Green Building From the 1930’s through the 1960’s, the forward thinking cooling methods mentioned above gave way to some new History of Green Building building technologies that would change inner-city building construction dramatically. History of Green Building – Historical The invention of air conditioning, reflective Buildings glass, and structural steel popularized the enclosed glass and steel buildings that litter Green building is defined by the the American city today. These buildings Office of the Federal Environmental were able to be heated and cooled with Executive as “the practice of: 1) increasing the massive HVAC systems that consumed huge amounts of cheap and readily available fossil efficiency with which buildings and their sites 4 use energy, water, and materials, and 2) fuels. The massive consumption of energy reducing building impacts of human health required to inhabit these buildings made their and the environment, through better siting, viability tenable and entirely dependent upon design, construction, operation, maintenance, energy availability and cost. and removal throughout the complete life cycle.”1 While the green building movement History of Green Building – The has gained momentum in the last decade, the Infancy origin can be traced back to the late nineteenth century. Around the time that the “glass box” style high rise had become the icon of the According to David Gissen, curator of American city (circa 1970), a forward thinking group of architects, architecture and design and the National 5 Building Museum in Washington DC, environmentalists, and ecologists were structures such as London’s Crystal Palace and inspired by the growing environmental movement and the higher fuel costs that were Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II used 6 methods that decreased the impact of the prevalent during the 1970s. The genesis of structure on the environment. Systems such these two scenarios ultimately resulted in the as roof ventilators and underground air- modern build green movement. cooling chambers were used to regulate indoor air temperature.2 In the early The first Earth Day, celebrated in twentieth century, several skyscrapers such as April 1970, gave some credence to this new the Flatiron Building and the New York Times building concept, but the OPEC oil embargo Building in New York utilized deep-set of 1973 gave the burgeoning environmental windows and the Carson Pirie Scott movement, and subsequently the green build department store in Chicago had retractable effort, the kick start it needed. With gas lines awnings. Both of these techniques were stretching for blocks, some Americans began effective in controlling interior temperature to question the conventional wisdom that we should be so independently reliant upon fossil while lessoning the buildings’ impact on the 7 environment.3 fuels for our energy.

As a result of the oil embargo, amongst other energy concerns, the American

1Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, 4Building Design and Construction, “White Paper “The Federal Commitment to Green Building: on Sustainability”, page 4, November 2006 Experiences and Expectations,” 18 September 5Building Design and Construction, “White Paper 2003. on Sustainability”, page 4, November 2006 2Building Design and Construction, “White Paper 6http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/in_b on Sustainability”, page 4, November 2006 usiness/green_building.shtml 3Building Design and Construction, “White Paper 7Building Design and Construction, “White Paper on Sustainability”, page 4, November 2006 on Sustainability”, page 4, November 2006 Institute of Architects (AIA) formed a of everyday American society. Twenty-three Committee on Energy that was broken into years after the initial Earth Day, Bill Clinton two camps. “One group looked toward announced a plan to make the White House passive, such as reflective roofing materials the “model for efficiency and waste and environmentally beneficial siting of reduction.”12 buildings, to achieve energy savings, while the other concentrated more on technological The “Greening of the White House” solutions, such as the use of triple-glazed program was designed to improve “energy windows.”8 efficiency and environmental performance of As energy concerns subsided, the White House complex by identifying momentum for green building and the opportunities to reduce waste, lower energy environment, in general, slowed down, but a use, and make an appropriate use of dedicated core-group of architects continued renewable resources, all while improving the to push their green building concept forward. indoor air quality and building comfort.”13 In A couple of notable buildings constructed March 1996, it was reported that through the during the seventies which utilized concepts of first two years of the “Greening” project, green design are: The Willis Faber and Dumas more than $150,000 per year in energy and Headquarters in England, which utilized a water costs, landscaping expenses, and grass roof, day-lighted atrium, and mirrored expenditures associated with solid waste were windows; the Gregory Bateson Building in saved. Since 1996, $300,000 has been saved California, which used energy-sensitive annually due to additional projects. In all, photovoltaic (solar cells)9, under-floor rock- 845 metric tons per year of carbon emissions store cooling systems, and area climate- were eliminated during Clinton’s control devices.10 presidency.14

