Defining Green Architecture A Headquarters for the National Energy Management Institute Darren L. Thomas Montana State University Bozeman, Montana May, 1992 Defining Green Architecture: Headquarters for the National Energy Management Institute by Darren L. Thomas "A professional paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Architecture" Approved: Professor Jerry Bancroft, Thesis Advisor Assoc. Professor Robert Pena, Committee Person Tom Wood, Director, MSU School of Architecture Montana State University Bozeman, Montana May, 1992 3- Statement of Permission to Copy In presenting this paper in partial fulfillment of the requirements of a Bachelor of Architecture degree at Montana State University, I agree that the library shall make it freely available for inspection and study. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of the paper for scholarly purposes may be granted by my Major Professor or in his absence by the Head of the Library. It is understood that any copying of this document for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Darren L. Thomas May, 1992 Acknowledgements I would like to thank the following people; Becky, my wife and partner, for her love and support. J.B. Bancroft & Rob Pena, my advisors and mentors, for their focus, insight, and patience. Joel, Peg, and Kerri, my friends, for their advice and inspiration. I would also like to thank Alex Mahler and Dale Brentrup for providing me with the desire to work harder when I needed it the most. And finally to Janie, Linda, and Jan for bringing order to chaos. Contents Page 1 Prologue 3 Introduction 5 Goals / Objectives Holistic Project 6 Program Context National Energy Management Inst. Functional Requirements General Site Description Site Context 10 Environmental Design Concerns Climate Data Existing Site Elements Hazardous Waste i Existing Buildings Railroad Tracks Transportation Issues Aesthetic Issues Materials Energy Systems Waste Water 20 Presentation 21 Evaluation 21 Summary 22 Epilogue 23 Appendix 24 Bibliography Prologue As with all memorable journeys this one has had its share of twists and turns. What began as a quest for the end-all solution to all of my environmental questions has ended far short of that idealistic goal. However, what has resulted from the past 5 months work has been both surprising and ultimately more rewarding than I had originally hoped for. That result being the development of an Ethic. This Ethic is an environmental one, based not just on opinion and emotion, but also on fact and reason. I believe this Ethic may become the most valuable lesson learned in the past five years because all of the other lessons gained may be couched within this Ethic. The foundations of this Ethic are based primarily on two readings. The first being an essay by Garrett Hardin entitled The Tragedy of the Commons in which the author eloquently uses the example of a New England town commons to illustrate how the negative actions of one person ultimately affects everyone including that person committing the actions. This can be used as a metaphor for what is happening on a larger scale in our world today. It also emphasizes the need to be aware of our own actions no matter how insignificant they may seem. The second reading that helped me to development my Ethic is the book entitled Deep Ecology edited by Michael Tobias. In this book two intuitions are introduced which are arrived at by deep questioning and illustrate the importance of moving to the philosophical and spiritual level of wisdom. These intuitions are Self Realization and Biocentric Equality. Self-Realization refers to the belief that "personal spiritual growth begins when we cease to understand or see ourselves as isolated and narrow competing egos and begin to identify with other humans from our family and friends to, eventually, our species." This understanding ultimately leads to a belief of organic wholeness in which all things on earth are related and equal. This belief of organic wholeness is based in the second intuition which is Biocentric Equality. "Biocentric equality is intimately related to the all-inclusive Self- Realization in the sense that if we harm the rest of Nature then we are harming ourselves. There are no boundaries and everything is interrelated. But insofar as we perceive things as individual organisms, the insight draws us to respect all human and non-human individuals in their own right as parts of the whole without feeling the need to set up hierarchies of species with humans at the top." All of this lead me to the development of my working definition of Green Architecture. (I must note that like most issues in Architecture this definition is by no means universally accepted. I consider this my personal definition.) My Green Architecture is a holistic approach to design that begins with the belief that a building is an integral part of its environment. That it impacts and is impacted on by its environment, and every effort should be made to lesson this impact. As a basis for a central organizing theme the building is viewed as a living organism in that it is created from the earth, it breaths in the surrounding air and exhaust it back into the environment, it consumes energy, creates waste, and ultimately returns to the earth from whence it came. Five basic issues were developed that aid in Green design. Those issues are Structure, Materials, Systems, Humans, and Site. When viewed from an organic perspective, that is, structure as skeleton, materials as skin, etc., these issues help to form a holistic Green solution to the design problem. In this way each element within the building can be scrutinized in terms of some organic counterpart. The intention here is that the ultimate solution more closely resemble natural systems and thereby be more integrated within its environment. What follows is an accounting of sorts of the journey we refer to as "Thesis". In effect this paper has been written by two people, the person I am now and the person I was five months ago. I realize now that most of what I previously wrote was the rambling ideals and intentions of a person just two weeks into his thesis project. As the work progressed the intent of my project changed from the desire for a practical design solution