G R E E N B U I L D I N G & D E S I G N S E P T E M B E R+ O C TO B E R 2017
BUILDING THE
F UT U R E 10 Questions with Google’s Kate Brandt, p. 12
Western Windows lets the outside in, p. 28
UP FRONT
gb&d
september–october 2017
3
GREEN BUILDING & DESIGN
In This Issue September+October 2017 Volume 8, Issue 46
84
20
Unlocking Codes in the Steel Industry
Understanding the everchanging codes and standards in the steel industry
4
september–october 2017
66
74
82
Mohawk’s commitment to sustainability flooring solutions is clear.
NUDURA’s insulated concrete forms are resilient, versatile, and energy efficient.
Seattle is home to countless high-tech, sustainable spaces.
Believing in Better
Weathering the Storm
Greener Building in the Northwest
97
Material Transparency Today
What you need to know when selecting materials
gbdmagazine.com
gb&d
september–october 2017
5
GREEN BUILDING & DESIGN
Table of Contents September+October 2017 Volume 8, Issue 46
Up Front
Typology
Inner Workings
12 In Conversation Kate Brandt, Google
28 Glass Houses Perfect light and beautiful views are a cinch with Western Windows.
38
14 Editors’ Picks Curated by gb&d staff 16
Event Preview Solar Power International, Verge, North American Passive House Conference, North American Passive House Network Annual Conference
18
Defined Design A LEED Platinum affordable housing project in LA provides housing and support for veterans who need it.
20
Unlocking Codes in the Steel Industry Understanding codes and standards in the steel industry.
22
Getting the Green Light Green Scope Solutions offers solutions that improve the way hotel groups do business.
42
Energy-Saving Chill KE2 Therm Solutions is improving refrigeration for some big-name companies.
48
Inside an Intelligent Urban Pyramid Hotel Éclat is a modern marvel in Beijing, and it’s part of the city’s first LEED Platinum project.
5 Things You Didn’t Know about Reclaimed Wood It’s carbon negative, it can help you earn LEED points, and more.
100
70 6
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
UP FRONT
28
Features
Spaces Heron Hall How one green building superstar created his family’s dream home while meeting his very own Living Building Challenge
9 Unconventional Ways to Bring Light into a Building Lacey Glass delivers clever solutions to shed light on even the most difficult projects.
84
56
Doing What’s Right True Manufacturing has a long history of refrigeration innovations.
88
62
Chemicals That Save LANXESS works to provide smarter, greener inputs that lengthen the life of must-have building materials.
NorthEdge Technology and community intersect in the middle of Seattle at this Perkins+Will– designed office space.
90
Access Through Design and Technology Seattle’s Bates Technical College has all the bells and whistles to inspire future innovators.
52
70
Permeating Good Design Permeable pavers from Unilock let water in and keep the heat out.
Punch List 96
WSLA Insights Barbra Batshalom looks at the keys to making any organization a success.
97
Material Transparency Today Anne Hicks Harney explores one of the top questions plaguing architects today—how do you responsibly choose materials?
98
Person of Interest Paul Hawken shares his work as part of Project Drawdown, emphasizing 100 solutions that could reverse global warming.
102 In the Lab The cofounders of Emergy Labs work with Argonne National Laboratory to grow a sustainable carbon material that lasts longer and is more energy efficient.
48
100 Lessons Learned MIT’s Skylar Tibbits, founder of the Self-Assembly Lab, shares his in-depth knowledge about selfassembling materials, novel manufacturing, and more.
