Healthcare Restrooms

The Business Case For Green Building

Acomprehensive new report from the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), Toronto, highlights a large number of compelling benefits from green buildings for different stakeholders throughout the life cycle of a building.

The report, The Business Case for Green Building: A Review of the Costs and Benefi ts for Developers, Investors, and Occupants, examines whether or not it’s possible to attach a fi nancial value to the cost and benefi ts of green buildings. Today, green buildings can be delivered at a price that is comparable to conventional buildings, and investments can be recouped through operational cost savings and, with the right design features, create a more productive workplace.

“This report synthesizes credible evidence from around the world on green buildings into one collective resource, and the evidence presented highlights that sustainable buildings provide tangible benefi ts and make clear business sense,” said Jane Henley, CEO of WorldGBC. “From risk mitigation across a building portfolio and city-wide economic benefi ts to the improved health and well-being lower long-term operations and maintenance of individual building occupants, the business costs. The energy savings alone typically excase for green building will continue to evolve ceed any cost premiums associated with their as markets mature. Indeed we have already seen design and construction within a reasonable this momentum grow globally.” payback period.

Key fi ndings of the report include: • An emerging body of evidence suggests that • There has been an overall trend toward the the physical characteristics of buildings and inreduction of design and door environments can construction costs associated with green building The business case for green infl uence worker productivity and occupant as building codes around the world become stricter, building will continue to health and well-being, resulting in bottom-line supply chains for green materials and technologies mature, and the evolve as markets mature. We have already seen this benefi ts for businesses. • Sustainability risk factors can significantly industry becomes more skilled at delivering green momentum grow globally. affect the rental income and the future value of buildings. real estate assets, in turn • Buildings with better sustainability creaffecting their return on investment. Regulatodentials will have increased marketability as ry risks have become increasingly apparent in investors and occupants become more knowlcountries and cities around the world, includedgeable about the environmental and social ing mandatory disclosure, building codes, and impacts of the built environment. Additionally, laws banning inefficient buildings. there is a demonstrated link between the green The report concludes that, by greening characteristics of buildings and the ability of the built environment at the neighborhood and these buildings, in some markets, to more easily city scales, the green-building industry can attract tenants and to command higher rents deliver on large-scale economic priorities such and sale prices. as climate-change mitigation, energy security, • Green buildings save money through reresource conservation and job creation, longduced energy and water consumption and term resilience, and quality of life.

EPA Names Cities With Most Energy-Star Buildings

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, has released a list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the most EnergyStar-rated buildings in 2012, highlighting how owners and managers of commercial buildings across the country are taking action on climate change while delivering real financial savings to the bottom line. Los Angeles ranks first for the fifth consecutive year with more than 528 Energy-Star buildings. Washington landed in second place with 462 buildings. Chicago has risen through the rankings each year, increasing the number of buildings certified by an average of 32% annually. Phoenix broke into the top 10 for the first time.

Nationally, more than 20,000 Energy-Starrated buildings across America helped save more than $2.7 billion in annual utility bills while preventing greenhouse-gas emissions equal to those from the annual electricity Energy-Star-Certified Buildings

Energy-Star Emissions Prevented -Certifi ed Total Floor Annual Cost (equal to number of 2012 Buildings in Space (million Savings homes’ annual Rank Metro Area 2012 sq. ft.) (millions) electric use)

1 Los Angeles 528 2 Washington 462 3 Chicago 353 4 New York 325 5 Atlanta 304 6 San Francisco 291 7 Houston 241 8 Dallas-Fort Worth 214 9 Phoenix 202 10 Boston 188 113.0 116.1 130.4 111.5 63.6 70.1 88.6 59.0 31.6 45.5 $134.8 $127.4 $92.3 $144.6 $52.3 $106.5 $73.8 $47.3 $34.4 $67.5 52,300 83,100 118,400 63,600 55,500 39,300 72,900 48,400 32,500 25,000

The list of the top 10 cities for Energy-Star-certifi ed buildings. Note that the rankings would have a different order if they were rated by the total number of square feet in the buildings, the annual cost savings, or the emissions prevented.

use of more than two million homes in 2012. Energy use in commercial buildings accounts for 17% of U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion each year.

