AGCA INTRODUCES BUILDING TO LEED FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM; OTHER LEED DEVELOPMENTS ANNOUNCED
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA) Aug. 12 unveiled a green construction education program that is designed to make it easier to build and renovate Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified buildings. The new program, called "Building to LEED for New Construction, Second Edition," is structured to help contractors, designers, and developers successfully navigate the green building certification process and keep their green accreditations current.
AGCA Chief Executive Officer Stephen Sandherr explained that the association developed the program to meet the growing demand for green construction and design experts. He noted that the number of green buildings under construction is expected to grow by an estimated 25 percent by 2013. As a result, AGCA believes that anyone involved in building construction will need to complete a course such as the one offered by the association's new program to be successful, the association head added.
The program includes instructional guides and participants manuals to be used during the program's one-day class. In addition to learning green construction and design skills, people taking the class will earn 7.5 continuing education credits that can apply to maintaining LEED certification.
The program is targeted to construction firms, community colleges, joint-apprenticeship training programs, construction association chapters, and other groups.
Sandherr reported that the new education program was part of the association's broader commitment to green construction. A portion of that commitment involves the Building a Green Future plan, which the organization released earlier this year (GBI, May 1, 2010, "General Contractors Group Unveils Green Building Plan; Group Official Provides GBI Additional Details").
In an interview with Green Building Insider, AGCA spokesperson Stephanie Mullins and Melinda Tomaino, the organization's director of green construction, provided the following additional details about the program:
GBI: For clarification, is this a new program or an enhancement to an existing program?
Mullins: We released the first edition of "Building to LEED" in March 2008. The second edition of this course provides an update for LEED v3. The first edition of the course builds heavily on research done by Michigan State University's Construction Management Program as part of the AGC Education and Research Foundation's William A. Klinger Memorial Research Award regarding whether the LEED credits and prerequisites have a major, moderate, or some impact on construction practices. The second edition of the course goes a step further to provide strategies and tips to help contractors achieve those credits, pointing out elements of construction practices that coincide with the requirements.
GBI: Which specific topics within the LEED for New Construction program will be addressed?
Mullins: "Building to LEED for New Construction" takes a look at each prerequisite and credit within the ratings system from the contractor's perspective, providing tips and best practices to help contractors navigate the ratings system.
GBI: About how many people is AGCA expecting to sign up for the program and by when?
Mullins: "Building to LEED for New Construction" will be hosted at many of our chapters in-house at construction firms, at joint-apprenticeship training centers, and at community colleges beginning in the fall. Anyone can elect to purchase the course materials from our website as a reference or to hold their own courses. We plan to maintain this program, providing updates as the LEED for New Construction ratings system is updated.
GBI: Since the Building a Green Future plan was unveiled earlier this year, how has it fared? Would AGCA characterize it as having been a success thus far?
Mullins: We are quite pleased with how well the plan has been received. In addition to generating a significant amount of media coverage, we've seen increased federal, state, and local focus on the need to support green construction projects success. For example, in the short time since the plan was released, we've seen new federal General Services Administration investments in green renovations while state and local governments continue to find ways to support green construction. Congress has taken up legislation to encourage green renovations for commercial buildings, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded our Florida chapters over $1 million to invest in new, lower-emissions diesel equipment. While there's a tremendous amount of work that remains to be done, we feel our plan has helped move the needle on these important issues.
GBI: What other new programs are likely to be launched as part of AGCA's overall commitment to green construction and when?
Tomaino: We plan to continually provide courses, webinars, and events on the most up-to-date and relevant green topics to our members. Through our Environmental Network, e-forum (http://www.agc.org/cs/about_agc/divisions_committees/environmental_network), and Environmental Observer (http://newsletters.agc.org/environment/) we strive to provide information on the hottest green topics in the industry.
GBI: Other comments?
