Sustainable ConstructionA Green Product Catalog

Table of Contents

• Sustainable Sites• Water Efficiency• Energy and Atmosphere• Materials and Resources• Indoor Environmental Quality• Awareness and Education

SUSTAINABLE SITES

Sustainable site development and landscaping involves preparing a physical site for construction and later planting and maintaining the site while lessening the impact on the environment.

Sustainable Site

Points of Interest…

1. Keep Healthy Sites Healthy

2. Heal Injured Sites

3. Favor Living, Flexible or Green Materials

4. Respect Water

5. Pave less

6. Consider Origin and Fate of Materials

7. Know the Cost of Energy over Time

8. Celebrate Light, Respect Darkness

9. Quietly Defend Silence

10. Maintain to Sustain

Geo Hay• GeoHay is a sustainable line of filtration products which aid in the control of erosion

and sediment. Our products are produced with 100% recycled carpet fibers and can be reused. GeoHay has been proven to be more efficient and more cost effective than many other products. All GeoHay products come with precut stake holes for easy installation and are non-biodegradable. Our products are produced in standard sizes, but can also be ordered to fit the specific needs of our customers.

• GeoHay is green not only because it is made from 100% recycled carpet fibers, but also because it will last the length of one project and can be picked up, washed out, and placed on the next project.

EMS

• Environmental Management Systems• Deltalok® is a proven globally patented system consisting of modular Terra-Soft

Blocks (TSB) and interlocking plates that create a solid structure to resist earth movement.  In addition, Deltalok® can be seeded with local plants to create an attractive and eco-friendly vegetated installation.  Our modular Terra-Soft Block™ system is constructed in sections, making it easy to build a natural-looking, uniform face that blends with the local environment.  Deltalok® creates mini “eco-pockets” between each row and each bag where moisture can accumulate, allowing seeds to germinate and thrive on the constructed surface.  This vegetated growth creates a root system that penetrates and intertwines through the Deltalok® TSB system and adds to its structural integrity.

• Friendly to Fish & Wildlife• Low Environmental Impact (Low Carbon Footprint)

• Accepts Many Types of Vegetation• Does Not Reflect or Emit Radiant Heat

(Unlike Concrete or Masonry)• Noise Reduction and Noise Absorption

Rainwater Renewal Garden

• Solve water problems naturally and beautifully with Agrecol Rainwater Renewal Gardens. Rainwater Renewal™ Gardens reduce harmful runoff – especially the large amounts of water flowing from roofs and parking lots – cleanse the water, and return it back to groundwater storage – naturally.

What is a Rain Garden?

 A rain garden is a shallow depression designed to capture and soak up stormwater runoff from hard-surface areas around your home or business.  Runoff from driveways, sidewalks, even compacted lawn areas is considered one of the main sources of water pollution nationwide.  More and more development increases paved surfaces.  Stormwater runoff from parking lots, sidewalks, driveways and rooftops empties quickly into storm drains and surface waters.  Rain gardens capture runoff, allowing it to soak into the ground.

Pave Drain• PaveDrain®

For centuries it has been known that the arch is the strongest shape known to man. By incorporating the arch at the core of an articulating concrete block, PaveDrain® provides many benefits over traditional paving methods. The arch functions as an internal storage chamber for stormwater runoff in extreme conditions, but it also enhances the block’s overall strength and reduces its weight for increased shipping per truckload. When assembled into mats, PaveDrain is easy to install using conventional construction equipment, thereby minimizing construction time and costs for your paving project. PaveDrain incorporates a structural concept that has been utilized for centuries with modern day functionality to become the premier permeable paving surface on the market today.

• Porous Pavement BMP’s score at or near the top in virtually every major category. Infiltration systems can be considered 100 percent effective at removing pollutants in the fraction of water that is infiltrated, since the pollutants found in this volume are not discharged directly to surface waters. Quantifying the removal efficiency of infiltration systems, therefore can best be determined by calculating the percent of the average annual runoff volume that is infiltrated, and assuming 100 percent removal of pollutants found in that runoff volume.

WATER EFFICIENCY

USGBC.com “smarter use of water, inside and out. Water reduction is typically achieved through more efficient appliances, fixtures and fittings inside and water-wise landscaping outside.”

Water Efficient Shower Heads

Before you lather up, trade up your current shower head to a water-efficient shower head which helps reduce water consumption by up to 40%. Water-conserving shower heads are inexpensive, easy to install, and can save a family of four up to 17,000 gallons of water a year.

Low Flow Faucet

• The aerator—the screw-on tip of the faucet—ultimately determines the maximum flow rate of a faucet. Typically, new kitchen faucets come equipped with aerators that restrict flow rates to 2.2 gpm, while new bathroom faucets have ones that restrict flow rates from 1.5 to 0.5 gpm.

