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GRADUATE STUDENT PROJECT
NET ZERO ENERGY SPORTS COMPLEX166, EAST ASHLAND STREET, BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Towards
Graduate Credit
In
ENVR E-119
Sustainable Buildings: Design & Construction
Fall Semester 2011
Professor: John D. Spengler
Teaching Assistant: Andrea Ruedy Trimble
Submitted on 8th
by
December, 2011
Vinod B. Pillai
HUID: 50778495, Distance Student,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Net-Zero building in itself provides an opportunistic challenge to evolve a design in
its present context and limitations, into a tangible entity which yields a futuristic
benefit. The idea is to excel in both present-day design and yet impart a certain level
of intelligence to the building to improve its performance by virtue of the systems
designed within its life-blood. Working out a sports complex in an exigent site (by
virtue of its shape and geography) is another up-hill task. However the real challenge
to our team, both of whom are architects vying for a place in the realm of
sustainability, was to mitigate the triple edged conundrum that was required to be
addressed Performance, Viability & Economy. Needless to say, being architects,
aesthetics was a self-imposed challenge.
The challenges however also helped to set the tone of our design approach. Tackling
any of the four challenges stated above, one at a time will be futile since some of the
associated benefits pan in a non-linear manner. Some of the strategies work better
when applied in tandem with another strategy and mostly all of them are
interconnected. Hence an INTEGRATED approach is vital.
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TABLE OF CONTENTSExecutive Summary............................................................................................................................................ 2
List of Figures..................................................................................................................................................... 4
1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 5
1.1. Site Description .............................................................................................................. 5
2 Project Requirements .................................................................................................... 6
2.1. Spatial & Area Requirements.......................................................................................... 6
2.2. Site Preparation ............................................................................................................. 8
3 Design Approach ............................................................................................................ 8
3.1. Why Follow a Sustainability Path for this Project?........................................................... 8
3.2. The Net Zero Energy Goal ............................................................................................... 9
4 Proposed Sustainability Strategies ............................................................................... 10
4.1. Integrated Building Envelope (In-Depth Study) ............................................................. 10
4.1.1 Building Orientation ..................................................................................................... 10
4.1.2 Architectural Design: .................................................................................................... 11
4.1.3 Ventilated Facade System:............................................................................................ 12
4.1.4 Photovoltaic Ventilated Faade .................................................................................... 13
4.1.5 ETFE Roofing System: ................................................................................................... 14
4.1.6 Flexi Photovoltaic integrated with ETFE Roofing.......................................................... 16
4.2. Integrated Water & Waste Management Strategies ..................................................... 17
4.2.1. EcocyclET System of Waste Treatment......................................................................... 17
4.2.2. Storm Water Management Plan .................................................................................. 18
4.2.3. Rainwater Harvesting: ................................................................................................. 19
4.2.4. High Efficiency Water fixtures...................................................................................... 20
4.3. Ground Source Heat Pump ........................................................................................... 20
4.4. Other Strategies ........................................................................................................... 21
5. Implementation/ Application of Strategies ................................................................. 24
5.1. LEED Certification Strategy ........................................................................................... 24
5.2. Challenges.................................................................................................................... 27
5.3. Overall Implementation Strategy.................................................................................. 28
6. Summary ..................................................................................................................... 29
7. Bibliography ................................................................................................................. 30
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Proposed Site Plan (Image: Google Map, Vinod) ........................................................................ 5
Figure 2: Schematic Circulation Diagram.................................................................................................. 6
Figure 3: Area Analysis Summary ............................................................................................................. 7Figure 4: Principals of ZNEB (image: Vinod).............................................................................................. 9
Figure 5: Approach to Net Zero Building (MA ZNEB Task Force, 2009).................................................... 10
Figure 6: Terreal Facade Cladding (Terreal, 2005) .................................................................................. 11
Figure 7: Terreal Ventilated Faade (Terreal, 2005) ................................................................................ 13
Figure 8: BIPV (Image: http://onyxgreenbuilding.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/dsc_0099.jpg.............. 13
Figure 9: PV Cost Reduction Trends (http://www.greentechnolog.com/collaboration/)........................ . 14
Figure 10: ETFE Membrane Roof (Schittich, 2006).................................................................................. 15
Figure 11: ETFE Solar Properties (Landrell, undated) .............................................................................. 16
Figure 12: Material Costs Projection (Shrotriya, 2011) ........................................................................... 16
Figure 13: Flexi-PV Cost Projections (Shrotriya, 2011) ............................................................................ 17
Figure 14: EcocyclET (Del Porto, 2011)................................................................................................... 17
Figure 15: Sediment Fence (Image: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/sw_swppp_guide.pdf)............... 18
Figure 16: Rainwater Harvesting System................................................................................................ 19
Figure 17: Efficiency of TOTO products (Image: TOTO).......................................................................... 20
Figure 18: . Reduction in Water Usage (Image: TOTO)............................................................................ 20
Figure 19: Vertical Ground Heat Exchanger for a GCHP system (RETScreen International, 2001-2005) ... 21
Figure 20: www.crusaderathletics.org/images/ ..................................................................................... 22
Figure 21: (Graham, 2009) .................................................................................................................... 22
Figure 22: Air circulation through ClimaDeck slab (EPA, 1993) ............................................................... 23
Figure 23: Honeywell Range of Products................................................................................................ 23
Figure 24: CycleSafe Bicycle racks www.en gexp.com ........................................................................... 24
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1 INTRODUCTIONThe client desires to construct a Net Zero Sports Complex on a plot along East Ashland Street which they
recently purchased from the City of Brockton, Massachusetts. The project brief was to develop the
property into an indoor soccer facility with related support services. Having brought it as-is from theCity, the client has inherited additional responsibilities of handling the site appropriately, it being a
previously designated as a hazardous site since 1987. Although the site has been reclaimed from being a
Brownfield, utilizing clean-up funds from United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the
client is aware of the site requiring additional clean-ups to fully sanitize it from the detrimental effects of
previous activity.
Our team has undertaken the task of designing a development program for the proposed building,
whereby we shall impress upon the client various approaches that we must pursue in order to mould this
project into a functional, efficient and sustainable facility. Most importantly, we approach this path with a
clear agenda of being able to justify any of the requirements, solutions, strategies, etc with or against the
profitability it offers to the client.
1.1. SITE DESCRIPTIONLocated on 166 East Ashland Street, the site is a 5.64
acres land which is divided into two lots (Lot 20 & 20-I)
by the Trout Brook that flows in the middle. The Eastern
Lot formed by this Brook as well as some portion of other
is a wetland covered with shrubs and bushes, leaving only
the portion on Lot 20 (as shown in Figure 1) available for
development. The banks of the brook are covered in
dense vegetation and marshy conditions, making it
inaccessible. The client has brought the land from the
City of Brockton who owned the land ever since the
previous activity of Montello Auto Body was demolished
in April 2004. As per the Massachusetts Zoning plan, the site qualifies for being developed as both
residential and industrial use facility. The site enjoys a very small frontage (approx. 110) along the E.