gb&d
september–october 2017
7
8
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
GREEN BUILDING & DESIGN
Editor’s Note Chris Howe In every issue of gb&d, we bring you the biggest ideas and most exciting innovations. In this, our technology and innovation issue, we dig even deeper—asking the experts behind some of the most groundbreaking concepts and newest products how they got there in the first place, why they keep doing what they do, and what’s next? The September/October issue is packed with inspiring answers from everyone from Google’s Kate Brandt (page 12), sustainability lead, to Jason McLennan, chair of the International Living Future Institute. While we’re fortunate enough to have McLennan on our editorial advisory board, it’s not every day that one of our writers gets to sit down and talk with him about his own special project— his family’s house, Heron Hall (page 84) on Bainbridge Island, just outside of Seattle. In this issue, McLennan shares with us why he made the choices he made for his home, a forward-thinking house in an idyllic scene, to say the least. We’ve also been lucky enough to hear from the likes of environmental activist and author Paul Hawken (page 98), who invited us into the world of Project Drawdown. The recently published book Drawdown goes into detail about the potential effects of 100 solutions that could reverse global warming within three decades. Some of the most surprising, astounding work we showcase in this issue can be found in the final pages of this issue. Our managing editor, Laura Rote, chatted with Tyler Huggins and Justin Whiteley—the cofounders of Emergy Labs (page 102)—about the incredible work they are doing as part of the Chain Reaction Innovations program. Huggins and Whiteley were studying at the University of Colorado Boulder when they applied for the Argonne National Laboratory
program, which gave them $350,000 in funds for R&D, plus access to world-class facilities and experts. Huggins and Whiteley are looking to market their genius new material, a sustainable porous carbon that has the capability to improve everything from lithium-ion batteries to efforts in the gold mining industry. Last but certainly not least, there’s MIT’s Skylar Tibbits (page 100). He’s doing things we literally thought not possible until this story. Tibbits and his team at the Self-Assembly Lab are committed to research surrounding how objects can actually—yes—assemble themselves. They’ve done everything from design components that come together to form a cell phone when tumbled in a machine to making programmable carbon fiber—something Airbus is already using in its engines to improve aerodynamics depending on temperature and air speed without complicated electronics. The future is here.
Sincerely,
Chris Howe, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
ON THE COVER
G R E E N B U I L D I N G & D E S I G N S E P T E M B E R+ O C TO B E R 2017
BUILDING THE
F UT U R E
Western Window Systems connects homeowners to the outside world in ways you never thought possible, like at the Franklin Mountain House in West Texas. This project incorporated multi-slide doors and undivided sheets of glass. Photo by Casey Dunn
10 Questions with Google’s Kate Brandt, p. 12
Western Windows lets the outside in, p. 28
gb&d
september–october 2017
9
GREEN BUILDING & DESIGN
Editor’s Note Laura Heidenreich
gb&d Green Building & Design gbdmagazine.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Christopher Howe chris@gbdmagazine.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
When we first sat down to dig into the interviews for this issue’s many stories, little did we know the real depth of what we were about to learn. From Lacey Glass’s unconventional (and beautiful) ways of bringing light into buildings (page 52) to the many benefits Centennial Woods shared with us about reclaimed wood (page 22), a whole of possibility awaits when it comes to innovative green buildings. Let’s start with Centennial Woods. This Wyoming-based company takes old snow fences and transforms them into absolutely stunning building materials. But it’s not the beauty that surprises us. We’re well aware that reclaimed wood looks gorgeous and brings warmth to almost any space. What we didn’t know, though, is that it’s simply not that easy to reuse wood in the first place. There’s a lot that goes into it, from making sure you aren’t taking timber that contains fire-retarding creosote (say, from old train tracks) to ensuring it doesn’t also come with unwanted bacteria (as can happen if it’s been around farm animals). Fortunately, wood from Centennial Woods is exposed raw to the elements—from freezing winds to the hot summer sun, so
10
september–october 2017
it arrives with very low moisture content, drastically reducing the time required in a kiln. Plus, reclaimed wood is carbon positive, and that’s pretty remarkable. Perhaps the most educational feature this issue is the story of LANXESS (page xx). Who knew the chemicals in paints and coatings can not only protect building materials from mold, but also make them last longer? Part of LANXESS’s mention is to work toward providing even smarter, greener inputs, especially in a time of important environmental regulation. Of course, all of these companies are committed to more efficient practices and products. They lead by example, and they continue to raise the bar when it comes to sustainability. Many have been committed to environmentally friendly practices since day one, like Mohawk (page 66). As one of the country’s leading carpet manufacturers, Mohawk most recently took its commitment even further with a new initiative. We talked to the company’s new vice president of sustainability, George Bandy, Jr., about what he calls “Believing in Better.” “‘Believing in Better’ is a mindset that everyone has a role to play in getting better around sustainability together,” he told us. Mohawk’s efforts continue to pay off. Most recently, the company took home three awards at the 2017 NeoCon, including one for its innovative Lichen Collection, a new modular plank carpet system that marries biophilic design and sustainability to great effect, complete with natural forms and colors. The International Living Future Institute’s Jason McLennan even used Lichen in his own house (page 84). Sincerely,
Laura Heidenreich laura@gbdmagazine.com MANAGING EDITOR
Laura Rote lrote@gbdmagazine.com ART DIRECTOR
Kristina Walton Zapata kristina@gbdmagazine.com DESIGN INTERN
Caroline Schwarm SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER
Brianna Wynsma
ACCOUNT MANAGER INTERN
Nick DiNardi
CONTRIBUTORS
Brian Barth, Barbra Batshalom, Colleen DeHart, Kate Griffith, Anne Hicks Harney, Ashwin Jagannathan, Russ Klettke, Jessica Letaw, Shay Maunz, Mikenna Pierotti, Margaret Poe, Mike Thomas, Emily Torem EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
Anthony Brower, Gensler Jason F. McLennan, International Living Future Institute
Green Building & Design 1765 N. Elston Ave. Suite 202B Chicago, IL 60642 The Green Building & Design logo is a registered trademark of Green Advocacy Partners, LLC Green Building & Design (gb&d) magazine is printed in the United States using only soy-based inks. Please recycle this magazine. The magazine is also available in digital formats at gbdmagazine.com/current-issue.
