GreenClips

Issue No. 264 | May 11, 2005

OUR EARTH DAY FUNDRAISER
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HOW TO LEED-CERTIFY PLUMBING SYSTEMS

This tutorial demonstrates a methodology for calculating LEED Water Efficiency Credit 3 in a 300-occupant, five-day-work-week medical office building. The LEED version 2.1 Reference Guide allows a 20 percent reduction in time of each use for automatic motion-control or metering sensors on lavatory and sink faucets. (In other words, instead of 15 seconds for a standard faucet, a motion-control faucet is assumed to be in use for only 12 seconds.) The baseline case flow rates are 1.6 gpf for conventional water closets (male and female); 1.0 gpf for conventional urinals; 2.5 gpf for conventional lavatories, conventional kitchen sinks and conventional showers. The design case flow rates are 1.1 gpf for ultra-low water closets (male and female); 0.0 gpf for composting toilets (M & F); 1.6 gpf for dual-flush water closets (solid, M & F); 0.8 for dual-flush water closets (liquid, M & F); 0.0 gpf for waterless urinal; and 1.6 gpf for conventional water closets (M & F). By setting up a spreadsheet, usage is calculated by fixture type and number. The baseline case is calculated first where only Energy Policy Act (EPAct) compliant fixtures are used, with the total annual consumption at 947,700 gallons. When the "green" fixtures are added for the design case, consumption drops 23 percent to 729,690 gallons, satisfying the 20-percent-water-reduction requirement of Water Efficiency Credit 3. A second point is available for a 30 percent reduction. The design case would have to reduce water usage to 663,390 gallons. Such savings can be reached if the public restrooms are equipped with ultra-low-flow water closets (1.1 gpf), the kitchen sinks with low-flow 1.8-gpm sensor faucets—limiting each use to 12 seconds—and the showerheads are low-flow 1.8-gpm. The example demonstrates that achieving LEED plumbing points is really as simple as plugging in the right fixtures at the right places.
Consulting Specifying Engineer, Feb 05, p 49, by Kim Shinn.

BREAKING GROUND WITH LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT METHODS

"Low Impact Development" (LID) refers to methods that minimize the impact of stormwater runoff downstream and encourage on-site stormwater retention, most notably through bioretention and infiltration methods that allow stormwater to be distributed evenly around a site. Reducing stormwater runoff rates, cleaning pollutants from stormwater and recharging stormwater into the ground are key tenets of LID. The Department of Environmental Resources, Prince George's County, Maryland, developed a manual—Low Impact Development Design Strategies: An Integrated Design Approach—that covers everything from hydrological calculations and site planning strategies to design guidelines for infiltration trenches, filter strips and planting of bioretention areas. As LID gains national recognition, landscape architects appear to be increasingly eager to incorporate more LID-based solutions in their daily planning and design practices. To implement these hydrologically sensitive methods, however, landscape architects must still advocate LID to their clients, public reviewers and fellow design team members, after first carefully interpreting local codes to find appropriate opportunities for introducing LID. Compromise and adjustment are important in getting LID on the table. After regulation and incentives more fully support it and more built works are added to the LID portfolio, landscape architects are likely to see LID more frequently and willingly integrated into projects.

Landscape Architecture, May 05, p 70, by Brian P. Kane. www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lidnatl.pdf

KEEN ENGINEERING OFFERS GREEN BUILDING FEE TIPS

How can design firms make green design profitable? Keen Engineering in Calgary, Alberta offers suggestions based on this example of a high-end corporate classroom/conference center on a community college campus with a budget of $14.5 million. Based on a detailed overview of the project and proposed services, lock in the base fees. In a conventional building of this type in this area, mechanical costs are typically 20 percent of the total construction budget. We will base our fee on a 6.8% fee of this projected construction value and then crosscheck it with a run-through of expected effort in labor-hours. Specify within your proposal your understanding of the overall project scope or budget. Mechanical/Plumbing Base Fee = $14.5 million x 20% x 6.8% = $197,200. Assume facilitation of three sustainable design charrettes, one full day each at $2,000 = $6,000. Three iterations of basic energy analysis at $1200 each = $3,600. Detailed energy study for LEED Energy Compliance based on in-house staff: $7,000. Comfort modeling based on previous project experience: $18,000. LEED Mechanical Point Compliance, assuming 16 points to document at $750 per point = $12,000.
ASHRAE Journal, Apr 05, p 17, by Tim McGinn.

