THE BASICS IN GREEN DESIGN ANDGREEN CONSTRUCTION

PART 2SITE CHARACTERISTICS

Green Building 101

2

Introduction

In this series we are going to discuss what green building is and explore some of the general strategies used in this type of construction.

This is meant as an introductory course, so there won’t be a lot of detail presented.

Resources are listed at the end of each episode for those who want more information.

Thanks for viewing!

Photo courtesy of Daren through a Creative Commons License

3

Site Characteristics

This category deals with issues related to the ground the building is built on, the size and shape of the building, which way it is oriented, and the amount of disturbance of the natural environment that is caused by a project.

Photo courtesy of Mr TinDC through a Creative Commons License

4

Site Characteristics

There are a many strategies that are included under the Site umbrella. choosing the location of the

building building placement on the

site, including orientation building size and shape limit the amount of ground

disturbed during construction

treatment of stormwater types of surfaces that will

remain when construction is finished

Photos courtesy of jinx and Hardscape Produdts through a Creative Commons License

5

Site Selection

Urban Sites Building in an urban

area, preferably an infill site (an undeveloped or underdeveloped site in the middle of a developed area), is less damaging to the environment.

The shorter distance to utilities and amenities such as suppliers, leads to less site disturbance and carbon emissions.

Photo by chicagogeek through a Creative Commons License

6

Site Selection

Brownfieldso Brownfields are

previously polluted sites, and are well worth considering. With proper remediation, they can be made safe for development.

o The site and surrounding neighborhood can be rejuvenated through the addition of services.

Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection through a Creative Commons License

7

Site Selection

Natural Habitat Make sure that the site

selected is not part of the natural habitat for any animal.

Disturbing these areas can seriously affect the animal population and migration patterns.

Photos courtesy of bark and US Fish and Wildlife Service NE Region through a Creative Commons License

8

Site Selection

Wetlands Also avoid sites with

wetland areas, unless the use of these areas can be offset by the development of additional habitat close to the site.

Photo courtesy of Frank Vassen through a Creative Commons License

9

Site Selection

Solar Exposure The more solar exposure

a site gets, the better the chance for using solar energy generation, solar water heating, or passive solar heating (using the heat from the sun to heat the building).

Look out for tall buildings and trees that will inhibit sunlight from reaching the building.

Photo courtesy of Wendy Longo through a Creative Commons License

10

Building Size and Shape

The size and shape of a building can have a tremendous effect on its energy efficiency, the amount of materials used, and the disturbance of the surrounding environment.

Photo courtesy of jinx through a Creative Commons License

11

Building Size and Shape

Smaller buildings take less energy to heat and cool, so are generally better.

If the building must be large, look at reducing the footprint (the area of the building actually touching the ground) by building multiple stories, so as to reduce the damage to the natural environment.

Photo courtesy of Nicolas Boullosa through a Creative Commons License

12

Building Size and Shape

Buildings should be shaped to take advantage of solar exposure and heat gain.

Generally this means long, skinny, rectangular-shaped buildings, with the long side facing south.

Photo courtesy of Brenda Gottsabend through a Creative Commons License

13

Building Size and Shape

This long shape allows the most sunlight to flow into the building, helping with daylighting and passive solar heating.

Site conditions may not allow an optimum shape or location, so each building will need to be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Levine Design through a Creative Commons License

14

Building Orientation

The direction a building faces and its location affect the ability to use passive solar heating and daylight harvesting.

By analyzing the path of the sun at different times of the year, the orientation of a building can be optimized to receive the most light and heat when needed.

Photo courtesy of Bob MacInnes through a Creative Commons License

15

Building Orientation

The amount, size, and type of windows installed will help to modulate the exposure in extreme cases, and increase exposure when available.

Photo by Christian Senger through a Creative Commons License

16

Building Orientation

Building mass (solid surfaces made of materials that hold heat, like stone or concrete) can be used to store heat that is released at a cooler time.

Photos courtesy of Seier+Seier and Shawn Carpenter through a Creative Commons Licenses

17

Site Disturbance

By reducing the footprint of the building and the amount of ground that must be dug up during construction, the integrity of the surrounding habitat can be preserved.

This also helps to reduce erosion and dust, as well as transfer of soils from the site.

Photo courtesy of ArmchairBuilder.com through a Creative Commons License

18

Stormwater Treatment

Sustainable construction strives to reduce the building’s footprint on the environment as a whole.

