Green Construction

THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO THE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

PRMG 020

GREEN CONSTRUCTION Green… From An Architect Point of View …

Ghozlan, Ayah Section : 03

PRMG 030 Project Budgeting & Financial Control

Dr. Tarek Saker

CONTENTS I.

II.

INTRODUCTION GREEN CONSTRUCTION *EMBODIED ENERGY *THE LEED PROGRAM * ADVANTAGES

III.

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE *SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

** HEATING, VENTILATION AND COOLING SYSTEM EFFICIENCY ** ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PRODUCTION * BUILDING PLACEMENT * SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS * WATER MANAGEMENT ** RE‐USING STRUCTURES AND MATERIALS ** SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IN ARCHITECTURE IV.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS * BENEFITS * GREEN BUILDING MATERIAL SELECTION CRITERIA ** RESOURCE EFFICIENCY UALITY (IAQ) **INDOOR AIR Q UALITY

**ENERGY EFFICIENCY **WATER CONSERVATION **AFFORDABILITY *THREE BASIC STEPS OF PRODUCT SELECTION ** RESEARCH

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** EVALUATION ** SELECTION * RECYCLED MATERIALS * LOWER VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

V.

THE VALUE OF GREEN BUILDINGS

VI.

CONCLUSION

VII.

REFERENCES

VIII.

NOTES

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INTRODUCTION In a time faced with an energy crisis, water shortages, soaring housing costs, economic instability, dwindling natural resources, critical levels of air pollution and an inordinate amount of waste produced each day it is essential to begin taking steps to prevent this pattern from continuing down the road of environmental destruction. The Engineers, Architects and Developers of today, more than ever, share an obligation to create new and innovative structures that turn this cycle around. Buildings and development have an enormous impact on our quality of life and the quality of our environment, both in construction and in operations. Buildings expend 40% of the world’s energy, 25% of its wood harvest and account for 16% of its water consump ton, all resources we cannot afford to waste. Buildings of the future need to take the step beyond shelter and work places and perform as efficient, economic, environmentally sound spaces in which we can thrive and endure. Green Architecture began with the first Earth Day in 1970, and has grown in popularity as awareness of the earth’s many ecological problems became more wide spread. Economic factors have also helped the green movement by causing changes in building materials, and technology. This is most notable in changes to heating and cooling systems, and improvements in insulation and window construction.

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GREEN CONSTRUCTION The "Green "Green"" refers to a method of design and construction that minimizes burdens on our natural resources and the t he environment. Sustainable or ‘Green ‘Green Building’ Building’ design and construction is the opportunity to use our resources more efficiently, while creating healthier and more energy ‐ efficient homes. Although there is no magic formula, success comes in the form leaving a lighter footprint on the environment through conservation of resources, while at the same time balancing energy ‐efficient, cost‐effective, low‐maintenance products for our construction needs. In other words, green building design involves finding the delicate balance between homebuilding and the sustainable environment. There are many certification organizations and rating systems for new constructions. Such rating systems as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design

(LEED),

will

review

a

building,

its

assembly,

materials, and how it exchanges with its environment. The selection of materials is reviewed by its ability to be recycled or reused, its durability, and its local availability. None of the systems available however, seem to devote much importance on what is known as embodied energy.

“EMBODIED ENERGY” Embodied Energy refers to the total energy required to procure a material from its raw state, manufacture it, transport it and process it for its intended use.

