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Home My WebLink About2007 07 09 Referenced Under Reports Date: July 9, 2007 The attached document was referenced during "Reports" at the July 9, 2007 City Commission Regular Meeting. July 9, 2007 The attached information on "Green Building" has been distributed by Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs. Green building - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Green building From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use and harvest energy, water, and materials, and reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal _ the complete building life cycle. Green building is also sometimes known as sustainable building or environmental building, although there are slight differences in the definitions. The practice of green building can lead to benefits including reduced operating costs by increasing productivity and using less energy and water, improved public and occupant health due to improved indoor air quality, and reduced environmental impacts by, for example, lessening storm water runoff and the heat island effect. Green building is an essential component of the related concepts of sustainable design, sustainable development and general sustainability. Practitioners of green building often seek to achieve not only ecological but aesthetic harmony between a structure and its surrounding natural and built environment. The appearance and style of sustainable homes and buildings can be nearly indistinguishable from their less sustainable counterparts. Contents . 1 Sustainable building techniques . 2 Green architecture . 3 Green building worldwide . 3.1 Standards and ratings . 3.2 Australia . 3.3 Canada . 3.4 Germany . 3.5 India . 3.6 Malaysia . 3.7 United Kingdom . 3.8 United States . 4 See also . 4.1 Designers and builders . 5 References . 6 External links . 6.1 International . 6.2 Australia . 6.3 Canada . 6.4 India . 6.5 United Kingdom . 6.6 United States . 6.7 Regional organizations . 6.8 Other resources Sustainable building techniques http:// en. wikipedia.org/wikilGreen _ buildin~ Environmental science Environmental technology . Air pollution control · Air pollution dispersion modeling · Alternative energy . Biofuel . Composting . Ecoforestry . Energy conservation · Environmental design . Future energy development . Green building . Hydrogen technologies . Natural building . Recycling . Renewable energy . Renewable energy development . Remediation . Solid waste treatment . Sustainable architecture . Sustainable energy . Sustainable development . Waste water treatment . Water purification . Waste management Green building and natural building are both sets of building techniques that aim to be more sustainable than conventional construction. However, there is a difference in degree of sustainability. In practice, green building tends to be popular with professionals in the development industry who are convinced that building more sustainably is not only necessary to lessen impact on lof7 7/9/20078:19 AM Green building - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Green _ buildin~ the environment, but also makes good economic sense. Green building is increasingly governed by standards, such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Natural building, on the other hand, is usually on a smaller scale and tends to focus on the use of natural materials that are available locally.[l] Green architecture The focus of green architecture is create a building that has the smallest impact and contributes to a healthy environment. On the aesthetic side of green architecture is the philosophy of creating a building that in harmony with the natural features and resources surrounding the site. There are several key design steps in designing sustainable buildings: specify 'green' building materials from local sources, reduce loads, optimize systems, and generate on-site renewable energy. Building materials typically considered to be 'green' include rapidly renewable plant materials like bamboo and straw, certified lumber, stone, recycled metal, and other products that are non-toxic, reusable, renewable, and recyclable. Building materials should be extracted and manufactured locally to the building site to minimize the energy embedded in their transportation. Low-impact building materials are used wherever feasible: for example, insulation may be made from low VOC (volatile organic compound)-emitting materials such as recycled denim, rather than the fiberglass insulation which is a carcinogen and usually contains formaldehyde. To discourage insect damage, these alternate insulation materials may be treated with boric acid. Organic or milk-based paints may be used. Architectural salvage and reclaimed materials are used when appropriate as well. When older buildings are demolished, frequently any good wood is reclaimed, renewed, and sold as flooring. Many other parts are reused as well, such as doors, windows, mantels, and hardware, thus reducing the consumption of new goods. When new materials are employed, green designers look for materials that are rapidly replenished, such as bamboo, which can be harvested for commercial use after only 6 years of growth, or cork oak, in which only the outer bark is removed for use, thus preserving the tree. When possible, building materials may be gleaned from the site