Through out the past 2 months I have been in touch with a school in Northfield, MN called the Village School, which has established itself as a charter school with the goal of teaching children to live in responsible harmony with the environment. As part of this goal, the school’s administration has spent time investigating the possibility of housing the school in a “green” building. They set up the Center for Sustainable Living to build the school and serve as a center for Northfield residents and the residents of neighboring areas who are interesting in building sustainable structures.

Sustainable development is a combination of planning sustainable communities of sustainable structures. The focus of this project is the process of constructing sustainable buildings. There are many not-for-profit and for-profit organizations that have devoted themselves to assisting “green” construction design and to supplying “green” building supplies to aid and supplement all stages of the process. The purpose of this project is to provide a number of resources that the Center can make available through a computer database to Northfield residents interested in making their new building projects sustainable.

What Is Sustainable?

“…Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

--Minnesota Statute 4A.07, subd. 1 [1]

The idea of a “green” building is based on several basic ideas. Sustainable development should utilize renewable resources at a rate that enables their regeneration for future availability. It considers social and environmental impacts against financial concerns. It reduces the occupants' dependence on nonrenewable natural resources and uses those resources as efficiently as possible so that they will be available in the future.

Is There a Need to Build Sustainably?

• 40% of landfill materials is construction waste.[2]
• Buildings consume 30% of the United States' total energy and 60% of total energy[3]
• Burning enough coal to supply one kilowatt hour of electricity releases 2.37 pounds of CO₂ into the atmosphere[4]
• Every 100 lbs of product manufactured in the United States are responsible for 3200 lbs. of waste.[5]
• In 1994 residents of Minnesota released 24 million pounds of toxic chemicals directly into air, water, and land and an additional 32 million pounds were transported away from their site of origin[6]
• 20 yards of the fabric that is used for office workstations requires 2.2 pounds of dyes and chemicals, 3.5 gallons of oil, 50 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, 248 gallons of water, 1.5 pounds of packaging, and 500,000 BTUs of energy[7]

Ways to Think About Building “Green”:

The Natural Step is a philosophy developed in 1989 by a Swedish scientist named Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt. Along with 50 other scientists he laid out four conditions that must be met in order for modern society to progress in a sustainable fashion.

“In order for a society to be sustainable, nature’s functions and diversity are not systematically…

1. subject to increasing concentrations of substances extracted from the earth’s crust.
2. subject to increasing concentrations of substances produced by society.
3. impoverished by physical displacement, over-harvesting or other forms of ecosystem manipulation.
4. resources are used fairly and efficiently in order to meet basic human needs globally.”

- Taken from http://www.naturalstep.org/

The Natural Step does not set out a program for developers to follow but a philosophy to keep in mind. If the four conditions are violated the project cannot contribute to a sustainable future.

Energy Star is a partnership of various US organizations and the EPA which is devoted to reducing energy consumption through a 5 stage process. EPA provides technical information and support services, public relations assistance and access to a number of resources. On average participants are able to reduce their energy consumption by 30 % and receive an internal rate of return of 20% or more on their investments in efficient operations in addition to significantly reduce their CO₂ burden on the environment.

Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide: The purpose of the guide is not only to integrate sustainable design into the building design and construction process but also to provide information on the benefits and concepts of sustainability. The guide provides a rating system that can be used throughout the entire building process to rate and track the sustainability of every step along the way. This particular guide is unique in that it allows the developer to rate not only the sustainability of the construction but also the operation and the reuse and recycling of building materials when the building has fulfilled its first purpose. It provides 50 sustainable strategies covering site, water, indoor environment, materials, and waste, as well as links to numerous other sites with additional ideas for projects and ways to think sustainably.

Where to Go For “Green” Building Resources:

Certified Wood:

Wood can be certified and receive a retail label by organizations accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Forestry operations can be certified chain-of-custody if they have detailed accounts of the product’s location from harvest to wholesale to ensure that the certified products are kept separate from non-certified and have indeed been harvested from sustainably managed sources.