Ashland Street. It has in its vicinity a major recycling facility (BFI Recycling) at its north-western
boundary and some residential properties along its south side. The topography of the site is rather
contour-less, with a slight slope towards Trout Brook.
Figure 1: Proposed Site Plan (Image: Google Map, Vinod)
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The client has provided us with a draft Release Abatement Measure Plan (RAM), which describes the
various restorative measures undertaken by the TRC Environmental Corporation (TRC) on behalf of the
City of Brockton, Massachusetts (MA), to clean up and remediate the site, in accordance with the
Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP). This report is based on the assumption that the client has
obtained all necessary approvals from various authorities for developing this land. Although we dont
intend to disturb the wetland side of the plot, we are assuming that the zoning and environmental bye-
laws shall allow us to build a structure in close proximity to a wetland and the Trout Brook which is
categorized as a sensitive receptor. (TRC, 2005)
2 PROJECT REQUIREMENTS2.1. SPATIAL &AREA REQUIREMENTSThe Project brief (Markovic, undated) listed the various activities that the client desired to be included in
the facility. However, in the absence of a more detailed description of the functional or spatial
requirements, our team has derived the following project requirements based on prevalent best
practice, relevant bye-laws, zoning regulations and building codes.
We have also assumed the provisions of the soccer
facilities to impart flexibility to the client to host
games of all levels. In this regard we have planned
one of the 3 soccer fields with maximum sizerequired for a professional level indoor-soccer
game (Speed Soccer, 2011), while the other two
can host amateur level games. The combined
seating capacity of the 3 arenas is assumed to be
600. Similarly, in the absence of a formal brief of
space planning theme or preference from the
client, our team has formulated the architectural
design them, based on our professional experience
and prevalent standards for such facilities. The
adjacent circulation diagram was referred to
allocate preliminary hierarchy of space and to determine the movement of humans or goods between
Figure 2: Schematic Circulation Diagram
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each zone. Owing to the lush environments around, it was determined that the architecture follow an
ordered yet asymmetrical form, which provide dynamic and interesting vistas of the buildings to the
onlookers from all sides of the plot. The style was to follow a modern theme, with non-organic shapes
and very contemporary materials.
Facility/ Room Name Description (of each Unit) AreaNo.
of
UnitsNet Area
1 3 indoor soc c er areas200 x 80 per soc c er field(
http://www.speedsoccerarena.com
16000 3 48,000
2Spec ta tors/ Circ ulation
Spac es around the Fields
+ 5% of the ab ove(Comb ined seating c ap ac ity of 600assume d fo r the fac ilit
800 3 2,400
3 Ca f Based on assumption 1200 1 1,200
4 Shop Based on assumption 800 2 1,600
5 Offic e Based on assumption 100 6 600
6Storag e fac ility fo r spo rts
e ui m ents12 x 20 (Assum ed size) 240 3 720
7 Toilets As per IBC + c irc ula tion 400 3 1,200
8 Loc ker rooms As per IBC + c irc ula tion 500 3 1,500
9 Public c irc ulation spac es5% of the above indoor areas(exc luding fields/ toilets)
- - 300
10 Mechanical Room s Refe rence : (Allen & Iano , 2007) 12,000
11Public rec rea tion lawns &
icnic s o tAs per design - -
As per
Site
12 Paved wa lkways As per design - -As per
Site
13 Parking@ 1 pa rking spac e p er 3
spectators. Reference: (City ofBrockton, Ma ssac husetts, Unda ted)
- -200
Cars
Net Built-up Area of the Indoor Sports Facilities (excluding Mech Room) 57,520
Gross Built-up 69,570
Total Site Area (TRC, 2005) 5.40 acres
Total Ground Coverage of Proposed Design 72435 sq. ft. (1.66 acres)
Percentage of Ground Cover 30.7 %
Figure 3: Area Analysis Summary
http://www.speedsoccerarena.com/http://www.speedsoccerarena.com/http://www.speedsoccerarena.com/http://www.speedsoccerarena.com/http://www.speedsoccerarena.com/8/2/2019 Pillai_Vinod E 119 Final Project_Net Zero Sports Complex F
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2.2. SITE PREPARATIONThe RAM describes previous activities on the site such as illegal dumping of solid wastes, contaminating
the land, the brook and the groundwater. Contaminants that were observed in various tests included
VOCs, extractable petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated
biphenyls, metals and pesticides. Contaminants were also found in water samples from the Brook and the
adjacent wetland. (TRC, 2005)
3 remediation measures were put forth in TRCs assessment No Action, In-Situ Soil Vapor Extraction
& Soil Excavation and off-Site Disposal
From the available data, it is not very clear if the soil excavation was undertaken by the City of Brockton,
prior to the sale of land to the present owner. If this has not been the case or if further soil excavation is
necessary, the contractor shall ensure compliance with all procedure stated in the RAM and shall adhere
to all applicable regulations. Also, such remediation shall also follow the recommendation made under the
LEED certification strategy discussed in this paper.
. (TRC, 2005). The measure to take No Action does not does not
satisfy TRCs risk characterizations for the site and was hence discarded. The alternative of Vapor
Extraction would still leave traces of some of the contaminants and is also a time-intensive process
compared to third alternative. Hence it was generally recommended to excavate the contaminated soil
from the site and transport it to a suitable location where it shall be safely disposed or treated (approved
by local authorities & US EPA). It was estimated in the RAM that the third remedial option would cost
$120,000. (TRC, 2005)
3 DESIGN APPROACH3.1. WHY FOLLOW A SUSTAINABILITY PATH FOR THIS PROJECT?In times when environmental trepidations are at the forefront of public attention, it is inane to even
suggest this as an intuitive question to ponder over. However, a responsible sustainability professional
owes this to his client, to analyze for him, the reasons why the design must be sustainable. The following
analysis is based on a model suggested in US EPAs website (USEPA, 2010):
Environmental BenefitsA sustainable design will prevent the aggravation of hazardous effects upon the immediate environment,
caused by the previous use on-site. Having a wetland inside the site will force the development to have a
smaller plot coverage, as a result of which the cost of construction will be reduced. An environment
friendly design will ensure that no further contamination from the buildings occupants shall affect the
sensitive brook and the wetland. The wetland offers a fresh, less-polluting biome, right next door to the
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sports complex. If protected well, it might turn into a repository of life for several species of flora &
fauna. We can replenish the ground water table.
