows are rated by the Department of Energy (DOE) based on their efficiency and suitability for
various regions and purposes. Many of the same principles that guide the selection of efficient windows
apply to skylights and glass doors.

Specifications

1. U-factor
2. Solar heat-gain coefficient (SHGC)
3. Visible Transmittance (VT)
4. Light-to-Solar gain (LSG)\
5. Low-emissivity (low-e) glazes
6. Air leakage
7. Gas fills
8. External factors

Advantages and Disadvantages

1. Long-term Savings
2. Home Comfort
3. Upfront Costs
4. More Complex Planning

E. Runoff Landscaping for Parking Lots

There are numerous benefits to incorporating smart landscaping into a parking lot, including reduced
flooding, improved cleanliness, and the creation of green space. Smart landscaping entails developing a
landscape project that meets the needs of a parking lot while also incorporating environmental
efficiencies.

Bioretention is an effective method for capturing and treating parking lot runoff. Landscape islands work
best when placed below the parking lot level, where they can collect water that runs down and off.

Bioretention landscape elements are typically filled with a sandy, compost-rich soil mix and topped with
a layer of mulch and dense vegetative cover. Stormwater is thus absorbed into the soil, where it is
filtered and absorbed into groundwater. The microbial action of the soil cleans the water.

To prevent flooding during heavy storms, bioretention areas include a 6 to 8-inch-deep pond with an
overflow outlet to drain the water. A bioretention area should cover 5% of the total paved surface to be
effective.
References:

https://redshift.autodesk.com/sustainable-construction/

https://www.gba.org/resources/green-building-methods/exterior-solutions/

Sheppard, C., Phillips, G. (2015). Bird-Friendly Building Design, 2nd Ed. (The Plains, VA:
American Bird Conservancy) https://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Bird-Friendly-
Building-Design_Updated-April-2019.pdf (PDF)

Merriman, J. (2021, January 26). How Many Birds Are Killed By Wind Turbines? American Bird
Conservancy. https://abcbirds.org/blog21/wind-turbine-mortality/

Outdoor cats: Single greatest source of human-caused mortality for birds and mammals, says
new study. (2017, February 22). American Bird
Conservancy. https://abcbirds.org/article/outdoor-cats-single-greatest-source-of-human-caused-
mortality-for-birds-and-mammals-says-new-study/

Cool Roofing Information for Home and Building Owners. (n.d.). Cool Roof Rating
Council. https://coolroofs.org/resources/home-building-owners

Novak, C., Van Mantgem, S. (2009). What’s So Cool About Cool Roofs? Cool Roof Rating
Council. https://coolroofs.org/documents/CEU_WhatsSoCool.pdf (PDF)

Zetta Team. (2020, July 6). What is a Cool Roof? Pacific West
Roofing. https://pacificwestroofing.com/what-is-a-cool-roof/

Barmore, M., Peck, M. (2019). 2019 Annual Green Roof Industry Survey. Green Roofs for
Healthy
Cities. https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4115293/GreenRoofIndustrySurvey2019Report.pdf (PDF)

Walbridge, S. (2016, August 3). The green roof: a worthwhile investment. Michigan State
University. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/the_green_roof_a_worthwhile_investment

Using Green Roofs to Reduce Heat Islands. (n.d.). United States Environmental Protection
Agency. https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-green-roofs-reduce-heat-islands
Update or Replace Windows. (n.d.). Energy Saver.
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/design/windows-doors-and-skylights/update-or-replace-
windows
de Morsella, C. (n.d.). Green Parking Lots: Part III – Landscaping Against Runoff. The Green
Economy Post. http://greeneconomypost.com/green-parking-lot-3-2853.htm