Commercial buildings that earn EPA’s Energy Star must perform in the top 25% of similar buildings nationwide. Energy-Star buildings use an average of 35% less energy and are responsible for 35% fewer greenhousegas emissions than traditional buildings.

visit our digital magazine at www.cbpmagazine.com/digital/may2013 and click on the icon.

Modern healthcare-facility restroom designs feature color and texture as well as convenient and hygienic fi xtures, such as the touchfree electronic faucets

shown here. All photos courtesy of Moen Inc.

Five Factors That Improve Healthcare Restrooms

Choosing plumbing fi xtures for hospitals or clinics calls for careful thought about convenience and safety for users.

Kristin Meyers, Moen Commercial

No longer are healthcare facilities stark, white spaces devoid of comfort. Instead, interior spaces are now designed with patients and visitors in mind, and restrooms are no exception. When specifying fi xtures for healthcare interiors, consider these fi ve important factors. Selecting the right products improves the functionality of a facility and the experience of patients, visitors, and employees, making everyone feel more at ease.

1. Saving water

With so much of the United States experiencing drought in the past few years, keeping water consumption as low as possible is on the minds of many administrators. Historically, U.S. hospitals use an average of 570 gallons of water/staffed bed/day, making water conservation a key consideration when selecting fi xtures for healthcare interiors.

Unfortunately, high water use in some areas of a healthcare facility is unavoidable. Water must be available to support the HVAC system and process cooling as well as for sterilization and sanitation. However, restrooms offer a number of water-saving opportunities for specifi ers. With water and sewer rates rising between 5% and 10% every year in many parts of the country, investments in hospital water-effi ciency programs provide attractive returns.

The use of water-effi cient fi xtures also contributes to a building’s eligibility to obtain LEED certifi cation by earning points in the Water-Use Reduction category. Water-conservation measures in restrooms should include operational projects, such as fi xing leaks, and capital projects, such as installing low-fl ow plumbing fi xtures, fl ush valves, lavatory faucets, and showerheads.

Updating fl ush valves in a facility can reduce water usage from 20% to 88%, depending on the model selected. Three types of fl ush valves currently on the market will protect the operating budget from high water bills. Especially when used as a replacement for manual fl ush valves, electronic models have a positive impact on water and energy bills, thus providing a solid return on investment.

High-effi ciency fl ush valves increase water savings thanks to signifi cantly reduced fl ow

rates. Water-closet models can provide an average water savings of as much as 20%, compared with the industry standard, and urinal fl ush-valve models can provide an average savings of 50%.

For the greatest possible water savings without turning to waterless urinals, pint fl ush valves offer an average water savings of 88% from the industry standard 1.0-gpf urinal fl ush valve. Pint fl ush valves deliver unparalleled water effi ciency and sanitary protection without the odor, additional maintenance, and costs associated with waterless urinals.

Another option to consider: dual-fl ush valves, which use advanced electronics to gauge the right amount of water for every fl ush. These products dramatically reduce water consumption and limit overall building and operating expenses. Dual-fl ush valves rely on the time an individual is in a stall to determine the strength of a fl ush in commercial water-closet applications, automatically reducing water usage by an average of 37% without sacrifi cing performance. The sensor-operated valves allow a user to be in range for as long as 60 seconds for a reduced fl ush. After 60 seconds a full fl ush is activated. This sensing technology can save a facility thousands of gallons of water each year.

Other water-saving features and benefi ts to look for when specifying fl ush valves include: • Advanced electronics to limit false sensing and over-fl ushing • Self-cleaning fi lter system to eliminate clogs and run-ons • Self-lubricating silicone seals to prevent leaks • Field-adjustable fl ow rates for maximum effi ciency • Consistent operation at a broader range of fl ush rates.