www.keen.ca

HARVARD LAUNCHES GREEN BUILDING LOAN FUND

In March 2005, Harvard University launched a Green Building Loan Fund. This $3 million fund for new construction projects is modeled on an existing fund that supports retrofits and renovations—the Green Campus Loan Fund. Both are revolving funds that provide capital for investments in energy and resource efficiency and get repaid by claiming a share of the savings. In doing so, they help to overcome a hurdle faced by many institutions in which fixed capital budgets make it difficult to invest in efficiency improvements, even when those improvements can yield very attractive returns.
Environmental Building News, May 05, p 2.

www.greencampus.harvard.edu/gclf/

GreenClips is free of charge thanks to individual readers and the following sponsors:

ARMSTRONG CEILING SYSTEMS

Armstrong offers an expanding portfolio of sustainable ceiling products. Through the Ceiling Recycling Program, an industry first and only one of its kind, old tiles are shipped to an Armstrong plant, not a landfill; 25 million square feet recycled to date. www.armstrong.com/commceilingsna/article10790.html

BALL STATE UNIVERSITY

Greening of the Campus VI: Extending Connections. This interdisciplinary conference allows people representing diverse areas in university communities to share information on environmental issues, including the practical day-to-day management of the physical plant to "green" curriculum development and utilization of campus resources. The conference is September 15 - 17, 2005. For more information and to download a registration form, visit www.bsu.edu/greening/

or email bamato@bsu.edu

BUILDINGGREEN, INC.

Build Your Expertise with BuildingGreen Suite, a revolutionary green building tool from the people who bring you Environmental Building News. Clear, powerful information presented online - at your fingertips. www.BuildingGreen.com/go/suite/

CIWMB LANDSCAPE AND BUILDING DESIGN COMPETITION

The California Integrated Waste Management Board seeks participants for its is sponsoring the "Landscape and Building Product Design Competition" at the California State Fair. Participants Designers will develop prototypes of products crafted from waste tires, crumb rubber, and other tire-derived materials. Entry forms are due by June 24, 2005, and can be downloaded at www.itsgoodforcalifornia.com

CRADLE TO CRADLE DESIGN CONFERENCE

Cradle to Cradle Design is being embraced as a powerful new framework for thinking about how we can build more beautiful products and a healthier bottom line, while having a beneficial impact on the world. Get involved in the dialogue by attending the Business and Sustainablity Group's workshop with Dr. Micheal Braughart June 6-7 in Palo Alto, CA and special guest speaker Dr. Peter Senge. To register visit: www.globalcommunity.org/business/braungart.shtml

ECOSA INSTITUTE

Ecosa Institute is now enrolling for its summer 2005 Hands-On Workshops in Sustainability. Register early for discounts. Guest speakers are Pliny Fisk and John Todd. Receive a Permaculture Designer Certificate, experience with sustainable building materials, and college credit. This fall Ecosa welcomes Glenn Murcutt and Edward Mazria for its semester immersion program in Sustainable Design. www.ecosainstitute.org

GREEN BUILDING SERVICES

Green Building Services offers environmental design and energy efficient consulting services to help you design, build and market high-performance commercial buildings, through design charrettes, energy analyses and the entire LEED certification process. www.greenbuildingservices.com

RUMSEY ENGINEERS

Rumsey Engineers, a preeminent leader in sustainable HVAC and Plumbing design, has openings in our Oakland, CA office for mid to senior level articulate and innovative HVAC and/or plumbing engineers with at least 3-5 years of energy efficient design experience. Please e-mail resume: info@rumseyengineers.com
Website at rumseyengineers.com

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN RESOURCES

As a Principal of San Francisco-based Sustainable Design Resources, Chris Hammer's sustainable design consulting services include LEED certification, building material recommendations, specifications, developing design tools, and post-occupancy evaluations (POE). www.greenclips.com/SDR

WSU EXTENSION ENERGY PROGRAM

Providing objective research, information and solutions. Washington State University Extension Energy Program in Olympia, Washington. Subscribe to GreenClips and other mailing lists on energy and the environment at listserv.energy.wsu.edu/read/ or visit their website at www.energy.wsu.edu

About the Publisher
Sustainable design consultant Chris Hammer publishes GreenClips in San Francisco. Ms. Hammer helps her clients with environmentally responsible approaches to urban planning and development, and to building design, construction, and operation. Email or call for more information: chrishammer@greenclips.com; 415.928.7941. GreenClips is edited by Susan Vogt, a Portland, Oregon freelance writer with 25 years of experience in energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.

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