• Aerators are inexpensive to replace and they can be one of the most cost-effective water conservation measures. For maximum water efficiency, purchase aerators that have flow rates of no more than 1.0 gpm. Some aerators even come with shut-off valves that allow you to stop the flow of water without affecting the temperature. When replacing an aerator, bring the one you're replacing to the store with you to ensure a proper fit.

Low Flush Toilets

You want to buy a new toilet and you want to make sure it works properly. You may have heard horror stories about new ultra low flush toilets that only use 1.6 gallons of water per flush. But fear not! There are many excellent toilets available that work well and use much less water than the inefficient models of yesteryear.

Selecting a Toilet: Gravity vs. Pressure Assist• There are two basic types of toilets on the market for the residential

sector – gravity flush and pressure assist models. Most toilets (old and new) utilize a gravity flush mechanism, but pressure assist models are becoming increasingly popular as manufacturers strive to improve flushing effectiveness while using 1.6 gallons of water or less.

AQUS System

• The Sloan AQUS is based upon the premise that using fresh water to flush a toilet is unnecessary and wasteful. Our system takes the water that goes down the bathroom sink, filters and disinfects it, and uses it to flush the toilet. It does not cross connect to the fresh water system nor does it inhibit the backflow prevention. It simply uses reused water as the primary source for flushing the toilet then supplements it with fresh water, as needed. The system can save up to 6,000 gallons of fresh water per year and requires only annual maintenance.

Sloan Monitoring System

Sloan® Monitored Systems are plumbing control systems

that provide complete oversight and management of

network-connected plumbing fixtures. From either a desktop

PC or a hand-held Palm Pilot device, administrators can

automatically and immediately control operation of a single

toilet, lavatory or shower – or to all plumbing fixtures

throughout a facility. The product line includes the basic

controller, which can be network-connected to a series of

flush valves, lavatories and/or showers; manifolds, which

contain electronically activated solenoids for supplying hot,

cold and pre-tempered water; and various transformers, push

buttons and other operational components.

ENERGY AND ATMOSPHERE

USGBC.com “encourages a wide variety of energy strategies: commissioning; energy use monitoring; efficient design and construction; efficient appliances, systems and lighting; the use of renewable and clean sources of energy, generated on-site or off-site; and other innovative strategies.”

TED 5000• TED 5000 is a component installed into

your fuse box that monitors your power usage and relays that information via a small handheld device.

• Works with Google PowerMeter Intuitive, simple setup directly from Computer Compatible with Windows PC, Mac & Linux ! Wireless hand-held display Backlit display Rechargeable Battery - no batteries to change Accurate to within 2% User can customize displays Adjustable sensitivity - user can adjust down to ONE WATT ! View real-time energy data remotely via Internet or mobile device Optional Solar/Wind Package - Net-Metering capability Receives signal from multiple sources Ties into Home Automation Systems Stores detailed data for export to computer Accommodates all rate structures (flat, tiered, time-of-use, demand.)

Energy Hub

EnergyHub: EnergyHub makes a high-end energy dashboard that will offer Google Docs-style spreadsheets and graphs of resource use.  EnergyHub recently raised Series A funding and says it’s working on a 50-home pilot trial in an East Coast city with a yet-to-be-named utility.

Green Energy Options

Green Energy Options: Cambridge, UK-based Green Energy Options‘ home energy monitoring system, called the Home Energy Hub, comes in three display options: a small one-panel display, the Solo, which shows real-time pricing and consumption; the two-paneled Duet, which shows energy management of up to six appliances; and the Trio, which is a large touch screen that can monitor up to 100 sensors.

Google Powermeter

Google PowerMeter is a free energy monitoring tool that helps you save energy and money. Using energy information provided by utility smart meters and energy monitoring devices, Google PowerMeter enables you to view your home's energy consumption from anywhere online.

Shades of GreenReduce air conditioning costs with Silverscreen Fabric without sacrificing trade-offs. The performance table tells the story, standard 4% open fabrics in dark colors provide excellent view retention and glare protection, but less than optimal heat reduction. The fine layer of aluminum adhered to one side of a standard 4% openness screen assures consistent high performance regardless of color.

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

Green building materials are composed of renewable, rather than nonrenewable resources. Green materials are environmentally responsible because impacts are considered over the life 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.

Certified Wood

By absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, the world's forests play a key role in counteracting global warming. But the accelerating demand for lumber, fuel, and agricultural land worldwide is threatening the future of this valuable natural resource. Certification programs are designed to help conserve, protect and restore the world's forests by encouraging companies to adopt ecologically sound forestry practices and by helping consumers identify and select timber products that come from well-managed forests. There are several certification systems to choose from, each with its own standards, assessment procedures, and method of certification.