Economic BenefitsReduction in operating costs of the building; selection of materials & systems based on LCA offers a
better return on investment; the status of being a green building expands popularity and marketability of
the sports facility; prevents wastage; optimizes all building systems and hence lower capital costs related
to larger factor of safety in design; Insurance benefits; partial freedom from fossil fuel price fluctuations.
Social BenefitsRemediation of an urban Brownfield; containment of site hazards from seeping into neighboring
residential properties; set a live example of a high performance building in the locality; Net-Zero Energy
status when achieved will reduce burden on the local thermal power station; enhance the ecology of the
wetland; improves quality of life.
3.2. THE NET ZERO ENERGY GOALA zero net energy building is one that is optimally efficient and over the course of a year, generates
energy onsite, using clean renewable resources, in a quantity equal to or greater than the total amount of
energy consumed onsite. (MA ZNEB Task Force, 2009)
Conventional buildings contribute to 39% of the total energy use in the USA, 12 % of the total water
consumption & 68% of the total electricity consumption. (USEPA, 2010). A closer statistic is that
buildings in MA consume 54% of energy in the Commonwealth (MA ZNEB Task Force, 2009). The
clients desire to NOT be a part of this group comes at a time when it is no longer just benevolent to be
energy conscious. Today energy comes at a huge premium!
In order to make the above definition of a Zero
Net Energy Building (ZNEB), building designs
have to be based on the 3 principals shown in
figure A - reduce wastage (of resources), increase
efficiency (of systems/ processes) & to optimize
the design (of components). All 3 have to be
synchronized in a smooth transition where design
of the building transcends into financial gain for
the client. The strategy our team has put together
Be it fossil fuels or water or daily-use
commodities made out of non-renewable material. It makes complete sense to cash in on this green
movement for the sake of ones return on investments (ROI).
Figure 4: Principals of ZNEB (image: Vinod)
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in this paper strives to steer the project towards that goal.
The MA ZNEB Task Force accepts that in many situations, Net-Zero scenarios may not become
available or feasible from the first year onwards (MA ZNEB Task Force, 2009). Building such as our
project, may have certain limitations in terms of site conditions (wetland) or shape of the site, etc. In suchcases, a Net Zero goal should be set to proceed towards this ultimate target in a systematic and phase-
wise manner. A fall-back
strategy might be required
whereby the project may be
able to produce only a certain
% of onsite renewable
energy. In this case,
provisions must be included
where the building can buy
the remaining energy it
requires from renewable
power sources. The focus should be to integrate the design to always enhance the performance of
components in tandem. This will result in an energy saving which is equivalent to generating that saved
amount of energy.
4 PROPOSED SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES4.1. INTEGRATED BUILDING ENVELOPE (IN-DEPTH STUDY)4.1.1 BUILDING ORIENTATIONOwing to it being a new construction, the project was at an advantage to exploit the most from orienting it
correctly. After the areas were worked out, we realized that the bulk of the buildings footprint is the three
indoor fields. All other areas can have a reduced footprint, by stacking it vertically. With intent to roof the
soccer fields in a vaulted ETFE membrane roof, we preferred having the longer side of fields to face north
predominantly. However, the orientation shown in the site plan in Figure works the best in all other
aspects. Several mediatory elements are introduced in the design, in order to have the least climatic
impact, especially against heat-gain in summer and cold drafts in the winter.
Figure 5: Approach to Net Zero Building (MA ZNEB Task Force, 2009)
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Orientation of the building was supplemented with prudent selection of materials, either for opening up
the faade to good daylight & ventilation OR in some areas sealing & shading it against harsh elements.
This is further explained in the subsection below.
4.1.2 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN:Ancillary activities such as stores, toilets, administrative offices, etc were placed as detached squares in
the nooks formed at the intersections of the three covered stadia. These square structures were then linked
to the main building, in the process forming a 25 x 25
courtyard at the intersection of the stadia. The external
walls of the square structures are proposed to have
ventilated faade using Terreal Terracotta cladding
system (Terreal, 2005) (explained in sub-section Faade
Systems). The fenestrations proposed on such terracotta
clad walls are minimal to seal the building against
weather infiltration. The courtyards offered opportunity
for large fully glazed windows to look over into the faade, being exposed to neither direct radiation nor
glare. An evergreen tree in the middle of each courtyard offers further shade in hot summers and
insulation during cold winters in MA. It was however decided to apply Turf Grass (REF) to the floor of
the courtyard instead of natural grass, to avoid using water for irrigation.
Figure 6: Terreal Facade Cladding (Terreal, 2005)
Image Credit: Vinod
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The external form of the building also offered several nooks that helped light to penetrate into the very
depths of the building (refer Figure). The effect of such nooks can be further accentuated by employing
light colors within such nooks to allow day-light penetration to further depths of the interiors.
We are proposing another prescriptive sustainability strategy in the form of Multi-Games Area (MUGA),
which is widely promoted by sports associations in Europe and the UK. This concept entails, sizing the
fields/courts to allow other games to be played on it, when the game of soccer is not in season, which
opens avenues of the indoor facility being used for multiple games. Figure depicts how the same field can
be used to play basket ball, futsal, handball, etc (The Football Association, 2005). We encourage the
building operators to put in place a strategy as to be able to run different games in the three fields at the
same time. To improve sustained and regular used of the field under the MUGA concept, we have
specified one of the three courts to have a flooring while the other two will have Turf Grass.
Cost & Savings Component: The architectural design elements are perhaps the most cost effective
components in this strategy, as they require a lot of initial planning, but no capital cost above what the
building is already going to cost. The components being used are just the same, but they are to be
configured such that their combined effects are synergistic.
4.1.3 VENTILATED FACADE SYSTEM:The inclusion of courtyards resolved the problem to getting day-light deep within the insides of the
building and therefore alleviated the need for having large expanse of glazing on the external walls. Wewanted to dress the exposed (non-membrane) part of the faade with a material that had inherent
insulating properties.
The material we propose for this cladding is Terracotta cladding tiles by Terreal which specializes in
ventilated facades (Terreal, 2005). The system combines the natural insulating property of terracotta
tiles and adds further insulation by virtue of each cladding tile being hollow in its core and then this effect
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is taken further ahead by having an air gap of minimum 3mm to a maximum of 10 (Lopez-Jimenez,
Mora-Perez, Lopez-Patino, & Escribano, undated).
