Green Building to Reduce Global Warming

Introduction to Green
Building Advocacy

"Green Building” is the 21st Century catch phrase for architectural designs that emphasize conservation of energy resources in harmony with their natural and nearby surroundings. The basic components are orientation to weather elements, fixed and variable shade devices, sub-ground habitat, more insulation, solar panels, water and fuel recycling, roof gardens and so on.
     From the 16th through the early part of the 19th century, in Europe and the Western World, building design was mostly chained to prevailing style. Progressive change was slow and dependent upon man's acquisition of new engineering knowledge and new building materials. One example is the flying buttress that allowed dark, round arched, Romanesque cathedrals to be replaced by thin, web-like and lofty, light filled cathedrals with pointed arches.
      Late in the 19th century, iron replaced stone and masonry as the basic structural material and soon, relatively flat cities became dotted with taller, multi-storied buildings. Soon again thereafter, the advent of high strength steel strength steel and electrical elevators allowed for skyscrapers. Freon air conditioning made their interiors habitable. In post WWII America, several now famous architects experimented with flat roofed forms that broke conventions in long established residential styles. Many, tried to employ conservation ideas, but long established and familiar individual residential styles remained essentially unchanged. They mostly got bigger. However, their innovative efforts were rewarded by commissions from developers of commercial, industrial and high rise city buildings all over the world. Computerization in design, engineering and manufacturing, combined with modern chemical/physical technologies further freed designers of nearly all restraints to their imaginations. We now witness the rapid construction of sleek buildings thought impossibly futuristic a decade or two ago.
A Return to Natural Habitats     However, a revitalized realization is developing that fossil fuel resources, for the production of energy upon which 20th-century buildings and their components rely, are neither inexhaustible, cheap nor always available to ensure uninterrupted service. Ergo, there is a renewed and popular fascination with green buildings, as if such concepts were entirely new. Although this is welcome and promising, the primary elements of practical design preceded even the Romans and their learned descendants in the micro history of style alluded to above.
     Essentially unnoticed for centuries, unsophisticated bands of populations in weather hostile places such as jungles, deserts and ice planes built habitats motivated by survival rather than style. Some we learned about in grade school and quickly forgot because wealth and abundance allowed disregard and waste. Jungle huts were built with thick insulating clay and abundant animal hair, vines or straw. Animal hide tents of Americans Indians remained light and mobile so they could follow food resources and relocate to more seasonal friendly places. Dessert nomads in Algeria and environs built homes and storage facilities topped with sails that deflected prevailing winds down into ducts which distributed cool drafts to each main room. The point is, when rudimentary mankind was forced to deal with harsh realities it was as resourceful and adaptable as need be. The question is whether modern mankind is capable of the similar ingenuities in sufficient scope and time to survive its escalating rate of population growth.
Raising Public Awareness      There will no doubt continue to be distinctly separate private residential, multi-residential, commercial and governmental utilizations of design components in the effort to conserve energy in the delivery of building materials to and within buildings. As in the past, it is likely that the first step beyond laboratory experimentation will occur in showcase houses or in other attention seeking entrepreneurial projects. Like fashion magazines these highly published demo models are meant to simulate public conscience, initiate constructive inquiry and prompt action. There will be cross pollination of good and bad ideas, good but economically premature ideas and combinations thereof. Some will take immediate root and others will take longer. Maybe far longer. Initial cost premiums will lessen as mass production provides efficiencies and technological innovations reduce inefficiencies.
      The important fact is that the effort is gaining international acceptance in all realms of building design, construction and maintenance. Incentive formulas for monetary reward and tax penalties will be tried. Building codes will increasingly reject arcane designs and enforce compliance with new standards. Finally the potential for sustainable long term implementation of conservation has arrived. Widespread benefit will occur more rapidly when investors and buyers of properties give up the charm of style based on familiar appearance. Instead they will have become motivated by the economies possible of waste and pollution reduction. Imaginative designers everywhere will strive to make their projects “beautiful” as the meaning of the term continually evolves.
     Though already mentioned in passing, here is an incomplete outline of key areas of the movement now called Green Building.

