1 Annual Supplement:
2015
Green News
N E W E N G L A N D FA C I L I T I E S D E V E L O P M E N T N E W S I N D U S T R Y EXPERT ARTICLES
2015 Edition
ESPN Focuses on Sustainable Design at Bristol Campus
Dianne Dunnell Page 3
Susan Pranger Page 4
Suzanne Robinson Page 6
Breakout area in Digital Center / Woodruff-Brown Photography / story page 10
Jared Carpenter Page 13
Bldg. 13, aerial view looking northeast Joe Faraoni, ESPN
Doug Pope Page 14
staff photographer
Child Care Center main entrance Rich Arden, ESPN
staff photographer
Digital Center-2, Southwest Faรงade Joe Faraoni, ESPN
staff photographer
Inside this Issue: New Eastham Public Library Breaks Ground - Nauset GC Genest Builds Comfort Block Home Georgia Southern University Sciences Building Is Awarded LEED Gold - designed by SLAM CTA Breaks Ground on MA-CHPS School Featuring: Adoption of Green Technologies by Angie Kippers High-Profile Speaks Sustainable Living with Barry Gaw of Squam River Landing and Sippican Partners, LLC
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2015
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Building Success Through Performance. CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS AND GENERAL CONTRACTORS SINCE 1942
COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES
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Annual Green Supplement
2015
Publisher’s Message This supplement will be distributed on March 3 - 5, 2015 at BuildEnergy15 (BE15) at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. Its the most established and most c ross- d iscipl i na r y Anastasia Barnes renewable energy and high performance building conference in the region. Organized by members of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), BE15 attracts over 3,000 professionals (as well as students) in the New England design/build community, all with the same purpose…sustainability. Designing and building facilities that are more sustainable and efficient is just a small part of what we as professionals (and as humans on this planet) can do. We can use our own containers to fill water, instead of buying bottled water. We can walk, bike or use public transit to get to work or school. We can refrain from flushing every time we use the restroom. How about every other time? Unplug things when they’re not in use. Turn off lights. Take shorter showers, all the things you’ve heard before. It starts with the individual. The amount of damage that we’ve done to our ecosystem is quite apparent,
due to pollution and over exploitation of our natural resources. Restoring this damage is a priority…but we can’t stop building or using our resources, right? That’s correct. We cannot, but what we can do is make it a priority to design/ build net zero energy buildings (check out Suzanne Robinson’s piece on pg. 6). In this special Green supplement, you’ll meet Barry Gaw, a LEED AP real estate developer who brings his affection for sustainable living into his work. You’ll also read about how Genest Concrete, a commercial manufacturer/retailer of block and stone, goes outside of its commercial sector to provide insulated concrete block for a high-efficiency residential home. Our cover story, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, is a perfect example of how a large corporation is committed to a sustainable environment. From the individual to the masses, it is our responsibility to reverse the damages to our ecosystem. Enjoy this year’s GREEN supplement and take part in as many BE15 workshops as you can. The knowledge and resources packed into these three days is priceless. With sincere gratitude for a warm home and clean drinking water,
Anastasia Barnes
Interstate Installs 7 PV Solar Arrays
Shaffer Landfill
Billerica, MA – Interstate Electrical Services Corporation has completed the installation of seven photovoltaic solar arrays on sites across New England, the largest of which occupies the former Shaffer Landfill in the town of Billerica. The other ground mount arrays are located in Whatley, Hadley, Hubbardston, and Winchendon. A roof-top array was installed at Smith College in Northampton, Mass., and most recently, a smaller 48KW array in Burrillville, R.I. The Shaffer Landfill installation blankets the 63-acre, capped, superfund site with nearly 20,000 solar panels, racking, inverters, and various electrical
components, transforming a previous landfill into a community asset that on a sunny day generates nearly 6.0 megawatts of clean, renewable energy. Interstate began construction of this fast-track project in February 2014, and in spite of the significant challenges of this past winter’s weather, lack of site accessibility, environmental conditions, and site restrictions, completed the project in 92 days. The general contractor for this project was the Conti Group, headquartered in Edison, N.J. Interstate received an Excellence in Construction Award by the Massachusetts Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors for this project.
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Cradle to Cradle:
Specifying Sustainable Materials By Dianne Dunnell
Sustainability for buildings and interiors has become a fundamental tenet of design, whether or not a project pursues LEED certification. The products and processes used for building should be Dianne Dunnell thoughtfully manufactured, installed, recycled, and disposed of when they are no longer of use. In a few short years, designers and manufacturers have quickly discovered that sustainable products are both cost effective and good for the environment. The design community’s awareness about materials that have a positive impact on the environment was raised when a book called Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, was published in 2002. Dubbed “Cradle to Cradle products,” a movement was created with the introduction of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, a nonprofit organization administering a systematic approach to the continuous improvement in the creation of products for a positive A Cradle to Cradle product is a consumer or construction product that has been audited and certified to be sustainable. effect on society. Soon afterwards, Cradle to Cradle certified products were eligible to obtain LEED Innovation in Design credits. In the new LEED v4, Cradle to Cradle certified products are now included on the main checklist. The Institute’s Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard has become a path to compliance used to determine if products qualify for LEED v4 New Construction Materials and Resources credits. The standard has also become a tool to help designers select better products. What are Cradle to Cradle products? A Cradle to Cradle product is a consumer or construction product that has been audited and certified to be sustainable. The approved products are safe, healthy, and designed to offer a positive restorative impact on the environment. They also provide positive eco-effectiveness, such as zero VOCs and Net Zero waste. Cradle to Cradle products are manufactured in a way that reduces energy and water consumption. For a product to be Cradle to Cradle certified, it must go through a rigorous review and rating system based on five quality categories: material health, mate-
rial re-utilization, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness: Material health.
To earn this attribute, a bill of materials is created, including a listing of every ingredient that comprises the product. An assessor reviews and evaluates each ingredient for health and safety. Material re-utilization.
Does the product meet the goal of 100% recovery and upcycling? What are the percentages of recyclable/compostable content and recycled/rapidly renewable content?Designersareseeingmoreandmore companiesreapingthebenefitsfromrecovery of their products. Renewable energy.
Electricity consumption is one of the largest environmental impacts caused by manufacturing. The goal of this attribute is to reduce the carbon footprint of a product by using 100% renewable power. Water stewardship.
The objective is to have the water coming out of a manufacturing plant be cleaner than the water coming in. Using safer dyes can have a positive impact on water quality. Social fairness.