to the investigation of an issue, and ultimately to the development of my personal Ethic. In this resubmission I have included additions, changes and clarifications in italics as a way to illustrate the changes that have occurred. It is my desire that this paper become a map of my journey through Thesis. Darren Thomas Introduction "Truly Green Architecture is a holistic approach to design that engages a complex relationship between a building and its materials, systems, occupants, and surroundings." Deborah K. Dietch Editor, Architecture Magazine May, 1991 This original definition proved to be too grounded in Architecture to be useful as a truly Green definition. It is my intent to illustrate that by applying the principles of Green Architecture we can design living and working environments that are more energy conserving, safer, and healthier than the building of our recent past, without sacrificing the aesthetic qualities of design. The intent of my Thesis changed from one of applying the principles of Green Architecture to develop a practical design solution focusing on the available technology to one of just simply defining what is Green Architecture and then applying that definition to the design solution in a more holistic manner. The vehicle for this investigation is the competition sponsored by AIAS entitled "One Choice. One Earth.". This competition involves the design of the headquarters of the National Energy Management Institute to be located near Boston, Mass.. To demonstrate how Energy can be included in the design process I intend to use the concept of "embodied energy" to help make design decisions. The embodied energy, measured in Btu's, is the amount of energy to produce the materials used in construction and to put them in place. For example, take a five-ton steel beam delivered to a construction site. The energy invested in the iron through processing and fabricating is 257 million Btu's. Transporting the finished product to the site and installing it requires an additional 13 million Btu's. Thus, the embodied energy in a five-ton steel beam totals 270 million Btu's, which is equal to the energy contained in 2,000 gallons of gasoline. The concept of embodied energy as a design decision making tool was first developed in the early 70's by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a way of further validating the idea of keeping and renovating historic structures. In addition to quantifying the embodied energy of various building materials, three methods of assessment were developed and presented in the book "New Energy From Old Buildings". The most basic of these, the Concept Model, uses known Btu/sq ft. values as a means of determining the embodied energy in a given type of structure. While the concept of embodied energy promises to be an effective design decision making tool, it must be remembered that embodied energy is not the only factor to be considered. Issues such as functional requirements, availability and appropriateness of materials, site restraints, and aesthetics (human delight), to name just a few, must be weighed into the design equation. "Modern man does not experience himself as a part of nature but as an outside force destined to dominate and conquer it. He even talks of a battle with nature, forgetting that, if he won the battle, he would find himself on the losing side." Dr. Fritz Schumacher 1973 As was demonstrated by our recent willingness to fight a war to protect our foreign oil interests, the U.S. has become too dependent on non-renewable energy resources. It is time that we break this dependence, once and for all, before it's too late. Going to war over oil is not the primary consequence of not designing Green Architecture. It is only one of many potential consequences of continuing to view energy resources as inexhaustable. Large scale destruction of ecosystems will ultimately have a greater impact on our lives than any war ever fought. Since the 1940's, with improvements in lighting and environmental control systems, we have tended to create Architecture that reflects the attitude Dr. Schumacher refers to above and this Architecture has contributed to our dependence on non-renewable energy sources. A 1977 study conducted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in New York concluded that buildings built after 1940 consumed an average of 25% more energy per square foot than those built in the previous four decades. This was inspite of improvements in insulation and waterproofing technologies. Our attitude has been to use energy consuming technologies to handle all of a buildings internal environmental needs. The improvements in technology allowed us to design buildings that were, in a sense, fortresses built to isolate us from the natural environment. This practice is a reflection of a very old belief that humans were intended to be apart from nature and had the ability to control it. This is in direct contradiction to the Green approach. The practice of designing buildings that were totally isolated from their natural environments has contributed to the condition of many work places today known as "sick building syndrome". The National Trust for Historic Preservation also concluded that construction of new buildings accounts for more than 5% of the total U.S. energy use each year. On the average, 15% of the energy required for building construction, which is equivalent to 100 million barrels of oil, is used directly on the job site, for fuels to run equipment and by the people involved in the labor. The remaining 85% is embodied energy, equivalent to 500 million barrels of oil a year in the U.S.. This is enough energy to fuel all of the cars in the Washington D.C. area for 20 years. When the energy for maintenance and operating buildings is added in, the total energy consumed is approximately 38% of the Nations total energy consumption. Architects have the ability, through careful selection of materials and methods, to significantly reduce this energy consumption. Because of this ability to control energy use, I believe Architects have a social obligation to begin including Energy into the design process. This can be done by considering how much embodied energy is being wasted or saved in the proposal. By considering