High-Profile Monthly: Annual Green Issue 2012-2013

Shire 185 Achieves LEED Gold Annual 2013

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Facilities Developments Delivered by Vanderweil, High-Profile: J. Calnan,Annual and Green Elkus Manfredi

Annual 2013

Inside this Issue

Vision 3 Designs Green Campus for PCHC Easthampton Savings Bank, a Bank of Tomorrow North Branch HQ Earns Energy Star Pro Con Receives Three Awards Green Development News UMass Amherst’s $1B Capital Improvement Program

The Truth is... by Peter J. Davey An Industry Building its Own Green Future by Grey Lee The Solar Gold Rush by Richard E. Waitt, Jr., PE Traditional Construction Delivery by Dave Kimball Efforts to Save Energy ... by David W. Bearg

An annual supplement of

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Plus Sustainabilitiy News, Insights and more...

Annual 2013 December, 2010

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Corporate FM Global Corporate Headquarters LeeD GoLD CertiFiCation

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The New Normal Calls for New Design

by Anastasia Barnes This popped into my head when I first watched the news on television and read the stories of the aftermath posted all over the Web. High-Profile Monthly’s Pembroke, Mass. office experienced some loss of power for a good part of an evening, but we were blessed not to experience the damage that millions across the NorthAnastasia Barnes east are still dealing with. Even by the time this article is published, cleanup crews will still be active in the neighborhoods of N.Y., N.J., and Penn., where a great deal of the damage was done.

I started to do my own research on the hurricane’s impact on a larger scale. It was unprecedented, the number of news sources, including well-known publications, blogs, and videos that I came across that seemed to be linking Hurricane Sandy to global warming...including one that I’m sure many of you have already read published in BusinessWeek titled, “It’s Global Warming, Stupid.” This is not a platform for questioning whether global warming is real or not–the individual can do his/her own homework–but one thing stood out when reading these different

articles: the words “the new normal.” In other words, the weather patterns that created Hurricane Sandy have become the norm, and according to an article in the Chicago Tribune, the U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon recently spoke to the U.N. General Assembly saying: “We all know the difficulties in attributing any single storm to climate change. But we also know this: extreme weather due to climate change is the new normal.” If you think that’s scary, last week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was quoted as saying, “Anyone who thinks that there is not a dramatic

one who is hip to the idea that we have to work with Mother Nature and begin approaching design/build in a new way.

That’s when I came across an incredibly insightful blog posting called “Hurricane Sandy and the Case for Resilient” Design

by Alex Wilson, president of The Resilient Design Institute (RDI).

Wilson says, “By building or retrofitting to achieve resilient design, we can create homes that will never drop below 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit even if the house is totally cut off from power and heating fuel.” He states that resilient design also informs where we build and how we create infrastructure to deal with storm water. According to “...we have to work with Mother Nature Wilson, resilient design also tells and begin approaching design/build us to build with materials that in a new way” can get wet and dry out again without growing mold. High levels of insulation, top-performing change in weather patterns is denying re- windows, and passive solar technology ality...we have a new reality, and old in- are just a few features, Wilson explains, frastructures and old systems.” that can be used in resilient design.

Scary but extremely true. If you Apparently Alex Wilson has been have seen some of the ads for HiPro’s trying to spread the word on resilient deGreen section, the slogan reads “for those sign for quite some time. The RDI has responsible for the built environment.” been around since 1985. It’s an 18-perThat means us...the architects, builders, son firm out of Vermont that seems to engineers, subcontractors, the owners have their pulse on truly building responand landlords and facility managers of sibly. You can learn more about them at both public and private institutions. So, http://www.resilientdesign.org. then I thought, okay, I can’t be the only

Anastasia’s Favorite Green Resources: Government resources:

Conncecticut: http://www.ctgbc.org/

Maine: http://www.maineusgbc.org/ Massachusetts: http://www.usgbcma.org/

New Hampshire: http://usgbcnh.org/

Rhode Island: http://www.usgbcri.org/ Vermont: http://www.vgbn.org/

Best of the Best Green Resources http://www.architects.org/committees/resources/committee-environment-cote-resources Best Place for Green/Sustainable Education http://cleanenergyeducation.org/ Best Solar PV/Geothermal Training http://www.heatspring.com Best Source for National Green News http://www.greenbiz.com/ Best Source for Local Green News http://www.massenergy.org Best Green Related Blog http://www.resilientdesign.org/category/news-blogs Best Green Organization to be involved with http://www.aashe.org/

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The Truth is…

by Peter J. Davey Energy conservation window films offer measurable green building benefits.

Caveat emptor (Let the buyer beware)!

Increased demand and investment into energy conservation practices and products should give you pause. Are you really going green or have you been veridi lavit (green washed)?

For commercial buildings, certification means credibility and the Peter Davey assurance of an investment in authentic green products and practices. Architects, engineers, building owners, and facilities managers not only seek LEED certification for their own peace of mind and assurance of measurable benefit – their tenants, customers, and consumers demand it.

A major component of any building envelope is its fenestration. A 10% to 40% reduction in lighting and HVAC costs can be achieved by improving energy efficiency through the design, placement, and efficiency of windows.

Windows are the greatest source of heat loss and gain in any building. Minimizing heat loss in colder months and heat gain in warmer months is crucial to reducing the amount of energy required to heat and cool a building. A quality window film retrofit is recognized as a cost-effective solution for improving any building envelope’s energy efficiency.

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Window film manufacturers are now able to certify their products’ energy performance ratings according to the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) certification process. The NFRC provides an independent, third-party verification of window film performance. Its rating system allows consumers to compare window film products and to verify their energy performance.

An NFRC label provides units of measure that are valuable when applying for LEED credits, including: • Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) – a measure (between 0.0 and 1.0) of how well a product blocks heat from the sun. The lower the SHGC, the better a product is at blocking heat gain.

• Visible transmittance (VT) – a measure (between 0.0 and 1.0) of how much light comes through a particular window film product. The higher the VT, the higher the potential for daylighting.

The US Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a sustainable future through cost-effective and energysaving green buildings and works to that end through its LEED green building program.

For architects, engineers, and building owners looking to achieve LEED certification, many window films meet LEED Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisites and qualify for LEED credits.

Qualifying categories for credits include “Indoor Environmental Quality,” “Daylight and Views” and “Optimize Energy Performance” among others.

Insulating, low-e window films have been specifically designed to conserve energy. Featuring “wavelength-selective” metals

An Industry Building its Own Green Future

by Grey Lee The green building industry is strong here in Massachusetts and with every passing month, buildings come on line that are more environmentally responsible than what was best practice in the past. Many of these high-performing buildings Grey Lee

have earned LEED certification for their leadership in energy and environmental design. The US Green Building Council (which manages the certification process) is represented here by the Massachusetts Chapter. We have a strong tradition in this state of building science, engineering, and architectural research and excellence, both academic and commercial. The USGBC is a community of green building practitioners who have embraced a process of continuous, democratic, and science-validated im-

which block more of the solar spectrum than conventional metals, some window films can reduce air conditioning costs by blocking up to 73% of the sun’s heat. They can also reduce heat loss by up to 30%. Utilizing a metal coating, their construction enables interior room heat to be reflected back into the room. Personal comfort is improved, and reduction in drafts and fluctuations in temperature can generate considerable savings on fuel expense.