Materials Exchange/ Salvaged Building Supplies:

Salvaged building materials are often rescued from the waste stream generated by building demolitions, renovations, and in many cases construction. Deconstruction is the process by which a building is disassembled rather than demolished recklessly so that its components can be reused either in the same project or sold to other projects.

• The Salvaged Building Materials Exchange contains listings of businesses with reusable items and ways for them to connect to any groups that need their items. The searchable listings contain many categories including (but not limited to) construction supplies, furniture, and wood waste.
• The ReUse Center - 2216 East Lake St., Minneapolis (612) 724-2608 - A very local source of salvaged building supplies

Recycled Building Supplies:

• Interface - http://www.interfaceinc.com/ - leases carpets to organizations and will reclaim the carpet when it is ready for recycle or reuse so that it does not end up in a landfill. Interface manufactures eco-friendly floor and carpet care products as well. They also supply office fabrics, under the brand name Terratex fabrics, which are 100% recycled from soda bottles, packaging waste, and film containers. 20 yards of the fabric diverts 240 PET soda bottles from a landfill.
• Minnesota Recycled Products Directory - A searchable directory of recycled content products made in Minnesota ranging from household items to landscaping products to construction supplies.

Healthy Building Supplies:

• http://www.greenseal.org/ Download the pdf file entitled “Environmentally Friendly Paints Minimize Harm Maximize Savings” for lists of suppliers of environmentally friendly and low-toxicity paints as well as explanations of the rating processes. Paints listed are lead and mercury free, free of twenty dangerous organic chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and tuolene, and contain low levels of volatile organic compounds that contribute to ground level ozone, smog, and several other adverse health effects.
• Lots of information on becoming more energy efficient and reducing the use of toxic chemicals, also links to the Minnesota Materials Exchange.
• 83 environmentally preferable building products, a more complete listing can be ordered at this site. The products in this list are based on five criteria. They reduce material use, are made with recycled content, are salvaged, are certified wood or are minimally processed. They do not contain CFCs, PVC or polycarbonate, CCA-treated wood, or other chemicals hazardous to the environment. The products reduce environmental impacts during construction, demolition, renovation, and during operation. Finally the products all contribute to healthy indoor environments. For an detailed explanation of how GreenSpec defines a “green” product go to http://www.buildinggreen.com/ & http://energy-efficient-products.ebuild.com/

Other Interesting “Green” Technology:

• http://www.livingmachines.com/living-machine-systems/ are biological treatment systems designed to treat wastewater to bring it into accordance with standards for non-potable gray water uses such as irrigation or toilet flush water.
• http://www.compactoffer.com/ Compact fluorescents use only a quarter to a third of the energy consumed by more traditional incandescent light bulbs. Although the upfront costs of a compact fluorescent bulb are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, their lifetimes are 8000-10000 hours vs. 750 hours with a traditional bulb. The reduction in electricity usage pays for the bulb over a length of time depending on how long the light is left on.
• Links to composting sites from Rice University http://www.ruf.rice.edu/%7Eenvintrn/composting_links.html
• Detailed case studies of several organizations who compost
• Photovoltaic/Solar Energy: National Center for Photovoltaics
• Geothermal Heating for Homes: http://www.geoexchange.org/ Geothermal heating loops are installed 6 feet under buildings where the earth maintains constant temperatures year round. During the winter, heat is transferred from these pipes to heat your home and during the summer energy is transferred from your home into the earth.