1. Below ground and earth bermed structures.
2. Landscaping requiring no chemical fertilizers.
3. Plant shade trees without blocking solar collectors.
4. Water natural planting with recycled drainage.
5. Use only site lighting powered by solar cells.
6. Maintain flammable landscaping away from buildings to prevent property loss.
7. Orient windows, louvers and roof overhangs to the locale’s sun path.
8. Minimize windows and doors on northern exposures.
9. Collect rain water for storage and reuse.
10. Pitch roofs for maximum benefit of solar panels.
11. Employ energy devices to return power to the local grid whenever possible.
12. Purchase the most energy efficient household appliances available.
13. Use fans when AC is not essential.
14. Engineer all plumbing electrical and mechanical systems for maximum efficiency.
15. Choose materials manufactured nearby to reduce energy consumed in transport.
16. Use recycled building materials. Avoid sidings & trim requiring paint or stain.
17. Specify maximum, but not over maximum, insulation everywhere.
18. Ventilate all voids subject to mold and rot to avoid premature replacement.
19. Specify only thermally sealed doors.
20. Specify glass that minimizes heat loss and maximizes thermal benefit.
21. Use quilted curtains to cover windows at night.
22. If a fireplace is a must, choose only one and keep the damper closed when unused.
23. Power down the premises when vacant.
24. Have your design consultant add ten more beneficial power savers to this list.

The prognosis of successful implementation of this movement may be measured in part by a reduced appetite for high powered ego automobiles. The accused and jury are us.
      - RPW

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Better Insulation Yields Comfort, Saves Energy. Money, Too

While public utilities and building codes have emphasized adding insulation to reduce heating and air conditioning costs, traditional cellulose or fiberglass insulation only do part of the job. In winter they supposedly keep the warm air in the living space and during the hot months of summer, they supposedly keep the hot air from entering that space.
     However, as we all know, even with the best insulation, rooms heat up in the late afternoon in summer and will lose heat at night in winter. What happens is that the attic insulation has to release the heat it has absorbed during the day or at night, either into the living space or the attic or crawl space under the house.
     However, there is a relatively inexpensive product, which is also easy to install, which will reduce the amount of heat entering the insulation in summer while retaining more of the heat in winter or at night. It is two-sided roll of aluminum called a radiant barrier, which can be stapled to the rafters or laid flat over existing blown in cellulose or fiberglass bat insulation.
     During the summer it reflects the heat entering the attic through the roof back outside before it enters the insulation. Likewise, in winter it also reflects the heat from the living space back into that space, adding another R-factor (thermal resistance factor) to the overall insulation. It can also be attached below the floor joists to cut heat loss by reflecting heat back through the floor. Because the material is perforated, it allows air to flow and prevents moisture buildup.
     Radiant barriers are manufactured by different companies and can be purchased in most large hardware stores or ordered on line from some home improvement sites. While there are companies which install radiant barriers, depending on your flexibility, attic or crawl space, most unskilled home repair persons can manage the installation.
     In the process you will enjoy cooler summers without consuming energy to run air conditioning and warmer winter evenings without burning as much oil, coal, natural gas or wood. This means greater comfort, lower energy bills and fewer carbon emissions.
      - DAW

Not for Sale: Green in Word But Not in Deed

Spurred by a public newly conscious of the importance of conservation, U.S. homebuilders have been adding eco-friendly features to new houses, only to find that buyers balk at the cost.
     Business Week reports that it's easier "to persuade home buyers to upgrade to granite countertops than.an energy-efficient furnace". Even in environment-conscious California, KB Home, one of the largest builders, said that a mere 47 customers out of 25,000 units sold would accept environmentally benign bamboo flooring, and just 3% would spring for far more efficient front-loading washing machines, the magazine said.
     Solar panel roofs, which can run to $25,000, get still fewer takers, even though they eventually pay for themselves. That could change, though. The likelihood of both federal and state subsidies may ultimately cut the price in half.      - SCW

Green Building in San Francisco:

Sunset Magazine’s Idea House

According to the U.S. Energy Department, commercial and residential structures account for 65% of electricity consumption, 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, and 30% of raw materials for a total of 36% total energy use. Given predicted or already existing scarcities in building materials, energy and water, more efficient building design will not only be necessary, but will crucial in reducing energy consumption, becoming more self-sufficient and lowering carbon emissions.
     “Green Building,” therefore, refers to the combination of innovative building design, recycled or green materials, renewable sources of energy, energy and water conservation, and the creation of a safe and healthy environment. Benefits not only include lower energy and water bills, but also fewer greenhouse gas emissions and reduced exposure to toxins, mold and mildew.
      In order to evaluate new or remodeled buildings, the U.S. Green BuildingCouncil has created the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), which measures site sustainability; water usage; energy efficiency and atmosphere effects; the management of materials and resources, including waste materials; reliance on local suppliers or regional materials; internal environmental quality affecting health and comfort; air quality and safety during construction, and innovative design that produces superior results. Points are awarded
in each of these categories to assess and rank a structure’s overall performance.
      Sunset Magazine’s “Idea House” in the Mission district in San Francisco incorporates all of these basic principles of green building and is one of the first
Exterior of Sunset Magazine's Idea House in San Francisco's Mission District.
LEED certified remodels in the country. Now open for viewing, this remodeled three-story building includes a two-bedroom home with an elevator, a garage and a 1229-square foot apartment.
     In a contemporary design by John Lum Architecture, it incorporates green technology and materials and will be used as a demonstration energy project for the
Third floor kitchen and dining room with clerestory.
City of San Francisco and as a model home for the Pacific Coast Building Conference in 2008.
     Without sacrificing comfort or appearance, the Idea House uses recycled materials, generates its own power, and conserves energy and water. By generating its own electricity, the three-story residence and apartment has a zero-energy impact and is self-sustainable.
     Located in the sunniest district of San Francisco, the house incorporates passive solar heating and generates electricity using photovoltaic panels on the roofs and a single wind turbine on top of a tall pole. Because of its height and the hum of rotating blades, the city has granted a one-year permit to measure its output, check the noise level, the threat to migrating birds and the aesthetic impact.
     Water for personal use and cooking, as well as the first floor swimming pool, is heated through roof-top solar collectors and the house is heated by a radiant system. While on-demand water heaters save energy, a catchment system saves rain water, low-flow toilets reduce water usage, porous pavement tiles allow rain water to filter through to plants and trees, and a gray water system recycles water for the patio and roof top gardens.
     The Idea House uses recycled or eco-friendly materials and plants inside and outside. Besides a ground floor garden with a patio and fountain, a roof top garden
Indoor pool and ground floor patio with fountain.
extends the interior, provides additional living or entertainment space, and opens up the inside to cooling breezes while insulating the structure. The sounds of a ground floor fountain dampen the urban noise while carefully selected plants thrive on little water or that provided by a gray water system.
     The interior is an open design which takes advantage of daytime light as well as great views of the city with horizontal banks of windows and a clerestory. Recycled wood, glass and eco-friendly counters and surfaces with bright colors create a bright and cheery living space. Building materials include fly ash concrete, certified framing lumber, salvaged timbers, recycled flooring and glass tile, concrete countertops, plastic composite lumber decking, nontoxic paints, fiber cement siding and concrete tile.
     Although the bright exterior of fiber cement siding, the extensive use of glass and the modern design of the Idea House contrast with older painted wood structures in the neighborhood, the landscaping and plants will eventually soften the exterior and the interior gardens will provide a quiet retreat for residents and guests.
     Aware of the energy and cost savings of green construction, San Francisco has already adopted green building codes for all public buildings, and the mayor recently
Skystream Monopole Wind Generator
proposed that all new residential and commercial buildings meet internationally accepted goals for energy and water efficiency, air quality and pollution control and recycling.
     North of the Bay Area, several cities in Sonoma County have already passed mandatory green building codes for all new construction. Santa Rosa, not only plans to make its ordinance mandatory, but is also considering applying it to older buildings, since old houses are often not very energy efficient.
     Because the city was very successful in getting homeowners to reduce water consumption by replacing toilets and shower heads, it is hoped that owners of older buildings will be persuaded to retrofit their structures through rebates, low-interest loans or reduced rates. PG & E already offers rebates for replacing appliances and installing insulation and the state provides a tax credit for installing solar or wind power systems.
     In view of the increasing scarcity and cost of traditional building materials and rising prices for energy and threats of drought, green building design and construction offer practical solutions. While initial construction costs might be slightly higher, operational costs should be less than those of a conventional home. Given the amount of energy required to build and maintain our living and working spaces, green building can also help in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy consumption and harnessing renewable energy sources. Perhaps it will also help a slumping construction industry.       - DAW