Tomaino: Some upcoming events for our organization are the Green Roads Summit, to be held in partnership with U.S. Federal Highway Administration, EPA, and the Construction Materials Recycling Association at the 2011 CONEXPO-CON/AGG, (http://www.conexpoconagg.com/Education/General/GreenRoadsSummit/) as well as upcoming webinars and in-seat events on stormwater, recycling, and beneficial use.
More Than One-Third of Surveyed Electrical Contractors Have Performed LEED and Non-LEED Energy Upgrades
Electrical contractors have "dramatically" increased their role in specifying products, the design/build process, and their work in green building projects since 2008, according to Electrical Contractor magazine's 2010 Profile of the Electrical Contractor.
Almost 60 percent of respondents indicated that some portion of their 2009 sales included projects with green or sustainable building elements, a marked increase from 46 percent in 2007, said the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), which publishes Electrical Contractor.
"Electrical contractors around the country are embracing green building in great numbers, along with their growing influence as trusted partners in the overall electrical design or specifications with building owners or the design team," Electrical Contractor Publisher John Maisel said.
Among the survey's findings are the following:
- About 35 percent performed LEED green building rating system and non-LEED energy upgrades.
- Three types of alternative energy projects increased since 2008: LEED projects jumped from 9 percent to 19 percent; solar/photovoltaics increased from 11 percent to 16 percent, and wind generation rose from 3 percent to 5 percent.
- Approximately 83 percent of respondents reported receiving plans and specs that were incomplete (where their firm is responsible for completing the design documentation).
The typical electrical contractor surveyed (70 percent) has less than 10 employees and an annual revenue of less than $1 million.
The Profile of the Electrical Contractor survey is conducted every two years.
Andrea Klee, editor of Electrical Contractor magazine, provided GBI the following additional details about the Profile of Electrical Contractor report:
GBI: Almost 60 percent of respondents said that at least a portion of their sales last year included projects with green or sustainable elements. For clarification, does that mean that three of five contractors surveyed are providing electrical equipment/services for construction projects in which the structures are LEED-certified?
Klee: The definition of green and sustainable is not limited to LEED-certified buildings. The definition includes energy-efficient new installations or upgrades, which could include replacing inefficient lighting or HVAC systems or adding more efficient electrical equipment. Green or sustainable building elements could also include adding alternative-energy systems, such as solar, wind, or distributed generation. LEED-certified buildings could be part of that 60 percent, but it's not limited to only those that are LEED or Energy Star-rated.
GBI: Whose definition of 'green or sustainable' is being used? USGBC's? The individual respondent's personal definition?
Klee: The question did not define 'green or sustainable,' and therefore, the answer relies on the individual respondent's personal definition.
GBI: For clarification regarding the first bulleted item, does this result refer to the percentage of surveyed contractors who provided electrical equipment/services for buildings that were LEED-certified or non-LEED-certified? It is my understanding that individual pieces of equipment or the work performed cannot be stamped as LEED-certified.
Klee: The result is not limited to LEED-certified buildings. It includes any type of green or sustainable work, which could encompass any upgrade to make an existing building more energy efficient, installing equipment that could be Energy Star-rated, or doing any work that will result in a green or sustainable effect. Work could be installing lighting fixtures with dimming capabilities or lighting controls that will automatically turn off lights not in use, all of which would trim energy costs from the building's bottom line. You are correct that individual pieces of equipment are not stamped LEED-certified. The 60 percent number includes both LEED-certified and other work that includes energy-efficient work as described above. It could also include work conducting energy audits or installing alternative-energy systems.
GBI: Of the 35 percent of respondents indicating that they performed energy upgrades of some kind, what percentage of them performed upgrades for LEED-rated buildings?
Klee: The 35 percent is a net -- or the unduplicated percentage -- of electrical contractors who said either energy-efficiency projects/upgrades (non-LEED) or LEED projects while 28 percent performed energy-efficiency projects/upgrades (non-LEED) and 19 percent worked on LEED projects in 2009.