Thespiritofthiscategoryisforamanufacturer to become a partner to all stakeholders. Locally sourcing materials and using all aspectsofrawmaterialshelpseveryoneinthe product cycle. Once a product is reviewed against specific qualifications, it is awarded one of five certification levels: Basic, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. Products are then issued scorecards viewable on the Cradle to CradleProductsInnovationInstitutewebsite, allowing designers to see how a product performedonallfiveattributes.Unlikelabels for one-time certification, the Institute’s Cradle to Cradle Certification process requires companies and their products to be reviewed every two years. It is exciting to see more construction products become Cradle to Cradle certified. With landfills closing, the rise of demolition and raw material costs require the industry to re-evaluate the way products are created and selected. Cradle to Cradle products can contribute to LEED v4 credits for building life-cycle impact reduction, building product disclosure, and construction and demolition waste management. To view Cradle to Cradle products that meet LEED requirements, visit www.C2Ccertified.org. Dianne Dunnell, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP, is a senior associate at Margulies Perruzzi Architects.
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Annual Green Supplement
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The Future of Our Past
2015
CWA Sparks Sustainable Discoveries
by Susan Pranger
The time to prevent climate change has passed. Although we must still accelerate efforts to slow resource depletion and global warming, we must also prepare for inevitable changes Susan Pranger caused by global warming. Sea-level rise and extreme storms are already occurring, as are changes in daily weather patterns. These conditions will impact us on many scales — from our personal comfort to the global economy. Climate changes affects the environment, agriculture, our cities, and our buildings. Our political, social, and economic structures will be stressed and reconfigured in ways we probably cannot even imagine today. And yet we must respond aggressively to this uncertain future, be sensitive to the unforeseen ripple effects of our actions, and develop strategies that are resilient and flexible. There is much talk about the need to conserve the embodied energy of our existing buildings, buildings that will be directly threatened by severe weather, wind-driven rain, increased humidity,
temperature and salts, and UV-B rays, and subjected to damage, deterioration, flooding, rot, efflorescence, and insect damage. Climate change can also indirectly threaten existing buildings by prompting man-made renovations that are intended to resist weather and conserve energy but inadvertently cause damage. Historic buildings may very well be the canary in the coal mine. They are particularly vulnerable to both climate change and man-made interventions because they were built under very different conditions. At least in New England, most of our historic buildings were imperfect and leaky, hot and humid in the summer and cold and dry in the winter. If they still survive today, it is likely because they adapted to the weather rather than resisted it. They “breathe,” expanding and contracting with changes in moisture and temperature, and are rebuilt, repainted, and restored when needed. Efforts to control moisture migration are often unsuccessful, trapping or diverting moisture. Excess insulation can cause historic masonry to remain cold and wet, subject to efflorescence or freezing, and resulting deterioration, cracking, or spalling. continued to page 14
The Green Chemistry Lab
Hartford, CT – Yale’s Center for Green Chemistry and Engineering, an interdisciplinary group of chemists and engineers, has recently moved into its newly dedicated research space. The Green Chemistry Lab will serve as ground zero for fulfilling the center’s mission to develop chemical products and processes that have low or no environmental impacts. Located in the Paul Rudolph-designed Greeley Memorial Laboratory, the new 2,015sf of space involved a comprehensive renovation of 30% of the basement level. The Green Chemistry Lab was designed by Christopher Williams Architects, LLC (CWA), which worked closely with the core researchers to develop a collaborative research environment that promotes innovation and discovery. “I was surprised by how responsive the CWA team was to suggestions from the scientific team,” stated Evan
Beach, the center’s program director and associate research scientist. “While there were obviously constraints around budget and the limitations of the building infrastructure, I always felt free to provide input on design elements.” While matching the original casework of the building, CWA chose cherry paneling that contains no added urea formaldehyde, a process certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Additionally, highly energy-efficient LED lighting is incorporated throughout the building. MEP engineer HF Lenz utilized low flow, variable air volume fume hoods with modern controls coupled with new laboratory exhaust and heat recovery to optimize energy management. The result: an efficient and stimulating environment that is bound to yield new and important discoveries in this burgeoning field of research.
41 Recently completed Durham Town Hall Additions & Renovations Durham, NH | Architect: AG Architects Designed to meet LEED-Silver certification
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Annual Green Supplement
2015
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New Eastham Public Library Breaks Ground- Strives for LEED Gold
Rendering of new public library
Eastham, MA – Nauset Construction recently broke ground for a $6.8 million project that will provide the town of Eastham with a new state-of-the-art public library while preserving and enhancing a portion of the town’s historic single-room library building constructed in 1897 by a group of townspeople called the Village Improvement Society. Following the demolition of the existing 9,300sf structure, a two-story, wood-framed, 18,000sf , energy-efficient (LEED Gold targeted) facility will be constructed in its place. Nauset is teaming with Oudens Ello
Architecture. P-Three Inc. of Norwell is serving as the owner’s project manager. The new library will overlook one of the town’s many ponds, and will be set back to allow the historic section of the building — which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places — to serve as a headpiece to the new library. Design features include large, energyefficient windows that maximize the amount of natural light coming into the building while also offering panoramic views of Depot Pond and the new outdoor garden. The orientation and slope of the new roof will also allow for the use of
Aerial view
energy-producing photovoltaic panels in the near future. The upper level will consist of a lobby, a 110-seat multipurpose community room, circulation desk, and an adult reading room (with a gas fireplace) and stacks, and is arranged around a central reading garden to take full advantage of the dramatic pond views. The lower level will house the children and young adult areas, with direct access to an outdoor program area. The building design maximizes flexibility of use, both during normal library hours as well as during off-hour community use, and promotes
adaptability to future program changes, while also incorporating the latest in green building technologies. Nauset will also construct a 52-space parking lot over the new nitrogen-reducing septic system, replacing the existing parking lot currently located within the wetland buffer to ensure against any negative impact on the water quality of the pond. Construction is now under way and is expected to be completed in early 2016. In the meantime, Eastham residents will utilize a 2,100sf trailer that is located adjacent to Eastham’s Town Hall to meet their library needs. Mechanical Electrical Plumbing Fire Protection Commissioning Central Plants
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Annual Green Supplement
6
2015
Staples Uses Gensler’s WPI
The Green Trend of the Year
Framingham, MA – Aware of a shifting workforce demographic, in 2010 Staples charted a course towards a workplace of choice. The Framingham-based company partnered with Gensler, a global design firm grounded in the belief that great design optimizes business performance and human potential. Using Gensler’s proprietary Workplace Performance Index (WPI), which measures workplace effectiveness from the viewpoint of the employee, the team discovered a number of important issues. “Since our initial campus master plan strategy work, we have evolved our Framingham facility from a home office to a global headquarters campus,” notes John Lynch, Staples’ vice president of facilities, construction, and support services. With an existing parking shortage and plans to increase campus capacity, Staples needed a solution. The result? A four-level 950-car structure with electric vehicle charging stations that better uses the limited space that was previously occupied by a parking and drop-off area. A large PV array on the upper deck produces 10% of the entire campus’ annual energy needs, creating positive environmental and financial changes. This high-performing structure also
by Suzanne Robinson
The 950-car structure has electric vehicle charging stations.
creates a place for employees to gather. Staples associates use the adjacent patio and green space for socializing, dining, fitness activities, and more. “A best-in-class corporate campus helps attract, engage, and retain the best people and embodies your brand personality,” noted Arlyn Vogelmann, a principal in Gensler’s Boston office. “In the case of Staples, that brand includes a healthy and environmentally friendly work environment.” This garage is just one piece of a larger Staples strategy to minimize the company’s environmental impact through integrated sustainable technologies and a reduced structural footprint. In October 2014, the six-time Green Power Leadership Award winner announced that it was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the 11th consecutive year.