Unfortunately at this time, there does not seem to be

standardized method for calculating a materials embodied energy; however, its calculation would ideally include the total energy consumed during a products life time. The calculation must be complete enough to include the extraction of raw materials including the associated energy or fuels used for its extraction to the end of the products lifetime; including removal and energies required for its reuse. Other energies to be included in the calculation are transportation, manufacturing, energy from manipulation and processing equipment, and other processing requirements right down to the heating, cooling and lighting of the processing facility. If we consider this accounting methodology when building, we then have a quantﬁable means of our consump ton. With energy reliance in the 21st

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century being primarily based on carbon based fuels, if we reduce the total embodied energy in the building, we are also reducing the effects of the use these associated energy types. There is a clear advantage to building with a low total embodied energy. Products with lower embodied energies are typically more economical, easier to work with, and are less l ess damaging to the environment. If a sustainability rating system could be created which included a materials embodied energy, it would be ideal to see materials durability and recoverability factor included as well. This could be assembled in a handbook for architects and builders to establish buildings total energy requirements. Through the use of embodied energy calculations, we can accurately measure a building’s energy requirement. Since construction is one of the most energy intensive and wasteful processes, it provides us with a means to quantify our use and our waste. By using the least amount of energy to build a structure and by being conscious of our dependence for this energy, we are ultimately building sustainably and then able building within our means. Imagine a building equipped with renewable energy sources which will eventually completely offset the total energy required to construct the building. That’s would be a truly green building.

“THE LEED PROGRAM” Responding to the increased global interest and awareness of environmental issues and the principle of sustainable development, environmental assessment systems have been created specifically for the construction industry. One example is the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System developed by the U.S.

Green Building Council (USGBC). The LEED program is a voluntary national standard for developing high ‐ performance sustainable buildings. The rating system awards points for a range of state‐of ‐the‐art strategies including sustainable site planning, safeguarding water quality and water efficiency, energy efficiency and renewable energy use, conservation of materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.

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As part of a nationwide effort toward conservation and sustainability, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop an environmental management system (EMS (EMS)) "template" that is specifically designed for the construction industry. An EMS is a tool that helps companies from all industries manages their environmental impacts. In the construction industry, an EMS would provide the necessary framework for contractors to effectively manage environmental obligations, build "green," and achieve certifications such as LEEDs or participate in programs such as EPA's National Performance Track. Building on the EMS template, a construction company will be able to identify company actions that impact the environment, set improvement goals, and plan how to achieve them. Some environmental impacts to address in an EMS include controlling soil erosion and sedimentation, minimizing dust and noise, storing and handling fuels, managing waste, preserving natural resources, protecting wetlands and endangered species, and handling hazardous materials.

“ADVANTAGES” There are numerous advantages to designing for sustainability that far outweigh the up ‐front construction costs. Reduced environmental impacts, lower operating costs, higher productivity due to increased occupant comfort and health (which also may lead to reduced insurance costs), reduced strain on local infrastructure, and community stewardship are just some of the benefits. More and more, owners from the public and private sector are attracted to the concept of green construction and are starting to demand high ‐ performance buildings. Some state and local governments have established "green" guidelines and incentive programs, as well as requirements for their own public ‐sector buildings. As interest expands, the construction industry is increasingly challenged to demonstrate its commitment to the environment.

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SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE Sustainable

architecture

is

a

general

term

that

describes

environmentally‐conscious design techniques in the field of architecture. Sustainable architecture is framed by the larger discussion of sustainability and the pressing economic and political issues of our world. In the broad context, sustainable architecture seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by enhancing efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and development space.

“SUSTAINABLE ENERGY” Energy efficiency over the entire life cycle of a building is the most important single goal of sustainable architecture. Architects use many different techniques to reduce the energy needs of buildings and increase their ability to capture or generate their own energy. HEATING, VENTILATION AND COOLING SYSTEM EFFICIENCY

The most important and cost effective element of an efficient heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is a well insulated building. A more efficient building requires less heat generating or dissipating power, but may require more ventilation capacity to expel polluted indoor air. Significant amounts of energy are flushed out of buildings in the water, air and compost streams. Off the shelf, on ‐site energy recycling technologies can effectively recapture energy from waste hot water and stale air and transfer that energy into incoming fresh cold water or fresh air. Recapture of energy for uses other than gardening from compost leaving buildings requires centralized anaerobic digesters. Also site and building orientation have a major effect on a building's HVAC efficiency. Passive Solar Building Design allows buildings to harness the energy of the sun efficiently without the use of any active solar mechanisms such as photovoltaic cells or solar hot water panels. Typically passive solar building designs incorporate materials with high thermal mass that retain heat effectively and strong insulation that works to prevent heat escape. Low energy designs also requires the use of (mobile) solar shading, by means of awnings, blinds or shutters, to relieve the solar heat gain in summer and to