With ever-increasing demand for energy conservation, recognized and reputable window film manufacturers, such as 3M Company, are working to assist their authorized dealers to help facilitate local, customized energy-efficiency rebate programs for large commercial projects.

If a building already has low-e windows installed, window film can enhance their performance.

A low-e window can block up to 90%

of UV radiation. The same window with an appropriate window film installed will block more than 99% of the UV radiation that contributes to heat loss and gain. Window films also improve the safety of low-e windows.

Designed to hold glass in place in the event of blasts, high-impact blows, or violent weather, safety films significantly improve security and reduce the risk of injury and damage to property.

The energy conservation benefits of a quality window film installation are recognized by the NFRC and USGBC and qualify for LEED credits. Est veritas (the truth is) – if there is one green product that should not give you pause, it is quality energy-saving window film. An installation now will deliver immediate results.

Peter J. Davey is president of American Window Film, Inc., a 3M Authorized Prestige Window Film Dealer, located in Foxboro and Boston.

Continued on page 14

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Shire 185 Achieves LEED Gold

Delivered by Vanderweil, J. Calnan, and Elkus Manfredi

Q

uincy, MA - J. Calnan & Associates, R.G. Vanderweil Engineers, and Elkus Manfredi Architects announced that their client, Shire HGT, has achieved LEED Gold certification on the renovation of its existing office building in Cambridge.

The project team worked collaboratively to renovate 17,000sf of the first floor office space at 185 Alewife Brook Parkway. The scope of work included reconstruction of the existing offices and the addition of a new café. All of the work took place in a fully occupied building.

The project had a fast-track designconstruction schedule. Therefore, in order to keep with the pace of the project, the LEED administration team opted to submit to the USGBC/GBCI at one time during construction, in lieu of separate design and construction submissions. This allowed the design team to issue a tight construction package and collaborate on the LEED submission with the construction team to issue one thorough submission to LEED during construction.

The team used BIM to model the unique building architecture. Through the BIM analysis, the design was able to maximize a daylight optimization scheme for Shire’s occupants while simultaneously controlling the glare of a low-horizon sun.

As part of the daylight harvesting program, automated window screens were installed that filter the amount of sunlight entering

the space, which assists in minimizing solar heat gain and thus assisting to maintain temperature and glare for tenant comfort and minimize energy use for cooling. Additional green elements include an ASHRAE compliant design in terms of the ventilation, completely new air-handling systems with full economizer capability; carbon dioxide monitoring in rooms of high occupancy; carbon dioxide monitoring at the air handling units; high efficiency/lowflow plumbing fixtures; low mercury lighting; the use of all certified wood products from wood blocking to the finished wood panels; no/low VOC paints; metal studs containing recycled aluminum; sheetrock made from previously recycled gypsum product; and the use of all new products (from flooring products to ceiling tiles) that contained recycled content. The team also recycled over 90% of construction debris.

While the team was charged with the goal of LEED Silver certification, after the initial submission to the USGBC/ GBCI for review and the positive LEED reviewer comments, it was immediately evident that the team should transition to a higher goal and target LEED Gold certification.

With a quick challenge to

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the initial credit assessment by the entire design team, including Shire personnel, the USGBC/GBCI reviewed the appeal and the project was awarded Gold certification.

The project team achieved LEED Gold certification while meeting the project’s aggressive 20-week schedule. This major challenge was accomplished through a thorough planning and design process as well as by scheduled review sessions at key decision points in the project to ensure that the project goals and critical milestones were fulfilled. The team’s efficient procurement of materials and equipment was critical to receiving materials in time to meet the schedule milestones.

David Forney, director of capital

projects for Shire, said: “In all of HGT, there are only two projects certified LEED Gold by the US Green Building Counsel (USGBC). Based on the completion date, the 185 ABP project was the first. We are extremely satisfied with the results and the efforts of our construction manager, J. Calnan & Associates; architect, Elkus Manfredi Architects and our design partners R.G. Vanderweil. All have made an exceptional contribution to the advancement of Shire’s sustainability goals.”

Shire recognizes the environmental impact of commercial office buildings – from design and construction to operation and maintenance. These buildings require large amounts of energy while potentially creating a significant amount of waste.

Occupants and building managers face a host of challenges as they try to maintain a healthy, efficient, and productive work environment. Shire has risen to this challenge and is promoting energy and resource efficiency, waste reduction and pollution prevention practices, indoor air quality standards, and other environmental initiatives.

Through hard work, creative thinking, and sheer determination, the team completed a LEED Gold space that Shire’s employees can call home.

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Norwood Theater’s Green Reno Complete North Branch HQ Earns Energy Star SAK Provides Geothermal Consulting

Concord, NH - North Branch Construction’s Silver Level USGBC LEED Certified corporate headquarters in Concord has earned the US Environmental Protection Agency’s prestigious Energy Star for (commercial) Building and Plants for the third year in a row. The Energy Star is the national symbol for protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency.

The North Branch facility is one of only 12 commercial office buildings in New Hampshire to have earned the EPA’s Energy Star. North Branch improved its energy performance by installing cost-effective, energy efficient systems and managing energy strategically across the entire organization.

Energy efficiency was a leading factor in the design of the building’s HVAC and electrical systems, including sophisticated lighting control systems, which not only improve the company’s energy bill, but also the occupants overall well-being. Numerous in-

Norwood, MA - The 85year old Norwood Theater reopened in August after a year of extensive restoration. The 700-seat performance theater got a historic revival along with modern green design elements.

A major element of the renovation is the theater’s geothermal heating and cooling system, that provides efficient and costeffective heating and cooling year-round. The system consists of four 1,500 deep-standing column wells which circulate conNewly renovated Norwood Theater stant temperature groundwater The wells were installed adjacent to through the building’s mechanical systems, extracting heat in the winter the building in narrow alleys between the existing building and the property line. and cooling capacity in the summer.

Working as a subcontractor to Tribe- On-site discharge of the bleed water was ca Builders, SAK Environmental worked not possible due to the space limitations closely with the system designer to secure and high groundwater. Discharge to a environmental permits for discharge of nearby surface water body via the municiBoston - The Massachusetts Clean bleed water that occurs during peak ther- pal storm drain was identified as the most Energy Center (MassCEC) this week reviable option. mal demand periods. ceived one of the Clean Energy States Alliance’s (CESA) seven 2012 State Leadership in Clean Energy awards for MassCEC’s Commonwealth Solar Hot “Helping our emerging companies Boston -The Massachusetts Clean Water Pilot Program.