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I get asked all the time what’s the latest and greatest in the world of sustainability, especially with energy. The biggest trend of this year is total energy for the building, Suzanne Robinson specifically Zero Net Energy (ZNE), Energy Positive (E+), Passive House, and Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB). ZNE is not new. It has been around for years, but this last year, clients who wanted to showcase a sustainable building gravitated towards a ZNE project. ZNE is the new LEED. Design for ZNE has gone through an evolution these past few years. Personally, I loved the concept of ZNE buildings when I first came across the concept years ago: to produce the energy you consume on-site. I loved working on my first project that strived for ZNE with an owner who was up to exploring different concepts for occupying and operating the building, with an architect who fully embraced a design informed from energy decisions, and with a contractor who was involved during design. We had a truly integrated team. I didn’t realize I lucked out. For the next series of projects, too often they were interested in ZNE without a full understanding, education, and mindset shift for all parties involved. To get to ZNE you have to let go of some of the old habits, thinking, rules of thumb, and expectations. We would go through the exercise of finding the path to ZNE design and then see other project agendas dominate. I took away a personal mindset shift from the experience. The practice of designing to ZNE should be inherent on every project we work on, regardless of the energy targets. It provides the opportunity for true informed design decisions. Instead of tacking on extras from a baseline and building up your energy reduction number, start at ZNE. Even if the project does not end up being ZNE, you still will have a much better energy-performing building. All the projects that we were striving for ZNE are better for the process we went through even if they ultimately didn’t make it to ZNE. There are two drivers that are emerging in this new wave of ZNE. The first driver is operation. True sustainability is designing and constructing a building that can actually be operated during its lifetime as a sustainable building. As we push our designs to
be more high performance, we add layers of controls to only use energy when needed. A backlash has resulted because most high-performance buildings do not invest in high-performance operators. The more moving parts and complicated a system you have, the more risk you have for failure. The mantra Keep it Simple Stupid (KISS) is gaining ground. ZNE refocuses design back to reducing the loads. For example, right-sizing the envelope shell should mean it is near energy-neutral and allows for the HVAC system to focus on the cooling and heating loads related to ventilation and internal load needs and not have to make up for the heating losses through the envelope. This results in smaller HVAC systems with simpler controls, and proper operation is more likely achieved.
The biggest trend of this year is total energy for the building, specifically Zero Net Energy (ZNE), Energy Positive (E+), Passive House, and Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB).
The second driver is that ZNE is gaining legislative ground. There is a growing list of adoptions of ZNE requirements, from the European Union to California. In Massachusetts, the senate is reviewing Bill S.1587 that would establish ZNE building standards for new commercial buildings by 2030. There would be incremental increases of 30% better than the most recent international energy conservation code (IECC) to reach this 2030 requirement. ZNE is not a fad. Between owner and legislative demands, we are shifting our practices as an industry. There are certainly growing pains, but the growing awareness, education, and energy intuition to effectively design and construct ZNE buildings is gaining momentum. Suzanne Robinson, PE LEED AP, BD+C, is the director of sustainability at Vanderweil Engineers.
Annual Green Supplement
2015
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Georgia Southern University Sciences Building Is Awarded Gold Designed by SLAM
Exterior of Georgia Southern University
Atlanta GA | Boston MA | Glastonbury CT | Syracuse NY
and inside the building, “… people will be able to see creative ways to deal with storm-water runoff from the building, including bioswales where water will be cleaned before it moves on, and rain chains directing water off the building.” The bioswales serve both as stormwater management and a living lab, while providing an attractive site amenity that integrates the building into its surroundings. All plantings, which were installed as a student project, are indigenous and were carefully selected to reduce irrigation requirements. Additionally, the campus’ first use of on-site renewable
smart
neutral buildings by 2030. The Biological Sciences Building is itself a teaching tool for sustainability. A large, high-definition video wall in the atrium is a dashboard that monitors and displays water and power usage along with air quality and room temperature, in real time. Strategically located exterior glazing allows light to penetrate deep into the building, and interior glazing enables passersby to see into research and instructional labs and experience science on display. Steve Vives, Ph.D., chairman of the biology department, pointed out how students can learn from both outside
Statesboro, GA – Georgia Southern University’s new 151,000gsf Biological Sciences Building was recently awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design SLAM programmed, planned, and designed the $34.2 million facility. According to SLAM’s president, Robert F. Pulito, AIA, the firm was one of the first 100 firms nationally to support The American Institute of Architects “2030 Commitment” to carbon neutrality design and practice to achieve carbon-
Interior of Georgia Southern University
energy by means of photovoltaic panels to produce electricity will help to reduce the electrical power required from the electrical grid. Solar thermal panels will provide a portion of the domestic hot water, reducing the need for fossil fuel to supply the boilers.
860 657.8077 www.slamcoll.com
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Innovate… for earth’s sake. Construction will always require the management of documents, but they don’t have to be paper documents. By managing our project information using online collaboration tools and cutting-edge mobile devices, we are cutting costs, streamlining projects and helping the environment. Clients call our approach a “game changer.” We call it “building smart.”
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SUNY Buffalo State College New Technology Building LEED Gold Certification
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Annual Green Supplement
8
2015
High-Profile Speaks Sustainable Living with Barry Gaw of Squam River Landing and Sippican Partners, LLC Recently, High-Profile sat down with Barry Gaw of Squam River Landing and Sippican Partners, LLC to discuss sustainability from a personal to a professional standpoint. to stay here or work here. Years later, our company is focused on developing real estate projects that benefit people and place, socially, environmentally, and economically.
HP: With a long career in real estate and development throughout New England, what sparked your interest in building a sustainable community in New Hampshire’s Lakes region?
HP: Sustainability is a popular topic these days. How is Squam River Landing different from other residential projects in the area and region?