Green Building & Design is a certified B Corp. B Corp is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or USDA Organic certification is to milk. B Corps are certified by the nonprofit BLab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
Laura Heidenreich, Associate Publisher
gbdmagazine.com
GREEN BUILDING & DESIGN
Up Front Typology Inner Workings Trendsetters Features Spaces Punch List
gb&d
12 In Conversation Kate Brandt, Google 14 Editors’ Picks Curated by gb&d staff 16 Event Preview Solar Power International, VERGE,
North American Passive House Conference, and North American Passive House Network Annual Conference
18 Defined Design
Brooks + Scarpa delivers on The Six, an affordable housing complex for disabled veterans in Los Angeles.
20 Sustainable Solutions
A closer look at updated codes in the steel industry, plus six things you never knew about reclaimed wood.
september–october 2017
11
12
march–april september 2017 2017 –october
gbdmagazine.com
UP FRONT
In Conversation Kate Brandt Google’s sustainability lead says digital technology has a crucial role to play in the changing landscape of urban systems, and Google’s tools are already helping to move cities forward, from finding the healthiest building materials to looking at how citizens consume energy.
By Brian Barth
gb&d: It’s more and more clear that climate change is a security issue, and it’s great to see how that was recognized under President Obama. Brandt: I think that connection is pretty well accepted at this point. The federal government is the largest user of energy in the world, largely because of the Department of Defense. It was an incredible privilege to work on things like advanced biofuels for the Navy’s fleet, procuring renewable energy, and driving greater efficiency in energy and water use across the federal government. gb&d: How did you make the leap from the federal government to Google? Brandt: While leading the federal sustainability program I had the opportunity to work with a lot of chief sustainability officers. As we crafted a new federal sustainability strategy
Few individuals in the sustainability space have yielded as much power as Kate Brandt. She was the nation’s first federal chief sustainability officer under President Obama and is now the sustainability lead for Google’s global operations. Brandt will be a featured speaker at the VERGE conference this September in Santa Clara, California, where she will lead a pair of sessions on the circular economy and how it will soon transform the urban environment. “It starts with thinking about how each year our economy is consuming far more than our planet can naturally produce,” she says. Brandt coordinates with Google’s data centers, real estate, supply chain, and product teams to ensure the company is capitalizing on opportunities to strategically advance sustainability and circular economy. She recently took time out of her busy schedule to sit down with Green Building & Design to discuss her thoughts on this rapidly developing concept, and to share a few of Google’s latest sustainability initiatives. gb&d: What was your childhood like? Have you always been a nature-lover?
PHOTO: COURTESY OF GOOGLE
Brandt: I’m from a small beach town in Northern California called Muir Beach, which is surrounded by beautiful national and state park land and is named after the great environmentalist John Muir. So yes, having the opportunity to grow up outdoors and learn about the environment and conservation from a young age has really influenced me. gb&d: Interestingly, that passion eventually led you to work at the Pentagon. Tell us about that. Brandt: My academic background is in energy and climate security policy. I spent some time at the Department of Energy engaging deeply in energy technology policy and was also the energy advisor to the Secretary of the Navy. Part of my portfolio was the Navy and Marine Corps installations around the world, and I got to work with them on their sustainability strategies. It was a natural extension of my interest in energy and climate security.