Energy Center (MassCEC) announced bring new technologies to market is at The program offered rebates on a a new $1 million program to further the the core of our mission to grow the Masfirst-come, first-served basis to residential development of clean energy technology sachusetts clean energy economy,” said and commercial property owners who inMassCEC CEO Alicia Barton-McDevitt. in Massachusetts. stall solar panels to power water and space Under the program, MassCEC will “Our investments in workforce developheating in their homes or businesses. offer between $100,000 and $300,000 ment, incentives, and commercialization MassCEC Project Manager Christie for projects designed to address energy are producing results, including doubleHowe accepted the award recently at CEchallenges facing the commonwealth – digit clean energy job growth in Massasuch as renewable energy optimization, chusetts over the past year.”

Under the Patrick-Murray adminfuel efficient vehicles or energy storage – and will require 50% in matching funds. istration’s leadership, the Massachusetts’ MassCEC will award the funds to help clean energy economy grew by 11.2% companies finance demonstration proj- from July 2011 to July 2012, according to ects, which test and showcase new tech- the 2012 Massachusetts Clean Energy Innologies in preparation to commercialize dustry Report, which shows the growing sector employs 71,523 people at 4,995 technologies for the marketplace.

“Massachusetts companies are clean energy firms across the commoncreating some of the most leading-edge wealth. clean energy technologies. Our support The development of clean energy will help them create local jobs across the technologies requires a successful demstate and expand the adoption of clean onstration and validation of the technolenergy,” said Energy and Environmental ogy in order to make it investable and ready for mass production.

Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan.

The front entry to North Branch Construction displays the Energy Star Logo.

door air quality and occupant comfort measures were introduced, including increased ventilation, improved thermal control, abundance of daylight, and views to the outdoors from most occupied spaces. North Branch also established an education program used to promote sustainability and energy efficiency ideas among the North Branch employees, clients, and business partners.

MassCEC Awarded for Solar Program

$1 M for Innovative Clean Energy

SA’s fall meeting in Albany, New York.

The pilot program also took a nationleading approach towards incentivizing the installation of performance monitoring equipment for solar hot water systems which generate thermal energy from sunlight to heat water through roof-mounted solar collectors. Heating water accounts for roughly 20% of all home energy consumption, and installing a solar water heater can save between 50% and 75% of those costs, reducing the need for traditional fossil fuel sources of energy.

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Pro Con Awarded Three Design Build Sustainable Awards

Manchester, NH – Pro Con Inc of Manchester was honored with six awards at the “Excellence in Construction 2012” celebration hosted by The Associated Builders and Contractors of New Hampshire and Vermont (ABC NH/VT).

The award-winning projects included: New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet, Nashua; The Residences at Portwalk, Portsmouth; and The TownePlace Suites

by Marriott, North Kingstown, R.I. All three projects were honored with Design Build and Sustainable Awards.

The competitive juried awards program sponsored by ABC NH/VT recog-

TownePlace Suites nizes the best projects in the region and the important role that architects and contractors have in delivering successful projects.

“Pro Con Inc is honored to be recognized for these three unique projects,” stated Jim Loft, AIA, senior vice president, Pro Con Inc. “It was a collaborative effort to bring these design-build projects to fruition, and we would like to thank the own-

New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet ers for putting their trust in Pro Con Inc and the project team members for their individual contributions and support.”

The 20,000sf New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet was recognized with a Design-Build Excellence Award and a Design-Build Sustainability Award.

The interior design features exposed timber post and beam framing with clerestory windows that flood the store with natural light and create a welcoming environment for both customers and employees.

The expanded retail floor space allows for a greater selection of products and a more engaging customer shopping experience.

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The exterior design uses N.H. granite as a stone base and Hardie plank in mountain sage for the exterior siding. The exterior design has become the prototype for future liquor and wine outlets across the state. Pro Con was the architect and construction manager for the store, that features solar panels, energy-efficient LED lighting, and geothermal heating and cooling systems. The project achieved LEED Gold certification.

The Residences at Portwalk was recognized with a Design-Build Excellence Award and a Design-Build Sustainability Award. Pro Con was the architect and construction manager for the mixed-use development that achieved Leed Gold. The five-story, 96,000sf property is comprised of 36 luxury residential apartments above first floor retail. Sustainable design practices were incorporated into each phase of

construction and operations of the building, which resulted in The Residences at Portwalk attaining a 31% improvement in energy performance when compared to a similar building.

The TownePlace Suites by Marriott was honored with a Design-Build Excellence Award and a Design-Build Sustainability Award. Pro Con was the architect and construction manager for the 104-key, 55,453sf hotel, that was developed by Waterford Development of Needham, Mass. and New Boston Fund Inc. of Boston. The hotel’s sustainable features include a geothermal well system for heating and cooling the common space of the building, natural lighting, enhanced air quality, low volatile organic compounds, non-CFR refrigerants, energy-efficient appliances and light fixtures, low–e windows with insulated glazing, and low-flow plumbing fixtures.

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Aerial view of the Prairie Avenue Health Center Providence, RI - Providence Community Health Centers is changing the face of South Providence. This summer it opened a new 42,000sf health center on a 3.5 acre site. The existing buildings had been empty for years, the site was a brownfield, and the neighborhood was desperate for change. Providence Community Health Centers and Vision 3 Architects are creating that change by designing a sustainable campus dedicated to improving the health of the community.

The health center is the first phase of the campus development and is made up of a two-story addition to two existing historic buildings. The buildings were once part of the Federated Lithographers Company, a printing company that opened in

1905. On the opposite side of the site are the buildings that made up the Beaman & Smith Company, a heavy-machine manufacturer that opened in 1898. The Beaman & Smith building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is undergoing a restoration and renovation that will provide 55,000sf of medical and dental office space. Also planned for the site is a new 5,000sf retail pharmacy building that will support the two medical buildings and the neighboring community.

The new Prairie Avenue Health Center has been designed to US Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver standards. Many of

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UMass Amherst Announces $1 Billion Capital Improvement Program

Amherst, MA - With the campus in the midst of a $1 billion capital improvement program, the University of Massachusetts Amherst has adopted a new physical master plan that looks 50 years into the future. The plan matches academic vision with facilities to strengthen a sense of community and enhance the campus’ beauty.

Chancellor Robert C. Holub said, “UMass Amherst has changed and grown over the past century and a half, from 50 students at its founding to more than 27,000 today. To be successful and realize our current goals, we must continue to meet future challenges with a strong physical framework and a flourishing culture of planning. Our new master plan accomplishes those strategic goals.”

“This plan establishes a shared vision for future development,” said director of campus planning Dennis Swinford. “The administration held more than 90 events in the past year with key stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, our host communities, and regional representatives, and that was complemented by web-based surveys and applications to encourage participation.”