California Town Decides All New Construction Must Go Green

"Think globally, act locally!” The reverse is also a good idea, in fact, doing something at the local level potentially affects more than the immediate community and when it comes to carbon emissions and global warming, local decisions may have a global effect or serve as a model for other communities.
     In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, encourage more responsible use of building materials, develop more environmentally friendly buildings and neighborhoods and conserve water and energy, the city of Rohnert Park, California recently passed an ordinance requiring green building materials and methods in all new construction.
     Starting July 1, 2007 all new single-family dwellings, multifamily dwellings, commercial property and city-sponsored projects had to meet green building standards. There are a few exceptions, but even in those projects the owners will receive instructions on green building.
     Based on the guidelines of the nonprofit Build It Green and U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the city’s ordinance establishes three tiers depending on the type of construction and the size or the environmental impact of the proposed project.
     These guidelines include:

Minimizing waste and preventing pollution
Keeping pollutants out of waterways and reducing water use
Maximizing energy and resource efficiency
Keeping pollutants out of waterways and reducing water use
Employing green insulation from recycled materials
Designing plumbing to reduce hot water use, insulating water pipes and installing low-water toilets
Incorporating energy efficient heating and air conditioning systems, with improved indoor air quality
Using solar energy to heat water and generate electricity, and selecting energy efficient appliances

Since Rohnert Park is probably the only city in California which has adopted such comprehensive green building codes, it constitutes a model or laboratory for other communities which seek to achieve some level of sustainability and environmentally sensitive growth. While its neighbor to the North, Santa Rosa, and many other cities in California have adopted green building guidelines, they are voluntary, not mandatory.
     Although incorporating green materials and energy efficient techniques may require adjustments by builders, thereby increasing the costs of construction, current estimates suggest that green building only increases construction costs by 1 to 3 percent. When other cities adopt similar codes, the demand for green materials will increase, potentially lowering their costs as more are produced or new suppliers enter the market. More efficient homes, offices or school will also reduce operating costs, not only for the individual owner but also for the community. In the long run, everyone benefits.
     Incorporating green building materials and techniques alone, however, may not address other factors which contribute to waste, energy inefficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. In order to reduce urban sprawl and our dependency on the automobile, comprehensive urban planning and design, which includes public transit, must also be part of the long term solution. Even if communities insist on green design and materials, the construction of "extreme homes" or 5000 square-foot mansions or second homes still consumes increasingly scarce resources and energy.
       - DAW

Keep An Eye On...

Green Roofs, and Gardening with Green Roof Plants

The green roof movement originated in Germany and is now relatively commonplace in Europe and Japan, but is just beginning to sprout in the United States. Economic and environmental concerns are bringing to the front and center of environmental design what has until now been an anomaly.
      More cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago are offering incentives to builders to utilize living roofs rather than plain concrete for rooftops, an idea that originated in Germany. Three million square feet of green roofs were planted in North America in 2005. This year between 6 and 7 million square feet are expected.
      Among the benefits of such design are the prevention of the release of significant amounts of greenhouse gases, a major reduction in storm water run off and its redirection to such things as toilet flushing, and a decrease in the effects of the urban "heat island" caused by roads, sidewalks, and parking lots.
      For more: Contact Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, a nonprofit industry association based in Toronto: greenroofs.org . Also Ed Snodgrass, a pioneering green roof nurseryman in Maryland who writes an "Ask Ed" column for greenroofs.com and is the author of "Green Roof Plants".      - KEM

Universities Beginning to Audit Campus Energy Usage

Working with the Sonoma County Climate Protection Campaign, students at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, California are conducting a Greenhouse Gas Inventory. As a result of an Academic Senate Resolution and an Associated Students initiative, and acting under the Global Climate Action Committee (GCAC), student interns are currently conducting an energy audit of the campus. In order to be comprehensive, it will measure both direct and indirect contributions to emissions, including different types of gases, mobile or stationary sources, water usage, waste disposal, parking facilities and emissions from vehicles operated by faculty, students and staff.

In California, 20% Renewables by 2010

Since the California State University Board of Trustees has approved of a policy to obtain 20% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010 and the state of California has passed legislation (AB 32) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020, the energy audit at Sonoma State will enable it to assess its carbon footprint and reduce its contributions accordingly. In the process, the student interns will acquire expertise in conducting data and making analyses, while the university community and surrounding Easy Being Green community will become more aware of energy usage and practical solutions.
     Several other universities, including Chico State University in Chico, California and Harvard University are also conducting inventories. A number of organizations support these efforts and have web sites with information and toolkits to conduct personal or institutional audits. They may contacted through

The Student PIRGs
Campus Climate Challenge
Student Environmental Action Coalition
University Leaders for a Sustainable Future
Alliance to Save Energy's Green Campus Program
      - DAW