itself; for example, if a new structure is being constructed in a wooded area, wood from the trees which were cut to make room for the building would be re-used as part of the building itself. To minimize the energy loads within and on the structure, it is critical to orient the building to take advantage cooling breezes and sunlight. Daylighting with ample windows will eliminate the need to turn on electric lights during the day (and provide great views outside too). Passive Solar can warm a building in the winter - but care needs to be taken to provide shade in the summer time to prevent overheating. Prevailing breezes and convection currents can passively cool the building in the summer. Thermal mass stores heat gained during the day and releases it at night minimizing the swings in temperature. Thermal mass can both heat the building in winter and cool it during the summer. Insulation is the final step to optimizing the structure. Well-insulated windows, doors, and walls help reduce energy loss, thereby reducing energy usage. These design features don't cost much money to construct and significantly reduce the energy needed to make the building comfortable. Optimizing the heating and cooling systems through installing energy efficient machinery, commissioning, and heat recovery is the next step and typically designed by an engineer. Compared to optimizing the passive heating and cooling features through design, the gains made by the engineer are relatively expensive and can add significantly to the projects cost. To further address energy loss hot water heat recycling is used to reduce energy usage for domestic water heating. ground source heat pumps are more energy efficient then other forms of heating and cooling until you factor in the energy lost during generation and transmission if the project is on the grid. Finally, onsite generation of renewable energy through solar power, wind power, hydro power, or biomass can significantly reduce the environmental impact ofthe building. Power generation is the most expensive feature to add to a building. Good green architecture also reduces waste, of both energy and material. During construction phase, the goal is to reduce the amount of material going to landfills. Well designed buildings also help reduce the amount of waste generated by the occupants as well, by providing onsite solutions such as compost bins to reduce matter going to landfills. To reduce the impact on wells or water treatments plants, several options exist. "Greywater", wastewater from sources such as dishwashing or washing machines, can be used to flush toilets, water lawns, and wash cars. Rainwater collectors are used for similar purposes, and some homes use specially designed rainwater collectors to gather rainwater for all water use, including drinking water. Green architecture often emphasizes taking advantage of renewable resources, e.g., using sunlight through passive solar, active solar, and photovoItaic techniques and using plants and trees through green roofs, rain gardens, and for reduction of rainwater run-off. [2] Many other techniques, such as using packed gravel for parking lots instead of concrete or asphalt to enhance replenishment of ground 200 7/9/20078:19 AM Green building - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http:// en. wikipedia.orglwiki/Green _ buildinl water, are used as well. Green building worldwide Standards and ratings Many countries have developed their own standards of energy efficiency for buildings. · Code for Sustainable Homes, United Kingdom · BREEAM, United Kingdom · EnerGuide for Houses, Canada (energy retrofits & up-grades) · EnerGuide for New Houses, Canada (new construction) · Gold & Silver Energy Standards, United Kingdom · Green Building Council of Australia's Green Star · Haute Qualite Environnementale, France · House Energy Rating, Australia · Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), USA and Canada · Green Globes (http://www.greenglobes.coml) , USA, Canada and United Kingdom · Minergie, Switzerland · National Association of Home Builders Green Building Guidelines, USA · Passivhaus, Germany, Austria, United Kingdom · EEWH, Taiwan Australia There is a system in place in Australia called First Rate designed to increase energy efficiency of residential buildings. The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has developed a green building standard known as Green StarPl. In Adelaide, South Australia, there are at least two different projects that incorporate the principles of Green building. The Eco-City development is located in Adelaide's city centre and the Aldinga Arts Eco Village is located in Aldinga. Guidelines for building developments in each project are outlined in the bylaws. The bylaws include grey water reuse, reuse of stormwater, capture of rainwater, use of solar panels for electricity and hotwater, solar passive building design and community gardens and landscaping. Melbourne has a rapidly growing environmental consciousness, many government subsidies and rebates are available for water tanks, water efficient products (such as shower heads) and solar hot water systems. The city is home to many examples of green buildings and sustainable development such as the CERES Environmental Park. Two of the most prominent examples of Green commercial buildings in Australia are the 60L and CH2 buildings in