Swinford said the process “created an exciting future for the campus,” culminat-

ing in a vision that features new open spaces; streets redesigned to emphasize multiple modes of transportation and pedestrian safety; parking decks built on the edge of campus; new bikeways; new circulation systems including pathways with striking views of the Pioneer Valley; improvements to utilities; Existing open space Proposed open space and a strategy to reuse historic buildings and pond. This new pattern will encourage including renovation of South College. a creative environment that will support colTo meet the university’s current aca- laboration, co-curricular learning, and redemic and research mission, the plan locates search, Swinford said, and it will help create more than 1 million gross sf of facilities. In a vibrant environment all day and throughan effort to position the university for an out the year. The more “compact/urban unknown future, the plan also illustrates ap- environment” in the campus core will also proximately 7 million additional gsf, creat- support the campus’ sustainability agenda ing a compact, environmentally sensitive by promoting shared resources, walking, and efficient campus. and the careful use of land.

The plan adopts an approach that The heart of the plan, Swinford said, mixes traditional land uses around a core is to create a sense of place by designing a of facilities adjacent to the campus lawns unique, cohesive physical character for the

campus. “Through thoughtful siting of new buildings for classrooms, housing, administration, and research, the master plan illustrates how we can build a world-class, campus open-space,” he said. “The system will consist of new pedestrian paths, view corridors, courts, quads, and complete streets that will create spaces to be remembered and cherished by visitors, by students who spend four years here, or faculty and staff who invest a professional lifetime at UMass.”

UMass Amherst has a long tradition of campus planning that dates back to 1866 and the first plan for the campus by Frederick Law Olmsted. The most recent master plan was adopted in 1993 and updated in 2007. The campus embarked on a 10-year, $1 billion capital improvement program in 2004, setting the stage for re-visioning the campus’s future.

Eras and circumstances change in greatly unexpected ways, and Swinford said it’s imperative to return to this campus master plan regularly, to assess and revise it as needed. That’s why the participation and debates of the past year were so important.

“To be successful today and in the future, we must have a flourishing culture of planning, and this process was vital in creating that foundation.”

by Richard E. Waitt, Jr., PE The United States is experiencing soaring growth in the number of groundbased solar energy projects. Different mechanisms are driving interest, including economic return on investments. The US government has often encouraged the development of solar power through local and federal incentives and rebates. Across the United States, large and small-scale solar power development is booming, yet many projects still face the threat of permitting and construction obstacles.

Solar developers throughout the US and some foreign countries are getting in on the wave of renewable energy: commercial-scale ground-based solar. Although California produces over a fourth of the country’s solar energy, the states of New Jersey, Massachusetts, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Hawaii are also leading the way.1 In 2009, many states promised to devote a percentage of their power sources to renewables by the end of the decade. The Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act required utilities to use 18% alternative energy by 2020, with 0.5% coming from solar power alone.2 A solar boom in New Jersey has lessened unemployment and brought about nearly 16,000 new solar projects since 2001.3 The New York governor recently announced a plan to set aside $34.6 million for the development of solar power.

Municipalities in Massachusetts appear interested in ground mounted solar PV and are entertaining the option of Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) to limit risk while avoiding capital investments.

The solar industry as a whole is

evolving to favor the growth of landbased systems over building-mounted installations. To address the problem of unequal electricity rates among solarpowered homeowners and others, Richard Waitt, Jr. policy-makers are turning to larger projects. Development of large-scale renewable energy projects, including solar PV, assists municipalities by reducing their annual energy expenses and serving as a hedge against volatility in the energy sector. Land-based systems positively impact communities by creating more jobs, income, and greater flow of electricity to the grid. Rebate structures for smaller systems are replaced by incentives for larger projects that take advantage of the economy of scale.

Definitions of the scale of solar installations vary between region and state.

In their Solar Incentive Program, the city of Los Angeles defines “small” systems as projects that produce between 30kW and 150kW, and “large-scale” projects as producers of between 151kW and 999kW.4 According to the solar permitting standards of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, large-scale ground-mounted solar refers to any system of 250 kW or more.5 Renewable Energy Certificate prices are based on the size of the installed system - small

Columbia Saves on Energy Costs

North Reading, MA - As the price of photovoltaic solar electric systems has fallen considerably over the last few years, solar energy is more accessible. With more and more rebate programs being offered by state and federal agencies, many companies are seeing this as an incentive to minimize building operational costs while being more sustainable.

“What has also made solar power more appealing is that you can enter into a metering agreement with 377 solar modules were mounted on the building system is expected to generate a minimum your local utility company, where if your solar system generates more power of 105,000 kWh in electricity, save 70 tons than you use, the excess power goes back to of CO2 gas emissions, and provide 35% of the electricity grid,” states Chris McCarthy, Columbia’s office space electrical energy director of Columbia Construction’s Energy needs – annually!

After witnessing the success of CoDivision. “From the additional power your system generates you can actually gain cred- lumbia’s solar project, Teradyne, a leading its (money) back from the grid. For us (Co- developer and supplier of automatic test equipment and a nextdoor neighbor to Columbia) it was a no brainer.”

In 2011, Columbia Construction em- lumbia, had a desire to join the solar energy barked on a solar array project at its head- movement. In an effort to further its sustainquarters facility in North Reading. The firm ability mission, Teradyne hired Columbia installed a PV solar electric system not only to install a 640 kW photovoltaic solar array to cut costs, but also to help the environ- system on the rooftop of three of its buildings to serve the entire headquarters camment through sustainable means.

“We are also using our solar array as pus. The system has a projected saving of an educational tool,” states McCarthy. “It 710,000 kWh, which is equivalent to the has become a great story-telling and les- electrical consumption of 90 Massachusetts sons-learned device for our employees, as homes.

Under the Commercial Energy Initiawell as for clients interested in renewable tive Rebate Program of Reading Municipal energy.”

Columbia Construction, which pro- Light Department, which is the local utility vides general contracting and construction company in the area, Columbia Construcmanagement services to a variety of client tion was offered approximately $45,000 in types throughout the northeast, actually rebates for its solar project, as well as for built the system. Upon review of a number chiller performance improvements. Overof options, the project entailed the installa- all, Columbia will see about 150,000 kWh tion of 377 solar modules mounted on the in energy savings a year as a result of these rooftop of its 84,000sf office building. The energy enhancements.

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The Solar Gold Rush

Continued on page 12

Green Development News

Annual 2013

11

High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments Vision 3 and Providence Community Health Ctrs.

Providence Community Health Centers system takes full advantage of the natural light to minimize light fixture use.

The exterior design of the new addithe sustainable features of the project came from the site itself. The project is located in tion contrasts and complements the existing a dense, urban community, and was a pre- buildings. The addition features a horizonviously developed brownfield site. Patients tal curtain wall of clear and frosted glass and staff are encouraged to bike or take framed with anodized aluminum framing public transportation to the health center, and solar shades. The sand colored conthat is served by three bus lines. Preferred crete block and patina green metal panels parking spaces are assigned for low-emit- provide an appropriate contrast in color to ting fuel vehicles. Providence Community the existing buildings. The addition’s threeHealth Centers was awarded a Narragan- story vertical brick stair tower ties the addisett Bay Commission award for the design tion and the existing buildings together and of the storm water system, which captures helps anchor the health center to the site.