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reduce the need for artificial cooling. In addition, low energy buildings typically have a very low surface area to volume ratio to minimize heat loss. This means that sprawling multi ‐winged building designs (often thought to look more "organic") are often avoided in favor of more centralized structures. Windows are placed to maximize the input of heat ‐creating light while

minimizing the loss of heat through glass, a poor insulator. In the northern hemisphere this usually involves installing a large number of south ‐facing windows to collect direct sun and severely restricting the number of north ‐ facing windows. Certain window types, such as double or triple glazed insulated windows with gas filled spaces and low emissivity (low ‐E) coatings; provide much better insulation than single ‐pane glass windows. Preventing excess solar gain by means of solar shading devices in the summer months is important to reduce cooling needs. Deciduous Trees are often planted in front of windows to block

excessive sun in summer with their leaves but allow light through in winter when their leaves fall off. Louvers or light shelves are installed to allow the sunlight in during the winter (when the sun is lower in the sky) and keep it out in the summer (when the sun is high in the sky). Coniferous or Evergreen lantss are often planted to the north of buildings to shield against cold north Plant winds. In Colder Climates limates,, heating systems are a primary focus for sustainable architecture because they are typically one of the largest single energy drains in buildings. In Warmer Climates where cooling is a primary concern, passive solar designs can also be very effective. Masonry building materials with high thermal mass are very valuable for retaining the cool temperatures of night throughout the day. In addition builders often opt for sprawling single story structures in order to maximize surface area and heat loss. Buildings are often designed to capture and channel existing winds, particularly the especially cool winds coming from nearby bodies of water. In climates with four seasons, an integrated energy system will increase in efficiency: when the building is well insulated, when it is sited to work with the forces of nature, when heat is recaptured (to be used immediately or stored), when the heat plant relying on fossil fuels or electricity is greater than 100% efficient, and when renewable energy is utilized. utili zed.

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ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PRODUCTION

Active solar devices such as photovoltaic solar panels help to provide sustainable electricity for any use. Roofs are often angled toward the sun to allow photovoltaic panels to collect at maximum efficiency, and some buildings even move throughout the day to follow the sun. The use of undersized wind turbines in energy production in sustainable structures requires the consideration of many factors. In considering costs, small wind systems are generally more expensive than larger wind turbines relative to the amount of energy they produce. For small wind turbines, maintenance costs can be a deciding factor at sites with marginal wind ‐ harnessing capabilities. At low ‐wind sites, maintenance can consume much of a small wind turbines revenue.

“BUILDING PLACEMENT ” One central and often ignored aspect of sustainable architecture is building placement. Although many may envision the ideal environmental home or office structure as an isolated place in the middle of the woods, this kind of placement is often detrimental to the environment. First, such structures often serve as the unknowing frontlines of suburban sprawl. Second, they usually increase the energy consumption required for transportation and lead to unnecessary auto emissions. Ideally, most building should avoid suburban sprawl in favor of the kind of light urban development articulated by the New Urbanist movement. Careful mixed use zoning can make commercial, residential, and light industrial areas more accessible for those traveling by foot, bicycle, or public transit, as proposed in the Principles of Intelligent Urbanism.

“SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS” Some examples of sustainable building materials include recycled denim or blown‐in fiber glass insulation, sustainably harvested wood, Trass, Linoleum, sheep wool, high and ultra high performance concrete, panels made from paper flakes, baked earth, rammed earth, clay, vermiculite, flax linen, sisal, see grass, cork, expanded clay grains, coconut, wood fiber plates, calcium sand stone, locally‐obtained stone and rock, and bamboo, which is one of the strongest and fastest growing woody plants, and non ‐toxic low‐VOC glues and paints.