Engineered Lumber

A product created from small-diameter, fast-growing trees rather than old-growth timber, engineered lumber offers a practical substitute for solid wood framing. It turns small pieces of wood, combined with adhesives under heat and pressure, into strong, light, straight structural materials that typically achieve better structural characteristics than solid dimensional lumber.

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)

One of the concerns associated with particleboard and fiberboard in the past has been urea formaldehyde offgassing. A new generation of board is now available that is made with phenolic resins that do not offgas formaldehyde, yet are stronger than their predecessors. Agricultural fiberboards often use MDI binders, which do not contain formaldehyde, and may be preferable for indoor air quality.

pro clima INTELLO plus• Vapour check and airtight membrane

'pro clima INTELLO®PLUS features humidity-variable diffusion resistance that is particularly effective in all climate areas. It thereby gives maximum protection to thermal insulation when moisture entry occurs in timber or steel frame structures, e.g. through leaks, damp building materials or diffusion through adjoining structural surfaces.

This means optimum moisture protection for all fibrous insulating materials in all constructions, whether they are vapour diffusion permeable or vapour diffusion resistant externally such as pitched roofs with bitumen sheeting or metal sheet roofing, flat or green roofs and walls with diffusion resistant exterior cladding.

Poly-Encapsulated Building Insulation

• Johns Manville Poly-Encapsulated Insulation is wrapped in plastic for a more comfortable installation with less itch and dust. Its core is a naturally white, Formaldehyde-free™ fiber glass insulation with R-values up to R-38 and superior acoustic properties to reduce sound transmission through interior and exterior walls, ceilings and floors.

Fly Ash in Concrete

• Fly ash is a fine, glass-like powder recovered from gases created by coal-fired electric power generation. U.S. power plants produce millions of tons of fly ash annually, which is usually dumped in landfills. Fly ash is an inexpensive replacement for portland cement used in concrete, while it actually improves strength, segregation, and ease of pumping of the concrete. Fly ash is also used as an ingredient in brick, block, paving, and structural fills.

Non-Toxic PaintsSummary

Indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air, and according to the EPA, is considered one of the top 5 hazards to human health. Paints and finishes are among the leading causes.

Paints and finishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application. The source of these toxins is a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which, until recently, were essential to the performance of the paint.   New environmental regulations, and consumer demand, have led to the development of low-VOC and zero-VOC paints and finishes. Most paint manufacturers now produce one or more non-VOC variety of paint. These new paints are durable, cost-effective and less harmful to human and environmental health.

Benefits

Health. Reduced toxins benefit everyone, including those with allergies and chemical sensitivities.

Environment. Reduces landfill, groundwater and ozone depleting contaminants.

Effective. Low-VOC products perform well in terms of coverage, scrub ability and hide ability (covering flaws on previous coats).

Water-Based. Easy cleanup with soap and warm water.

Little or No Hazardous Fumes. Low odor during application; no odor once cured. No off-gassing. Painted areas can be occupied sooner, with no odor complaints.

Not Deemed Hazardous Waste. Cleanup and disposal greatly simplified.

Structural insulated panels

SIPs are a composite building material. They consist of an insulating layer of rigid polymer foam sandwiched between two layers of structural board. The board can be sheet metal, plywood, cement or oriented strand board (OSB) and the foam either expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), extruded polystyrene foam (XPS) or polyurethane foam.

SIPs share the same structural properties as an I-beam or I-column. The rigid insulation core of the SIP acts as a web, while the OSB sheathing exhibits the same properties as the flanges. SIPs combine several components of conventional building, such as studs and joists, insulation, vapor barrier and air barrier. They can be used for many different applications, such as exterior wall, roof, floor and foundation systems.

Construction Waste Recycling

What to Recycle• Appliances and fixtures• Brush and Trees• Cardboard and Paper• Lumber and Plywood (in reusable form)• Masonry (in reusable form or as fill)• Metals• Plastics – numbered containers, bags and sheeting• Roofing (in reusable form)• Windows and Doors

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

(IEQ) is a term referring to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants.

IAQ can be affected by microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria), gases (including carbon monoxide, radon, volatile organic compounds), particulates, or any mass or energy stressor that can induce adverse health conditions. Indoor air is becoming an increasingly more concerning health hazard than outdoor air. Using ventilation to dilute contaminants, filtration, and source control are the primary methods for improving indoor air quality in most buildings.