GBI: To what does Electrical Contractor attribute the increase in LEED-related work? (An increase in policies requiring LEED certification?)
Klee: Based on the results of the survey alone, we (the staff at Electrical Contractor) cannot infer what has caused the increase in LEED-related work. However, it's my personal opinion that an increase in LEED-related work could be attributed to a combination of the following changes in the market: better and more publicity for LEED projects; a desire to make a building more valuable to building owners and lessees, based on the higher value attributed to LEED certification; an overall movement to push green and sustainable elements -- people are more interested in the value energy-efficient elements can provide in comfort, health, and cost savings; and a push by many local and state governments to have any federal or state building be LEED-certified. In some states, such as Washington, a bill signed in 2005 enacted that all new public buildings must be LEED Silver-certified, which means any new construction over 5,000 square feet (and any major renovation) would include those elements. Therefore, any electrical contractor working on public buildings in a state like Washington would be working on a LEED-certified building. In addition, energy-efficient power or lighting upgrades or retrofits may be some of the only work an electrical contractor can get during the down economy. A building or homeowner may not be building new, but may be able to upgrade a system for energy efficiency in order to save money in the long run or to add value to a building or home.
GBI: What additional information can you provide about the survey results in terms of the number of people surveyed, when the survey took place, etc.?
Klee: The survey was conducted by postal mail and through the Internet among a random sample of Electrical Contractor subscribers. As of the deadline for the July 2010 article, 808 completed surveys were received -- 394 via the Internet and 414 via postal mail. Each respondent who received the survey via the Internet was sent two follow-up emails. In addition, a portion of the Internet sample also received either a reminder postcard or a printed letter containing their unique survey link. However, followup mailings were not made to non-responders in the postal mail sample. An incentive was offered for participation in the survey: for each completed survey, Electric Contractor would contribute $5 to charity. The Internet option was first introduced in 2004. In 2004 and 2006, the proportion of surveys completed via the Internet versus postal mail was approximately 60/40.
In the 2010 and 2008 surveys, the proportion was closer to 50/50. As was the case since 2004, the survey was produced in different versions. As was the case last year, there were four versions of the survey, which differed from each other on fewer than 10 questions. The postal mail portion was conducted as a five-page booklet, with the first four pages containing core questions that were common to each version. The differences among the versions occurred on page five. The Internet portion of the study was essentially the mail portion of the survey posted on the Internet. The major difference was that in the Internet portion respondents were required in almost all cases to have percentage questions add up to 100 percent. In 2010, a series of questions relating to the Internet and social media was asked only of the Internet sample.
Tables and figures contained in this article come from the data generated by this year's Electrical Contractor survey, which was conducted by New York-based Renaissance Research & Consulting Inc., an independent marketing research firm that specializes in market research for the construction industry.
The margin of error on the total sample of 808 is +/-5 for percentages around 50 percent (i.e., the difference between 42 percent and 47 percent would be statistically significant at the 90 percent level of confidence). Please note that different rules apply to testing of averages, which were also tested at the 90 percent level of confidence and are also noted in the report.
GBI: Other comments?
Klee: As shown by the survey results, electrical contractors are increasingly being called on to design, specify, and install equipment and systems with green or sustainable elements. The extent to which they participate in LEED-certified buildings also continues to grow. As shown by the respondents' increased interest in training related to green buildings and LEED certification, electrical contractors seemingly consider that it's a valuable and sustaining market and worth their time preparing for future work.
Involta Garners LEED Silver Designation
Involta's data center facility in Marion, Iowa, has achieved LEED Silver certification.
Involta's high-security co-location data center is believed to be the first of its kind in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City technology corridor. The data center houses mission-critical computer systems and related components for area businesses, government, and educational institutions. The 20,000-square-foot facility features 10,000 square feet of conditioned data center space for housing mission-critical computer systems.