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Sustainable Materials will be fatherly discussed with more details later on.

“WASTE MANAGEMENT” Sustainable Architecture focuses on the on ‐site use of waste, incorporating things such as grey water systems for use on garden beds, and composting toilets to reduce sewage. These methods, when combined with on‐site food waste composting and off ‐site recycling, can reduce a house's waste to a small amount of packaging waste. RE‐USING STRUCTURES AND MATERIALS

Some sustainable architecture incorporates recycled or second hand materials. The reduction in use of new materials creates a corresponding reduction in Embodied Energy nergy.. Often sustainable architects attempt to retro ‐fit old structures to serve new needs in order to avoid unnecessary development. SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IN ARCHITECTURE

The building structure must also be considered. Cost/effectiveness is an important issue in sustainable architecture projects, and one of the most efficient designs here in is the Public Housing Approach pproach.. This approach lets everyone have their own sleeping/recreation space, yet incorporate communal spaces eg. Mess halls, Latrines & public showers. Architectural design can play a large part in influencing the ways that social groups interact. Communist Russia's Constructivist Social condensers are a good example of this, buildings which were designed with the specific intention of controlling or directing the flow of everyday life to "create socially equitable spaces". Sustainable Architectural Design can help to create a sustainable way of

living within a community. While the existing social constructs can be seen to influence architecture, the opposite can also be true. An overtly socially sustainable building, if successful, can help people to see the benefit of living sustainably; this can be seen in many of Rural Studio's buildings in and around Hale County, Alabama, and in the design of ALA Himmelwright's "model fireproof farmhouse," located at Rock Lodge Club in Stockholm, New Jersey. The same can be said for environmentally sustainable design, is that “Architecture Can Lead The Way For A Greater Community ommunity.” .”

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SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS The concept of sustainable building incorporates and integrates a variety of strategies during the design, construction and operation of building projects. The use of green building materials and products represents one important strategy in the design of a building.

“BENEFITS ” Green Building Materials offer specific Benefits to the building owner and building occupants: •

Reduced maintenance/replacement costs over the life of the building.

•

Energy conservation.

•

Improved occupant health and productivity.

•

Lower costs associated with changing space configurations.

•

Greater design flexibility.

Building and construc ton actvites worldwide consume 3 billion tons of raw materials each year or 40 percent of total global. Using green building materials and products promotes conservation of dwindling nonrenewable resources internationally. In addition, integrating green building materials into building projects can help reduce the environmental impacts associated with the extraction, transport, processing, fabrication, installation, reuse, recycling, and disposal of these building industry source materials. Green Building Materials are composed of renewable, rather than nonrenewable resources. Green materials are environmentally responsible because impacts are considered over the life lif e of the product. Depending upon project‐specific goals, an assessment of green materials may involve an evaluation of one or more of the criteria listed below.

“GREEN BUILDING MATERIAL SELECTION CRITERIA” •

Resource efficiency

•

Indoor air quality

•

Energy efficiency

•

Water conservation

•

Affordability

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RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

Resource Efficiency can be accomplished by utilizing materials that meet the following criteria: •

RECYCLED CONTENT: Products with identifiable recycled content, including

postindustrial content with a preference for postconsumer content. •

NATURAL, PLENTIFUL

OR

RENEWABLE: Materials harvested from sustainably

managed sources and preferably have an independent certification (e.g., certified wood) and are certified by an independent third party. •

RESOURCE EFFICIENT MANUFACTURING PROCESS: Products manufactured with

resource‐efficient processes including reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste (recycled, recyclable and or source reduced product packaging), and reducing greenhouse gases. •

LOCALLY AVAILABLE: Building materials, components, and systems found

locally or regionally saving energy and resources in transportation to the project site. •