Good Design, Construction, and Operation and Maintenance

• "source control" is practiced, not only during building construction, but also over the life of the building

• HVAC systems may be designed to isolate operations (kitchens, dry cleaners, etc.) from other occupancies

• cleaning staff can also avoid creating IEQ problems by choosing less noxious materials during repair and cleaning activities

• O&M staff ensures that pressure differentials are maintained to avoid the undesirable flow of contaminants from one space to another

Value Aesthetic Decisions

• Appreciate the importance of providing windows in all occupied spaces for view and natural ventilation

• Design spaces around basic human needs, ancient preferences, and connections to the patterns of nature and the mind

• Demand that individual buildings or facilities are consciously integrated into their natural and man-made context

Provide Thermal Comfort

• Design the ventilation system to exceed ASHRAE Standard 62: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. Implement a construction management program that ensures key ventilation components are protected from contamination during construction.

• Commission HVAC systems to ensure they operate and perform as designed. This will ensure that adequate ventilation rates have been achieved prior to initial occupancy.

• HVAC system should be installed with filters with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 7. Investigate the use of separate outside air and conditioned air distribution systems

• During operation, replace filters on periodic basis.

Prevent Airborne Bacteria, Mold, and Other Fungi

• Carefully consider the envelope of the building to prevent moisture infiltration.

• Investigate immediately when there is a moisture condition, either from a leak or flood.

• Ensure the number of spores in the indoor air is less than the outdoor air. It is recommended that there should be less than 700 spores in a cubic meter of air.

Avoid the Use of Materials High in Pollutants

• Limit the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in such products as cleaners, paints, sealants, coatings, and adhesives.

• Avoid products containing formaldehyde, i.e., carpet, wall panels, cabinetry.

• Remove asbestos-containing material or contain it in a manner that precludes the possibility of future exposure. In areas where it is prevalent, include measures to control and mitigate radon buildup. Create safe, convenient, and secure storage spaces for housekeeping chemicals.

Assure Acoustic Privacy and Comfort

• Minimize noise through the use of sound-absorbing materials, high sound transmission loss walls, floors, and ceilings, and equipment sound isolation

• Consider sound masking systems. These systems introduce an unobtrusive background sound that reduces interference from distracting office noise.

• Avoid the use of small diameter ducts with high velocity airflow.

Create a High—Performance Luminous Environment

• Use day lighting for ambient lighting wherever feasible. • Supplement natural light with integrated, high-

performance ballasts, lamps, fixtures, and controls. • Substitute magnetic fluorescent lamps with high-

frequency electronic ballasts to reduce flickering. • Reduce direct glare from both natural and man-made

sources in the field of view—particularly in spaces with highly reflective surfaces, such as visual display terminals (VDTs).

• Use light color on walls and locate windows properly.

Air Seal and Insulation

• Sealing and insulating the "envelope" or "shell" of your home -- its outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors -- is often the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort.

• ENERGY STAR estimates savings of up to 20% on heating and cooling costs (or up to 10% of the total annual energy bill) by sealing and insulating properly.

• Use a seal under the walls of the home where it sits on the foundation. This prevents air losses and leaks which can zap a home of heating and cooling causing high energy bills

• All homes should be wrapped with house wrap; all seams and connections to windows and doors should be taped

AWARENESS AND EDUCATION

USGBC: “encourage home builders and real estate professionals to provide homeowners, tenants and building managers with the education and tools they need to understand what makes their home green and how to make the most of those features.”

USGBC: LEED Curriculum

• Education and training developed by USGBC provide you with essential knowledge of the LEED rating systems at all learning levels.

Third Party Education Providers

• Elementary, Middle, and High Schools• College and University• Vocational and Professional Colleges• Workshop programs in communities• Websites• Community programs and collaborative

Get into it!

Information and enthusiasm about sustainability can be disseminated throughout the community by engaging students both inside and outside the classroom. Teachers can incorporate sustainability issues into the existing curricula, school facilities managers can work with students and staff to green school facilities and operations, and school policies and programs can be established to teach students environmental stewardship.

Success? Creation of a sustainability team made up of school administrators, teachers, staff, facilities managers, and student leaders at every public school.

Schools and Communities

Sustainable School Initiatives may include: • Local and Sustainable Food Programs• Composting Programs• Green Purchasing• Waste Reduction & Recycling Programs• Energy & Water Audits and Action Plans (Somerset County Energy Audit Grant Program)• School Gardens and Outdoor Classrooms• Walking Bus Programs• Tracking Sustainability Indicators • Development of a Sustainable School Action Plan • Green Challenge Program

SPRING 2011Thank you for this opportunity!

PowerPoint presentation by

Sustainable Construction Class,

Spring 2011

Brady M. TurnerApril 26,2011