The materials used for the interior and treats 100% of the storm water on site.

The reuse of the existing building of the health center were selected because shell helped the health center to maintain an they would contribute to a healthy enviaesthetic connection to the neighborhood ronment for patients and staff. All of the while rehabilitating a historic structure and paints, sealants, wood products, and furlimiting the amount of demolition waste niture meet high standards for improving brought to landfills. Many of the historic the indoor air quality of the building. Steps qualities of the existing buildings are cele- were taken during construction to protect brated in the exterior and interior design of the mechanical system, and air quality tests the project. Exterior and interior masonry were performed prior to occupancy to enwalls were restored to their original condi- sure that the building is a healthy place to tion, the heavy timber structure and plank work and visit.

The new health center has 45 exam decking were cleaned and are exposed to many of the interior public spaces, and the rooms and includes pediatric, internal buildings’ original window openings that medicine, ob/gyn, urgent care, behavioral had been blocked over for many years have health, and specialty clinics. Providence been reopened to flood the interior spaces Community Health Centers is the largest with natural daylight. A daylight harvesting community health provider in Rhode Island Serving over 35,000 patients a year.

LEED initiatives include reduced heat Islands through the use of white TPO roofing; 40% water use reduction by use of low-flow fixtures; expected energy savings: 20% below ASHRAE standards; recycled 100% non-hazardous construction debris; 80% FSC certified wood-base products; 27% recycled content; low voc materials, products and furniture; 16% regional materials and 100% of storm water captured and treated on site.

Interior view of new health center

ARC Completes Colby Design

Waterville, ME - ARC/ Architectural Resources Cambridge, Mass. has completed the design of a new $11 million, 13,000sf biomass plant at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.

“The new plant will reduce Colby’s dependence on oil by 90% and makes it the first college in the state of Maine to operate a large-scale biomass plant,” said Philip Laird, AIA, LEED AP, president of ARC. Laconia, N.H.-based Rist-FrostShumway Engineering P.C. (RFS) invited ARC to work with Colby College to reduce its reliance on oil to heat the campus through creation of the Colby College Biomass Cogeneration Plant. The new plant burns forest waste and debris – treetops and bark that cannot be used by other pulp operations – instead of oil. The cost savings switching from oil to biomass is expected to pay for the building in six to 10

Continued from page 9

Green Development News

years. The fuel will come from sustainable forest operations within a 50-mile radius of the campus. The twin 400-horsepower, biomass-fueled boilers produce steam used for heat, hot water, cooking, and co-generation of heat and electricity. Colby College received a $750,000 grant from Efficiency Maine to assist with the project.

The new power plant provides thermal and partial electrical service to 30 campus buildings, totaling 1.25 million sf of space.

The new biomass power plant is expected to reduce Colby College’s carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 14,000 tons per year.

Laird served as principal-in-charge, and ARC’s Christopher Angelakis was project architect during the design and construction of the new biomass plant.

We don’t just build green, sustainable, and LEED Certified Buildings for our clients - we designed and built one for ourselves.

McLane & Fahey Halls Dartmouth College

Portsmouth Public Library

Stonyfield Farm

North Branch Construction, Inc. (603) 224-3233 . FAX (603) 225-7165 www.northbranch.net

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Annual 2013

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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments

Bristol Fire Department Awarded LEED Silver

Providence, RI Brewster Thornton Group Architects (BTGA) announced that the Bristol Fire Department recently became the first municipally-owned building in the state to be awarded LEED Silver.

The new facility consists of 16,500sf of carefully designed space housing three departments in one facility: administrative headquarters, division of EMs, and training division (with spaces that are multi-functional). Upgrades and renovations to the existing 5,600sf Hydraulion Engine and Hose Co. No. 1 station, as well as the new station, have received LEED Silver certification.

Key sustainable points include: daylight sensors to reduce lighting cost; lowmaintenance interior finishes – polished concrete floors, ground-face concrete block walls, galvanized metal ceiling decks; nowater-needed landscaping; low maintenance exterior finishes; long-lasting roofing materials that reduce heat-island effect; on-site storm water retention; reuse of roof drainage for washing of fire trucks; high efficiency glazing and specialized panels that distribute daylight deep into the interior; low-voc paints, carpets, millwork finishes; high recycled content in ceiling tiles, linoleum, countertops, steel, concrete, millwork, lockers, carpet, storefront, concrete backup block, asphalt, drywall; most materials locally sourced and/or manufactured; high efficiency heating and cooling systems monitored by programmable controls; insulation values that exceed code requirements and energy efficiency improvements to the existing adjacent facility.

Bristol Fire Department Even though the construction period was extended due to inclement weather conditions, the project was completed under budget.

BTGA’s mission is to produce works of lasting quality that improve the built and natural environments. The company strives to meet the clients’ goals through superior design solutions while committing to use its expertise and the operations of its business to make a positive difference in the communities in which they design.

BTGA has placed an emphasis on sustainability since its founding and has continued to develop an award-winning practice of renovation and adaptive reuse.

Barbara Thornton was the second Leadership in Energy and Environment Design Accredited Professional, LEED AP, in the state of Rhode Island and understands how project requirements need to be designed and evaluated against the LEED Checklist.

Two additional staff members are also LEED accredited and are pursuing sustainability options in their careers. In 2011, Mary Dorsey Brewster, a founding partner of the company, was published in the Journal of Green Building describing effective techniques for sustainable adaptive reuse/renovation.

Sustainability at the Center

Shepley Bulfinch Architect for Hamline’s Anderson Ctr. St. Paul, MN - Opened in October 2012, Hamline’s new Anderson University Center in St. Paul looks both inward and outward, its curving terracotta and glass form creating a prominent and welcoming face where the urban campus meets the city of St. Paul. With casual dining facilities, roof terraces, flexible event space, and student organization offices, the center is a landmark and a living room for the campus community.

From the sculptural form of a solar array on the center’s south façade and the planted roof above the campus entry to the less apparent use of efficient mechanical systems and energy modeling tools, the Anderson University Center also speaks to Hamline University’s commitment to environmentally responsive design and operations.

Integrated green technologies include solar panels, daylight harvesting, green roof, energy modeling, high-perfor-

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Photo by Alex Fradkin

Hamline’s Anderson University Center, with solar panel array on the façade on the right.

mance building envelope, efficient mechanical systems, and sustainable water management.

Shepley Bulfinch of Boston served as the architect for this $36 million project.

The Solar Gold Rush Continued from page 10 systems create 10 kW or less; large systems, between 10 kW and 1 MW.6 Larger scale solar PV operations can qualify as energy generators and receive REC’s in RPS eligible states.