SALVAGED, REFURBISHED,

OR

REMANUFACTURED: Includes saving a material

from disposal and renovating, repairing, restoring, or generally improving the appearance, performance, quality, functionality, or value of a product. •

REUSABLE OR RECYCLABLE: Select materials that can be easily dismantled and

reused or recycled at the end of their useful life. •

RECYCLED OR RECYCLABLE PRODUCT PACKAGING: Products enclosed in recycled

content or recyclable packaging. •

DURABLE: Materials that are longer lasting or are comparable to

conventional products with long life expectancies. INDOOR AIR Q UALITY UALITY (IAQ)

Indoor air quality is enhanced by utilizing materials that meet the following criteria: •

LOW

OR

NON‐TOXIC: Materials that emit few or no carcinogens,

reproductive toxicants, or irritants as demonstrated by the manufacturer through appropriate testing.

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PRMG 030 Project Budgeting & Financial Control •

Dr. Tarek Saker

MINIMAL CHEMICAL EMISSIONS: Products that have minimal emissions of

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Products that also maximize resource and energy efficiency while reducing chemical emissions. •

LOW‐VOC ASSEMBLY: Materials installed with minimal VOC‐producing

compounds, or no ‐VOC mechanical attachment methods and minimal hazards. •

MOISTURE RESISTANT: Products and systems that resist moisture or inhibit

the growth of biological contaminants in buildings. •

HEALTHFULLY MAINTAINED: Materials, components, and systems that

require only simple, non ‐toxic, or low‐VOC methods of cleaning. •

SYSTEMS OR EQUIPMENT: Products that promote healthy IAQ by identifying

indoor air pollutants or enhancing the air quality. ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficiency can be maximized by utilizing materials, components, and systems that help reduce energy consumption in buildings and facilities. WATER CONSERVATION

Water Conservation can be obtained by utilizing products and systems that help reduce water consumption in buildings and conserve water in landscaped areas. AFFORDABILITY

Affordability can be considered when building product life ‐cycle costs are comparable to conventional materials or as a whole, are within a project ‐ defined percentage of the overall budget.

“THREE BASIC STEPS OF PRODUCT SELECTION ” Product selection can begin after the establishment of project ‐specific environmental goals. The environmental assessment process for building products involves three basic steps. •

Research

•

Evaluation

•

Selection

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1. RESEARCH

This step involves gathering all technical information to be evaluated, including manufacturers' information such as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) test data, product warranties, source material characteristics, recycled content data, environmental statements, and durability information. In addition, this step may involve researching other environmental issues, building codes, government regulations, building industry articles, model green building product specifications, and other sources of product data. Research helps identify the full range of the project’s building material options. 2. EVALUATION

This step involves confirmation of the technical information, as well as filling in information gaps. For example, the evaluator may request product certifications from manufacturers to help sort out possible exaggerated environmental product claims. Evaluation and assessment is relatively simple when comparing similar types of building materials using the environmental criteria. For example, a recycled content assessment between various manufacturers of medium density fiberboard is a relatively straightforward "apples to apples" comparison. However, the evaluation process is more complex when comparing different products with the same function. Then it may become necessary to process both descriptive and quantitative forms of data. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an evaluation of the relative "greenness" of building materials and products. LCA addresses the impacts of a product through all of its life stages. Although rather simple in principle, this approach has been difficult and expensive in actual practice (although that appears to be changing). One tool that uses the LCA methodology is BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) software. It allows users to balance the environmental and economic performance of building products. The software was developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Building and Fire Research Laboratory.

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3. SELECTION. This step often involves the use of an evaluation matrix for scoring the project‐specific environmental criteria. The total score of each product evaluation will indicate the product with the highest environmental attributes. Individual criteria included in the rating system can be weighted to accommodate project ‐specific goals and objectives.

“RECYCLED MATERIALS” 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. Any good dimension stone is similarly reclaimed. 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 a fer 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.