By treating or containing stormwater on-site, this lessens the impact of a building on the local infrastructure.

Photo courtesy of Aaron Volkening through a Creative Commons License

19

Stormwater Treatment

Treatment can be most easily accomplished by filtering the water through natural landscape and earth filters.

These usually take the form of bioswales, where stormwater runs in and is treated and held by the plants and soil until it is evaporated or sent out to the stormwater infrastructure through perforated piping.

Photo courtesy of La Citta Vita through a Creative Commons License

20

Stormwater Treatment

Filtered rainwater can be used for flushing toilets or landscaping irrigation.

Systems are also available that treat the water to drinkable standards.

Both of these types of re-use systems require the installation of underground holding tanks, filtering systems, and a secondary piping system for the filtered water.

Photo courtesy of Sustainable Sanitation Alliance through a Creative Commons License

21

Hardscapes and Heat Islands

Any surface area that is covered by impervious materials is called a hardscape.

These areas include parking lots, sidewalks, patios, and other paved or concrete areas.

Photo courtesy of Hardscape Products through a Creative Commons License

22

Hardscapes and Heat Islands

Hardscapes are considered undesirable for two reasons:

1. They do not absorb rainwater, so contribute to the need for stormwater treatment or containment.

2. They store the radiant heat of the sun during the day and release it at night, creating what are called “heat islands.”

Photo courtesy of Mel Stoutsenberger through a Creative Commons License

23

Hardscapes and Heat Islands

Heat islands are considered bad because they change the natural wind and weather patterns of a local area.

If you’ve heard of the phenomenon of downtown areas creating their own weather, then you know what effect heat islands can have.

Photo courtesy of Mike Behnken through a Creative Commons License

24

Hardscapes and Heat Islands

The effects of heat islands can be reduced by lowering the amount of hardscape on a site.

Using covered or in-building parking, open pavers, permeable asphalt and concrete, and lighter colored concrete are all strategies to reduce heat islands and stormwater build-up.

Photo courtesy of Omar Barcena through a Creative Commons License

25

Summary of Site Strategies

Site selection – urban or brownfield, no habitat or wetlands, optimum solar exposure

Building size and shape – smaller footprint, shaped and located for optimum solar exposure

Building orientation – location of windows and building mass used to store heat

Site disturbance – limit disturbance with building size, shape, and site amenities

Stormwater treatment – treat on-site using bioswales or storage and treatment system

Hardscapes and heat islands – limit size, use more impervious surfaces

26

Knowledge Measurement

Thanks for your interest in learning about Green Building. If you want to test what you’ve learned about this subject, try your hand at the five multiple choice questions in the next slides.

Resources for additional information are available on slide 37.

27

1. What is an infill site?

A. an undeveloped or underdeveloped site in the middle of a developed area

B. a site in the middle of a plot of landC. a site that was previously contaminatedD. a site that has not been previously

developed

28

1. Answer

A. an undeveloped or underdeveloped site in the middle of a developed area(See slide 5)

29

2. Which of the following can be used to store heat to be released at a cooler time?

A. Tinted windowsB. InsulationC. Building massD. Building orientation

30

2. Answer

C. Building mass(See slide 16)

31

3. How can stormwater be most easily treated?

A. Running it through an ultraviolet filterB. Filtering the water through natural

landscape and earth filters, called bioswalesC. Sending it to the sewerD. Catching it in a rainwater barrel

32

3. Answer

B. Filtering the water through natural landscape and earth filters, called bioswales

(See slide 19)

33

4. Which of the following are hardscapes?

A. Turf (grass) areasB. SidewalksC. Paving stonesD. Rain garden

34

4. Answer

B. SidewalkC. Paving stones

(See slide 21)

35

5. Which are strategies for dealing with heat islands and reducing stormwater run-off?

A. Pervious pavementB. Covered or in-building parking areasC. Light-colored concreteD. All of the above

36

5. Answer

D. All of the above(See slide 24)

37

What’s Coming Up?

In the next episode, we will continue to look at green building strategies, focusing on Water Efficiency.

Resources:Brownfield Redevelopment http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/Solar Exposure

http://www.builditsolar.com/References/SunChartRS.htmStormwater Control/Treatment Strategies

http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/storm/chap12.asp