They provide energy through a wholesale power sales transaction, usually to a utility. Energy generators fall under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rules for interconnection.

The FERC regulates system safety and reliability. The Solar Energy Industries Association hopes to quicken and lower the costs of grid interconnection, which would create countless opportunities for many new solar projects to connect to the grid.

Despite the new popularity of solar PV projects, implementing a project at any scale presents a number of challenges. Before a PPA may be finalized or construction may begin, regulatory permits must be secured and the design finalized. The importance of these steps is often underestimated or, in some cases, completely overlooked. Construction planning must account for solarspecific considerations. Many regional planning commissions are receiving inquiries from member communities and have started analyzing the benefits and optimization of an aggregated approach.

Solar developers are finding that land use considerations add a level of complexity unrelated to their experience with installations of building-mounted solar PV systems. In the crucial time span of construction, any added delay poses a serious concern. Delays may result from a lack of understanding of land use considerations that can cost the project proponent unanticipated time and money.

Permitting a commercial scale system requires the expertise of land use professionals. Land use restrictions require research and experience to determine potential impacts on the development and grid connection of a solar array. Such restrictions include easements, deed restrictions, hidden subsurface utilities, storm-water surface runoff, flood plains, land use restrictions, grid interconnection/access, title ownership, zoning restrictions, and other regulatory controls.

Title and ownership issues must be vetted prior to design to ensure that there is clear title to the land and that the parcel is not subject to prohibitively restrictive easements or other encumbrances that may interfere with construction or long-term operation.

Potential land use restrictions should be evaluated to insure compliance with regulating limitations and to avoid con-

flicts with ownership or deed restrictions.

Every state has different land use restrictions and policies. In addition, stakeholders may attempt to restrict the placement or use of solar panels. Their concerns are mainly for visual reasons – color, size, and visibility. The public review process is often more productive when advanced outreach and education about the project is initiated at an early stage. Developers and consultants must properly explain the visual and environmental impacts to stakeholders in order to avoid costly redesigns, time delays, and potential appeals.

Environmental regulations require protection of natural resources such as wetlands and endangered species habitats, which may preclude any development on the site. Flood zones, drainage design, and access to the site, including roadways and utility infrastructure, require design calculations to ensure that the removal of vegetation and the introduction of impervious surfaces will not create a burden from storm water runoff to abutting or downstream properties.

Securing regulatory permits may be as challenging as other residential or commercial land developments.

Many ground-based projects never reach the construction phase because of inadequate due diligence, design, or the permitting process. Maintenance, insurance, and risk must be factored into the project proforma, prior to submission, to ensure a PPA that will work for both parties.

Delays due to poor planning and restrictions potentially slow the growth of the ground-mounted solar power, an industry that is otherwise flourishing within communities throughout the United States.

1 Navarro, Mireya, “The Top 10 Solar States, 2011.”

2 The EPA, Energy Portfolio Standards and the Promotion of Combined Heat and Power, 2009.

3 Governor Christie Builds on Record of Growing Renewable Energy Sources with Action to Strengthen Solar Market, 2012.

4 Patel, Deep, “Los Angeles California’s Incentive Programs for Large and Small Solar Systems, 2012.”

5 Department of Energy Resources, Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Model As-ofRight Zoning Bylaw: Allowing Use of Large-Scale Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations, 2012.

6 PNM Solar Energy Customer Program.

Richard E. Waitt, Jr., PE, is a principal at Meridian Associates in Beverly, Mass.

Green Development News

Annual 2013

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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments

Efforts to Save Energy Can Degrade Indoor Air Quality

by David W. Bearg One key point of integrated design is the acknowledgement that the various aspects of a building and its HVAC system interact. This is especially true with efforts to reduce energy consumption in a building, as these changes in building operation can adversely impact the amount of ventilation provided.

As an example, I can point to a lighting retrofit project in a building served by a variable air volume David Bearg (VAV) system. Since improved lighting technologies produce less waste heat, their implementation reduces the cooling load on the building. This in turn means that less cooling air will be provided to maintain thermal comfort. With no change in the percent of outdoor air in the supply air, the amount of ventilation will be reduced as well.

From a financial standpoint, this situation can be penny wise and dollar foolish. This is because on a square foot basis, people costs far exceed those of energy. I find that people costs in commercial buildings are around $300/sf, while energy costs are around $3/sf.

This situation can illustrate how an energy-saving effort can end up costing more money than it saves due to losses in productivity.

Let’s say a lighting retrofit saves 5% of a building’s energy use, or 15 cents/sf in this building with a VAV system, while the reduction in ventilation reduces the value of the worker productivity by just 1%. At around $300/sf for people costs, this 1% loss in productivity has a value of $3/sf. Pennies saved, dollars lost! So just focusing on energy, while ignoring healthfulness, can end up moving away from optimizing building performance, when productivity is included in the equation.

Imagine if the productivity loss were 2%, how much worse this would be.

Conversely, if a 1% increase in the productivity of the workforce could be achieved by increased ventilation, this added benefit could justify a doubling of energy costs and it still would be revenue neutral.

In one published retroactive study comparing multiple office spaces, it was found that increased ventilation resulted in a significant reduction in short-term absentee rates. In this study, for every $1 invested in conditioning more OA, $6 in reduced absentee rates were achieved.

Another relevant fact about the people in a building is that they emit carbon dioxide (CO2) at a concentration of about 40,000 parts per million (ppm). Therefore, monitoring CO2 levels through the day can provide a dynamic assessment of the relationship between these people, their num-

Green Development News

to open promptly as the controls wait for a rise in local temperature to provide the signal for more ventilation. In this example, the highest CO2 reading of 1,182 ppm, occurring when the outdoor air value was 426 ppm, implies that the ventilation rate provided could be no greater than 14 cfm/person, well below the ASHRAE listed minimum of 20 cfm/person. The CO2 data presented in this figure was collected by one of the shared sensors, so that all measurements for this parameter were measured with the same laboratory-grade device.

Using this monitoring approach makes it easy to measure absolute humidity as well so that moisture management performance, as well as ventilation performance, can be assessed too. Remember, you can’t manage what you don’t measure.

0 And similarly, the better something is measured, the better it can be managed.

David W. Bearg, P.E is the author of Indoor Air Quality and HVAC Systems.

Figure 1.xls 1200

CO2 ppm Conference C OA

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Lobby Area Conference A 1000

Lounge G

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Room 260E Room 309-1 800

Waiting F Conference B

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Waiting E Conference D

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Conference C Room 815

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Time of Day Copyright 2005, AIRxpert Systems, Inc.

bers, their activity levels, their duration of occupancy, and the ability of the ventilation component of the HVAC system to dilute and remove their bioeffluents.

Achieving a noticeable reduction in absenteeism by rapidly diluting and removing these air contaminants requires providing ventilation rates in excess of those listed in ASHRAE Standard 62.1.