BG: Growing up, my family had a summer camp on Big Squam Lake with many great memories built here. As I grew professionally, my career advanced developing real estate projects of many types throughout New England and New York City. In the early 2000s I built a house in neighboring Holderness, N.H. with one of the best friends a person could ever have. Before he passed away, he helped teach me the importance of family and having a rewarding home-life outside of work. I left a project in New York and moved to the lake. I never intended
BG: Squam River Landing provides energy-efficient housing options for the many generations of Squam Lake families who have been, or are now being, priced off the lakefront. Through its affiliate and social center, RiverEdge Marina, we employ 16 to 20 people and service over 1,100 clients. We are also an active member of the greater community, involved with adaptive sports, kids at risk programs, conservation groups, economic development, and local community revitalization. From an economic standpoint, the
Barry Gaw
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Aerial Site View of Squam River Landing and Riveredge Marina
project will increase the town of Ashland’s assessed value by over 20% when fully built-out, and significantly increase property tax collections. We will also create or preserve 20 permanent jobs by allowing RiverEdge Marina to maintain
and expand its workforce while creating over 5,000 short-term development and construction jobs. Environmentally, the master plan combines elements of a cluster plan within a conservation development, balancing
Annual Green Supplement
2015
Covered Bridge at Squam River Landing and Riveredge Marina
built density with preserved land. The development is located on buildable areas of the land, with the surrounding land dedicated to open space. By condensing buildable area, on a site where water and sewer is available, overall land sprawl is mitigated. The community covenants will manage the health and selective clearing of the woodlands and the development alleviates the impact of storm water runoff caused by logging in the 1990s. Additionally, Design Review Covenants manage site development, architecture, view corridors, and wildlife paths. All home design and construction methods are Energy Star compliant;
LEED and NAHB Green eligible, and ‘sensible green’ — managing costs and benefits for land and end user. Designs are energy-efficient, conserve water usage, and use local resources. HP: What are some of the key green components or practices of the Squam River Landing project that contribute to the overall sustainability and active lifestyle at the community? BG: In designing the land plan, we started by surveying all of the key natural features, slopes, rock ledges, specimen trees, view corridors, wildlife paths — then we began
9
Riveredge Marina
to lay out areas that could accept homes while minimizing the disturbance to the land. Once we identified the home sites, we then designed the road system and overall land plan. The size of a home, and the design-construction of its building envelope matter more than all of the green components combined. We use higher ceilings, larger windows strategically placed, and open floor plans. We insulate the exterior envelope from the top of the ridge to underneath the basement slab. Aftertheseprimaryobjectivesaresettled, alloftheothergreencomponentsareadditive, including geothermal heating and cooling
systems, reclaimed materials, and locally sourced products. HP: How do your sustainable building practices contribute into the overall conservation mindset of the greater Squam Lakes region? BG: We are working to be leaders in our community to help teach, lead, guide, and educate others how to design, build, and live in ways that cost less, use less, and give back. Our goal is to re-use an area’s attributes, rather than dismantle them. continued to page 14
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Annual Green Supplement
10
2015
ESPN Focuses on Sustainable Design at Bristol Campus Bristol, CT – In August of this year, ESPN open its doors to the newly constructed Digital Center-2 (DC-2), a 194,000sf, five-studio media facility located on the network’s Bristol campus, a 136-acre site that includes some 1.2 million sf of space in 18 buildings. DC-2, Bldg. 13, and the Child Care Center are just a few examples of the company’s commitment to minimizing its overall impact on the environment while encouraging and activating environmentally responsible behavior on the part of employees, guests, and business associates throughout the world. Let us take a closer to look at these buildings. Bldg. 13 is a 136,000sf commercial office building with a significant portion of the building square footage dedicated to technical operations. The project is a four-story building utilizing USGBC LEED 2.0 criteria as a guideline. The first floor of the building is designated for technical support for ESPN’s satellite uplink operation. The remaining three floors are dedicated to various other technical operations. Having set the design bar at LEED Silver, the consultant team led by Fletcher-Thompson of Bridgeport, Conn. was able to meet USGBC parameters
Bldg. 13, aerial view looking northeast Joe Faraoni, ESPN staff photographer.
while ensuring the MEP/FP systems met ESPN requirements for reliability and redundancy. Building orientation and envelop materials were reviewed in detail to explore potential energy-saving opportunities. The building design incorporated high R-value glazing, sun shelves on the exterior of the south and west façades of the building, interior sun shelves (on these same elevations), reduced fenestration on the north and east façades of the building, and a high-reflectivity roof membrane to reduce the heat-island effect. Automated controls manage the building climate and lighting systems which employ daylight harvesting through the use of electronic dimming ballasts. High-efficiency
Pope Energy
Looking Beyond The Cost Of Energy Electricity and Natural Gas Energy Efficiency Solar Development
electric water chillers form the backbone of the building cooling system. Waterless urinals save potable water use, and site irrigation is kept to a minimum by utilizing hardy, native species that require very little irrigation beyond natural levels of rainfall. The Fletcher-Thompson design team and ESPN stakeholders including the Global Construction & Facilities Engineering and the Safety & Sustainability groups and construction manager, The Associated Construction Company, were rewarded for their combined efforts in June 2014 when the USGBC granted “Certified” level for Bldg. 13 under LEED NC 2.0.
Child Care Center – Motor Skills Room Rich Arden, ESPN staff photographer
The ESPN Child Care Center is a mixed-age group facility consisting of three “family unit” buildings comprising 38,270sf and a multi-use building measuring 12,109sf, which houses a collegiate-sized basketball court, locker facilities, and supporting mechanical space. The design team was led by The S/L/A/M Collaborative from Glastonbury, Conn. The ESPN Global Construction & Facilities Engineering team worked closely with their Disney colleagues and various ESPN stakeholders to establish design criteria based on LEED NC 2.2.
Pre-School age Classroom Rich Arden, ESPN staff photographer
and rain-screen building envelope materials. Landscape designers focused on storm-water catchments areas with bio-filtration zones and zero irrigation landscape materials. MEP/FP engineers van Zelm Engineers, from Farmington, Conn., directed its team on a number of ESPNmandated initiatives including occupancy sensors for interior light control, chilled beam HVAC system, CO2 sensors for demand control ventilation, a 22kW solar photo-voltaic system and a solar hot water system. ESPN’s construction manager, The Associated Construction Company, managed the LEED for New Construction process with professional diligence. The project is currently under review by the USGBC for a LEED NC 2.2 Gold award.