Architecture as a part of nature, that is, as a living , breathing organism, and not as an environmental fortress, we have the ability to significantly reduce the amount of energy consumed in the building and operating of Architecture. And in the process we can create better places to live and work. Goals / Objectives Holistic Goals To seek a definition of "Green" as it is applied to Architecture. To explore environmental and energy related issues as they relate to the built environment. To gain an understanding of the issues related to Green Architecture. To develop these findings into a practical design methodology which can be used in the in the practice of Architecture. Project Goals To achieve Architecture which co-exists within its surroundings by; * Striving to minimize damage to the environment during the construction phase. * Choosing materials and built forms which cause no danger to the health and well being of the buildings users or its site. * Choosing methods and materials which conserve energy and natural resources. * Using methods which manage solid and liquid wastes effectively. * Making creative use of alternative, renewable energy resources. * Incorporating durable, long lasting materials. * Avoiding materials from threatened species or environments. * Developing a project that has the potential to be recycled at the end of its useful life. Program Context National Energy Management Institute (NEMI) The National Energy Management Institute is a combined public and private non­ profit organization whose policy is to provide public service through sound research in energy and the environment. Its research focuses on problem that are of significant concern to public health, welfare, and safety. The Institute directly supports teams of national and international researchers, scientists, graduate students, and visiting professionals. Its focus is to bring together and foster stronger and more effective research in the energy and environmental fields by bridging public and private resources and needs. It also provides, through its resource library, workshops, and lecture series ongoing public awareness and education of our current indoor and outdoor environmental and energy problems. As a building which houses an organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, sustaining our planet, and furthering our ability to understand the fragile environment in which we live, the National Energy Management Institute building should be a shining example of new technologies and good old common sense on how best to blend the built environment with the natural environment. The new headquarters is to be comprised of administrative areas, research offices, an academic wing with research labs and lecture rooms, conference rooms, and a large theatre. Housing for the scientist and researchers will include a dining facility, visiting VIP quarters and dormitory. The buildings energy conservation technologies, indoor air quality, material selection, and building systems are to be inspiring and demonstrate that environmentally responsible architecture does not put any compromising limits on aesthetics. Functional Program Requirements The following square footages are for schematic reference only. As the design evolves modifications will be made as the need arises. Entry Reception Desk / Lobby Display Space 1,500 s.f. 1,000 s.f. Administrative Wing Director's Office Administrative Assistant Public Relations (2 @ 120 ea.) 300 s.f. 150 s.f. 240 s.f. Administrative Secretaries (3 @ 80 ea.) 240 s.f. Energy & Environmental Dept. Heads (6 @ 180 ea.) 1,080 s.f. Administrative Staff Offices (9 @ 150 ea.) 1,350 s.f. Staff Secretaries (6 @ 60 ea.) 360 s.f. Administrative Interns (6 @ 80 ea.) 480 s.f. Visiting Professionals (3 @ 120 ea.) 360 s.f. Printing, Copy, FAX Room 150 s.f. File Storage Area 300 s.f. Academic Wing Academic Staff (9 @ 150 ea.) 1350 s.f. Academic Interns (6 @ 80 ea.) 480 s.f. Visiting Professionals (3 @ 120 ea.) 360 s.f. Academic Secretaries (6 @ 60 ea.) 360 s.f. Lecture Rooms (3 @ 400 ea.) 1,200 s.f. (3 @ 200 ea.) 600 s.f. Research Labs * (4 @ 500 ea.) 2,000 s.f. Art / Photo Lab 200 s.f. Printing, Copy, FAX Room 150 s.f. File Storage 300 s.f. Library / Research Center 1,000 s.f. (req'd to be accessible to the public) * The research labs will be used for a variety of uses; i.e. computer modeling, materials testing, air quality testing, etc.. Lab spaces should be flexible for adaptive use. Conference Rooms Large (50 people) 400 s.f. Small (12 people) 200 s.f. Theater / Auditorium 1,000 s.f. Provide access for public in the evenings (with separate restroom facilities for both sexes) so entire building does not have to be accessible. Dining Facilities Indoor Seating Area 500 s.f. Outdoor Seating Area 250 s.f. Serving Area 100 s.f. Kitchen 200 s.f. Storage 80 s.f. Restrooms 40 s.f. Visiting Lecturers Quarters Intern Studios (4 @ 500 ea.) 2,000 s.f. One Bedroom Units (4 @ 800 ea.) 2,400 s.f. Two Bedroom Units (2 @ 1000 ea.) 2,000 s.f. Circulation & Mechanical Space Circulation (includes stairs & elevators) Toilet Rooms (include 2 showers & 16 lockers for each sex) Janitors Closet (2 @ 50 ea.) Mechanical Room(s) Electrical Room(s) Telephone / Data Shipping / Receiving Room Service Docks / Dumpsters Recycling Facilities Green House 6,500 s.f. 800 s.f. 100 s.f. 2,000 s.f. 500 s.f. 500 s.f. 200 s.f. As Required As Required As Required APPROX. BUILDING TOTAL 35,000 s.f. Public Gardens On-site Parking Requirement 1/4 acre min. 60 cars min. General Site Description Allston Landing, approximately 8 acres of river front property now cluttered with rail yards and turnpike ramps, is a loosely defined area along the Charles River in the Allston/Brighton region of Boston. The site consists of land currently owned by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, which contains a truck terminal and several light industrial facilities, as well as parts of the on-off ramps from the turnpike. The existing buildings consist of primarily steel industrial type construction. Site design will play an equal role with building design. Because the site is so large, opportunities exist for public open space, linking the nearby residential neighborhood to the river, and continuing and strengthening the continuous