General:

• “Building Green on a Budget” Environmental Building News Vol 8, No 5, May 1999
• Green Development http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid199.php
• The Sustainable Building Sourcebook -- Many resources to help build your new project more sustainably

Local “Green” Building Projects (And Their Inspirations)

• The Village School: The Village School and the Center for Sustainable Living have modeled their project after the Adam Joseph Center for Environmental Studies at Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH. They are also working with the concepts set forth in the Natural Step. Tectum Insulation is being used in the ceiling to reduce the need for toxic paints. Recycled doors will be installed assuming they can be obtained as salvage from a building being demolished in St. Paul. Geothermal heating is going to be used to reduce the energy costs of heating and cooling. Nontoxic paints will be used on all surfaces. Daylighting has been suggested to reduce lighting energy by creating larger and more strategic window areas and walls that are designed to amplify the light throughout the building. Many of the tables and desks will be composed of a material that is made of recycled paper and clay by-products of paper-recycling processes. Bathroom tiles will be made of recycled glass.
• Oberlin’s Environmental Studies Building: http://www.oberlin.edu/ajlc/ajlcHome.html The building is projected to consume 21% of the energy that an average new building consumes. Heating and cooling will be controlled by the use of geothermal wells. All ventilation is supplied by fresh air. All electrical energy is supplied by photovoltaic panels mounted on the southern roof of the building. The energy produced from solar energy is expected to at least meet if not exceed the energy demand of the building and then return electricity to the grid. The building is oriented east-west to maximize passive solar heating. Daylighting reduces the lighting energy load. Low-VOC and low-maintenance materials are used throughout the building. All wood is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Construction materials such as ceramic tiles, steel frames, and aluminum roofs are all recycled content. A Living Machine is used to treat the wastewater and Interface recyclable carpets cover the floors. This building has utilized several other interesting technologies, and this website is highly recommended for ideas.
• The Green Institute - http://www.greeninstitute.org/ - is an organization built in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis. The Institute is housed in a “sustainable” building but what they do is even more important. They set up the Reuse Center in the Phillips neighborhood and DeConstruction Services. DeConstruction Services deconstructs commercial and residential building and resells 60% of the materials on site as reusable construction supplies and 30% goes to the ReUse center as inventory for resale. Only 10% must be disposed of and is done so in an environmentally sound manner. Their mission is to reduce the waste stream that has devoted 40% of landfill space to construction debris.
• Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis: The construction of this bank utilized the resources in the Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide. It conserves energy by designing a tight exterior envelope and installing triple glazed windows and high efficiency lighting that are controlled by occupancy sensors. Building materials were picked based on the sustainability of their source, their embodied energy costs, recycled content and recyclability, and their effect on indoor air quality. Brick and stone were extracted from local sources. Interior materials are low toxicity (low VOC, formaldehyde free). They created a salvage yard for recycled materials and recycled 70% of their waste.

Conclusions and Recommendations:

There are many options that reduce a buildings environmental impact that developers and architects may use when designing new projects. Some of the easiest include daylighting, orienting buildings on an east-west axis,and working with their local power supplier to install photovoltaic cells on the roof. Salvaged materials are very accessible and reduce the ecological burden by foregoing the production of new materials and the extraction of new natural resources. Nontoxic paints are generally in the same price range as their toxic counterparts, do not pollute to the same extent, and have considerable benefits for indoor air quality. Certified wood, similar to the use of nontoxic paints, is an easy, more responsible alternative that requires little additional effort to using non-certified wood.

These strategies are more than simply greenwashing. Participants in energy reduction programs such as Energy Star have prevented the release of 44.1 billion pounds of CO₂ into the atmosphere. In another example, the use of a 20-Watt compact fluorescent bulb in place of a 75-watt incandescent bulb reduces emissions of carbon dioxide by 1300 pounds and sulfur dioxide by 20 pounds (over the lifetime of the bulb). The Oberlin Environmental Studies building has reducing their energy consumption from 75,000 Btu/sf/yr (average for a college classroom building in Ohio) to 16,499 Btu/sf/yr.

Although all these strategies minimize environmental impact, the best “sustainable” strategy would be to not build at all. The most sustainable building is the one that does not exist. It is best to consider if there is an existing developed space that could be used as is or renovated to fit the demands of the use. It is hoped that the resources researched during the course of this project can and will be used to build more environmentally responsible buildings if new development is absolutely necessary.