Commercial and Utility Grade Solar PV Digital Center-2, Southwest Façade Joe Faraoni, ESPN Staff Photographer
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Child Care Center main entrance Rich Arden, ESPN staff photographer
The selected site is a 12-acre parcel in close proximity to the ESPN Bristol, Conn. Main Campus. Careful consideration was taken to ensure that an established watercourse through the site was maintained and utilized as a teaching space for the children. Secure outdoor play areas, a nature walk, and an outdoor amphitheater were evaluated and eventually worked into the final design. The architects pursued daylight harvesting, cool-roof membrane, high R-value glazing, FSC certified lumber,
Digital Center 2 is a worldclass television production facility that integrates sustainable design and energy-efficiency objectives alongside cutting-edge technical sophistication. The building is a four-story facility with two floors of technical production and studio space sandwiched between basement and mezzanine levels housing the missioncritical electrical and cooling plants for the facility. This 194,000sf building has a USGBC LEED NC 2.2 target of “Certified.” ESPN Global Construction & Facilities Engineering collaborated with their colleagues in the Safety & Sustainability group to assemble a diverse group of senior-level stakeholders that had the desired passion expected for this
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Adoption of Green Technologies complicated project and the necessary authority to make the hard decisions when required to do so. The design team led by HLW International from New York, N.Y. was given the task of leading both the architectural and building infrastructure systems design based on ESPN’s program requirements. Mission-critical electrical systems were designed by Facilities Engineering Associates from Farmington, Conn., and the landscape architect was Sasaki Associates from Watertown, Mass. HLW engineers, following ESPN’s directive, employed high-efficiency electric water chillers with adaptive frequency drives, super-premium efficiency motors for all pumps and fans, and utilized variable frequency drives (VFD’s) to control these motors. Direct digital control (DDC) manages the HVAC sequence of operation including CO2 Monitoring for demand control ventilation.
Audio Room in Digital Center-2 Woodruff-Brown Photography
Water efficiency was targeted by collecting air handler condensate water and site ground water. These sources (after chemical treatment) were used for cooling tower make-up and toilet flushing, thereby reducing dependency on potable water for these routine tasks. The architects concentrated on the building envelope materials such as the high-reflectivity roof membrane to reduce the heat island effect. High R-value glazing was deployed on the south and
By Angie Kippers
Breakout area in Digital Center-2 Woodruff-Brown Photography
west façades of the building to reduce thermal gain. The north and east façades were wrapped with a combination of insulated metal panels and cementatious fiberglass panels. Landscape designers selected hardy native species for the planting materials. These selections were vital in meeting the zero potable water use goal for irrigation. The leadership of ESPN stakeholders, the efforts of the consultant team and the construction manager, The Associated Construction Company, along with some significant heavy lifting on the part of YR&G, resulted in this project being considered for a LEED “Certified” award. The ESPN story of consecutive successful sustainable projects would not be possible without the collaborative efforts of the architects, engineers, and construction manager mentioned previously. One can easily conclude that a lot of hard work on the part of a great many people paid off with tremendous success. The sustainability and energy-efficiency goals established many years ago continue to pay dividends for ESPN, TWDC, and the Bristol community. As a member of the global community, ESPN is aware of its legacy and it remains clear that the company’s legacy includes environmental responsibility. This piece was authored by John J. Cistulli, Senior Director of Global Construction & Facilities Engineering at ESPN in Bristol, Conn.
In a recent Huffington Post blog, sustainability expert Lance Hosey writes: “Because the built environment represents about half the annual U.S. energy and emissions and three-quarters of its electricity, arguably, architects are essential to achieving sustainability.” Architecture may be a key component for change, but other factors are also pushing sustainable practices along. The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification program has become internationally recognized, offering prestige and notoriety for a company that incorporates measurable green strategies in its design projects. And federal- and state-run energy-efficiency programs, including Efficiency Maine, are offering cash incentives for new installations and retrofits using energy-efficient systems and products. High costs of heating-fuel and electricity are also causing facility owners and managers to re-evaluate energy usage and strategies. In early October, Maine energy officials issued a press release encouraging businesses to prepare for a sharp rise in electricity prices this winter (more than double in some instances). “Sustainable design options that once gave business owners pause are now not only feasible, they’re smart,” says Mark Chambers, senior associate and mechanical engineering designer at
WBRC Architects • Engineers. Improved knowledge and widespread adoption of green technologies in the industry are creating a competitive landscape for bidding. Ten years ago, in Maine, there were only a few companies installing geothermal systems, Chambers says. Now, most drillers in the state are capable of performing the work. With experience comes skill and efficiency, a more competitive environment, and lower costs. University of Maine’s Emera Astronomy Center in Orono, Kennebec Savings Bank in Farmingdale, and Pen Bay Healthcare’s Sussman House in Rockport all use geothermal systems. “There are many benefits for commercial clients,” says Andrew Rudnicki, P.E., mechanical engineer for WBRC Architects • Engineers. “There’s little maintenance necessary on the field. You don’t have to check fan belts or compressors or clean parts. A geothermal field can pay for itself fairly quickly.” Energy efficiency was a top priority for Kennebec Savings Bank when it was planning its new Farmingdale branch, near Augusta. The LEED Silver-certified facility is heated and cooled by a six-well geothermal system. The bank sourced much of its continued to page 13
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DESIGN/BUILD TEAMS Bldg. 13 Architect: Fletcher Thompson Architects Construction Manager: The Associated Construction Company Child Care Center Architect: The S/L/A/M Collaborative Construction Manager: The Associated Construction Company Digital Center-2 Architect: HLW International Construction Manager: The Associated Construction Company
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2015
Genest Builds Comfort Block Home MassCEC Wins Two Awards Boston – Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) CEO Alicia Barton announced that MassCEC’s Clean Energy Internship Program won two national awards: the State Leadership in Clean Energy (SLICE) Award from the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) and the National 3iAwards State and Local Project Award from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). “This recognition highlights the Patrick administration’s commitment to growing the commonwealth’s clean energy economy now and for future generations,” said Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett, chair of the MassCEC board. “Giving students an internship experience in the cleantech sector prepares them for the Massachusetts workforce.” The MassCEC Clean Energy Internship Program connects students and recent graduates with Massachusetts clean energy companies. MassCEC provides companies with a talented pool
Comfort Block home
Kennebunkport, ME – Genest Concrete, a manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer of architectural block and paving stones, has ventured out to build a residential home made from its insulated concrete block, Comfort Block. Designed to be used for high-efficiency home building, this innovative wall system promises to create a home that is healthy, quiet, comfortable, and resilient to extreme weather events. The Comfort Block home is now under construction in the quaint town
Comfort Block roof
of Kennebunkport. The architect for the home, Hans Warner of Warner Design Associates, Portland, designed the house with many of the current Passive House principles in mind. The main body of the house faces south with large windows, which allows the sun to heat the house during the coldest months in Maine. The north side of the house has much smaller windows, limiting the loss of heat during the winter yet still allowing cross ventilation through the house during the summer. Overhangs on the roof function as protection for the house from the rain as well as creating shade over the windows during the summer months to prevent heat gain. Intus triple-pane windows from Lithuania were chosen to increase the overall insulation performance of the house, as well as a Siga high-performance house wrap from Switzerland for the hot roof. Siga window tape was also used to seal up any air leaks around the windows. Mineral wool insulation will be used in
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Comfort Blocks
the rafters and cross insulated to create better thermal breaks. The owners of the house did not wish to have a basement and opted for a super insulated slab on the first floor instead. The floor will have eight inches of EPS insulation as well as a vapor barrier under a 5-inch concrete slab. The second floor of the house is constructed using 10 inch pre-stressed insulated concrete planks. Once complete, the house will be expected to be extremely air tight with an overall value of R-30 in the walls, R-61 in the roof, R-32 below the slab, and an overall R-9 window performance. The house will be heated using either a Rais wood stove insert or two mini split air-to-air heat pumps. Fresh air will be exchanged, filtered, and circulated using a Pohoda i-ERV with humidity control. This house will be an example of a complete masonry home which is similar in construction to German Passive House home building. The volume of mass used in this home will assist in both the efficiency of the house as well as resistance to mold, mildew, fire, and extreme storms. Genest Concrete’s goal with this project is to offer simple solutions for building high-efficiency homes, using a simple monolithic insulated masonry wall system to help simplify an often very complicated wall building process. Genest’s Comfort Block, along with other energy-efficient building products, has the potential to produce a healthy and durable home at a reasonable cost which is also reasonably simple to build.