public park along the river. Site Context To the east of the project site, access to the Charles River is prevented by a two- lane depressed portion of Storrow Drive, as well as two lanes of surface traffic on either side of the depressed cut. Public open space here is limited to a narrow sidewalk running alongside the highway. To the north of the project site is the campus of the Harvard Business School, and beyond that the Harvard University stadium and other athletic facilities. The campus of the Business school is a linked series of quadrangles, impeccably landscaped, and defined by three- and four-story brick Georgian Revival buildings. The campus was planned and designed by McKim, Meade, and White in the 1920's. The southern edge of the campus, directly across Western Avenue from the project site, consists of a dormitory complex and a parking structure, both clad in brick, but considerably larger in scale than the original buildings. The river bank in front of the Business school is a wide grassy lawn, linked by a footbridge to the more heavily used Cambridge side of the river. To the west of the site is a residential neighborhood, part of the Allston/Brighton part of the city. Settled as farmland in the 1600's and known as Boston's "wild west" when it had a bustling cattle market in the 19th century, Allston/Brighton is a residential neighborhood of great variety and appeal. Its housing stock includes single and two-family homes dating from the late Victorian era to the 1950's, triple-deckers, and imposing five- and six-story turn-of-the-century apartment buildings along the main thoroughfare. Much of the neighborhoods today house college students from nearby Boston College and Harvard, as a cheaper alternative to Cambridge. Residents of the neighborhoods are particularly concerned about the density and use of any development on the project site, they favor a direct link between neighborhood and the public open space along the river. To the south of the site, directly across Cambridge Street, is the 14-story Guest Quarters Suite Hotel, an expensive, business-oriented hotel, which is the tallest and most prominent building in this part of the city. Beyond the hotel is a large underdeveloped area, consisting of the Massachusetts Turnpike and Conrail train yards. This area will probably also see future development. As part of the context, it should also be considered that this area provides several physical and visual "gateways". The River Street bridge (one-way, eastbound) is a major entry point from Boston and the Massachusetts Turnpike into Cambridge. The Western Avenue bridge (one-way, westbound) is a major entry point from Cambridge into this part of Boston. And the prominent height and bulk of the Guest Quarters Suite Hotel helps mark the western edge of Boston to travelers on the turnpike. The site became a major factor during the schematic phase and continued to affect decisions throughout the completion of the design. I feel that this will become characteristic of my future attempts at Green Architecture. By focusing on the site and allowing it to be the basis for major design decisions it forces the designer to become aware of the buildings natural environment. Environmental Design Considerations Climate Data Boston Bozeman Latitude 42*2'* 46*0'* Longitude 71 0' 110 0' Elevation 15' 4795' Avg. Winter Temp. (Oct.-Apr.) 40 F 30 F Avg. Summer Temp. (May-Sept.) 68 F 51 F Avg. Relative Humidity 70% 70% Avg. Annual Precip. 43" 24" Avg. Wind Speed 14 mph NA Wind Direction Winter NW NA Summer sw NA Annual % Clear Sky 26% NA Cloudy Sky 48% NA Partly Cloudy 26% NA (source: Climatic Atlas of the U.S.) Existing Site Elements Hazardous Waste: Because the site has a history of being used for truck terminals and light industrial facilities, it can be assumed that there is a strong possibility that hazardous wastes exist on the site. These wastes may be in the form of oils, fuels, solvents, or a variety of chemicals used in the manufacturing process. Wastes that are held in sealed containers are relatively easy to identify and dispose of. Wastes which have been spilled, whether accidentally or intentionally, have probably seeped into the ground and must be removed by approved methods. Before any decisions are made as to purchasing the site I would recommend that a hazardous waste survey be completed, and wastes identified be removed by approved methods to an approved hazardous waste landfill. This process will require relatively large amounts of energy to accomplish. However, this process is essential in order to insure that the site be safe for future users. Hazardous wastes are a legacy we will have to deal with far into the future. Existing Buildings: Six building£currently exist on the site, accounting for approximately 79,300 sq. ft.. All of the buildings are constructed of steel frames with steel siding and roofs. The gabled roofs are constructed of steel trusses. Each building foundation consists of a concrete grade beam around the perimeter with concrete slab on grade floors. The two smaller warehouses (6200 sq. ft.) located in the northwest corner of the site will remain and be converted into a neighborhood recycling center. These buildings will not be included in the following calculations because it has been decided to keep them. The existence of these buildings on the site presents an interesting dilemma which must be addressed before any further decisions are made. The intriguing question is, "What should be done with these buildings?" There are but three choices. Keep them and renovate to suit the programmatic needs, or demolish and remove them from the site and rebuild using new materials, or recycle the materials into the new project. To help make this decision I will use the issue of embodied energy. The Concept model developed by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation can be used to determine the energy consequences associated with each of the three choices. Because the Concept model does not account for the option of recycling I will first calculate the energy consequences of renovating or demolishing and constructing new buildings. Then I will introduce the issue of recycling. 