This document discusses sustainable buildings and green markets from an engineering perspective. It provides an overview of why sustainable buildings matter by outlining their large environmental impacts. The key elements of sustainable buildings are then summarized, which include sustainable sites, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, water efficiency, and use of sustainable materials. Government policies to promote green building are also covered, including incentives used at the federal, state, and local levels to encourage sustainable practices.

1. Sustainable Buildings
and Green Markets
An Engineering Perspective
Presented by:
Haven Alford

2. Overview
 Why does it matter
 Elements of Sustainable Buildings
 Government Application (Green Market
Incentives)

3. Environmental Impact of Buildings
(why does it matter?)
US Commercial Buildings Facts:
 65.2% total US electricity consumption
 > 36% total US primary energy use
 30% total US greenhouse gas emissions
 136 million tons of US
construction/demolition waste (about
2.8 lbs/person/day)
 12% of potable water in the US
 40% (3 billion tons annually) of raw
materials used globally
www.usgbc.org

4. 5 Broad Areas of Application
 Sustainable Sites
 Energy and Atmosphere
 Indoor Environmental Quality
 Water Efficiency
 Materials and Resources

5. LEED Concept and Intent
 LEED is the standard for sustainable design
worldwide.
 Design and construction practices that significantly
reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings
on the environment.
 LEED is a point based system that ranks the
sustainability of a building’s design by:
 Certified (26 – 32 points)
 Silver (33 – 38 points)
 Gold (39 – 51 points)
 Platinum ratings (52 – 69 points)

6. Why engineers (and you)
should care…
 Discipline:
 MEP 28 points 41%
 Architect/LA 21 30%
 Civil 11 16%
 Constructor 4 6%
 Undefined 5 7%
 Totals 69 points 100%

7. Sustainable Sites
 Site Selection
 Development Density
 Brownfield Redevelopment
 Alternative Transportation
 Public Transportation
 Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms
 Alternative Fuel Vehicles
 Parking Capacity
 Reduced Site Disturbance
 Storm Water Management

8. Alternative Fuel Vehicles
www.state.me.us/cleangovt/ ENERGY/energy.htm

9. Sustainable Sites
 Reduced Site Disturbance
 Protect or Restore Open Space
 Development Footprint
 Storm Water Management
 Rate and Quantity
 Treatment
 Heat Island Effect
 Non-Roof
 Roof
 Light Pollution Reduction

10. Green Roof
 www.dep.state.pa.us/.../ se/stormwater.htm

11. Light Pollution
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/08/24/dimming.the.lights.ap/large.usa.lights.jpg

12. Water Efficiency
 Water Efficient Landscaping
 Reduce by 50%
 No Potable Use or No Irrigation
 Innovative Wastewater Technologies
 Water Use Reduction
 20 – 30%

13. Waterless Urinals and
Composting/Waterless Toilets
http://www.aventer.com/toilets/images/t3.jpg
http://www.magic-tec.com/magic_ur.html

14. Energy and Atmosphere
 Fundamental Building System Commissioning
 Minimum Energy Performance
 CFC Reduction in HVAC&R Equipment
 Optimize Energy Performance
 Renewable Energy
 5 – 10%
 Additional Commissioning
 Ozone Protection
 Measurement and Verification
 Green Power

15. Example of Natural Ventilation
www.thedalles.k12.or.us/.../ sld018.htm

16. Renewable Energy
http://www.power-technology.com

17. Photovoltaic Roof Systems
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/pvt/education/inspgcps/handbook/images/pvarray.jpg
http://www.alternativeenergyinc.com/images/gallery/roof_mounted_pv.jpg

18. Materials and Resources
 Storage and Collection of Recyclables
 Building Reuse
 Maintaining 75 – 100% of Existing Walls, Floor, and Roof
 Maintain 100% of the shell/structure and 50% of non-
shell/non-structure
 Construction Waste Management
 Divert 50 – 75% from a landfill
 Resource Reuse
 5 – 10% of materials used are salvaged, refurbished, or
reused materials, products and furnishings

19. Materials and Resources
 Recycled Content
 5 – 10% (post-consumer + ½ post-industrial)
 Regional Materials
 20% manufactured regionally
 50% extracted regionally
 Rapidly Renewable Materials
 Certified Wood

20. Recycled and Rapidly
Renewable Materials
http://www.eps.or.kr
http://www.franksupply.com

21. Indoor Environmental Quality
 Minimum IAQ (Indoor Air Quality)
Performance
 Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control
 Carbon Dioxide Monitoring
 Ventilation Effectiveness
 Construction IAQ Management Plan
 During Construction
 Before Occupancy

22. Indoor Environmental Quality
 Low Emitting Materials
 Adhesives and Sealants
 Paints and Coatings
 Composite Wood
Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control
 Controllability of Systems
 Perimeter Spaces
 Non-Perimeter Spaces

23. Indoor Environmental Quality
 Thermal Comfort
 Compliance with ASHRAE 55
 Permanent Monitoring System
 Daylight and Views
 Daylighting in 75% of spaces
 Views for 90% of spaces

24. Example of Daylighting
csep1.phy.ornl.gov/ CSEP/PT/NODE37.html

25. Federal Government LEED
Applications
 General Services Administration (GSA)
 US Air Force
 US Army Corps of Engineers
 Department of State
 Department of Energy (DOE)
 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
 US Navy

26. State Government LEED
Applications
 California
 Pennsylvania – all new construction
 Oregon – tax credit
 New York
 Maryland – all buildings over 500,000 ft2
 New Jersey – schools, and voluntary applications
 Arizona
 Missouri
 Wisconsin

27. Local Government LEED
Applications
 Austin, Texas
 Boulder, Colorado
 Los Angeles, California
 San Diego, California
 San Mateo, California
 Arlington, Virginia
 Cook County, Illinois
 Portland, Oregon
 San Jose, California
 Seattle, Washington

28. Incentives
 Sell energy back to the utility company
 Tax breaks on new technologies
 Rebates, grants and loans

29. Sources
 Ray Yunk, Professor of Architectural
Engineering
 Dustin Schafer, Instructor of Architectural
Engineering
 www.usgbc.org
Questions?