This air gap, by virtue of the cladding tiles being open-jointed, is constantly ventilated, as a result of
which it continuously takes out moisture formed in this gap due to difference in temperature of inside and
outside air. The air-gap and the open-joints (as shown in Figure) allow the cladding tiles to undergo
thermal expansion/contraction without any visible
damage to their appearance. The multi-layered skin prevents solar radiation from directly reaching the
buildings external wall during hot summers in MA; and during cold winters, this skin insulates the inside
wall from losing heat outwards (Terreal, 2005), (Lopez-Jimenez, Mora-Perez, Lopez-Patino, &
Escribano, undated) & (tilestoday.com.au, undated).
Cost & Savings Component: Ventilated faade systems are touted to achieve an energy saving of up to
34% in cooling/ heating loads (tilestoday.com.au, undated). There are also results proven through
simulation studies and mathematical models quantified using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
methods, which shows savings in cooling loads by 7% to 9.5% in cold European climates (Lopez-
Jimenez, Mora-Perez, Lopez-Patino, & Escribano, undated) & (Naboni, 2007)
4.1.4 PHOTOVOLTAIC VENTILATED FAADEIntegrating PV panels into the external faade
constitutes a critical step in taking the project towards a
Net Zero Energy status. Our design did not offer
sufficient horizontal surfaces to mount PV panels for
on-site renewable energy generation. The PV
Ventilated faade system by Onyx Solar (Onyx Solar,
Figure 7: Terreal Ventilated Faade (Terreal, 2005)
Figure 8: BIPV (Image:http://onyxgreenbuilding.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/dsc_0099.jpg
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2011) offered a good solution to mitigate this shortcoming, by enabling us to use a predominant
percentage of our external walls, especially those facing South and South-West directions.
Cost & Savings Component: The
system is said to produce between 20 to
40 kwH per sq.m. per annum,
depending on the orientation, location
and types of panels used. Further, the
thermal surrounding method (Onyx
Solar, 2011) of integrating this system
with the envelope reduces the energy
consumed by the building by 25-40 %.
Even in its current market price Onyx-
Solars product offers an Internal
Return Rate (IRR) greater than 25%,
which promises a good payback period?
(Onyx Solar, 2011)
4.1.5 ETFEROOFING SYSTEM:Originally invented by DuPont, Ethylene Tetra Fluoro Ethylene
(ETFE) is fast becoming one of the most sought after solutions for
lightweight, large span roofing systems which also offer a great deal
of sustainability. (Wilson, 2009). ETFE Foils are Teflon-like plastic
polymers, which are used as single-ply membranes or as air filled
cushions formed between two layers of ETFE foils.
Very lightweight: About 1% of the weight of glass. With adensity of 1.75 kN/M3, the weight per unit area of the ETFE foil
is under 1.0 Kg/m2. This helps to reduce structural load of building and also costs very little for
transportation.
High Translucency: ETFE transmits about 94-97% of visible light & 83-88% of UV light, includingthe full spectrum of natural light & UV and hence is very good even for vegetated enclosures.
(Landrell, undated) (Poirazis, Kragh, & Hogg, 2009)
Highly Durable: Has a product life of 50 + years and can resist a wide range of pollutants and isunaffected by UV radiations. (Landrell, undated). Highly fire-resistant
Figure 9: PV Cost Reduction Trends
(http://www.greentechnolog.com/collaboration/)
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Fully Recyclable: ETFE is made of 100% recycled plastic (Wilson, 2009) which can be melted andreused. (Modern Materials, 2008)
Excellent solar performance of thermal transmittance (U-value) & Solar energy transmittance (g-value) of ETFE in comparison with standard glazing, as shown in Table-X (Landrell, undated)
(Poirazis, Kragh, & Hogg, 2009). The ETFE foil will have solar reflectance of 61-63 % (Asahi Glass
Co. LTD, 2011)
We propose that all 3 soccer fields be covered in a vaulted roof made using ETFE foil cushions in a 2-
layer system. A pressure of 300 Pa shall continuously be maintained by air inflation units kept in the
nearby mechanical spaces. (Landrell, undated). Continuous monitoring can be tied in with the buildings
BMS system, which will issue an alarm, whenever the pressure drops inside each cushion. The
performance of this cushion is further enhanced by introduction of a layer of reflective frit within this
cushion, as shown in Figure X. Likewise, the U & g Values of the cushion is improved by introduction of
a low-E Coating and a sun control coating, as shown in figure-X.
Figure 10: ETFE Membrane Roof (Schittich, 2006)
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The ETFE cushions are supported over a light-weight steel framework, forming hexagonal modules over
which individual ETFE cushions are fixed. The system used is very similar to the lightweight roofing
used for the Eden Project near St. Austell, London. The entire weight of such construction is less than
that of the air it encloses. (Schittich, 2006)
4.1.6 FLEXIPHOTOVOLTAIC INTEGRATED WITH ETFEROOFINGSolar Next AG together with Flexcell offers a revolutionary technology which we are proposing for this
project, whereby flexible PV laminates can be integrated into the ETFE roofing, without adding any
structural load on it. A thin layer of amorphous Silica is applied on to a 50 micron thick transparent
polymer substrate foil base, which is then encapsulated into an ETFE membrane panel. The high light
transmission property of ETFE allows the flexi-PV strip to capture maximum solar energy at the same
time, increasing its efficiency by not allowing dust
settlement on its exposed surface. The PV strips in-
turn offer a certain degree of shading to the translucent
ETFE roof, thus helping with glare control & cooling-
load reduction.
Cost & Savings Component: Adoption of new
innovations in manufacturing flexi PV such as R2R
process ensures low-capital costs (about $30 million
for an annual production capacity of 450 MW
(Shrotriya, 2011)) and high material utilization. The raw
Figure 11: ETFE Solar Properties (Landrell, undated)
Figure 12: Material Costs Projection (Shrotriya, 2011)
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material costs are also rapidly decreasing with emerging demand and the project costs promise further
decline from the present (2011) $180/ m2 to $50/m2 by 2015. This translates to the material costs hitting
the below-$1-per-Watt figure by 2015 from the present day cost of over $6/Watt. (Shrotriya, 2011).
Overall the reduction in flexi-PV technology, as shown in Table-X, offers a very viable strategy to aim
for Net Zero status by a phase-wise increasing the on-site renewable production by applying flexi-PV to
most of the ETFE roof eventually.
Figure 13: Flexi-PV Cost Projections (Shrotriya, 2011)
4.2. INTEGRATED WATER &WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES4.2.1. ECOCYCLETSYSTEM OF WASTE TREATMENTEcocyclET offers 3-fold benefits for the project Pollution prevention (waste water seepage into the
brook) + Savings (waste disposal) + Bio-energy Production (willow chips). It does so by utilizing the
evapo-transpiration potential in plant leaves, to transpire water into the atmosphere while the roots of the
plants are breaking down the effluents in the sewage waste. The EcocyclET system proposed in our
project (explained in Figure X) will utilize willow shrub Salix viminalis L., which has a proven track
record in such applications. The harvested
willow will be chipped and used for fuel.