1 1 The Concept model is the simplest method developed by the Advisory Council. It requires the least amount of information. Consequently, the results are generally correct but not precise. This model can be used to determine three factors; Embodied Energy: Based upon building type and gross size, a single calculation is required to determine the embodied energy of construction in both new and existing buildings, and the embodied energy associated with demolition. The model measures the embodied energy in materials for existing buildings in terms of the amount of energy required to replace them under present conditions, not the amount required to originally construct them. Demolition Energy: Based upon building type and gross size, a single calculation is required to estimate the amount of energy required to raze, load and haul away construction materials. Operational Energy: Based upon the building type, location, and gross size, a single calculation is required for an approximation of total annual operational energy required. This issue will not be addressed at this time. In order to clarify this issue it should be remembered that two types of embodied energy are determined using these formulas. These two types are "embodied energy invested" and "embodied energy expense". Invested embodied energy refers to the embodied energy contained within existing materials. For example, the embodied energy contained within the materials of the four warehouses on this site is considered invested embodied energy. When a building is demolished the invested embodied energy within its materials is lost and therefore becomes an embodied energy expense associated with demolition and new construction. Embodied energy expenses are those energy costs required to recycle, renovate, demolish, or construct a new building. The intent of the formulas developed by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation was to focus on embodied energy invested. The council does not make a distinction between invested and expense embodied energy. In other words, the Council would prefer a large expenditure of energy to renovate an existing building rather than see it demolished. The Council views any energy expended to save a building as energy invested. My intent in using these formulas is to focus on embodied energy expense. In other words, if it costs less in terms of energy to demolish a building and replace it with a new one I may be in favor of that decision. 1 2 The following are the four formulas used in the Concept model; (Tables 1 & 2 referred to in the formulas are located in the Appendix) 1. Embodied Energy (E.E.) Invested in Existing Buildings Information Required: * Building type * Gross sq. ft. Formula: E.E. = [gross sq. ft. of existing bldg.] x [invested energy / sq. ft. based on] building type from table 1 2. Demolition Energy (D.E.^ Expense for Existing Buildings Information Required: * Construction material type (light, medium, or heavy) * Gross sq. ft. Formula: D.E. = [gross sq.ft. of existing bldg.] x [demolition energy of materials/sq.ft.] from table 2 3. Embodied Energy fE.E.^ Expense &. Investment in Renovated Buildings This formula has been modified to account for the embodied energy expense associated with the percentage of the renovated building consisting of new materials. Information Required: * Building type * Gross sq. ft. * f l , the percentage of exis t ing mater ia ls remaining in the bui ld ing af te r renovation. The value of fl is largely a matter of judgment. * f2, the percentage of new materials required for renovation. The value of f2 is largely a matter of judgment. Formulas: E.E. = [gross sq. ft.] x [invested energy/sq. ft. for type of ] x [ fl ] existing bldg. from table 1 = embodied energy invested E.E. = [gross sq. ft] x [invested energy/sq. ft. for type of] x [ f2 ] new building from table 1 = embodied energy expense 4. Embodied Energy fE.E.') Investment in New Buildings Information Required: * Building type * Gross sq. ft. Formula: E.E. = [gross sq. ft. of new building] x [invested energy/sq. ft. by] type from table 1 Now I will first use these formulas to determine the energy consequences of either renovating the existing buildings or replacing them with new buildings. The following are known values that will be used in the calculations. Known Values: Gross sq. ft. of existing warehouses 73,100 sq. ft. Sq. ft. required by Competition Program 35,000 sq. ft. E.E. invested/sq. ft. of warehouse 560,000 Btu/sq. ft. (Table 1) Demolition energy required for 7,200 Btu/sq. ft. steel buildings. (Table 2) E.E. expense/sq. ft. in new buildings 1,855,000 Btu/sq.ft. (average of values for office and labs from Table 1) % of existing materials remaining after 50% renovation, (assumed) % of new materials required for renovation 50% (assumed) Given these known values the following can be determined regarding the energy expense associated with renovating the existing buildings or replacing them with new buildings; Embodied Energy Invested in Existing Materials: (formula 1) E.E. invested = [73,100 sq. ft.] x [560,000 Btu/sq.ft.] = 4.1 x 10° Btu's Demolition Energy Expense Required to Remove Existing Buildings: (formula 2) D.E. expense = [73,100 sq. ft.] x [7,200 Btu/sq. ft.] = 0.05 x 10'° Btu's Embodied Energy Investment & Expense to Renovate: (formula 3) E.E. invested = [73,100 sq. ft.] x [ 560,000 Btu/sq. ft.] x [50%] = 2.05 x 1010 B tu's E.E. expense = [73,100 sq. ft.] x [1,855,000 Btu/sq. ft.] x [50%] = 6.78 x 10'° Btu's If 50% of the existing materials are replaced during renovation then the embodied energy invested in those materials is lost and therefore becomes an embodied energy expense. Therefore, the total E.E. expense to renovate is; Total E.E. expense = [6.78 x 10'° Btu's] + [50% of 4.1 x 10'° Btu's] = 8.83 x 10'° Btu's Embodied Energy Expense for New Building: (formula 4) E.E. expense = [35,000 sq. ft.] x [1,855,000 Btu/sq. ft.] = 6.5 x 10'° Btu's In order for a new building to be constructed the existing buildings must be demolished, therefore losing all of the embodied energy invested in these materials, thereby becoming an embodied energy expense. In order for the E.E. expense for New Buildings to truly reflect the energy costs involved, the D.E. expense and the E.E. expense of the lost materials must be included; Total E.E. expense = [6.5 x 