The ventilation rates listed in this standard are merely intended to achieve “acceptable” IAQ where at least 80% of those exposed are not dissatisfied.

Or looked at another way, up to 20% can be dissatisfied. Like the building code that defines the worst building you can legally build, ASHRAE 62.1 defines the lowest level of ventilation you can get away with. In both cases, quality increases when these standards are exceeded. This fact also points out a limitation with the LEED approach to IEQ, which is merely based on achieving the ASHRAE Standard 62.1 listed minimums, which is not enough ventilation to actually provide a healthy indoor environment.

The operational challenge becomes one where you not only need to provide more ventilation than listed by ASHRAE 62.1, but you need to accurately know how much ventilation is actually provided to a building’s occupants. The key questions become: What are the most important things to know about building operations?

And what is the best way to get that information?

The most accurate way to determine how much ventilation is actually being provided is to use one of the shared-sensor monitoring systems that measure CO2 concentrations.

In this approach, air samples are transported via tubing from multiple locations in the building to a central location and one accurate sensor. In Figure 1, there is data from one example where room-to-

Figure 1

room variations in the amount of ventilation provided is shown. The underventilation events are occurring in Conference Rooms where the VAV systems are failing

GreenCircle Ahead of the Curve

Royersford, PA - Since its inception in 2009, GreenCircle Certified, LLC, a leading third-party verifier of environmental claims, has been focused on bringing transparency to green building through accurate recycled content reporting. The latest LEED Interpretation Ruling (LIR) for Recycled Content deems national averages as unacceptable for LEED documentation, and validates GreenCircle’s long-standing drive for specificity.

The market issue is that some manufacturers use North American/national averages in lieu of plant-specific data; in “averaged” results, some products or plants may be misrepresented and could reflect inflated recycled content information; and builders/architects specifying a product to maximize recycled content are being misled, and may not meet LEED requirements.

Resolution: USGBC released LIR on October 1, 2012, which sets the standard for recycled content claims and documentation for LEED projects looking to achieve points for MRc4 Recycled Content.

GreenCircle applauds the USGBC’s latest ruling, which addresses the issue of potential green-washing by some manufacturers. As stated in the formal LIR, “An average recycled content claim, especially one that incorporates multiple product lines or places of manufacture, does not meet the credit intent and is not acceptable for LEED documentation.” This ruling demands product and plant specific recycled content evaluation and documentation.

“Recycled content claims must be specific to the installed product (and therefore place of manufacture); regional or national claims do not meet credit requirements.”

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Annual 2013

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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments

Forrester Research Achieves LEED Platinum

ness and technology. That same line of

by Janet Morra The shift toward green office design thinking was applied to the new office is moving at a fast clip around the country. space, which is not only sustainable, but Companies are not only looking for more embraces an alternative workplace design energy-efficient and sustainable features, aimed at fostering collaboration and combut also workplace munication. With no private offices, the efficiency and well- new headquarters features an open workness.

Recently, space with workstations clustered around Margulies Perruzzi white-board clad team rooms, creating Architects (MPA) neighborhoods with community spaces. helped a longtime In addition to the team rooms distributed client reach beyond around the space, there are quiet rooms the gold standard in for concentrated work and larger glassgreen design – to a fronted team rooms clustered at the center Janet Morra LEED Platinum for of each floor. Kitchen areas, lounges, and Commercial Interi- a café create a welcoming environment ors certification. Forrester Research, Inc. for both employees and visiting clients. achieved that designation with MPA’s de- And in another nod to nature, the building sign of its new six-story, 190,000 square overlooks a newly restored “Urban Wild,” foot corporate headquarters at Cambridge a naturalistic designed landscape that can Discovery Park in Cambridge, Mass. be used for recreational purposes.

For more LEED Platinum certhan a decade, tification is the highDuring the building process, est possible rating 97% FSC certified wood products MPA and Forfrom the U.S. Green were used and almost 80% of rester have been Building Council, construction waste was diverted partners on multiple projects, inand the Forrester from landfills. cluding the recent project is one of the design of Forfew corporate commercial interiors projects in Cambridge to rester’s New York City and San Francisco offices. “Having worked together for ten earn the distinction.

Factors that contributed to the years, MPA understands our collaboraLEED Platinum rating included the selec- tive culture and flexible work style, as tion of a LEED Gold base building. The well as the importance of sustainability design will result in a 35% reduction in to our company,” says Jean Baranowski, water use, and a 35% reduction in light- vice president of corporate services at ing power due to the use of LED lighting Forrester Research. “We are proud of our and daylight responsive controls. Energy new headquarters and this well-deserved Star-rated equipment and appliances are LEED Platinum certification.”

MPA and Forrester are leading by also being used in Forrester’s headquarters. During the building process, 97% example for companies looking to move FSC certified wood products were used from the cubicle – to a more innovative and almost 80% of construction waste was and green-conscious way of working.

Janet Morra, AIA, LEED AP ID+C, diverted from landfills.

Forrester Research is an indepen- is a principal at Margulies Perruzzi Ardent research firm that provides forward- chitects.

Photo by Bruce Rogovin thinking advice to global leaders in busi-

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USGBC Appoints Grey Lee

Boston - The Massachusetts Chapter of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the appointment of Grey Lee as its new executive director in order to better serve the thriving community of green building professionals across the Grey Lee state.

His primary responsibilities will be to cultivate a stronger and larger network of USGBC constituents, to advocate for green buildings and sustainability-oriented legislation and regulations, and to improve the organization’s capacity through fundrais-

ing, volunteer management, and bringing on staff. He will work with the board of directors to implement the chapter’s strategic plan and achieve its forward thinking vision for green buildings for all within this generation.

Lee has worked in the green real estate field for over 10 years as a broker, consultant, trainer, and project manager.

He also has served as the executive director of a community educational farm near Boston and as a real estate broker, focused on green projects and sustainability oriented clients.

He is the co-founder of the Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group, incubating small businesses in the global south to provide renewable energy, sanitation, and drinking water to small communities sustainably.

An Industry Building its Own Green Future Continued from page 4 provement of building science technology and design approaches.

LEED is just one way the green building profession has been able to evolve rapidly to meet the needs of our society for improved buildings and a more beneficial built environment. Thousands of USGBC member organizations and almost 200,000 professionals have collectively built a brand that has been the catalyst for fundamentally changing the way we think about designing, constructing, and operating buildings in the United States and across the globe. The LEED rating system reflects the collective expertise and design intelligence of environmental advocates and building industry professionals who have helped to create it.

Thanks to their wisdom, LEED has set clear, measurable performance goals that challenge the marketplace to build better buildings. The environmental improvements across the board and boom of innovation in the industry are a return on investment that has benefited this country and beyond. And LEED has evolved, strengthened and improved over the years.

