GreenClips

Issue No. 284 | Mar 15, 2006

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A 'GREEN' BUILDING RISES AMID BEIJING SMOG

In a country both energy-starved and cash-conscious, the new ministry of science building in Beijing, China is a small wonder. It uses 70 percent less energy than similar federal buildings, and saves 10,000 tons of water a year through rainwater collection. Wise use of quality materials inside a simple, plain design make it far cheaper to build and maintain than comparable Beijing buildings. It is the first building in China to achieve LEED certification. The construction ministry of China issued an edict on March 7 requiring that by June all new construction be 50 percent more energy efficient. But the record on energy- and resource-friendly construction in China is mixed at best. The green visions of ecology-minded policymakers vie with the realities of a nation rebuilding its urban centers day and night, with aggressive developers, impatient construction firms, quick money, and a population of as many as 400 million workers needing housing in coming decades. Few Chinese developers or experts feel the nation will meet the March 7 edict. "We can't enforce it," explains a knowledgeable government source in Beijing. Moreover, green concepts, quite unknown outside elite circles, and not broadly promoted in the rough and tumble world of Chinese builders, must compete against the kind of eye-catching and unorthodox signature projects now under construction downtown, like the new Central Chinese Television (CCTV) tower, with dazzling but decidedly un-green designs. "The government knows that buildings like the CCTV tower are part of the high cost economic model from a few years ago," says one leading Tsinghua University professor. "But local governments just want fancy post-modern designs that you can brag about." Changing ingrained behavior is always slow and China doesn't yet have the green supply chain of parts, materials, and knowledge needed.
The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr 06, by Robert Marquand.

COOLING TOWER USES RECYCLED WATER

Large-scale air-conditioning systems typically consume vast amounts of water. In the case of the Fulton County Health Center (FCHC) in Wauseon, OH, it's not uncommon for such a cooling system to consume almost 3 million gallons of water per year—until the maintenance staff began an innovative retrofit. Condensate water from two air handlers, which have a combined volume of 71,500 cubic feet per minute, is being used to help cool the water in the cooling tower basin. Normally the water would be discharged into the sanitary drain. The project was straightforward since the HVAC units are in close proximity to each other, and the water can gravity drain from the fourth-floor mechanical room, where they are located, to the cooling tower on the boiler room roof two stories below. The project was accomplished over the winter months, when the cooling systems were normally shut down. The drain lines from the two air handlers' condensation drip pans were re-piped to send the water directly to the cooling tower. The volume of water transferred from the air handlers' condensate has measured as high as 2.75 gallons per minute. The most appealing benefit: All of the water is free. The total material investment was $300, and the labor accomplished by the maintenance staff took less than 40 hours. When fully implemented, using condensate water as a cooling-tower application at FCHC is expected to save 1 million gallons each year.

Buildings, Mar 06, p 68, by Mike Hurd.

EXHIBIT EXPLORES NEW DIRECTIONS IN GREEN HOMES

The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design, a groundbreaking exhibition that examines new developments in green technology and products, opens May 20, 2006 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. The exhibition will examine some questions homeowners often ask when considering a green home or product, including: What makes a product green? How is a green home healthier, safer and more comfortable? and How much does it cost to "go green?" The exhibition will include the prefab Green Trend House, demonstrating sustainable principles, and feature models, photographs and drawings representing how sustainable principles are being applied with innovative and beautiful results in homes around the world. The exhibit runs through June 3, 2007.
Architectural Record, Mar 06, p 225.

www.nbm.org/Exhibits/upcoming.html

MORE INSULATION DOES NOT ALWAYS DECREASE EMISSIONS AND FUEL COSTS

Research by the University of Glamorgan in Wales examined CO2 emissions and fuel costs for a series of insulation thicknesses for floors, walls and roofs of a typical four-bedroom detached house. Three different levels of insulation were chosen, and the CO2 emissions and associated fuel costs were calculated over a year. In the case of cavity-wall insulation, the reduction in emissions and fuel cost were less significant with increases in insulation thicker that 50 mm. With roof insulation, no significant reductions occur beyond an insulation thickness of 250 mm, the amount required by the 2002 Part L standards, UK's regulations on energy efficiency. And in the case of solid floors, adding insulation actually increases emissions and fuel costs. The practical effect of these results in respect to new housing is to encourage architects and environmental engineers to focus—once insulation levels required by Part L are satisfied—on other methods of reducing emissions and fuel costs when encouraging their clients towards excellent practice.
Architects'Journal, 9 Feb 06, p 38, by Mike George, Tim Gough and Andrew Geens.

Contact: mdjgeorge@glam.ac.uk

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STOPWASTE.ORG: C&D RECYCLING MIXER

Did you know there are over 10 cities and public agencies in Alameda County who have C&D recycling regulations in place—many affecting conditions of approval and building permits? Join us at this informal mixer to learn more about each City's regulatory process and meet building material recyclers who can help you meet those requirements. Thursday, May 4th at Francesco's in Oakland, Ca. from 4-6 pm. Email msoll@stopwaste.org or visit www.stopwaste.org

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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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