(Del Porto, 2011).
Cost & Savings Component: We have
earmarked a total area of 40,000 sq. ft of the
plot land for cultivation of the willow shrub
(as indicated in Figure-X). The willow
transpires/ processes at a rate of 200 gallons of
waste water per 600 sq. ft of plantation (Del
Porto, 2011). Thus the available 40,000 sq.ft
Figure 14: EcocyclET (Del Porto, 2011)
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of willow shrubs can process approximately 13,000 gallons of waste water daily. Although this represents
a very small percentage of the expected
The total include equipment costs, living plants, piping, aeration system, sand and gravel media, two-
chambered septic tank with outlet filter for pretreatment, pump, disinfection system, control and alarm,
and valves. The cost analysis derived from the report by David Del Porto shows that a typical 200 gallon
EcocyclET Unit will cost $22.24 per month in addition to the capital cost of $ 18,500. (Del Porto, 2011)
4.2.2. STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PLANFor the preparation of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), the following measures have
been proposed for the Net Zero Sports facility: (USEPA, 2007)
Site stabilization: From the Soil Excavation phase, where soils are extracted and collected on thesite, every time a particular portion of the soil is excavated, the periphery of the area has to be
protected to prevent sedimentation and pollution into the other parts of the site.
Pipe slope drains need to be used, to prevent pollution of the Trout Brook, and site run off towardsthe brook can be controlled using sediment/silt fence described below.
While preparing the site, the already contaminated groundwater is proposed to be removed from thesite, collected and treated in the facility or transported outside. Further infiltration of water into the
site can be prevented by retaining the already existing natural vegetation of the site (shrubs and
grasses) until the area has been excavated. Effective rain water harvesting described in this report
can eventually re-charge the ground water.
Sediment fences can be installed around the periphery of the site, while cleaning and during theconstruction phase to prevent damage into residential areas, the recycling facility, and commercial
zone and into eco-sensitive areas like the Trout Brook and the wetland portion of the site.
Figure 15: Sediment Fence (Image:http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/sw_swppp_guide.pdf)
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/sw_swppp_guide.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/sw_swppp_guide.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/sw_swppp_guide.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/sw_swppp_guide.pdf8/2/2019 Pillai_Vinod E 119 Final Project_Net Zero Sports Complex F
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4.2.3. RAINWATER HARVESTING:The design of the sports complex to achieve water efficiency credits calls for a rainwater harvesting
system, that can provide sedimentation control, conserve water, reduce water costs and in turn benefit the
site structure and habitat by protecting it. The Fig. shows the different components of a rainwater
harvesting system and various applications in a commercial sports facility.
In this project rainwater harvesting from the site is important through design of channels along periphery
of the Trout Brook, to ensure less sedimentation, to protect the surface soils, and to prevent flooding.
Roof rainwater harvesting is made possible through Green Roofs, designed to control storm water
drainage, and through the ETFE roofs, that have joints specifically designed to channelize and collect
rainwater. (Refer figure)
Figure 16: Rainwater Harvesting System
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4.2.4. HIGH EFFICIENCY WATER FIXTURESFor compliance with the Water Efficiency
Credit for 20% - 30% reduction in Water
Savings, our team recommends high efficiency
fixtures with water saving potential. The brand
selected for all fittings and fixtures is TOTO,
USA. Our team suggests this brand because of
their responsible environmental stewardship,
analyzing the LCA of all fixtures to improve
sustainability, promote efficiency and quality
throughout their range of products. The reduction shown below will reflect in the overall sewage
generated per day on site and thus reduce the volume of sewage that has to be taken off site for treatment.
Invalid source specified.
Cost & Savings Component: The savings from each type of fixture/ fitting is shown in Figure
4.3. GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPA ground source heat pump (GSHP) functions as a central heating and/or cooling system that pumps heat
to/or from the ground. In the winter it uses the earth as a heat source while in the summer it uses the earth
as a heat sink. It utilizes soil temperature 10-15 feet below grade, which is relatively constant at 50
70F. GSHP thus boosts energy efficiency and reduces operational costs of heating and cooling systems
buildings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has labeled GSHP as the most energy
efficient, cost-effective and environmentally clean space conditioning technology available. (EPA, 1993)
Figure 17: Efficiency of TOTO products (Image: TOTO)
Figure 18: . Reduction in Water Usage (Image: TOTO)
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Benefits:
Carbon emission control, due to zero emissions and utilization of freely available ground energy. High efficiency of the system over a period of time, and has a 5-6 year payback period
GSHP are more efficient than conventional HVAC technologies, and air-source heat pumps.
. (Collins,
Orio, & Smiriglio, 2002)
In the heating mode, the GSHPtechnology saves about 30% - 70%
energy and in cooling mode energy
savings of20% - 50% can be achieved.
For meeting the energy demands of the Net
Zero Sports Complex, our team will install a
Ground Coupled Heat Pump system
Cost & Savings Component: Geothermal pumps are high on capital costs in comparison to their
conventional counterparts. A typical geothermal heat pump of 10 tons capacity costs between $500 to
$500 per ton Table Typical Geothermal (Collins, Orio, & Smiriglio, 2002). The installation costs reduce
as the heating/cooling loads of the building increases. Since the Net Zero Sports complex has an area of
about 70,000 sqft and an expected high occupancy load especially during the peak seasons, the heating/
cooling loads have to be designed for higher efficiency, contributing to the total number of tons and in
turn reducing the initial installation costs. (RETScreen International, 2001-2005)
(GCHP),
a closed loop fluid transfer mechanism that
circulates water or an antifreeze medium
between the ground and the heat pump. The
Vertical Ground Heat Exchanger (GHX),
causes minimal disturbance of the landscape,
and though more expensive than other counterparts
like the Horizontal heat exchanger, they require less
piping in comparison due to stable temperatures at greater depths. The pipes are laid out in loops, into
boreholes varying from 45 to 150 m deep. Our team has proposed Climate Master geothermal pump tosuit the heating and cooling loads of the sports complex.
4.4. OTHER STRATEGIESLED Lighting
Having ETFE membrane roofing over the soccer fields will cater to abundant day-light for any sports
inside the facility. However, the light level & quality required (as described in Table X (The Football
Association, 2005)) for multiple games during night generates a huge demand for electricity for
Figure 19: Vertical Ground Heat Exchanger for a GCHP system
(RETScreen International, 2001-2005)
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floodlighting the stadia. Furthermore, if the client wishes to adopt the MUGA principle, several sport
activities require Class 1 grade of lighting.