“What’s interesting to me is that both the U.S. military and Google have been leaders in driving large-scale renewable power buying.” for the next decade, in many ways we were modeling the effort after the way the corporate sector does sustainability work. When the position at Google came along I was really excited to continue that work. What’s interesting to me is that both the U.S. military and Google have been leaders in driving This conversation continues on p. 15
september–october 2017
13
UP FRONT
Editors’ Picks Curated by gb&d staff
14
PRODUCT ORBIT B-HYVE
PRODUCT FORWARD LABS
There’s no reason to get out of control. Smart technology company Orbit recently launched a smart sprinkler called the Orbit B-hyve. With this innovative technology, you can use your smartphone, Amazon Alexa, or the controller itself with B-hyve to ensure that your plants and lawn are getting just the right amount of water, as B-hyve receives local weather and soil data and automatically adjusts to meet needs accordingly. orbitonline.com
California solar roof startup Forward Labs has developed a system that produces the same amount of energy as its competitors for less, and it comes in eight colors. Forward Labs uses optical cloaking technology that looks like a normal metal-seam style roof. It also costs on average 33% less than other current offerings while producing the same amount of energy. Forward’s innovative technology will be less expensive to manufacture, convert sunlight, and generate solar power for 30 years—yet still look like a non-solar roof. forwardsolarroofing.com
september–october 2017
COMPANY KONE Kone provides smart solutions for elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and more in an effort to “improve the flow of urban life.” Products like the KONE EcoMod escalator offer an innovative, systematic approach to replacing an entire escalator system, delivering new technology without expensive, disruptive truss removal. The new technology also reduces energy consumption and operating costs, and it has a 25-30 year life cycle. kone.us
COMPANY VAYYAR
COMPANY PLANTAGON
This 3D sensor technology could help you transform your business. Vayyar offers smart home solutions like Walabot, a product with powerful sensor technology that can look through walls to detect structural foundations, among other features. Vayyar—the 3D-imaging sensor company whose technology makes it possible to see through objects, liquids, and materials—brings highly sophisticated imaging capabilities to your fingertips, as its sensors quickly and easily look into objects, analyze the makeup of materials, and track changes and movements. vayyar.com
Plantagon makes sustainable urban food production possible with its approach to agriculture, technology, and architecture in cities. Plantagon can help you grow food by modifying empty areas of existing real estate, whether it’s in the basement of an office building, a factory, or a custom project. Or, you can add to an existing building with a vertical facade, rooftop greenhouse, or other new build. Plantagon has plentiful solutions ready to plan for the future. plantagon.com
gbdmagazine.com
ILLUSTRATION: SWECO, COURTESY OF PLANTAGON
As more and more people move to expanding cities, farming will be pushed farther away from population centers. In response, Plantagon has developed a vertical space–efficient greenhouse for the urban environment.
UP FRONT
IN CONVERSATION with Kate Brandt
Want to stay up-to-date with green industry news?
Continued from p. 13
large-scale renewable power buying. Back in 2010, Google signed its first power purchase agreement, and in 2012 we committed to 100% renewable energy. I was doing similar work with the Navy at that time. I’m really grateful to have been able to work for these different organizations that take a leadership role. gb&d: What are Google’s priorities in terms of its own facilities? Brandt: As we develop our offices around the world, we have a long-standing focus on values of sustainability, human health, and happiness. At the end of last year, we had 9.2 million square feet of facilities that had received LEED certification, and about 31% of our facilities in 2015 were Platinum-certified.
Stay informed on the top news in sustainability, available weekly. gb&d’s The Brief, Green Building & Design’s weekly newsletter, is direct to your inbox and online.
Portico will help professionals find healthy building materials.
Sign up today. We’ve leveraged other third-party rating systems as well, including WELL and the Living Building Challenge. gb&d: How has Google applied its resources toward human health in the built environment?