10'° Btu's] + [0.05 x 10'° Btu's] + [4.1 x 10'° Btu's] = 10.65 x 10'° Btu's As is evident from these calculations, there is a lower expenditure of energy required to renovate the existing buildings (8.83 x 10'° Btu's) than to demolish and replace them with a new building (10.65 x 10'° Btu's), but only by a difference of 4.15 x 10'° Btu's. This difference could have been increased had I not assumed that the entire 73,000 sq. ft. of existing buildings were to be renovated. However, if all of the buildings had not been renovated there would have been an additional energy expense from demolition added to the energy expense of renovation. If renovation or demolition and new construction were the only two options available I would be stuck with a difficult decision. It would be very difficult to renovate the existing buildings to meet the programmatic needs set forth for the National Energy Management Institute. Also, as a Green designer, it would be difficult to justify the energy expense required to build a new building using new materials. 1 5 Fortunately, as any designer knows, there is always another solution. This solution is to recycle a high percentage of the existing building materials into the new building. By doing so the embodied energy invested in the existing building will not be lost because the building materials will be reused. This, in turn, reduces the embodied energy expense required to construct the new building because fewer new materials will be required. The option to recycle requires some new assumptions; * The system of recycling building materials would be based on the system now used by the auto salvage industry. A nationwide computer inventory could be established to act as a clearinghouse for recyclable building materials. * It is assumed that the demolition energy expense would be reduced by 40%. This assumption is based on the fact that 70% of the demolition energy expense in incurred in transportation. Under this option of recycling, transportation energy costs will still be incurred by bringing additional materials to the site and removing excess existing materials. Because 73,000 sq. ft. of materials are available on the site I feel a 40% reduction in demolition energy expense is conservative. * It is assumed that 60% of the new building will be constructed of recycled materials. This means that new materials required will be reduced by 60%. * It is assumed that 80% of the existing building materials will be recycled either in the new building or in some other building at another site. Recyclable materials not used in the new building would enter the inventory of recycled materials controlled by the computer inventory system. 20% of the embodied energy invested in the existing materials would be lost in the form of non-recyclable materials. This 20% therefore becomes an embodied energy expense associated with recycling. This energy expense would not have occurred had the materials not already been on the site. * The energy to provide the additional labor required by recycling has not been included. This is because the calculations required to determine the labor in embodied energy of materials are very complex and are beyond the scope of what my intentions are here. However, I do feel that the energy impact resulting from any additional labor involved in recycling would be far less than the environmental impact resulting from the demand for new materials. In other words, the simple act of dismantling a steel building frame and transporting it to another site may eliminate the need for opening a new iron ore mine. Based on these assumptions and the values previously determined, the following can be determined; Embodied Energy Expense Due To Loss Of Non-Recvclable Materials: E.E. expense = [EJE.invested in existing materials] x [% of existing materials] from formula 1 that are non-recyclable = [4.1x10'° Btu's] x [20%] = 0.8 x 10'° Btu's Embodied Energy Expense Due To New Material: E.E. expense = [E.E. expense for new material] - [% of material in new bldg.] from formula 4 that is recycled = [6.5 xl0'°Btu's]-[60%] = 2.6 x 10'° Btu's Demolition Energy Expense for Recycling: D.E. expense = [D.E.expense to remove existing] - [assumed % reduction] materials, from formula 2 = [0.05 x 10'" Btu's] - [40 %] = 0.03 x 10'"Btu's Total Embodied Energy Expense for Recycling: Total E.E. expense = the total of the three energy expenses listed above = [0.8 x 10" Btu's] + [2.6 x 10'" Btu's] + [0.03 x 10'" Btu's] = 3.43 x 10" Btu's The total embodied energy expense for recycling is 3.43 x 10Btu's. This compares to an embodied energy expense of 8.83 x 10,c? Btu's for renovating the existing structures and an embodied energy of 10.65 x 10'" Btu's for new construction. Although it may not always hold true, I think it is very clear in this case that recycling saves a considerable amount of embodied energy expense while meeting all of the programmatic needs. For this reason I have chosen recycled materials as one of the major design determinants for the Headquarters of the National Energy Management Institute. 1 7 Railroad Tracks: There is an extensive system of railroad tracks existing on the site. The steel rails are to be removed and recycled as design elements within the proposed solution. The wooden ties are to be removed and recycled as landscape timbers. However, because these ties are typically treated with creosote, study is required to determine if there are any potential hazardous effects to the environment and humans if they are recycled. The use of recycled railroad track is most evident in the intention to use the steel to construct a pedestrian overpass over Storrow Drive to provide access to the Charles River. What would normally be considered an extravagant use of embodied energy, considering there are crosswalks for pedestrians already provided, the construction of this overpass would actually require very little additional energy to construct because it could be constructed of 100% recycled materials. Transportation Issues I intend to make design decisions that will encourage the use of energy conserving methods of transportation such as public busses, trains, carpooling, and bicycling. I cannot assume that the employees of NEMI will be inclined to use energy conserving