of young professionals and stipends to pay interns during fall, spring, and summer sessions. In turn, the companies provide interns with real-world work experience. Since its inception in 2011, the internship program has placed 952 students or recent graduates at clean energy companies across the commonwealth, with more than 70 of those interns receiving job opportunities at their host companies. “Massachusetts’s $10 billion clean energy industry is booming and needs skilled workers,” said Barton. “We’re proud that this program has been successful in providing students with a career path while staffing clean energy companies with high-quality talent to fuel their growth.” The program aims to prepare the next generation of clean energy workers to work in the clean energy industry, which employs 88,000 workers and is projected to reach 100,000 workers by 2015. The Massachusetts clean energy industry has grown by 47% since 2010.
CTA Breaks Ground on a MA-CHPS Holden, MA – CTA Construction of Waltham recently broke ground on the new Mountview Middle School in Holden, a two-phase project that includes construction of a new middle school and demolition of the nearly 50-year-old existing school. CTA recently was named on a list of the Top 100 Green Building Contractors. The construction project is participating in the Massachusetts Collaborative for High Performance Schools, which sets standards for environmentally friendly design and construction. For this reason, all the classrooms are located on the perimeter of the building to allow access to natural daylight.
Construction site for new Mountview Middle School
The $35.2 million project was designed by Lamoureux Pagano & Associates Inc. The new building will rise about 20 feet from the nearest point of the existing school, which was constructed in 1967. CTA is managing the project to limit interruption to classes and to allow school buses access to the occupied school.
Construction underway at school
The new 126,200sf middle school will consist of two sections, the first being a three-story structure with classrooms, science labs, art rooms, media rooms, administrative and faculty offices, and work rooms. The second section will be a one- and two-story structure with the cafeteria, kitchen, gymnasium-auditorium, locker rooms, music classrooms, and mechanical and maintenance facilities. Following completion of the new facility, CTA will demolish the former school and finish sitework, which includes installation of a new soccer field and irrigation system. The current school suffers from deficiencies in structural integrity and in major building systems, including mechanical, electrical, envelope, and roof. The new Mountview Middle School is being built to accommodate 800 students in grades 6 through 8.
Annual Green Supplement
2015
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Measurement & Verification
BuildBlock ICFs Contribute to LEED Pts.
of Energy Upgrades
by Marty Baron
by Jared Carpenter
Sanborn Place and Sanborn Home Care is a not-for-profit corporation providing living and health assistance to 73 residences. In 2012, Jacqueline Carson, the director of Sanborn Place, embarked Jared Carpenter on a plan to upgrade the facility, including the facilities’ HVAC systems, with a final goal of providing greater comfort to the tenants and reducing overall energy consumption. Upon completion, RDK Engineers was asked to measure and verify the electricity, demand, and gas savings to ensure the return on investment numbers were being met. Sanborn residences each have a heating and cooling system in the bedroom and living room. The existing system consisted of hot-water baseboard heat and wall-sleeve air conditioning units. This common system provided insufficient cooling and variant heat because of the age and lack of unit control. However, installing a central chilled water system or packaged rooftop unit was impractical due to construction limitations and the fact that installation would be too intrusive to the residents who would remain in their units through the duration of the construction. Rather than retrofit the existing system with a similar design, Carson and the board of directors opted to install a variable refrigerant volume (VRV) system with the intent of saving energy and increasing comfort. The VRV system uses an inverter-driven compressor which is capable of efficiently providing simultaneous heating and cooling. The system consists of over 150 wall units, which provide isolated heating and cooling, but only 16 rooftop compressordriven units. This design allows energy
to be shared between multiple units prior to using high energy use compressors to meet the thermal needs. For example, the east side of a building and the west side of a building have very different needs due to solar loads. The VRV system will balance the thermal energy and only use the compressor if further cooling or heating is needed. When additional heating or cooling is called for, the compressor will engage until space conditions are met. This allows tenants to have a system that is quieter, zoned with more accuracy, minimizes maintenance as no system is strained due to overuse, and reduces energy consumption. Increased comfort due to the accuracy of the systems and the low noise level proved to be a secondary benefit when compared to the energy savings. In order to estimate the savings, the year 2011 was used as a baseline. The energy savings was over 97,000 kWh which totals a 23% decrease. The demand reduction was also a major component of the savings. The VRV system creates more stabilized consumption. This results in a peak demand reduction of almost 50 kW. In addition, the gas usage was reduced by over 40% annually. RDK’s Energy Group verified the energy savings by reviewing the utility bills, placing data loggers, and measuring demand (kW) during variable operating times. The end result is a cost savings of $27,326 annually. This, along with the rebate from the utility, results in a simple payback of 1.1 years. In addition, the new systems with linked HVAC systems allow easy monitoring of the units for comfort and energy savings. This central automation monitoring system allows the Sanborn Place staff to ensure optimum comfort for its residents while achieving an energy use index (EUI) score of just over 50. Jared Carpenter is senior energy engineer at RDK Engineers.
Student Team Wins EPA Grant Boston – A student team from Connecticut is among five teams in New England chosen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to receive up to $15,000 to pursue projects that deliver sustainable, alternative methods of addressing environmental challenges. The University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn. won the funding for a project that will develop a cost-effective and environmentally friendly flame retardant. The Environmentally Friendly Flame Retardants Based on Inorganic Nanosheets project will make a flame retardant that will have similar or higher
flame retardancy performance; minimum release of toxic gases during combustion; no leak of toxic chemicals during production, transportation, and usage; and similar or lower cost when compared to conventional flame retardants. “Projects and designs created by student teams each year surpass our expectations,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator for EPA’s New England office. “It’s exciting and hopeful that students are coming up with sustainable ways to address our country’s challenging environmental issues, while also helping to create a vibrant, growing economy.”