The Involta data center achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water, and material use as well as incorporating various other sustainable strategies. Among the specific green features are the following: reduced site disturbance; stormwater management; landscape and exterior design to reduce heat islands; light pollution reduction; overall water use reduction; chlorofluorocarbon reduction in heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning equipment; construction waste management, and recycled building content. Other features include local/regional construction materials; certified wood; carbon-dioxide monitoring; maximum controllability of environmental systems; and thermal comfort management.
LEED Silver Certification Awarded to Hotel Felix Chicago
Hotel Felix Chicago has attained LEED Silver status for commercial interiors, making it what is believed to be the first hotel in Chicago to earn this status.
The $50 million-plus project's investment group is led by Oxford Capital Group Llc. Other principals include Park Ridge based Bricton Group Inc. and Chicago-based Gettys.
Designed by Gettys, whose design and procurement team is largely staffed by LEED Accredited Professionals, Hotel Felix meets LEED standards for its adaptive reuse of an existing urban structure, convenient access to public transportation, and the use of green materials throughout, such as recycled content in the corridor and guestroom carpet, bamboo, and cork flooring in the public areas, low-volatile-organic-compound (VOC) paints and wall coverings, and Forest Stewardship Council-certified millwork.
Hotel Felix also offers free parking for hybrid vehicles and no bleach use throughout the property. Additionally, the hotel recently installed wind turbines on its roof to study the potential of further reducing its carbon footprint by generating its own renewable energy.
"The hotel's design boasts impressive energy savings in heating and air conditioning costs with its in-room motion sensor system and in electricity costs with the use of florescent lighting throughout the property," according to a hotel spokesperson. "This year, over one million gallons of water will be saved through the property's water-reduction program."
Tishman Speyer Office Building Nets LEED Gold Designation
An office building exceeding 1 million square feet in New York City has been awarded a LEED Gold certification for existing buildings.
The 19-story property is believed to be the first existing office building in New York City to achieve Gold status through environmentally friendly improvements and retrofits. The building is home to a mix of companies and serves as New York headquarters for Saatchi & Saatchi, Penguin Group, and Turner Construction Co.
Tishman Speyer implemented and achieved several sustainability measures at the building prior to and throughout the LEED certification process, including the following:
- Reduced electricity consumption by nearly 110,000 kilowatt-hours per year by making changes to the HVAC and mechanical systems and installing variable frequency drives on the cooling tower fans.
- A reduced steam consumption by improving heat exchangers and making other HVAC improvements that reduced heating demand.
- A reduction of annual water consumption by 1 million gallons by replacing original restroom fixtures with low-flow aerators and new water closets.
- Adoption of an expanded recycling program that encompassed not only office paper and waste, but batteries, electronic waste, and construction debris.
- Implementation of a building-wide green-cleaning policy focusing on improving air quality and ensuring the purchase of sustainable cleaning and janitorial paper supplies.
The building also has earned the Energy Star label from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its energy efficiency.
Research and Markets Publishes Guide to Green Building Rating Systems
Research and Markets has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new report, "Guide to Green Building Rating Systems: Understanding LEED, Green Globes, Energy Star, the National Green Building Standard, and More," to its offering.
The guide includes the following:
- An overview of the major national rating systems, including LEED, Green Globes, the National Green Building Standard, and Energy Star.
- An examination of each rating system, including its evolution, objectives, point structure, levels of certification, benefits, and shortcomings.
- How the ratings systems work for different types of buildings -- commercial, multi-family residential, and single-family residential construction.
- Illustrated case studies from different climate regions with project descriptions, cost data, and lessons learned by design teams, constructors, and owners.
- An overview of local, regional, and international rating systems.
Individual chapters focus on a comparison of rating systems, commercial rating systems, Energy Star for residential projects, LEED for Homes, Energy Star for commercial buildings, LEED for commercial new construction, international rating systems, and other areas.