transportation without providing convenient methods to do so. In the spirit of this intention I feel it is necessary to view the required 60 parking spaces as a worst case maximum. The most notable aspects of this issue is the placement of compact size parking spaces near the building and providing free photovoltaic energy to those people with electric cars. Anyone who drives a larger car must park farther away from the building as a deterrent to driving vehicles with lower fuel efficiencies. I have also made an attempt to make the use of public transportation, carpooling, and bikes as convenient as possible. Aesthetic Issues Because the site is surrounded on three sides by busy roads, the issue of noise will be of primary concern. Through careful consideration of building placement and landscaping the issues of sight, smell, and sounds will be addressed. Due to the fact that less than 10% of the site will contain buildings I intend to develop the majority of the site for public use. This will include developing public access to the river from the site. Through careful consideration of building placement and human scale I have attempted to create many intimate spaces both inside and outside of the building. Because of the sites urban setting I chose to focus inward. All of this, in addition to landscaping, creates what I believe to be many opportunities for human delight. Materials Selection of the materials to be used in the proposal will based on the following criteria; 1. How much embodied energy is contained in the material? 2. Is the material from renewable or sustainable sources? Materials derived from threatened species or environments will not be used. 3. Is the material non-toxic? Toxic materials will not be used when a suitable substitute can be found. This will extend to the methods and materials used to install the material. 4. Is the material recycled and can it be recycled again? Emphasis will be placed on using recycled materials to take advantage of the embodied energy invested in them. 5. What are the materials energy characteristics? For example, a materials ability to absorb, retain, and radiate heat. 6. What are the materials aesthetic qualities? This will be primarily subjective evaluation. 7. What locally produced materials are available? Energy Systems At this stage I will not discuss the type of energy systems that will ultimately be included in the proposal. The reason for this decision is that there are so many systems available that it would be impractical to discuss them at this time. The decision as to which system(s) is most appropriate will be made during the design phase when more specific information pertaining to the project is available. At this stage I am willing to state that I plan to investigate Passive Energy Systems, Active Energy Systems, and issues relating to lighting, air quality, and water use and treatment. Unfortunately I was not able to investigate this issue to the extent that I would have liked to. In terms of heating I would suggest hydronics as the thermal carrier. The reason for this is that the system is adaptable to improvements in heat producing systems. By only having to update the heat source and not the heat carrier, embodied energy is saved in terms of material saved. An effort was made to make it convient to maintain and replace the buildings systems. This is illustrated in the use of mechanical corridors in the basement, floors, and ceilings. No chases were placed in the walls because of limited access. Another area that I focused on was that of natural ventilation. The building design, orientation, massing, and site work together to maximize the effects of natural ventilation. The offices are designed in such a way as to allow for individuals to control the "climate" of his or her private space. 1 9 Waste I intend to incorporate recycling facilities within the design solution. Beginning with convenient means and methods for employees to recycle. The proposed waste handling facilities include; grey water treatment, composting toilets, and recycled grain augers to remove recyclable and composting materials to a bulk transfer station located on the east side of the site. Water This very important issue was not discussed in the first submission of this paper. The design solution calls for the use of low flow faucets for water conservation within the building. In addition to this, the roof system allows for rain and snow runoff to be directed to underground cisterns. This water can be used to meet landscaping needs and with proper treatment it may be used to meet some of the buildings water needs. Presentation The presentation will be comprised primarily of (3) 20" x 30" boards, containing the following; 1. Site Plan to illustrate context. 2. Ground Level Floor/Site Plan to illustrate the relationship to adjacent streets, the river, buildings, outdoor spaces, and landscaping. 3. Floor Plan(s) 4. Building Section(s) 5. One Exterior Perspective (min.) 6. One Interior Perspective (min.) 7. Large-scale Wall Detail showing building's energy conserving strategy, materials, and assembly. 8. One Detail showing innovative use of sheet metal or photovoltaics. 9. Additional Concept Drawings, that may assist in explanation of the design intent. 10. Designer's statement, (250 word max.) Although I do not put much value in models as a design tool, I do recognize their value as a communication tool. For this reason I intend to do a small scale model if time allows and include photos on the boards. In order to better present the design solution I have increased the size of the presentation. Three 20x30 boards is not enough to adequately present this project. All of the intended drawings stated here have been completed. Evaluation It is my intent to submit, in writing, a quantitative evaluation of my proposal vs. a similar project of "typical" construction. The evaluation will be done in terms of Energy and Economics. I feel this is essential in order for me to obtain the full benefit of having done the project. The results of the evaluation will be very useful when applying what has been learned to future projects. This intention was based on my original intention of developing a practical design solution.. I no longer feel that it is necessary in order for me to obtain full benefit from having done the project. Nor is it practical to attempt such an evaluation. This type of evaluation would require a design which is much more refined in terms of quantities of specific materials and types of environmental systems to be used. I feel that the calculations done to determine embodied energy values previously presented adequately satisfies this original intent. However, it is my great desire to attempt a full scale evaluation of a project in the future using the principles presented in this paper. Summary 4 Basic Laws Of Ecology 1. Everything Is Connected To Everything Else. 2. Everything Must Go Somewhere. 