GUEST POST Creating a High-Performance Building

As Director of Planning and Development for Mass Audubon one of my responsibilities is to act as project director for major building efforts. Mass Audubon is fully committed to making its buildings as “green” as possible, and realizing this commitment is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. Nowhere is this commitment more apparent than at Wellfleet Bay’s expanded Nature Center.

I'm often asked about the difference between a "green building" and a "high performance" building.  The two terms are often used interchangeably, but there is some difference. Green buildings mean buildings that are environmentally responsible in their use of resources during construction and in the subsequent occupancy of the building.  High-performance buildings take that to the next level, making the health and well-being of users of the building an additional priority. 

Our goal is to make the Nature Center a platinum building as certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program.  To do that, Bob Prescott and I are working together with an integrated team of builders, architects and other consultants to make every phase of the project environmentally sound. That means using the most environmentally sustainable design, materials and construction techniques.

There are many considerations that go into the design and construction of a high-performance building.  We’ll be reporting in more detail on each phase of our building as it goes up, but I’d like to give you a brief overview of the general principles.

Site selection ideally does not result in the development of any previously undeveloped land. So, redevelopment of an existing site is preferred to development of a “greenfield” site, one that has not previously been developed.  The development footprint should be kept as small as possible.  Parking for alternative fuel vehicles should be given priority. Storm water management systems must be designed to handle peak loads appropriately, to remove bionutrients from the discharge, and to contribute to groundwater recharge.  The design of the building should reduce both heat islands and disturbance of the surrounding area by exterior lighting.

Efficient water use has implications for both the interior and exterior of the building.  The use of potable (drinking quality) water should be reduced by using efficient fixtures and reducing its use in the sewage system.  Landscaping should minimize or eliminate the use of potable water and use water from all sources efficiently.

Energy use is an aspect that people are familiar with in their own homes. It includes using energy efficiently in heating and cooling as well as selecting energy-saving appliances. Building systems should not use CFCs (chloroflurocarbons) or HCFCs (hydorchloroflurocarbons), both of which contribute to ozone depletion. Allowing  daylight  into the building reduces the need for artificial light, and contributes to both energy conservation and the well-being of building inhabitants. Renewable energy (e.g., solar and wind energy) should be used whenever possible to minimize our reliance on fossil fuels. 

Indoor air quality is closely related to energy use.  FCs and HCFCs produce emissions that contribute to poor indoor air quality. Many other materials like carpets, paints, and adhesives can also create unhealthful emissions. Indoor air handling systems must be designed to create high quality air at the same time they meet energy use standards.

Material use should, first, require as much reuse of the existing building shell and salvaged components as is feasible.  Then recycled materials should make up as much of the additional construction material as possible. Building materials should be sourced near the site to reduce energy use in transporting them. Throughout the construction process, materials that can be recycled should be separated, collected and disposed of properly as the project proceeds.

Designing and constructing a high-performance building that meets LEED certification standards requires tracking a myriad of details during the planning and construction process. When the building is completed, a LEED team will audit it, awarding points for each compliance feature and determining the certification level.

Mass Audubon makes all its buildings as green as possible, given their age and circumstances. Our Boston Nature Center building in Mattapan was the first municipal green building in Boston. It serves as a model of environmental sustainability and a teaching venue for the entire area. The Wellfleet Nature Center will perform a similar service for Cape Cod.

Posted by Stu Weinreb.

Comments

[Japanese words]

Great article. It is nice to see more energy efficient buildings going up. I found the part on indoor quality quite interesting after watching a video on TED about 3 plants to keep air clean.

[Diane Silverstein]

Hi all! This has been really interesting to follow...like reading a good book! I keep wondering what the next chapter will bring. I am proud of MAS and WBWS for their commitment to the environment with this green building and can't wait to see the finished product. COngratulations on the progress and thanks for a super blog! -Diane