Wood Partners Receives LEED Certification
Multi-family developer Wood Partners Llc. has gained LEED certification for a Dallas Glass House multi-family high-rise development.
The Glass House project, which consists of 375 apartment units in a split-level project with one 21-story and one 12-story building, meets standards for energy use, lighting, water, and material use as well as other efficient features such as the use of recycled materials.
The leadership at Wood Partners issued a new energy policy in March of last year that, going forward, all of its new projects would be designed and constructed to achieve efficiency standards through LEED or Energy Star certifications whenever possible.
Other energy efficient developments in the works for Wood Partners include Alta at Indian Woods Apartments in Stoughton, Mass., 154 units; Alta at Regency Crest in Ellicott City, Md., 150 units; and in Denver, Alta Aspen Grove, 280 units.
Element Hotels Achieves LEED Volume Pre-Certification
Element Hotels, which is believed to be the first major hotel brand to mandate that all of its properties pursue LEED certification, has achieved LEED Volume Pre-certification for its prototype design, which will automatically qualify new build hotels to pursue LEED designation.
"Building from a prototype that's already LEED pre-approved means that Starwood helps our partners substantially reduce consulting fees, spend less on applications and certifications, and minimize documentation requirements wherever possible," said Paul Sacco, senior vice president of development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. "This presents a real incentive for partners and developers to join us in the pursuit of more sustainable buildings and greener operations."
The Volume Pre-certification initiative is part of USGBC's Portfolio Program, which is designed to enable companies and building owners to integrate LEED into new and existing building projects using a cost-effective, streamlined certification process without sacrificing the technical rigor and integrity of LEED. The Portfolio Program is structured to recognize market leaders who have committed to and achieved high levels of LEED certification within their portfolio. Through a volume certification, most LEED prerequisites and credits can be "pre-certified."
Element's LEED Volume Pre-certified prototype is based on the brand's Lexington, Mass., property, which achieved LEED Gold certification in 2008. At that property, sustainable strategies led to 20 percent more energy efficiency; a 32 percent reduction in water use, for a savings of nearly 942,000 gallons; nearly 70 percent of power purchased as green power; and the use of low-VOC materials throughout the hotel.
The Element brand also created an online "LEED Developer Roadmap" to support its partners in pursuit of environmentally responsible development. The Roadmap uses lessons learned from Element Lexington and provides a cost-effective strategy and guidance on the execution and documentation of LEED-NC, including strategies on why and how a specific credit was pursued.
Starwood recently revealed plans to "significantly" reduce energy and water consumption at all of its 1,000 hotels within a decade. Starwood will aim for a 30 percent reduction in energy use per available room by 2020. The company also will work toward a 20 percent decrease in water consumption per available room by 2020. The initiative builds on a long-standing commitment to conservation and sustainable operations at Starwood.
At the hotels, eco-friendly materials are used whenever possible, and natural light is maximized throughout the buildings. To reduce waste, guest room bathrooms are equipped with amenity dispensers, kitchens are supplied with silverware and glassware instead of plastic utensils and paper cups, and filtered drinking water is available rather than plastic water bottles. Recycling bins are available in guest rooms and public areas. Element conserves water and energy with low-flow faucets and fixtures, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and energy-efficient appliances.
Most recently, Element Hotels installed electric car charging stations at all of its currently open properties to contribute to the development of the infrastructure needed in anticipation of the number electric vehicles expected to be on the market over the next several years.
Mississippi Home Classified as LEED Platinum
A Hancock County, Miss., home built by Bay-Waveland Habitat for Humanity (HFHBW) recently gained certification as a LEED for Homes Platinum level house. It is believed to be the only house in Mississippi to have achieved this level of certification.
Another Bay-Waveland Habitat home built in 2009 received an Emerald level certification through the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Research Center National Green Building Certification Program. Emerald is the NAHB Research Center's highest level of certification for green building.