Join the conversation! linkedin.com/company/green-building-&-design facebook.com/gbdmagazine twitter.com/gbd_mag instagram.com/gbdmagazine
gbdmagazine.com
Brandt: Our real estate team has a partnership with the Healthy Building Network to develop a tool called Portico, which is an This conversation continues on p. 17
gb&d
september–october 2017
15
UP FRONT
Event Preview Fall 2017
Solar Power International
DETAILS
Verge
DETAILS
This year, you can hear from speakWhen September 19–21 Where Santa Clara, CA ers like the International Living Future Web greenbiz.com/events/ Institute’s Jason McLennan and Gooverge/santa-clara/2017 gle’s Kate Brandt at VERGE. The global conference and expo series launched in 2011, focusing on the technologies and systems that accelerate sustainability solutions across sectors in a climate-constrained world. This year’s topics cover everything from distributed energy systems and next-gen buildings to grid-scale power and smart infrastructure. More than 2,000 leaders from the largest companies, brightest startups, and most cutting-edge agencies continue to make Verge the exciting event it is today.
16
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE: COURTESY OF SOLAR POWER INTERNATIONAL, TIM GRIFFITH, NAPHAN, GREENBIZ GROUP
Meet up with the best in the solar When September 10–13 Where Las Vegas, NV power industry at this four-day event Web solarpowerinternational.com that offers a wide range of opportunities to network and learn from the experts. This year, the Technical Symposium— new to the conference—offers professionals from across disciplines in photovoltaics, energy storage, and smart energy the chance to submit abstracts for peer review, discussion, and publication. In addition to plentiful educational events, special events also abound at this year’s SPI, from a start-up showcase of companies displaying cutting-edge technology to fun activities like a 5K, golf tournament, and highly anticipated block party.
UP FRONT
IN CONVERSATION with Kate Brandt Continued from p. 15
online database that helps professionals find the healthiest materials possible for building projects. By the end of last year it had been used on nearly 200 projects around the world in 20 countries. gb&d: This month you’ll be discussing the concept of a circular economy at VERGE. How do you define the term? Brandt: Studies have shown that in 2016, our global demand for natural resources was 1.7 times what the earth can provide. So we’re really living outside of the Earth’s budget in this linear economy that we’ve had since the
North American Passive House Conference
DETAILS
The 12th annual North American Passive When September 27-Oct 1 Where San Francisco House Conference is presented by Passive House Web passive-houseInstitute US (PHIUS) in partnership with Passive House conference-2017.phius.org Alliance US (PHAUS). This year’s discussions will center on passive building best practices, materials innovations, policy developments, and international climate-specific passive building solutions, to name a few.
NAPHN
DETAILS
The North American Passive House Network When October 4–7 Where Oakland, CA Annual Conference aims to promote and accelerWeb naphnconference.com ate the adoption of Passive House building strategies across the continent, collaborating across industries to work toward a post carbon, all-renewable energy future. More than 1,000 professionals—from architects and engineers to policy makers—are expected to be in attendance. This year’s conference includes keynote speaker Scott Foster, director of the sustainable energy division at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. He will share how the new UNECE building standard helps UN member states achieve their carbon reduction targets. gb&d
“We’re really living outside of the Earth’s budget in this linear economy that we’ve had since the Industrial Revolution.” Industrial Revolution, where you take a natural resource, burn fuel, make a product, and then it goes to the landfill as waste. A circular economy is a more restorative and regenerative model where we redefine our relationship to natural resources, whether that’s a shift to products as a service or designing waste out of systems. Circular economies are ultimately about driving both positive economic impact and environmental benefits. gb&d: What is the role of cities in that vision? Brandt: Cities are the engines of our modern economy. They generate 85% of today’s GDP, but consume 75% of the world’s natural resources. There is a huge opportunity for policymakers, planners, businesses, and individuals to rethink urban systems, and I think digital technology has a crucial role in that transition. Many of Google’s tools are already helping to This conversation continues on p. 19
september–october 2017
17
UP FRONT
Community integration Removing barriers between a multifamily housing project and its surrounding neighborhood helps give residents a sense of belonging.
Defined Design Creating Community
Public zones These are shared spaces within a complex. At The Six, the courtyard and green roof give tenants a sense of connection to their neighbors within the building.