Through the late seventies, Some of the methods utilized to throughout the eighties, and into the early “green” the White House are as follows: nineties, much research was commissioned on 1. Building Envelope – decreasing energy energy efficient processes. This research lost through the roof, windows, walls, resulted in more effective solar panels, pre- etc. fabricated efficient wall systems, water- 2. Lighting – utilizing energy-saving light reclamations systems, modular construction bulbs and maximizing use of natural light. units, and direct usage of light through 3. Plug Loads – Energy-saving office windows in order to decrease day-time energy equipment was installed. Refrigerators consumption.11 and coolers were replaced with more energy-efficient models. History of Green Building – The 4. Waste – a comprehensive recycling Greening of the White House program was initiated. 5. Vehicles – leased many vehicles that When Bill Clinton was elected utilized cleaner burning fuels. President in 1992, the green build/sustainability communities began to toss around the idea of “Greening the White House” as a way to put their ideas on the radar

8Building Design and Construction, “White Paper 12Building Design and Construction, “White on Sustainability”, page 4, November 2006 Paper on Sustainability”, page 5, November 2006 9“Photovoltaic Fundamentals”, 13“The Greening of the White House”, www.fsec.ucf.edu/pvt/pvbasics http://clinton3.nara.gov/Initiatives/Climate/greeni 10Building Design and Construction, “White ngsummary.html Paper on Sustainability”, page 4, November 2006 14The Greening of the White House”, 11 Building Design and Construction, “White http://clinton3.nara.gov/Initiatives/Climate/greeni Paper on Sustainability”, page 4, November 2006 ngsummary.html 6. Landscaping – reducing unnecessary symbiotic relationship with nature that green water and pesticide usage.15 buildings possess.

History of Green Building – Where are The United States Green Build we Now? Council (USGBC) is the foremost leader and educator within the world of green building With the overwhelming success of the today. They are the sanctioning body for “Greening of the White House” other LEED, the program with which points are governmental institutions have since been awarded to various design applications within given a green makeover. The Pentagon, the a building ultimately resulting in LEED Presidio, and the U.S. Department of Energy, certification for the building. among others have gone green.16

The concepts of building green and, USGBC (The United States Green on a larger scale, sustainability are ideas that Build Council) & LEED we hear all of the time. These two concepts, (Leadership in Energy and however, are rarely properly understood. “Sustainability is a systemic concept, relating Environmental Design) to the continuity of economic, social, institutional and environmental aspects of USGBC human society, as well as the non-human environment. It is intended to be a means of The USGBC was created to promote configuring civilization and human activity so the design and construction of buildings that that society, its members and its economies are environmentally responsible, profitable, are able to meet their needs and express their and healthy places to live and work. They are greatest potential in the present, while focused on integrating building industry preserving biodiversity and natural sectors and leading a market transformation ecosystems, and planning and acting for the towards greener construction. The ability to maintain these ideals for a very long organization consists of various trade time. Sustainability affects every level of associations, architects, designers, and individuals all interested in the greening of the organization, from the local neighborhood to 18 the entire planet”.17 In short, the concept of construction business. sustainability refers to thinking holistically about how everything you do affects Between 1990 and 1995, the USGBC everything around you. It is an attempt to worked feverishly with the American Society minimize each person’s impact on the world. of Testing and Materials in order to create a rating system for sustainability. ASTM’s Today, green building is one of the rigorous consensus-based process moved fastest growing building and design concepts. much too slowly for the USGBC and in 1995 Every month new magazines are popping up it was determined that they would create their that report on this growing trend. Architects, own rating system to exist under the USGBC designers, and homeowners are becoming banner. A committee was formed to study infatuated with the cost saving possibilities, other green building programs currently in energy saving emphasis, modern look, and the existence and after three years LEED 1.0 unveiled.19 By 2003, LEED was refined down to its current form that is the talk of the construction and design communities. 15The Greening of the White House”, http://clinton3.nara.gov/Initiatives/Climate/greeni ngsummary.html 18 “An Introduction to the USGBC and LEED 16Building Design and Construction, “White Green Building Rating System”, www.usgbc.org Paper on Sustainability”, page 5, November 2006 19Building Design and Construction, “White 17 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability Paper on Sustainability”, page 7, November 2006 infrastructure protects green spaces and LEED preserves natural habitats and resources.