Safe, effective, and environmentally friendly showering solutions also reduce the number of gallons used in a commercial-restroom setting. These products can provide a 40% water savings from the industry standard, and a number of models are certifi ed to meet WaterSense criteria established by the Environmental Protection Agency, Washington. The certifi cation ensures that the showers are effi cient, high-performing products that will not negatively affect a user’s experience—an important factor to consider when creating comfortable environments for patients. Select durable water-saving showerhead systems that comply with ASSE 1016 requirements, so the products control temperature fl uctuations and eliminate the risk of shower shock and scalding.

The easiest to control—and most significant—water savings for a healthcare facility relate to the restrooms. Researching the products that can deliver the best performance and provide environmentally friendly features will result in a more sustainable facility, meeting operational and budgetary needs.

Healthcare bathrooms can and should offer a design that makes patients and visitors feel at home. The dual showerheads provide ease of use for standing or sitting bathers.

Automatic fl ush valves can signifi cantly reduce water use. Some can determine whether to use a full fl ush for solid waste or less water for liquid waste. Hands-free operation helps eliminate the spread of bacteria and viruses.

2. Hygiene

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, as many as 5% of all acute-care hospitalizations result in a hospitalacquired infection. “Superbugs” that are resistant to antibiotics are a frequent topic in the media, and hospital staffs are taking extra steps to ensure their facility is as free of potential contamination as possible. It’s more important than ever to be cognizant of the spread of germs when selecting the proper fi xtures for any healthcare facility.

A simple and effective way to reduce the opportunity for germs and bacteria to spread on common surfaces in healthcare restrooms is to reduce the number of surfaces with which users come into contact. For example, trash receptacles should be free of lids, and doors should always push outward, allowing people to open them without using their hands. Better yet, restrooms with labyrinth-style openings ensure that guests don’t have to come into contact with any hard surfaces on their way in or out of the facility.

Re-evaluating the faucets installed throughout a facility can affect the overall level of hygiene, too. The aeration on certain faucets could increase the risk of infection by drawing contaminated air into the water stream. Installing products that feature a laminar fl ow can help reduce this threat. They draw no ambient air from the room into the water stream, avoiding any possible introduction of airborne bacteria.

Another option is to create a completely hands-free environment: Sensor-operated faucets, fl ush valves, soap dispensers, and hand dryers contribute to healthy and effi cient facilities. Eliminating the need to manually shut off the products dramatically reduces the risk of spreading germs and recontamination. In recent years, many high-profi le, public-use properties, including the Vanderbilt Univ. Medical Center in Nashville, TN, have installed high-performance, hands-free faucets and fl ush valves, providing a more hygienic solution for its thousands of visitors each year.

A motion sensor starts and stops sensor-operated products. In addition to reducing the spread of infection, sensor-operated faucets and fl ush valves reduce sewage bills and the number of gallons used, limit hot-water consumption, save energy, and prevent the risk of accidental overfl ow. Some sensor-operated fl ush valves boast a 24-hour sentinel fl ush feature—automatic fl ushing that helps to keep toilets clean and traps odor-free.

Electronic, warm-air hand dryers also are an ideal hygienic solution to include in healthcare restrooms. Since their introduction to the marketplace, numerous scientifi c studies have solidifi ed the hygienic safety of warm air as a drying mechanism. When compared with manual drying (either paper or cloth towels), which create unsanitary conditions during and after use, warm-air drying produces the highest reduction in the amount of bacteria and viruses on washed hands. By keeping the user experience in restrooms hands-free, healthcare facilities can keep surfaces cleaner and reduce the spread of germs.

3. Accessibility

U.S. Census Bureau figures report that approximately one in seven Americans is disabled, and that number is likely to increase significantly in the next 30 years as baby boomers