Lighting Characteristic Requirements as per Sport Played
Class 1 Activity Class 2 Activity Class 3 Activity
Maintained Average Luminance 750 500 300
Uniformity (Min/ Average) 0.70 0.7 0.7Such high levels of lighting if conventionally met will require huge amounts of electricity. Lighting
contributes to 22% of the electricity consumed in the United States. It is all the more imperative that a
highly sustainable lighting strategy must be adopted for the Net Zero Sports facility. Off late, Light
Emitting Diode (LED) lighting has emerged as a leading sustainable light fixture. Continuous
advancements in LED technology ensure that the
production is becoming easier and the costs are therefore
coming down. In fact various studies have shown that in
the Life Cycle of conventional light fixture, 96-98% of the
energy is consumed only for generating light, while less
than 2% is consumed in the production of the fixture
itself. (Hansen, 2009). LEDs on the other hand produce
the same lumens as other, using less power (6-8 Watts
instead of 60 W used by Incandescent Bulbs)
(Design Recycle Inc., undated). In addition it
emits less heat and thus helps reduce cooling
load. Because it saves electricity, it helps to
reduce the corresponding greenhouse gas
emissions.
We proposed to have high-bay LED lights,
along the metal space frames supporting the
ETFE membrane roof. The long life of the LED
lights itself is a huge plus point, as the owner will not have to employ frequent maintenance services to
replace lamps. In a case study similar to this project, the Dyer Indoor Soccer Arena, which has two
indoor soccer fields and a tennis court, claims to have achieved 60% reduction in their lighting energy,
after they replaced their conventional high-bay light fixture with LED. (ledmagazine, 2011). In another
case study, Interstate Warehousing facilities in Indiana found that the cost of lighting their newly
expanded section dropped from $0.51 to $0.04 per sq. ft. (ledmagazine, 2011).
Figure 21: (Graham, 2009)
Figure 20: www.crusaderathletics.org/images/
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Special Material: Field Turf
Field turf is an artificial turf made out of recycled plastics, certified as 100% lead free. It is certified with
USGBC & helps in LEED credit. This material does not require any watering and requires very little
maintenance. Since it does not allow water to stand and it quickly drains water to its periphery from
where channels can connect it to rain water harvesting system, it is ideally suited for small patches oflawns (in the courtyards), on roof tops, etc. We are also specifying this material as the flooring for the
soccer fields, as it exhibits very sturdy properties and is very durable. (FieldTurf, 2011)
Clima-Deck Hollow Core slabs
In order to maximize the benefits of the renewable energy
resource that maintains the comfort of the residents of the
building, our team decided to integrate the air supply with
the structure of the building using a hollow core
technology that promotes radiant cooling or heating.
The Clima-Deck hollow core slab system facilitates
addition of thermal storage into the building by circulating
air through the system. This system can be combined with
any type of Air-Conditioning/Air Handling units (AHU)
units. The AHU supplies air to each floor in the building,
through horizontal ducts placed in central corridors within false ceilings. Small branch ducts feed each
slab, transferring air to the floors inside through diffusers fixed to the slab outlets.
In case of the indoor soccer stadia where ETFE membrane roof is specified, the air supply will have to be
provided through main ducts, while the other public spaces like office areas, caf and the shopping zones
can benefit from this technology. To integrate the system further with other sustainability strategies, we
recommend that an efficient heat recovery loop be added at the entry and exit of air to the ClimaDeck
system. This will help to recovery/ reuse some of the waste-heat/cooling from the return air of habitable
space within the building or from the GSHP. (EPA, 1993)
Indoor Environmental Quality
For monitoring & maintaining comfortable levels of Indoor
Air Quality, we looked into a reliable automation system,
which could provide multi-faceted uses within the system to
integrate building automation with human occupancy &
comfort levels. We suggest Honeywell Commercial Range
of Products that can cater to different credits in LEED.
Figure 22: Air circulation through Clima-Deck slab
(EPA, 1993)
Figure 23: Honeywell Range of Products
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Bicycle Storage
The FTE calculation for bicycle racks and showers have
been taken into account considering 30 Full Time
Equivalent Employees for the Sports Facility. A visiting
crowd of 200 has been considered to calculate the actualbicycle storage needed. However, to promote energy
efficient transportation and to earn exemplary Credit for the
Innovation in Design category, the CycleSafe bicycle secure
parking units have been provided in excess numbers of the
actual calculation. Required Number of Bicycle storage= 7 (Reference Engineering Express, 2011)
Number of Bicycle Racks Provided= 20 (Sustainability team suggestion)
5. IMPLEMENTATION/APPLICATION OF STRATEGIES5.1. LEEDCERTIFICATION STRATEGYThe client has been keen to adopt sustainability measures in the design of the Net Zero Sports Complex
through the adoption of the LEED rating system. Our team integrated our efforts to build on this strategy,
so that the sports complex follows Integrated Sustainability Design on one hand, while on the other hand,
it gains recognition and community acceptance by adhering to the principles of LEED. All LEED (version
2.2, New Construction) credits and strategies implemented while the Net Zero Sports Complex was
conceived have been outlined in the tables that follow:
Table 1: Sustainable Sites 11/ 14 possible points
Credits Strategy implemented Points
SS Prerequisite 1: ConstructionActivity Pollution Prevention
Proposed a SWPPP based on the USEPA guidelines, duringexcavation and during construction phase.
SS Credit 2: Development Density &Community Connectivity
Residential area+ close proximity towards the following activitiesfrom the entrance of the building on Ashland street Ashlandschool, food outlet, Inn, Shopping plaza, Beauty supply, Park,Pharmacy, Sports bar, Hardware shops, Convenience Grocery(Reference: Google Maps, 2011)
1
SS Credit 3: BrownfieldRedevelopment
Listed by EPA as a Brownfield, currently developed for the
complex.
1
SS Credit 4.1: AlternativeTransportation: Public TransportationAccess
Located on Ashland streets with adequate bus stops within the mile radius (Reference: Google Maps, 2011)
1
SS Credit 4.2: AlternativeTransportation: Bicycle Storage &Changing Rooms
Bicycle racks for 5% users (7 numbers) and shower and changingfacilities for .5% of FTE users
1
SS Credit 4.3: AlternativeTransportation: Low Emitting & Fuel
Low emitting and fuel efficient car park for 5% of total Parkingfacility = 10 car parks (Reference: Area Calculation)
1
Figure 24: CycleSafe Bicycle racks www.engexp.com
http://www.en/http://www.en/http://www.en/8/2/2019 Pillai_Vinod E 119 Final Project_Net Zero Sports Complex F
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Efficient Vehicles
SS Credit 4.4: AlternativeTransportation: Parking Capacity
Parking meets local parking requirements, 10 dedicated car pool /van pool parking
1
SS Credit 5.1: Site Development:Protect or Restore Habitat
Native vegetation covers 50% of the site area 1
SS Credit 5.2: Site Development:
Maximize Open Space
Vegetated area provided equal to the footprint of the building 1
SS Credit 6.1: Storm water Design:Quantity Control
More than 50% of the site is naturally pervious, best storm watermanagement plans incorporated like rainwater harvesting.