In short, LEED is a system for Material and Product Selection designing, constructing, and certifying green buildings. Buildings are classified as Certified, • Use building materials and products that Silver, Gold, or Platinum depending upon the contain post-consumer recycled content. number of points they acquire within 6 • 20 Support the regional economy by using building components : materials and products manufactured regionally. 1. Sustainable Sites • Encourage environmentally responsible 2. Water Efficiency forestry through the use of wood or 3. Energy and Atmosphere wood-based material that meets Forest 4. Materials and Resources Stewardship Council’s Principles and 5. Indoor Environmental Quality Criteria for wood building components. 6. Innovation and Design Process • Utilize rapidly renewable materials, such Within each of these categories, there are a as bamboo flooring, wool carpets, specific number of credits available via many strawboard, cotton ball insulation (made subcategories. LEED ratings are rapidly from denim scrap), genuine linoleum becoming boasting points for property owners flooring, or poplar oriented-strand board with property values of LEED certified (OSB). Using rapid renewables helps buildings skyrocketing. reduce the use and depletion of finite raw materials. LEED has been assisted in its success by the early adoption of many government Construction and Demolition Waste agencies. Today, however, it is mostly a Management market driven engine with the number of LEED registered projects growing each year. • Develop and implement a waste management plan that diverts a substantial amount of construction, demolition, and Characteristics of LEED Building land-clearing debris from landfills to recycling or salvage facilities. Site Design and Planning • Reuse a percentage of salvage or refurbished materials from construction, • Site a building within close proximity of demolition, or land clearing as new commuter rail or bus lines, to reduce building material. For more information pollution and any land-development on the benefits of salvaging materials from impacts associated with increased existing sites, go to automobile usage. www.deconstruction.com.

• Establish building specifications that Energy and Atmosphere maintain the current level of storm-water

runoff, or decrease the amount of • imperviousness already existing onsite. Generate building electricity on site, from renewable resources like geothermal, • Develop a site with a minimum density of solar, or biogas sources. 60,000 square feet per acre. Channeling • development to urban areas with existing Eliminate the use of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) in new heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC & R) systems. 20Building Design and Construction, “White Paper on Sustainability”, page 7, November 2006 Eliminating the use of CFCs reduces view opportunities can save energy costs ozone depletion. and enhance worker productivity. 21 • Contract with a green power provider to purchase building electricity generated from renewable resources, such as solar, Stone in Green Building wind, geothermal, biomass, or low- impact hydro sources. What is Stone’s Current Perception • Optimize energy performance. With the growing influence of green building, Water Management it is imperative that the natural stone industry does everything it can to position its product • Install water-efficient or low-flow as being green friendly. Despite what many of equipment and appliances in kitchens and us in the industry may think (natural stone is bathrooms to reduce water consumption. about as green as something can get), that perception is at odds with the prevailing • Use water-efficient irrigation, captured thought among the architecture and design rain, or site-recycled water for onsite communities. Much of these misconceptions landscaping. arise from the inaccurate idea that mining • Utilize innovative wastewater natural stone is somehow on par with strip technologies, such as treating waste water mining, an environmentally devastating on site or significantly decreasing the practice. amount of potable water used for sewage conveyance. One facet of LEED certification where natural stone stands out is in product Indoor Environment origin. A major tenant within the green community is that of supporting local • Design the HVAC system and building products and business. LEED points are envelope to provide for the most optimal available for products whose origin or delivery and mixing of fresh air. Effective manufacturing is within 500 miles of the air exchange supports the safety, comfort, building site. Regionally manufactured and and well-being of building occupants. extracted materials reduce environmental • Reduce the number of indoor air impact by lowering emittance of greenhouse contaminants by selecting paints and gasses during transportation while supporting coatings, adhesives, carpets, and local economies. Fortunately for the stone composite woods that emit low VOCs industry, there is a quarry site within 500 (volatile organic compounds) or none at miles of nearly everywhere in the United all. Examples of low VOC emitting States and Canada. products are carpets made of wool, carpets made of recycled plastic bottles, and low VOC paint. Future Areas of Emphasis • Establish segregated areas for chemical- using operations (such as copy/printing There are some areas where natural stone rooms and housekeeping); these areas should be an obvious choice for green should have separate outside exhaust and builders, but in which further research is no air recirculation. needed to prove the hypothesis: • Maximize day lighting and view • The enduring life cycle of natural stone opportunities. Day lighting and increased makes it a great green build option. Because stone has proven that over the