Melbourne. Canada Canada has implemented Ir2000" guidelines for new buildings built after the year 2000. Incentives are offered to builders to meet the r2000 standard in an effort to increase energy efficiency and promote sustainability. In December 2002, Canada formed the Canada Green Building Council and in July 2003 obtained an exclusive licence from the US Green Building Council to adapt the LEED rating system to Canadian circumstances. · Beamish-Munro Hall at Queen's University features sustainable construction methods such as high fly-ash concrete, triple-glazed windows, dimmable fluorescent lights and a grid-tied photovoltaic array. Germany German developments that employ green building techniques include: · The Solarsiedlung (Solar Village) in Freiburg, Germany, which features energy-plus houses. · The Vauban development, also in Freiburg. · Houses designed by Baufritz, incorporating passive solar design, heavily insulated walls, triple-glaze doors and windows, non-toxic paints and finishes, summer shading, heat recovery ventilation, and greywater treatment systems.f4l · The new Reichstag building in Berlin, which produces its own energy. India 300 7/9/20078:19 AM Green building - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en. wikipedia.orglwikilGreen _ buildin~ Main article: Energy efficient buildings in India The Confederation of Indian Industry plays an active role in promoting sustainability in the Indian construction sector. There are many energy efficient buildings in India, situated in a variety of climatic zones. Malaysia The Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SlRIM) promotes green building techniques. Malaysian architect Ken Yeang is a prominent voice in the area of ecological design. United Kingdom The Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) has promoted sustainable building in the UK since 1989. The UK Building Regulations set requirements for insulation levels and other aspects of sustainability in building construction. United States The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™, which is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. They have developed specific versions of the LEED rating system to assist specific building types in achieving certification. Some of the commercially available systems are: · LEED-NC: New Construction and Major Renovations (the most commonly applied-for LEED certification)[5J · LEED-CI: Commercial Interiors · LEED-CS: Core/Shell) · LEED-EB: Existing Buildings . LEED-Homes Other versions that will soon be released for public consumption are: · LEED-ND: Neighborhood Developments . LEED for Schools · LEED for Healthcare . LEED for Labs · LEED for Retail The Green Building Initiative[6J is a non-profit network of building industry leaders committed to bringing green to mainstream residential and commercial construction. The OBI believes in building approaches that are environmentally progressive, but also practical and affordable for builders to implement. The OBI has developed an easy to use, inexpensive and web-based rating tool called Green Globes, which is being upgraded in accordance with ANSI procedures. The United States Environmental Protection Agency's EnergyStar program rates commercial buildings for energy efficiency and provides EnergyStar qualifications for new homes that meet their standards for energy efficient building design. In 2005, Washington became the first state in the U.S. to enact green building legislationPJ According to the law, all major public agency facilities with a floor area exceeding 5,000 square feet (465 m2), including state funded school buildings, are required to meet or exceed LEED standards in construction or renovation. The projected benefits from this law are: · 20% annual savings in energy costs · 20% reduction in water costs · 38% reduction in waste water production · 22% reduction in construction waste In 2006, Charlottesville, V A became one of the first small towns in the US to enact green building legislation.[8J This presents a significant shift in construction and architecture as LEED regulations have formerly been focused on commercial construction. If US homeowner interest grows in "green" residential construction, the companies involved in the production and manufacturing ofLEED f of7 7/9/20078:19 AM Green building - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.orglwiki/Green_buildin! building materials will become likely candidates for tomorrow's round of private equity and IPO investing.[9J [IOJ See also · Architecture · Architectural engineering · Arcology - High density ecological structures . Active solar · BedZED - Zero-carbon building in the UK . Brise soleil · Cobb Hill Cohousing · Deconstruction (building) . Domotics . Earthship . Ecocity · Ecological living · Ecopolis · Environmental planning · Energy-plus-house . Geo-exchange · Green highway · Green technology · International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment (iiSBE) · Low-energy house · Metal Roofing Alliance · Natural Capital Center Green redevelopment of a building on the National Register · Paragon Space Development Green building engineering . Passive house . Passive solar . Photovoltaics . Self-build · Sustainable habitat · United States Green Building Council . Zero-energy building III energy Portal Designers and builders . J. Baldwin . Steve Baer . Tom Bender · Peter Calthorpe . Eric Corey Freed . Buckminster Fuller . William McDonough . Glenn Murcutt · RockY Mountain Institute . Natural Resources Defense Council . Sim Van der Ryn . Walter Segal . Michael Sorkin . Brenda and Robert Vale . Robert K. Watson. . James Wines . Laurie Baker . Ken Yeang . Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum References I. ^ Hopkins, R. 2002.A Natural Way of Building. (http://transitionculture.orglarticles/a-natural-way-of-building-2002/) Transition Culture. 50f7 7/9/20078:19 AM Green building - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en. wikipedia.orglwiki/Green _ buildin~ Retrieved: 2007-03-30. 2. ^ Holm, Ivar (2006). Ideas and Beliefs in Architecture and Industrial design: How attitudes, orientations, and underlying assumptions shape the built environment. Oslo School of Architecture and Design. ISBN 8254701741. 3. ^ Green Building Council of Australia (http://www.gbcaus.org/) 4. ^ John Imes, Griin auf Deutsch (http://www.wi-eLorglgermanymission.pdf), at HOME in the Capital Region, pp 35 -36] 5. ^ USGBC Document (https://www.usgbc.orgIFileHandlinglshow_generaUile.asp?DocumentID=1096) Excel file 6. ^ Green Building Initiative (http://www.thegbLorg/) . Retrieved on 2007-05-24. 7. ^ Washington State Law Mandates Green Building (http://renewableenergyaccess.com/realnews/story?id=25765) , RenewableEnergyAccess, 2005-04-21. Retrieved 2007-02-10 8. ^ Albemarle examines cost, benefits of green buildings (http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow-12007/04/green_building.html) , Charlottesville Tomorrow, 2007-04-20. Retrieved 2007-05-03 9. ^ Energy Roundup (http://blogs.wsj.com/energy/2007/05/03/blog-roll-green-lumberI), Wall Street Journal Energy Roundup, 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2007-05-03 10. ^ The Power of Small Communities to LEED Change: Charlottesville, V A (http://energyspin.com/?p=35) , Energy Spin, 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2007-05-03 External links International · Energy Conservation In Buildings And Community Systems (http://www.ecbcs.orglhome.htm) · The Pangea Partnership (http://www.pangeapartnership.org) - Green building workshops in the developing world · Low Impact Housing (http://www.1owimpacthousing.coml) - A global survey innovation in residential design · Green Building Worldwide (http://www.greenbuildingworldwide.coml) - International green building case studies . Location of notable homes around the world (http://naturalhomes.orglnaturalhomesmap.htm) Australia · Living Smart (http://www.1ivingsmartnoosa.coml) Sustainable living on the Sunshine Coast, Australia · Greenlivingpedia (http://www.greenlivingpedia.orgl) Wiki on sustainable building and housing in Australia Canada · Canadian Solar Buildings Research Network (http://www.solarbuildings.cal) . Sustainable Building Centre (http://www.sustainablebuildingcentre.coml) India . Good Earth - building sustainable communities (http://www.goodearthhomes.netf) United Kingdom · Building for a Future magazine (http://www.buildingforafuture.co.uk/) - Regular news and in-depth stories on green building in the UK. . Useful products and information on green building (http://www.sustainablebuildingsupplies.co.uk/) United States National organizations: . U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Green Building Website (http://www.epa.gov/greenbuildingl) . American Institute of Architects Top Ten Green Projects (http://www.aiatopten.orglhpb/) . Architects/ Designers/ Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR) (http://www.adpsr.org/) - official website Regional organizations . California's Green Building Action Plan (http://www.green.ca.gov/GreenBuildingActionPlanI) . Green Building Checklists (http://buildsustainably.org/) Simple checklists created by the Colorado AlA Committee on the Environment . Cascadia Region Green Building Council (http://www.cascadiagbc.org/) · Common Fire Foundation (http://www.commonfire.orglgreen) - comprehensive overview of green building & "Greenest 60f7 7/9/20078:19 AM Green building - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http:// en. wikipedia.orglwikilGreen _building Building in the Eastern US" (non-profit) · Solar Energy International Green Building Program (http://www.solarenergy.orgl) Other resources · Wall Street Journal Energy Roundup (http://blogs.wsj.com/energy/2007/05103/blog-roIl-green-lumber/) · Green building (http://search.dmoz.org/cgi-binlsearch?search=Green+building) at the OpenDirectory Project · BuildingGreen.com (http://www.buildinggreen.com/) . Fab Tree Hab: 100% Ecological Living Home at M.I.T. (http://www.archinode.com/bienal.html) Retrieved from ''http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_building'' Categories: Cleanup from September 20061 All pages needing cleanup I WikiProject Energy development articles 1 Environmental technology I Articles with unsourced statements since February 20071 All articles with unsourced statements I Wikipedia external links cleanup 1 Building 1 Renewable energy I Building engineering I Sustainability I Solar design · This page was last modified 11 :03, 7 July 2007. · All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.) Wikipedia@ is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a US-registered 50I(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit charity. 7of7 7/9/20078:19 AM