By Margaret Poe Photos by Tara Wucjik
In the military, “got your six” means “I’ve got your back.” That supportive philosophy informs The Six, a 52-unit affordable housing complex for disabled veterans in Los Angeles, designed by Brooks + Scarpa. The building has both private studios and one-bedroom apartments along with community gathering spaces, including a communal living room and rooftop garden. The units face inward toward the courtyard, another gathering place for residents. All the design decisions were made to provide the maximal comfort to residents, many of whom have experienced homelessness. The facility is designed to provide both housing and healing to the residents it serves. gb&d
18
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
UP FRONT
IN CONVERSATION with Kate Brandt Continued from p. 17
move cities in that direction, whether in terms of traffic applications, healthy buildings, or how citizens consume energy. gb&d: What are some examples of such tools?
Passive design This encompasses a number of strategies to reduce a facility’s energy use, from the orientation of a building on a site to the shape of the structure itself. By maximizing natural light and airflow, among other design decisions, The Six is 50% more energy efficient than a conventionally designed building.
Google’s Project Sunroof, launched in 2015, allows homeowners to explore their solar energy options.
Brandt: In 2015, we launched a tool called Project Sunroof, which enables homeowners to explore solar energy options. You type in your address to see if your roof is a good candidate for PV panels based on its orientation, shading, and location. We also built a tool called Data Explorer, which is the same idea except you punch in a zip code and it allows entire communities to see their solar potential—very helpful for policymakers working toward renewable solutions. Nest, another Alphabet company, has enabled 12 billion kWh of energy to be saved by consumers using smart thermostats in their homes. gb&d: What up-and-coming technologies at Google are you most excited about?
Supportive housing Combining affordable housing with wraparound services provides extra support to residents. Research has shown that supportive housing not only cures homelessness, but it can also improve residents’ health overall and reduce their dependence on crisis services like shelters or hospitals.
gb&d
Brandt: We’ve recently been experimenting with how machine learning can help us optimize energy use at our data centers and have found we can reduce the energy used for our cooling systems by 40%. So I’m really excited about the potential for applying machine learning to other industrial systems to drive efficiency in really powerful ways. gb&d
september–october 2017
19
UP FRONT
EDITED BY
LAURA ROTE
////////// WHAT DOES IT ALL ME AN? //////////////////////////////////////////// CODES Like the International Green Construction Code, codes are normally adopted by jurisdictions with modifications. The ICC 700 National Green Building Standard’s latest version is 2015. The next edition is expected in 2018.
STANDARDS Consensus-developed standards are normally referenced by national model codes or adopted by jurisdictions independently. The IGCC and ASHRAE Standard 189.1 will produce a single joint document for 2018 (North America only).
60-80 20
MILLION september–october 2017
PROGRAMS
,
Like LEED, programs are voluntary and sometimes adopted by ordinance or regulation outside of the adopted building code, such as state-funded schools that are required to achieve LEED silver without actually obtaining the certification.
[ BENEFITS OF
TONS OF STEEL SCRAP ARE RECYCLED EACH YEAR IN NORTH AMERICA
[
Unlocking the Codes in the Steel Industry
While codes and standards are ever-changing in the industry, steel continues to rise to the occasion as a material that can not only meet standards like those of the International Green Construction Code, but also help achieve LEED certification. The standards for steel are updated in the International Code Council’s and National Fire Protection Association’s national model building codes every three years, in coordination with updating the structural provisions of those same building codes. It’s good news for design professionals as the updates generally provide either additional information or greater design flexibility. Updating codes is no simple process, according to Jonathan Humble, regional director for the American Iron and Steel Institute. “We generally plan for, and start years in advance of, the deadline submission date with the national model codes,” Humble says. “The largest amount of time is the updating of the steel standards themselves, as they must follow a consensus development process that requires openness and reasonable time for public comments and other processes in order for that updating process to take place.” Submitting the updates to the national model codes can be time consuming, as the steel industry must coordinate any code change proposals with the structural engineering community, other trade associations affected by proposed changes, and even industry competitors.
ST E E L LL IN HEAT ISLAND, STEEL COMPETES WE SOURCES, MATERIALS AND RE ONS. ISI AND ENERGY PROV
gbdmagazine.com
WHEN THE NEXT EDITIONS OF BUILDING CODES FOR INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION ARE DUE.
?