“LOWER VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS” 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 or cellulose insulation, rather than the building insulation materials that may contain carcinogenic or toxic materials such as formaldehyde. To discourage insect damage, these alternate insulation materials may be treated with boric acid. Organic or milk ‐based paints may be used. However, a common fallacy is that "green" materials are always better for the health of occupants or the environment. Many harmful substances (including formaldehyde, arsenic, and asbestos) are naturally occurring and are not without their histories of use with the best of intentions. A study of emissions from materials by the State of California has shown that there are some green materials that have substantial emissions whereas some more "traditional" materials actually were lower emitters. Thus, the subject of 16 of 21


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emissions must be carefully investigated before concluding that natural materials are always the healthiest alternatives for occupants and for the Earth. Volatile organic compounds (VOC ( VOC)) can be found in any indoor environment coming from a variety of different sources. VOCs have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility and are suspected of causing sick building syndrome type symptoms. This is because many VOCs have been known to cause sensory irritation and central nervous system symptoms characteristic to sick building syndrome, indoor concentrations of VOCs are higher than in the outdoor atmosphere, and when there are many VOCs present, they can cause additive and multiplicative effects. Green products are usually considered to contain less VOCs and be better for human and environmental health. A case study conducted by the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Miami that compared three green products and their non ‐green counterparts found that even though both the green products and the non ‐green counterparts both emitted levels of VOCs, the amount and intensity of the VOCs emitted from the green products were much safer and comfortable for human exposure.

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THE VALUE OF GREEN BUILDINGS Green buildings were once the domain of visionary architects and their rich clients, lets discuss why green construction and renovation may become standard building practice, and why paying more now saves money down the road.

Now more people and businesses opt for green buildings, I think it’s because there's an awareness of the importance of efficiency, conserving energy, and improving occupants' health. There's a push politically, and a lot of the building codes are now going toward green. It has also kind of become the cause to support in the entertainment industry. Many people are interested in doing their part for the environment, as well as improving their health. When they understand the benefits of low volatile organic compounds (VOC) carpets and paint, and how much that improves their home environment, there's a great deal of interest, especially when the cost of doing so is not much more than purchasing products that have those harmful chemicals in them. There's a lot of technology available to homeowners that can greatly improve their environment and health. It is also becoming much more available and the costs have come down. Every indication is that it is becoming the way of the future. I think we'll continue to move forward on energy conservation and environmental consciousness. On the commercial side, green buildings offer really profound economic value. Now in 2009, I think that people are almost getting panicky about energy prices, and that's driving them to look at ways of creating energy efficient buildings, operations, and automobiles. There's a much bigger sense of urgency about energy efficiency today than before. Is green construction construction and renovation renovation more expensive? expensive? It's hard to get an accurate estimate of the additional costs of building green. There are reports suggesting that it costs just as much to build green as a conventional building. But if a building owner puts in an alternative energy system, it's going to be more expensive. Alternative water systems are more expensive. So, much of the increased cost reflects how green you want your building to be.

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CONCLUSION My sense is that green building is going to become standard building practice. We need to be careful not to saturate green because people see it as potentially increasing costs in these hard economic times. This is actually going to save money, and it's not inherently more expensive. As long as that message goes out, I think we'll be seeing more and more green homes. I think it’s nice when you go into restrooms in businesses and airports, that instead of noticing, "Oh, it's green," you notice when it's not green. It has become so common that once you put your hands under the sink, the water comes out and turns itself off, that when you have a manual sink, you start thinking they are really behind the times. I don't know if I'm typical, but it is interesting that I'm starting to notice companies that are not green.

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REFERENCES 1. http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/ 2. h p://knowledge.allianz.com/en/globalissues/energy_co2/energy_e ﬃci ency/ 3. hp://greenconstructon.ca/?p=40 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_architecture 5. http://www.doityourself.com/stry/greenconstruction

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NOTES

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Green Construction

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