1
SS Credit 6.2: Storm water Design:Quality Control
Permeable pavements, EcocycIET technology, etc; ensures thequality of rainwater captured
1
SS Credit 7.1: Heat Island Effect: Non-Roof
50% covered parking provided 1
Table 2: Innovation & Design Process 2/4 Possible Points
CreditsStrategy Implemented Points
ID Credit 2: LEED AccreditedProfessional
LEED AP, Deepthy (Project Team Member) 1
Innovation in Design CycleSafe storage racks 1
Table 3: Water Efficiency 5/5 Possible points
CreditsStrategy Implemented Points
WE Credit 1.1: Water EfficientLandscaping: Reduce by 50%
Sufficient reduction in potable water usage for irrigation byrecycling water on site, rainwater harvesting, etc
1
WE Credit 1.2: Water EfficientLandscaping: No Potable Water Useor No Irrigation
Non- potable irrigation can be met by the water that is produced bythe EcocycIET technology
1
WE Credit 2: Innovative WastewaterTechnologies
Treat 50% of water on site to tertiary standards through theEcocycIET
1
WE Credit 3.1: Water Use Reduction:20% Reduction
Use of high efficiency fixtures, urinals, faucets, shower heads, etc. 1
WE Credit 3.2: Water Use Reduction:30% Reduction
Use of high efficiency fixtures, urinals, faucets, shower heads, etc. 1
Table 4: Energy & Atmosphere 6/17 Possible points
CreditsStrategy Implemented Points
Prereq 1 FundamentalCommissioning of the BuildingEnergy Systems
The CxA to be designated by the project members to co-ordinatewith the client and ensure the proper functioning of the buildingsenergy systems.
Prereq 2 Minimum Energy
Performance
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard to be met by the building
design.Prereq 3 Fundamental RefrigerantManagement
CFC free refrigerant HVAC systems to be specified in the Net ZeroSports Complex
EA Credit 2 On-Site RenewableEnergy
With the design of a GSHP and PV panels on the faade design,the team hopes to achieve maximum credit for renewable energy.
3
EA Credit 3 EnhancedCommissioning
Account for enhanced commissioning of building systems byappointing the CxA early in the design process.
1
EA Credit 5 Measurement &Verification
Agreement to submit a Measurement and Verification Plan for theongoing accountability of building energy systems
1
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EA Credit 6 Green Power The team shall strive to ensure that 35% of the Total Energy use ofthe Sports Complex comes through renewable energy resources.
1
Table 5: Materials & Resources 5/ 13 Possible Points
CreditsStrategy Implemented Points
MR Prerequisi te 1: Storage &Collection of Recyclables
The sites proximity to recycling plants in Brockton is supplementedby the provision of a scrap/ waste storage facility to clear wasteson site on a two-three day basis.
MR Credit 2.1: Construction WasteManagement: Divert 50% FromDisposal
The design team shall ensure that construction debris; landclearing debris and demolition wastes shall be recycled andappropriately sorted on site.
1
MR Credit 2.2: Construction WasteManagement: Divert 75% FromDisposal
The design team shall ensure that construction debris; landclearing debris and demolition wastes shall be recycled andappropriately sorted on site.
1
MR Credit 5.1: Regional Materials:10% Extracted, Processed &Manufactured Regionally
The design team shall evaluate major cost contributing materialslike concrete slabs, steel structures and finishing materials andsource it from local companies within the 500 mile site radius.
1
MR Credit 5.2: Regional Materials:
20% Extracted, Processed &Manufactured Regionally
The design team shall evaluate major cost contributing materials
like concrete slabs, steel structures and finishing materials andsource it from local companies within the 500 mile site radius.
1
MR Credit 6: Rapidly RenewableMaterials
MR Credit 7: Certifi ed Wood 50% of Wood based products shall be certified by the FSC 1
Table 6: Indoor Environmental Quality 12/ 15 Points
CreditsStrategy Implemented Points
EQ Prerequisite 1: Minimum IAQPerformance
ASHRAE 62.1-2004 minimum ventilation requirements shall be met
EQ Prerequisite 2: Environmental
Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control 58
Smoking shall be prohibited inside the building and shall have
designated smoking areas at least 25 feet away from entries andoperable windows and other air intake sources.
EQ Credit 1: Outdoor Air DeliveryMonitoring
CO2 sensors shall be provided throughout the building to ensurethat the indoor CO2 levels are under check.Direct outdoor air flow movement devices must be installed tocheck variation by 15% against the standard ASHRAE 62.1-2004
1
EQ Credit 2: Increased Ventilation Outdoor air ventilation made possible through terracotta faadecladding and the courtyard structures that open into the occupantspaces. Calculations will be done to ensure that 30% increasedventilation is achieved from the baseline requirement of ASHRAE62.1-2004.
1
EQ Credit 3.1: Construction IAQManagement Plan: During
Construction
Indoor Air Quality Management Plan for the construction and pre-occupancy phases of the building.
1
EQ Credit 3.2: Construction IAQManagement Plan: Before Occupancy
Indoor Air Quality Management Plan for the pre-occupancy phasesof the building.
1
EQ Credit 4.1: Low-EmittingMaterials: Adhesives & Sealants
Adhesives and sealants must be specified in ConstructionDocuments to stick to the VOC limit of the SCAQMD RULE #1168
1
EQ Credit 4.2: Low-EmittingMaterials: Paints & Coatings
All paints and coatings to stick to the norms of the Green Sealstandards and the SCAQMD specifications.
1
EQ Credit 4.3: Low-EmittingMaterials: Carpet Systems
All carpet installed in the building interior shall meet the testing andproduct requirements of the Carpet and
1
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Rug Institutes Green Label Plus program.All carpet cushion installed in the building interior shall meet therequirements of the Carpet and Rug InstituteGreen Label program.All carpet adhesive shall meet the requirements of EQ Credit 4.1:VOC limit of 50 g/L.
EQ Credit 4.4: Low-EmittingMaterials: Composite Wood &Agrifiber Products
Urea formaldehyde resins should not be present in the Compositewood and Agri-fiber Products specified in the interiors of thebuilding.
1
EQ Credit 5: Indoor Chemical &Pollutant Source Control
Pollutant control entryway systems to be designed for the buildingentry and all major entry/exit points.