LEED’s performance standards have been raised and have become more difficult time and time again to challenge the industry to reach a little higher as the market has advanced. Many entities have recognized the benefits of LEED buildings, including the state of Massachusetts, the cities of Boston and Cambridge, and Acton, Arlington, and Medford.

What we have built at USGBC demonstrates that a strong economy and a healthy environment can go hand-in-hand.

The progress we have made is brought to us by environmental advocates and the building industry to include large and small companies, architecture, and engineering firms, as well as developers, builders, home owners, contractors, manufacturers, students, teachers, and others who have committed themselves to this effort. All of these entities are working together to create a rating system that guides design, construction and operations of buildings in a smart and efficient way so future buildings can save more

energy, conserve water, reduce waste, and improve the indoor environment. That is no small feat.

We are encouraged when members and nonmembers alike develop new tools, cutting edge environmental innovations, and next-generation products and services that support everything we’re trying to do.

With these new products and tools come advancement in design and conservation as well as economic development. The LEED green building program has spurred explosive growth in energy-efficient buildings, which has supported almost 8 million jobs across all 50 states and contributes $554 billion to the US economy annually. We are proud of that economic progress.

The best part of LEED is that it is not – and never will be – a tool for mandatory regulation because it is a voluntary, market-based green building program with deep roots in the private sector. The benefit of this nonregulatory approach is that LEED is constantly and continuously being improved. It isn’t a perfect system, and thankfully because of developments in innovation and technology, it has to be updated and will never be stagnant or complete.

Today, more than 9 billion sf of building space is participating in LEED because the results are clear. LEED-certified buildings with lower operating costs and better indoor environmental quality are more attractive to a growing group of corporate, public, and individual buyers. High-performing buildings are increasingly entering into tenants’ decisions about leasing space and into buyers’ decisions about purchasing properties and homes.

USGBC has come a long way, and we are proud the measures that were once thought of as impossible or hard to reach are now industry standard. We will never stop raising the bar.

Grey Lee is the executive director if the Massachusetts Chapter of the nonprofit United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The chapter strives to promote sustainable and environmentally responsible planning, design, construction, and operation of all of Massachusetts’ buildings, landscapes, cities and communities.

Green Development News

Annual 2013

15

High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments

Floyd Takes the LEED in Green Design

Bedford, NH - Bedford Falls, Benchmark Senior Living’s newest Assisted Living community, constructed by C.E. Floyd Company and designed by Bechtel Frank Erickson Architects, is expected to receive the Platinum certification through the USGBC’s LEED for Homes rating system this fall. Platinum is the highest level in the LEED for Homes Certification ranking, and Bedford Falls is one of the first assisted living facilities in the US to reach this level.

“Benchmark Senior Living is very proud of Bedford Falls and our ability to provide our excellence in care and environment to the seniors in that market,” said John Dragat, senior vice president of development at Benchmark Senior Living.

“We are equally pleased with our anticipated LEED Platinum certification. As an organization, we made the decision to build the community with these standards to provide a high quality, healthy environment to our residents in addition to realizing longterm energy efficiencies and reduced operating costs in the years to come…LEED Platinum is the right thing to do for our residents and for the environment. It is our intention that all future Benchmark communities will be built to LEED standards.”

The building is in position to be an exceptionally high performance facility, with significantly reduced energy and water consumption as a result of reaching the summit of the LEED for Homes rating system.

Lauren Baumann, vice president at New Ecology, Inc., a community-based sustainable development company, worked alongside the project team and played a crucial role in obtaining Platinum certification for Bedford Falls.

“The unique feature of the LEED for Homes rating system, as compared to other USGBC rating systems, is that certification is dependent on third-party inspections… at frequent intervals,” said Baumann. “[The inspections] confirm that the build-

Bedford Falls ing is meeting rigorous standards related to energy and water use, indoor air quality, durability, materials use, and natural resource impact. The Bedford Falls facility achieved stellar results…”

Exceptional highlighted achievements comprise an insulation installation that met Grade I, which is the highest obtainable standard, as well as exceptionally low air infiltration, as a result of a sophisticated exterior envelope air sealing approach (1.6 air changes per hour at 50 Pascal). Additionally, 77% of all construction waste was recycled.

The quality and high level of performance of the building, the quality reputation of Benchmark Senior Living, and extensive marketing efforts led to an exceptional lease-up for a new community; currently at 65%.

C.E. Floyd Company, Inc. specializes in construction management for senior housing, private education, corporate, and hospitality markets with offices in Massachusetts and Connecticut, serving Southern New England. Benchmark Senior Living has 46 communities throughout New England that offer assisted living, memory care, independent living, and short term/ respite care. LEED for Homes is a consensus developed, third-party-verified, voluntary rating system which promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. New Ecology, Inc. is a community-based sustainable development company that promotes development solutions that deliver positive economic, environmental, and social returns.

500 Cumming Center Suite 5950 Beverly, MA 01915 800-466-5505 www.MeridianAssoc.com

We provide clients with technical expertise and end-to-end management of public infrastructure, land development and energy projects.

A Bank of Tomorrow

Easthampton Savings Bank Springfield, MA - At the center of 21st century. In fact, the building is 48% downtown Easthampton sits the stately more efficient than a typical building.

In the main lobby, a computer Easthampton Savings Bank. A brick Greek Revival façade faces the 19th century brick monitor mounted on the wall displays the buildings across the street. The downtown amount of solar energy that is being generis a harmonious whole of simple mercan- ated. The first floor contains a branch bank that reflects Easthampton Savings Bank’s tile and mill buildings.

Dietz & Company Architects was ap- vision of the future of retail banking. The proached by Easthampton Savings Bank to teller line is an inviting design that allows design their new Loan and Banking Center. customers to complete their transactions The challenge was to meet the bank’s re- sitting at a desk or standing. The floors quest for a new building that would reflect above house the bank’s various departtheir vision of a bank of tomorrow and at ments and conference rooms that look out the same time be rooted in the architecture to Mt. Tom. The building’s masonry exteof the Easthampton area – local architec- rior is highlighted by a stair tower at the tural vernacular in a thoroughly contempo- entry which will be illuminated at night, rary building. From the high-performance providing a beacon along Route 10 and a glass curtain wall that lets in generous refreshing alternative to the commercial amounts of natural light while controlling strip architecture that has become all too solar gain through the use of glass coatings common outside of New England cities and sunscreens, to the photovoltaic panels and towns. that cover the roof, this is a building of the

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ambridge, MA - J. Calnan & Associates, R.G. Vanderweil Engineers and Elkus Manfredi Architect announced that Annual their client, 2013 Shire HGT, has achieved LEED Gold Certification on the renovation of its existing office building in Cambridge.

Facilities Developments The project team worked collaboratively to renovate 17,000sf of the first floor office space at 185 Alewife Brook Parkway. The scope of work included reconstruction of the existing offices and the addition of a new café.

All of the work took place in a fully occupied building. ..Read the full story on page 6.

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