3. Nature Knows Best. 4. There Is No Such Thing As A Free Lunch. Barry Commoner, The Closing Circle As Architects we must begin to view the buildings we create as an integral part of the Environment. Buildings breath, consume energy, and create waste as though they were living organisms. Like any other enduring species in nature, buildings must exist within the Environment, giving back to the Environment as much or more than they take out. It is my passionate belief that by applying the principles of Green Architecture we can begin to create buildings that are an integral part of Nature. Epilogue At this point I feel as though I should be able to sum all of this up into a nice neat package. But I cannot. And I am glad that I cannot. The reason that I am glad is that I have something wonderful to look forward to. And that is to continue to define Green Architecture. This Thesis has been a terrific jumping off point for this quest for Green Architecture. I have been introduced to some wonderful minds. I have learned which questions to ask, and to be patient for the answers. I am pleased that I am not tired of my project, not disappointed in its direction or outcome. There are many unanswered questions but I am satisfied for the first time in five years that this work has progressed to the point in which I had hoped for in the beginning. When I first began to work on my Thesis I wrote in my Journal that I felt like a man who had spent his entire life lying on his belly on the edge of a great cliff and that I had only then just risen to my knees. Today I feel as though I am standing on both feet and with my Ethic in my pocket I look forward to the future with great enthusiasm. I would like to close this paper by quoting the Basic Principles of Deep Ecology. They are words to live by * The well-being and flourishing of human and non-human life on Earth have value in themselves. These values are independent of the usefulness of the non-human world for human purposes. * Richness and diversity of life forms contribute to the realization of these values and are also values in themselves. * Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital needs. * The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantial decrease of the human population. The flourishing of non- human life requires such a decrease. * Present human interference with the non-human world is excessive, and the situation is rapidly worsening. * Policies must therefore be changed. These policies affect basic economic, technological, and ideological structures. The resulting state of affairs will be deeply different from the present. * The ideological change is mainly that of appreciating "life quality" rather than adhering to an increasingly higher standard of living. There will be a profound awareness of the difference between big and great. * Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation directly or indirectly to try to implement the necessary changes. Appendix Embodied Energy of Materials and Construction Per Square Foot of Construction MBTU/Sq. Ft. Residential - 1 Family 700 Residential - 2-4 Family 630 Residential - Garden Apt 650 Residential - High Rise 740 llotel/Motel 1130 Dormi tories 1430 Industrial Buildings 970 Office Buildings 1640 Warehouses 560 Garages/Service Stations 770 Stores/Res taurants 540 Religious Buildings 1260 Educational 1390 Hospital Buildings 1720 Other Nonfarm Buildings 1 450 a. Amusement, Social i Pec 1 380 b. Misc Nonresidential Bldg 1 100 r. Laboratories 2070 d. Libraries, Museums, etc. 1740 1 Kmit.iy iisu for Building Construct.ion. Utn-.ruLutj I> I I . University nf Illinois and Nicliard (J. Stein and Associates, lx.-coMtLK.-t i'J 7C . XAV&LE- 1 Demolition Energy of Construction Materials for Existing Buildings Construct ion Typo Building Size SUM 1 1 5000-15,000 s.f. Med i urn 50,000-150,000 s.f. Large 500,000-1,500,000 s.f. Light (e.g., VKXKI t'ljrnc) Modi MM) (e.g., steel t'roine) Iksavy (e.g., masonry, concrete) J]00 Btu/s.f. 9300 Btu/s.f. 15,500 Btu/s.f. 2400 btu/s.f. 7200 Btu/s.f. 12,000 Btu/s.f. 2100 Btu/s.f. 6300 Btu/s.f. 10,500 Btu/s.f. TAftUS" 2. ... (source: Assessing the Energy Conservation Benefits of Historic Preservation: Methods & Examples) Bibliography Ahrens, Donna, et al. Earth Sheltered Homes. Van Nostrand Reinhold, N.Y., 1981 Bender, Tom. Environmental Design Primer. 1973 Campbell, Stu. The Underground House Book. Garde Way Publishing, Charlotte Vt., 1980 Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring. 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Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge Mass., 1975 Stein, R.G., et al. Handbook of Energy Use For Building Construction. U.S. DOE. March, 1980 Tobias, Michael, et al. Deep Ecology. Avant Books, 1984 Watson, Donald. Climatic Design. McGraw Hill, N.Y., 1983 Wayner, Walter F. Jr.. Energy Efficient Buildings. McGraw Hill, N.Y., 1980 Wells, Malcolm, et al. Notes From The Underground. Van Nostrand Reinhold, N.Y.,1980 ., Assessing The Energy Conservation Benefits of Historic Preservation: Methods & Examples. Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. 1979 ., New Energy From Old Buildings . National Trust for Historic Preservation. Collins Litho & Printing, Baltimore, 1981 Architecture, May 1991 Competition Program, One Choice. One Earth.. AIAS, 1991 1 .NRTFflRTT 31 so £.riT~ r-iSTlTU-E 4.U^Wu*i c*A*» &cipriHt, - ; iZHsH*VAn«H 15,1^ 6f faerttv^n^ : jHEH c»-M- A. &. V. stA&XAVD tME^r ^ E^ie*^PlE£? thML'STEt? IH E^I^TlH^ |£>LCt<6. E, ent*»ieo ehbi^t ExfE^+te f Ny-to*«ns. <£-. 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