1
EQ Credit 6.1: Controllability ofSystems: Lighting
Workspaces and other private spaces have been proposed to havelighting controls and sensors.Public spaces like the stadia, corridors, lobbies, caf, etc. musthave lighting requirements to suit the purpose and the lightingneeded.
1
EQ Credit 7.1: Thermal Comfort:Design
Comfortable thermal design to suit specifications of ASHRAEstandard 55-2004 in place.
1
EQ Credit 7.2: Thermal Comfort:
Verification
Assessment of building occupant comfort post occupancy ensured. 1
EQ Credit 8.1: Daylight & Views:Daylight 75% of Spaces
Ample day lighting provided with the use of ETFE roofs, windows,and light wells into the building.
EQ Credit 8.2: Daylight & Views:Views for 90% of Spaces
Ample day lighting provided with the use of ETFE roofs, windows,and light wells into the building.
5.2. CHALLENGESa) Upfront CostsThis is one of the biggest deterrents that scare people away from the concept of Zero Net EnergyBuildings. Although the energy and utility savings are tremendous in the long run, prohibitively high
capital investments might be a difficult step to convince the client to take. In our case, the biggest cost
component will be the ETFE membrane roof and the photovoltaic panels integrated with the faade/
roof. (MA ZNEB Task Force, 2009). An extensive LCA of these components need to be undertaken,
where LCC associated with each component can be shown along with its anticipated payback period.
b) Building Energy InformationThis challenge relates to the widespread unavailability of information pertaining to buildings
performance and real-time consumption data. These include the data pertaining to the building underdesign, as well as existing buildings so as to compare the proposed design to a baseline model. The
information available on the information portals, are largely varied and do not talk the same technical
language. A uniform and consistent methodology needs to be adopted while collecting performance
data. Also a verification mechanism must be included in the program whereby the collected data/
information can be authenticated as genuine. (MA ZNEB Task Force, 2009)
Total LEED Credits Achieved by the Sustainability Team = 41/ 69
Project LEED Eligibility = LEED Gold Rating
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c) IDP LogisticsAlthough ideal, clients, consultants and contractors mostly do not take kindly to the efforts required at
an early IDP. Sooner the IDP process is started, the easier it is to control and optimize the design.
However it is equally tedious to get all parties on-board at the onset of the project. This requires
tremendous commitment from both the client as well as the designers. Most importantly, it is the
responsibility of the consultant to instigate a positive outlook towards sustainability, throughout the
design and construction of the project.
5.3. OVERALL IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGYMeasures being taken at a State level, by introduction of ZNEB Task Force by the State of Massachusetts,
is one of the promising signs that Net Zero Energy building are becoming a reality. It is because some of
the first ZNEB buildings are already presenting themselves as case studies for exemplary savings &
energy use reduction. We use such signs as one of our strongest points to build this sustainability case and
we implore the client to undertake implementation of the strategies in a systematic manner.
A Gradual Up-Scaling of Strategies
A phasing plan, wherein the sustainability strategies can be applied, commissioned and run in gradual
steps, upgrading them to their full potential in a targeted few years. For example, the flexi-PV panels on
the ETFE can to install in phases, slowly increasing the onsite energy production over a few months or
years, till the entire surface of ETFE roof is utilized for this purpose. This creates a buy-in of the clients
confidence as he gets to see real-time benefits of the strategy even before he has invested the full capital.
Renewable sources to replace Non-Renewable Ones
One of the first steps towards ZNEB is to reduce the buildings energy demand and the best place to start
with this is to reduce the use of fossil fuel (MA ZNEB Task Force, 2009). Our proposed systems take to
this task by systematically reducing demand for energy from fossil fuel. For example, natural gas required
for heating will get reduced due to the GSHP working in tandem with the radiant heating of floor slabs.
Supplement with Net Zero Emissions Plan
The target of reaching Net zero in onsite energy generation can be effectively supplemented by a net zero
emissions plan. This would entail adopting an effective GHG Reduction plan for the facilitys emissions.
Based on the facilitys GHG inventory, the client or his sustainability advisor can document a
commitment to report its emissions to organizations such the Climate Registry (CR) or the World
Resources Institute (WRI). After adopting a suitable baseline year, the Reduction Plan must set a target
for emissions reduction based on Kyoto Protocol, ultimately leading to Zero Carbon status. (CR-GRP,
2008) (WRI & WBCSD). Since GHG reduction is focused on carbon neutrality by reduction of emissions
mainly from burning of fossil fuels, it reinforces the ZNEB goal of our project.
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Operational Sustainability
In as much as it is important to achieve sustainability in design and performance of the building, it is also
equally important to attain parity in managing the sports complex. We shall advice the client to employ a
sound facility management strategy as well. There are qualifying accreditations available in this regard,
such as the Certified Arena Operator Program offered by the US Indoor Sports Association (USIndoor,
2011). Programs like these focus on day-to-day management of facilities like our project, by inculcating a
systems approach within the accredited facility manager. Having such competent professionals onboard
early, will add substantial assurance that the strategies will get implemented.
6. SUMMARYWe would summarize our report by reiterating what we started it with. The number of strategies proposed
and their applicability need not remain a constant. If during the design process operations and
commissioning were thought about, then any number of upgrades can be made to the program, without
losing its intrinsic fundamental. All of this is possible, ONLY if the design follows an Integrated Design
Process, which weaves together the requirements of multi-disciplinary groups, into tangible action items.
Another aspect to consider is that, a win-win combination of low energy requirements and economical
design is NOT always possible. In the real world, such combinations seldom occur. However economical
solutions can be sought if engineering requirements can serve as inputs into the architectural design, at a
very early stage of the project. (Kibert, 2008).
Designers must possess a wider perspective of looking for & looking at solutions. They must refrain from
being blinded by a mere single aspect of a particular system or product, but must inculcate a holistic
approach. A system which is very efficient might not have a feasible LCC; a product that is 100%
recyclable might not have good climatic characteristics, etc. The selections of our materials and systems
for the Net Zero Sports Complex are based on the same principal of catering to multiple-tenets of
sustainability. They also have a good balance of precautionary and reversibility principles. (Kibert,
2008). But then in the end, their real value at the end of their life cycle must be assessed in order to judge
their applicability on the project. (MA ZNEB Task Force, 2009)
The success of this project as a Net Zero Energy building lies, not in the fact that it focuses on a high
renewable energy production capacity, but it lies in the details of how the systems work together to first
reduce any energy demands, then how they reuse some of the elements which otherwise gets categorized
as wastes and finally then in how the systems integrate together to make the building work together as a
synchronized, efficient unit.
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7. BIBLIOGRAPHYAllen, E., & Iano, J. (2007). The Architect's Studio Companion, Rules of Thumb for Preliminary Design.
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