21http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/in_ business/green_building.shtml centuries it holds up to weathering and will, in turn, continue to further enhances time better than any other building natural stone’s position among the green material; one would think that less energy community. would be consumed by the initial fabrication and installation than in The Committee on Sustainability manufacturing and replacing another product. In order to properly position natural • The ease of care and maintenance stone, to research elements of building with involved with maintaining natural stone natural stone that would qualify for LEED applications should be very attractive to points, and to market the use of natural stone those in the green community. Harsh as a green product; the Natural Stone Council chemicals are not needed to either clean has commissioned a Committee on or finish stone. Sustainability. The NSC’s Committee on • The recyclability of natural stone is Sustainability will take the lead for the unequaled. Nearly 100% of stone from industry in ensuring that stone becomes a old projects and scrap stone are viable green building option. A couple of recyclable. early initiatives for the committee are These components of natural stone use need establishing a set of green best practices for to be studied and reported on adequately quarrying and fabrication. The committee is before the natural stone industry can go to the also pursuing the commissioning of studies to USGBC and request LEED certification research Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle points. Cost, Water Use Reduction, Construction Waste Management, and Material Reuse for Quarrying the Natural Stone Industry. While the initiatives being undertaken by the Committee In the past 15-20 years, the business on Sustainability are aggressive, they are of quarrying has been vastly cleaned up from greatly needed in order to ensure that stone an environmental perspective. Quarries today becomes a viable option for green building. are required to comply with a strict code of practice and are monitored by OSHA, the Quarry Reclamation Site List Bureau of Mines of the US Department of the Interior, EPA, the Department of Resources Quarry Park and Nature Preserve and Economic Development, and the Mine County of Stearns, MN Safety and Health Administration among http://www.co.stearns.mn.us/1450.htm others. This message needs to be spread throughout the entire construction industry. Halibut Point State Park Quarrying is not what it was 20 years ago and Gloucester, MA certainly not what it was 50 or 100 years ago. http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast /halb.htm Quarry reclamation projects have added to the ability of quarries to limit their The Quarry Golf Club long term impact on the environment. San Antonio, TX Today, many old quarries are being turned http://www.quarrygolf.com/ into golf courses, lakes, recreations areas, and state parks. A list of quarry reclamation Oak Quarry Golf Club projects appears at the end of this chapter as Riverside, CA examples of how old quarry sites can be http://www.oakquarry.com/ successfully utilized for the public good. Crystal Springs Quarry Golf Club As technology moves forward, the Maryland Heights, MO greening of quarrying will continue and this http://crystalspringsquarry.com/ http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/emerhis Old Quarry Nature Center t.cfm Danbury, CT http://www.danbury.org/oldquarry/

Quarry Lakes Regional Recreational Area Fremont, CA http://www.ebparks.org/parks/quarry.htm

Quarry Oaks Golf Club Ashland, NE http://www.quarryoaks.com/

Bomoseen State Park Fair Haven, VT http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/bomose en.cfm

Natural Bridge State Park North Adams, MA http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/ nbdg.htm

Elephant Rocks State Park Belleview, MO http://www.mostateparks.com/elephantroc k.htm

Canoe Creek State Park Hollidaysburg, PA http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/STATEPARKS /PARKS/canoecreek.aspx#history

Banning State Park Sandstone, MN http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/ba nning/index.html

Sleeping Giant State Park Hamden, CT http://www.sgpa.org/

Knightdale Environmental Education Park Knightdale, NC http://www.hsmm.com/UPLOADS/BD/N ews/20050427_013046/Art_Knightdale_Ln d%20Wtr_10%2004%20(final).pdf

Emerald Lake State Park East Dorset, VT