Green Means
Using a Whole Building Approach
By Shannon
Scott
Building becomes a whole lot greener
when all those involved on a building project put their heads together, early
in the planning process and throughout construction. This whole building approach creates
maximally healthy and efficient homes and commercial buildings.
The
whole building, or integrated, approach begins with a team of people who have a
vested interest in a project – stakeholders.
A team might include owners, designers, plumbers, operations people, inhabitants,
employees, and others. These people
create a clear, sustainable design and construction vision that protects triple
bottom line objectives –people, planet, and profits.
This
integrated team approach regards a project’s totality, all components as a
unified system, synergistically. Synergy
describes how multiple systems work together to create a more highly functional
system – the whole feels better and operates more efficiently than the simple
sum of its parts.
A project
team closely examines life cycle costs, environmental impacts, and societal effects
for all materials, construction methods, systems, and design choices. This includes where products originate, how
and from what they are made, if they’re human safe, and can be reasonably
transported to the project site.
Bringing products from abroad often ignores sustainability and life
cycle costs.
For
example, during a building’s pre-planning, or ideas phase, the developer,
business interest, or home owner assembles an integrated project team. The team examines data and, let’s say, considers
that commercial buildings account for approximately 20% of all U.S. energy use. Half of this energy goes to heating and
lighting. (In residences a larger
percentage of energy heats water.) Since
heating and lighting result in the bulk of energy costs, and since much
electricity generated in the U.S. still comes from fossil fuels, reducing a
building’s demand will have a positive domino effect across economic and
environmental spectrums.
Given these
energy facts, the project
team considers local and regional climatic conditions along with
environmentally sound and cost efficient HVAC and lighting options. A primary goal is to maximize the building’s
efficiency as a whole, synergistically.
The team considers that for heating and lighting, Mother Nature offers buildings in
Nevada full advantage.
Project
participants select a building site with southern exposure, correctly orienting
the building on the site, and designing the core and shell with passive solar
design features. Passive solar designs
utilize the sun and natural surroundings to help heat, cool, and illuminate a
structure.
The team
ensures that the building suits its site, with plenty of south facing glass, a tight
building shell, quality windows, and adequate insulation. HVAC and lighting systems’ capacities can be
greatly reduced compared to traditionally built counterparts where
professionals work in isolation of others and that give no regard to site,
surroundings, or local climatic conditions.
Reducing heating and lighting capacities cuts upfront expenses and long
term operating costs.
Installing
many operable windows means mechanical air filtration systems may be minimized or
unwarranted altogether. Windows that
open allow in fresh air, improving indoor air quality and human health. Windows, in general, provide light, which gives
inhabitants a connection with the outdoors.
People feel better. Workers
become more productive and cooling costs are reduced.
This in
only a snapshot of how site and building orientation can save money and the
ecosystem. Project teams consider many
more factors, including, but not limited to the following performance criteria that
when combined provide comfortable, cost effective, and sustainable places to live
and work.
Sustainable Site and Location
It’s best
to develop on previously disturbed land, or within established developments, and
still try to allow for open space and views of nature. Save valuable land and open space, build up
rather than out. A good site minimizes
environmental impacts, conserves energy, and reduces water use, and reduces water
use, heat islands, and storm water runoff.
Ideally, a home or commercial building will be located near public services
like libraries, parks, and restaurants to reduce driving needs and promote
walking – thus better human health and connection with community.
Water Efficiency
Reduce
water demand whenever and wherever possible via low water use fixtures and
landscaping and the reuse of storm or grey water.
Energy and Atmosphere
Conserve
energy via efficient designs that often include passive solar, on-site green
energy generation, efficient appliances, and top notch construction quality. It is equally critical to mitigate climate
change potential by selecting environmentally responsible materials and
systems.
Materials and Resources
Use sustainably
grown, harvested, and produced materials.
Reduce waste by recycling and reuse.
Salvaged materials are great when/if you can find them, but remember to
never use salvaged windows as do not meet good National Fenestration Council
standards for energy efficiency as their seals are often jeopardized.
Indoor Environmental Quality
Human safe
environments consist of air free of pollutants, allow for natural daylight, and
quality acoustics. We all want to
breathe safe, clean air and feel good in spaces we inhabit.
Shannon Scott
is a green home owner, designer, and builder.
She and her husband live in northwestern Nevada in a straw bale home they
designed and built without hired help.
She can be reached at: deepgreenresults@gmail.com
Shannon will be offering a full day seminar in Green Home
Design and Construction at Great Basin College, November 10th. These seminars help anyone planning to build
a home understand the importance and how-to of site selection, energy
efficiency, floor plan functionality, what makes a building feel good, and
operate cost effectively. Check with
Community Education at the college for details.
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