According to an assessment conducted by Kelly Parker, P.E., LEED, president of GWS, LLC, BuildBlock Building Systems Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) can help your construction Marty Baron project attain LEED Green Building status. The assessment asserts that BuildBlock ICFs can furnish the basis for 19 LEED points if the guidelines outlined below are applied in the building design and construction. Another 8 LEED points can be achieved indirectly because of the highly synergistic thermal control qualities of BuildBlock ICFs. BuildBlock ICFs consist of foam insulation forms for poured concrete
walls that stay in place as a permanent part of the wall assembly. The forms are interlocking blocks connected with high-density plastic webs. The stay-inplace forms provide a highly effective insulation, a sound barrier, and a backing for exterior and interior wall materials (drywall, siding, brick, etc.). The ICFs can contribute to attaining LEED credits by affording the flexibility required in choosing exterior finishes and extending the life cycle of the building being constructed, and the significantly lower total quantity of wood makes Certified Wood easier to justify in the overall cost of the project. Marty Baron is regional manager for BuildBlock Building Systems and managing director for North America for Core Construction Products, LLC.
Adoption of Green Technologies continued from page 11
material, including lumber and low-VOCemission flooring, within a 500-mile radius, and it takes advantage of low-flow fixtures and motion-sensored lighting. It also has an “incredibly tight building envelope,” Rudnicki says. “With R5 windows, spray-foam insulation throughout, and rigid foam on the exterior, it’s one of the tightest envelopes we have ever designed at WBRC.” Andrew Silsby, president and chief operating officer of Kennebec Savings Bank, says he’s proud of the facility. It’s impressive in its functionality as well as architecture — it blends beautifully with other homes in the community, he says. The intent was to build a facility that would be “LEED smart,” he adds. “It was never about chasing points. We did things that we thought were smart, and we let the LEED certification land where it would land,” he says. A solar domestic hot water system, for instance, was not chosen for the facility. With fewer than 10 employees on-site, there would be little return on investment, he says. Instead, Kennebec Savings Bank installed a heat pump water heater that uses the warm air created by equipment in the IT room. The warm air is drawn into the heat pump water heater where refrigerant extracts the heat and transfers it to the water heater tank. In this exchange, cool air is created, which is released back into the IT room to provide cooling. The facility, he says, is running about 8% to 10% more efficiently than the bank’s other more traditional buildings. Especially nice, he adds: “We don’t have an oil truck coming with a delivery.” Sussman House, Pen Bay Healthcare’s new seven-bed hospice in Rockport,
Maine, also uses a geothermal system for heating and cooling. “A challenge here was the facility’s proximity to the ocean and the abundance of water below grade,” Rudnicki says. Just 100 feet above sea level, the facility needed a higher quantity of wells (10) drilled at a much shallower depth (350 feet) to support the looped system. The facility also uses low-flow waterconserving plumbing fixtures. Automated lighting controls and vacancy sensors also help reduce energy consumption. The newly opened Emera Astronomy Center is the University of Maine’s first facility to benefit from geothermal technology. The 7,400sf planetarium uses a mix of packaged water source heat pump air handlers and smaller water-to-air heat pumps to maintain building temperature. “Return on investment is a key factor,” Chambers says. “Whether it is new construction or renovation, clients want to minimize costs.” Chambers cites the example of Main View Apartments in Orono. The 24-unit apartment complex for seniors relies solely on 28 solar panels, each with 30 vacuum tubes, to supply hot water throughout the facility. The system, designed by WBRC, was installed 27 years ago. Except for the occasional breakage of tubes, Chambers says, there’s little maintenance. “The owner is very pleased with the overall operation of the system and the energy savings benefit to him and his tenants,” Chambers says. “When you build, that’s your best time to invest,” he says. “It’s a one-time opportunity with long-term benefits.” Angie Kippers is a new media designer/ marketing communications specialist at WBRC Architects • Engineers.
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Annual Green Supplement
2015
The Role of Solar Energy in Massachusetts by Doug Pope
The economic, political and environmental questions at this time of energy infrastructure reinvestment in Massachusetts are, will decentralized, solar and other distributed energy resources be built withDoug Pope in the Commonwealth creating its own economic engine or will the status quo prevail and fossil fuels will continue to be the fuels of choice? ISO-NE, the non-profit manager of the grid within New England, established in 2010, a list of “at risk” retirements of coal and oil generation assets by 2020 and that list has been again confirmed in reports this summer. Gordon van Welie, President and CEO of ISO-NE, in his letter to Congress last April, confirmed within five-years the retirement of Salem Harbor (749 MW), Norwalk Harbor (342 MW) and Brayton Point (1,535 MW) all coal and oil plants plus Vermont Yankee Station a (604 MW ) nuclear plant. These facilities represent ten-percent of installed capacity within New England. In August of this year, ISO-NE announced that it has over 8,300 MW in the replacement queue and yet acknowledges that only six of those fifty-seven projects, totaling 85 MW, have a high degree of probability of
going into service. There is a gap, an opportunity for the Commonwealth to give notice to the market that solar, wind and other distributed energy resources will take the place of retiring oil, coal and nuclear generation assets. There is 31,000 MW of total generating capacity servicing total load in New England. If solar and other distributed energy resources are to make significant contributions to the capacity servicing the Commonwealth, that capacity must come from replacing retiring assets. The market would then respond with storage, faststart balancing and base-load generation to accommodate the increasing levels of intermittent generation. In evaluating cost, it is important to recognize that testimony at the federal level recognizes that solar and other renewables suppress the future cost of energy because distributed generation reduces wholesale load at peak demand and bids into the market at prices below generators cost who need to purchase fuel. The current cost of solar at $285 per MW at 200 MW per year is approximately $0.00134 per kWh costing the average residential ratepayer $0.67 per month or $8.01 per year. This cost pales in comparison to the electricity rate increases due to capacity constrained natural gas supply. Rather than continuing to export
our energy dollars out of the state, we should be encouraging investment in decentralized, solar and other distributed energy resources within the state, creating what at least one economist projects is a 1.2 economic multiplier within the state. For every dollar spent on investment within the state an additional twenty-cents goes to benefit the larger economy. For example, the current 1,600 MW solar-carveout program at a local payment-in-lieu-of-taxes level of $10,000 per MW equals $16 million per year in tax revenue for municipalities with few services required. What is required to achieve these objectives and what would such a transition look like? Required legislation would: 1) R emove all caps on net and virtual metering.
