Sustainable Buildings

and Green Markets

An Engineering Perspective

Presented by:
Haven Alford
Overview
 Why does it matter

 Elements of Sustainable Buildings

 Government Application (Green Market

Incentives)
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 building’s design by:
 Certified (26 – 32 points)
 Silver (33 – 38 points)
 Gold (39 – 51 points)
 Platinum ratings (52 – 69 points)
Why engineers (and you)
should care…
 Discipline:
 MEP 28 points 41%
 Architect/LA 21 30%
 Civil 11 16%
 Constructor 4 6%
 Undefined 5 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
 Protect or Restore Open Space
 Development Footprint
 Storm Water Management
 Rate and Quantity
 Treatment
 Heat Island Effect
 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
 Maintaining 75 – 100% of Existing Walls, Floor, and Roof
 Maintain 100% of the shell/structure and 50% of non-
shell/non-structure
 Construction Waste Management
 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 Content
 5 – 10% (post-consumer + ½ post-industrial)
 Regional 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 Comfort
 Compliance with ASHRAE 55
 Permanent Monitoring System
 Daylight 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?