HFHBW made a commitment in 2009 to build its homes to either the LEED or NAHB silver standards for green building. In many cases, its homes have exceeded this standard, achieving gold level certifications.
These certifications are achieved through the use of materials such as aluminum roofing, cement board siding, open cell spray-foam insulation, loE dual-pane windows, Energy Star appliances, seasonal energy efficiency ratio 15 HVAC units and low-VOC paints and adhesives as well as methods such as advanced framing, low-impact site development, natural resource conservation, and recycling of construction waste.
In Seal Pointe, an affiliate of HFHBW is developing a 42-unit neighborhood, where homes are being built to meet or exceed silver certification standards through USGBC or the NAHB Research Center.
Construction Completed for Recreation & Wellness Center
McCarthy Building Companies Inc. and Tony Moayed Construction Services Inc. (TMCS) have completed construction on California State University-Sacramento's 151,000-square-foot recreation and wellness center, named The WELL (Wellness, Education, Leisure, Lifestyle), which is on track for a LEED Gold certification.
McCarthy served as the project's construction manager at risk and general contractor while TMCS acted as the construction manager and inspector of record. Hornberger + Worstell served as the architect with Ellerbe Becket becoming the associate architect for health services. The WELL is scheduled to open for the fall 2010 term.
The WELL features a fitness center, indoor track, gym courts, racquetball courts, and a student health center that includes primary and urgent care clinics, a retail pharmacy, vision care center, x-ray services, counseling services, a nutrition center, and wellness promotion programs.
The project incorporates several sustainable features, including Foiltec skylight systems, to improve thermal properties; design elements to increase daylighting; high-efficiency HVAC systems; light pollution reductions; enhanced commissioning and sustainably harvested formaldehyde-free wood products; and access to alternative transportation facilities, including bicycle parking and proximity to a nearby light rail station.
Wisconsin Manufacturing Facility Earns LEED Silver Certification
Comprehensive recycling, water conservation and energy management programs are among the environmental efforts that helped Quad/Graphics' Hartford, Wis., manufacturing facility achieve a LEED Silver rating.
The new LEED certification means Quad/Graphics now has more than 3.2 million square feet of LEED-certified space. Quad/Graphics' Hartford plant is the company's second facility to qualify for LEED certification. In 2009, the printer's corporate headquarters and plant in Sussex, Wis., received the LEED for Existing Buildings Silver rating, making Quad/Graphics what is believed to be the first major printer to achieve any level of LEED certification for a manufacturing site.
The 1.6-million-square-foot Hartford plant opened in 1992 also qualified for the LEED for Existing Buildings certification. The facility has more than 900 employees and houses 50 pieces of heavy printing equipment, including an array of web offset presses supported by "perfect binders," saddle stitchers, and polywrappers for finishing printed products.
Among the facility's green features are the following:
- The creation of the Quad Building Management Network, an enterprise-wide computerized system for monitoring, recording, and controlling in real time heating, ventilating, and air conditioning; electrical and natural gas consumption and demand; process boilers, chillers, air compressors, and vacuum systems; indoor air quality; and life safety systems.
- A comprehensive recycling program. The Hartford plant recycles 99.3 percent of its solid waste, including paper, fluorescent lamps, batteries, metal, plastic, wood, and concrete.
- Exterior lighting that reduces light pollution of the nighttime sky. Exterior building and parking lot lights at the Hartford facility are shielded, directing light downward to where it is needed. This allows people an undiluted view of the stars and moon and also minimizes the lighting's impact on nocturnal wildlife in the area.
- Installation of high-efficiency, low-mercury fluorescent lighting. Quad/Graphics uses bulbs that burn 50 percent brighter while consuming 52 percent less energy.
- A progressive approach to site development and grounds maintenance. Quad/Graphics' manufacturing plant grounds have been designed to minimize stormwater runoff leaving the property and reduce the need for fertilizers that contaminate groundwater. The Hartford plant is designed to use a water-efficient landscaping plan.