2) Raise the renewable portfolio standard limits to require at least 20% installed capacity servicing total load in the commonwealth by 2025, 40% by 2040 and 50% by 2050. 3) G ive notice to the market that the commonwealth will encourage the installation of 4,000 MW of solar and 4,000 MW of wind and other distributed energy resource assets by 2020 and 1,000 MW every year
thereafter until installed capacity limits are met.
4) D efine the role of the investor owned utilities in facilitating rapid expansion of distributed energy resources and provide incentives for the same. Utilities in the future are going to migrate to providing decoupled, non-volumetric “services” in a renewables and storage market.
5) P rovide performance based incentives for a fixed program term and price, reducing the cost of capital, all the while designed to be flexible, responding to rising net and virtual metering cost. 6) E stablish uniform taxation standards including firm, fixed pricing for payment-in-lieu-of-tax agreements.
7) Benchmark incentives based upon commodity pricing of panels, inverters and municipal tax agreements.
The time is now for the Commonwealth to act and give notice to the markets that solar, wind and other distributed energy resources will take the place of coal and oil retiring assets. Doug Pope is President of Pope Energy and is a solar developer.
The Future of Our Past
H-P Speaks Sustainable Living with Barry Gaw
continued from page 4
continued from page 9
Fortunately, today most architects, engineers, and conservationists recognize that they must first understand each building’s idiosyncrasies of construction and performance and then analyze the probable, but unpredictable, impact of changes. Our knowledge and ability to model the performance of materials and systems is more sophisticated than ever, but the results can be as flawed because the materials and systems themselves are flawed. Hand-crafted masonry, for example, is less homogeneous than later machine-made masonry, and few vapor barriers are installed without a few gaps and cracks. Many preservationists are favoring modifications that are incremental and reversible, and can be monitored, altered, or removed if necessary. Storm windows, weather tightening, and efficient controls might be more effective and less stressful than the wholesale introduction of insulation. Storm windows in one condition work great, while they cause condensation in the next. Regular maintenance and monitoring are key to maximizing the
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performance of any building. Another reason that historic buildings have survived is that they are revered as an important part of our culture and history. The Old State House, built in 1713, has been renovated multiple times and is undergoing additional masonry repairs this fall. As architects and engineers develop strategies for making historic buildings more resilient and struggle to maintain the embodied energy of existing buildings, owners and caretakers must weigh the benefits of physical changes that might help the building survive against the historical authenticity, cultural importance, and aesthetic features that make the building worth saving. The ability of designer and owners to find this balance will impact the shape and character of our future cities. Susan Pranger, AIA, LEED BD+C, is a member of the Boston Landmarks Commission, and is currently teaching and studying sustainability at the Boston Architectural College.
Discovery Home
HP: With increased interest in your community, do you see Squam River Landing as part of a larger national trend towards right-sized homes and sustainable living? BG: Very much so. Our lead activity is coming from all over the country. Some of the common threads are people searching for quality-of-life places to live where their family and friends can come
together. We have strong interest from those who may rent in the city and buy a home here, telecommuters, people selling the big home in the suburbs and buying two smaller homes, and those leaving the high-stress job in the city to start their own home-based consulting business. To learn more about Squam Landing please visit www.squamlanding.com., and for more information on Sippican Partners visit www.sippicanpartners.com.
Annual Green Supplement
2015
Zero Net Energy Building Finished
15
Eco-Friendly Apartments Popping Up
Columbia Teams with Architerra
45 Pop Lofts
Front entry
Westborough, MA – The new Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Field Headquarters, the state’s first publicly owned office building designed for zero net energy performance, is fulfilling years of planning for the commonwealth’s clean energy future. The three-story, 45,000sf building in Westborough serves as the field headquarters for the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and also the main location for the Office of Fishing and Boating Access, two divisions of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game. The building was designed to demonstrate practical sustainable design and renewable energy systems as well as to support DFG’s many educational initiatives, regulatory processes, and public services. Built by Columbia Construction Company, this solar-powered building was designed by an integrated design team led by Architerra of Boston, with Van Zelm Engineers, Solar Design Associates, Souza True,Towers Golde, and Green International. The new facility reflects the commonwealth’s commitment to stewardship and leadership in conservation and management of the environment. The high-performance building, targeting LEED Platinum, is designed to achieve zero net energy through exceptional energy conservation provided by real-time energy performance tracking, structural insulated panels, triple-glazed windows, mechanically assisted natural ventilation, light emitting diode (LED) lighting, together with renewable energy provided by rooftop solar photovoltaics. The high-performance mechanical system includes a direct outside air system, closed-loop geothermal system, energy recovery, and radiant panels.
Exterior garden
The building is oriented to optimize production from the rooftop photovoltaic array while minimizing heating and cooling energy use. LEED modeling results forecast that the building may reduce actual energy cost by 50%. The building will be open to the public year-round and is geared towards becoming a venue for environmental education. It will house over 120 MassWildlife biologists and environmental reviewers, and be shared by the information and education program staff as well. It will also provide office space for the Department of Fish and Game and its Office of Fishing and Boating Access staff who maintain over 275 fishing and boating public access facilities statewide. Flexible by design, program areas include offices, classrooms, meeting rooms, a library, GIS laboratory, and a wet lab for research.
Cranston, RI – The former CranstonJohnston Catholic Regional School, also known as St. Mark’s, is currently under renovation to be transformed into 20 loftstyle apartments. Located off of Route 2 in Cranston, the updated building is within walking distance of the historic Garden City Center, a premiere shopping destination. D+P Real Estate & Truth Box Inc. have acquired the building as an adaptive reuse project that will preserve the structure’s history while improving its energy performance. “The plan is to rehabilitate the abandoned school building by implementing sustainable alternatives, such as bioretention and compact walkable design, rather than using other more common construction practices that may not be as eco-friendly,” said Jordan Durham, principal of D+P Real Estate. The building’s existing walls and roof will be completely re-insulated and airsealed, and the electrical and mechanical systems will be renewed. The landscaping and site design will create a safe and accessible connection for pedestrians
to Garden City Center. The renewed building will be called 45 Pop Lofts and consist of one- and two-bedroom units, all with modern conveniences including expansive windows, high ceilings, and generous living spaces for loft-style living. A new three-story apartment building, 125 MIDWAY, is also being built adjacent to the existing structure. This second phase will include 32 luxurystyle one- and two-bedroom homes with underground parking, built to the highest green building standards. Attorney Bob Murray from Taft and McSally has been hired to assist with the project and worked with DiPrete Engineering to obtain planning and zoning approvals. DiPrete also completed the development’s site engineering that included storm-water management, ADA accessibility, a sustainable parking facility, grading, and utility design. 45 Pop Lofts is scheduled to be completed in spring of 2015 and 125 MIDWAY is expected to open in late 2015.
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Whole Foods Market, Brooklyn, NY LEED Platinum Certified (pending)
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