- Proactive water conservation. Quad/Graphics uses non-potable water for irrigation and has installed low-flow water fixtures within its plants to reduce water consumption.
Quad/Graphics' Hartford plant earned extra points for offering proactive environmental education programs for employees, such as Eco Driving and Sustainable Purchasing.
Hormel Facility Awarded LEED Gold Designation
Hormel Foods Corp. earlier this month announced that its Progressive Processing Llc. production facility in Dubuque, Iowa, has been awarded LEED Gold certification. Progressive Processing is believed to be one of the first manufacturing plants to be a LEED-certified project at any level.
Progressive Processing will use at least 25 percent less energy and water than a plant built to meet current building codes and industry standards, according to the company. Also, the facility was constructed using materials with more than 36 percent recycled content. Elements of the sustainable design and construction include the following:
- A sustainable site, including non-irrigated landscaping, that was developed with native, low-maintenance vegetation.
- Lighting controls that monitor the amount of light needed based on daylight, occupancy, and time schedule. Similar monitoring is used for temperature control, using sensors to identify room occupancy and determine the heating or cooling need.
- Non-refrigerated areas of the plant use skylights and multilevel lighting to provide natural light and reduce energy consumption.
- "Sophisticated" heat and water recovery processes. For example, as part of the boiler system, heat from blowdown water is recovered and the water is captured and reused for flushing toilets.
San Jose, Calif., Park & Zoo Goes LEED Gold
After a $72-million renovation, San Jose, Calif.'s Park & Zoo has earned LEED Gold designation. It is believed to be the first such amusement park and zoo in the United States to attain that designation.
The project included renovation of the existing ride areas as well as a four-acre expansion that houses the new Zoo on the Hill, an Education complex, Entry Plaza complex, two more rides, 11 more exhibits, and new play areas totaling 12,800 square feet.
Among the green features are the following:
- Seven green (growing) roofs with native plant species to provide habitat for wildlife -- 14,000 square feet of open space was added to Happy Hollow on the green roofs. About 56,000 plants, on seven green roofs, were planted, averaging 8,000 plants per roof.
- Radiant flooring for cooling and heating of buildings. There is no HVAC in the buildings except for the restaurant and part of the medical building.
- Hay Bale Construction in Education Center.
- Recycled water used for non-potable functions throughout the facility.
- Porous asphalt paving.
- Sustainable stormwater management designed to keep all rainfall on site.
- Clerestory windows in all buildings for lighting and heating and cooling.
- Sustainable materials throughout the project.
- Recycled base rock throughout the project.
- Recycled glass in the entry plaza.
- Low-VOC paints.
- The use of Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood framing and recycled plastic lumber.
- A total 79,682 plants were added to the "already lush" landscape of Happy Hollow.
San Jose's Happy Hollow Park & Zoo reopened in March offers self-guided green tours of the new facility.
University Residence Building Achieves LEED Gold Status
Soundview Hall at the University of New Haven in Connecticut has earned LEED Gold certification.
Planned and designed by Sasaki Associates Inc., Soundview incorporates features that led to its LEED certification, including a variable-refrigerant-volume heating and cooling system that provides individual temperature control to each suite without bulky ductwork, allowing a reduced floor-to-floor height for the rooms and considerable construction cost savings, according to university officials.
Among the green features are the following:
- Optimized energy performance. Soundview Hall exceeds guidelines for operating energy consumption by virtue of "superior" building skin materials, windows, insulation, and optimal solar orientation.
No irrigation. All plants and grasses are drought resistant and do not need irrigation.
Stormwater management. Reduced impervious ground surface captures 90 percent of runoff and improves the quality of runoff.
Water use reduction. There are considered to be significant savings of potable water by use of low-flow sinks, toilets, and showers.
Indoor air quality. The indoor air exceeds standards for ventilation, fresh air, occupant control of temperature, and fresh air.
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