HOW CAN STEELINTENSIVE DESIGN HELP TO MEET IGCC CODES (2015)? Chapter 4 Heat Island. Steel roofing products can comply with the solar reflectance and emittance provisions for reflective roofs on buildings and shelters. Sheet steel roofing products can also compete with other building products for roof reflectance. Chapter 5 Materials and Resources. Steel can contribute to the waste reduction, recycling, environmental product declaration, and life cycle assessment provisions. Chapter 6 Energy. Cold-formed steel framing can be constructed to be competitive with light wood framing, and metal building systems can be competitive with other low-rise building types when using ASHRAE Standard 90.1, which recognizes metal building systems as a separate building construction type. Chapter 8 Acoustics. Steel assemblies can contribute to achieving sound transmission requirements for a building’s interior and exterior assemblies.
gb&d
“ The updating of steel standards generally address two aspects— new and more efficient methods to design and construct, or, they are in response to an event (e.g. high wind or seismic event) requiring changes in design approach for loads and resistances. More often than not, the updating of standards will allow for greater opportunity to design and construct through more efficient design methodologies (e.g. use of less material in a building, thus less impact to the environment).
“
2018
UP FRONT
STRENGTH ß IN NUMBERS STEEL IS 100% RECYCLABLE, AND ALL NEW STEEL HAS SOME RECYCLED CONTENT
NORTH AMERICAN STEEL BEAMS CONTAIN 90% TO 100% RECYCLED CONTENT
NORTH AMERICAN STEEL IS ALWAYS MADE WITH AT LEAST 25% RECYCLED CONTENT
STRUCTURAL STEEL IS RECYCLED AT ABOUT 98% (COMPARED TO AN 86% RATE OF STEEL IN GENERAL)
Jonathan Humble, AISI
APPROXIMATELY 90% OF WATER USED IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY IS CLEANED, COOLED, AND RETURNED TO SOURCE
september–october 2017
21
UP FRONT SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION
Things You Didn’t Know About Reclaimed Wood Weather in Wyoming is the primary producer of gorgeous reclaimed wood from Centennial Woods, LLC that pleases the eye and reduces greenhouse gases. By Russ Klettke
22
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
UP FRONT
gb&d
september–october 2017
23
UP FRONT
1
WHERE DOES THE WOOD COME FROM?
Across Wyoming, the winter snow blows sideways at speeds up to 80 mph. On highways that span the vast stretches between places like Cheyenne, Casper, Gillette, Rock Springs, Rawlins, and Green River, that snow could pile up on asphalt and make travel hard and road maintenance expensive. So the state employs a technology that is simple, ancient, green, and less expensive than modern snowplowing. Wyoming uses a type of wooden snow fence that looks a little like an oversized shipping pallet tipped on end. Positioned upwind from state highways, these braced wood fences keep snowdrifts off the pavement so trucks and cars can keep moving. A 2005 article published in Government Engineering magazine found that every 20 feet of Wyoming wooden snow fences eliminates the need to plow 85 tons of snow annually, saving $116MM in highway maintenance and a commensurate amount in greenhouse gasses. A few years earlier, the company holding the contract for maintenance of those fences discovered people occasionally stole the wood, indicating market demand. That company is Centennial Woods, LLC, which now sells the weathered and reclaimed material to the building and design industries across the U.S. and around the world. Here are five things you may not know about the wonders of reclaimed wood and Centennial Woods, one of the largest providers of reclaimed wood in the world:
24
september–october 2017
The wood used for Wyoming snow fences is sustainably harvested Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine. It is grown near the state’s iconic Devils Tower butte formation in the northeastern part of the state as well as near the southern Wyoming city of Encampment. PHOTOS, THIS PAGE AND PREVIOUS SPREAD: COURTESY OF CENTENNIAL WOODS
gbdmagazine.com
2 UP FRONT
ARE ALL RECLAIMED WOODS THE SAME? For decades, the design industry has used other forms of reclaimed wood: barn siding is particularly well known, as are reclaimed wood pallets, railroad ties and trestles, and downed timber. But these other types of used woods were subject to conditions that compromise them. Barn wood that had contact with animals can hold bacteria from fecal matter. Fallen trees have to be treated to ensure mold, mildew, and insects (that might include termites) are not present. Wood that was painted before 1978, when lead paint was banned, might contain that heavy metal, which is released when cut or sanded. Wood used for railroad tracks (ties and trestles) contains fire-retarding creosote or pentachlorophenol, the latter of which is declared by the EPA to be a “probable human carcinogen.” Wood from Centennial Woods is exposed raw to the elements— freezing winds in winter, blazing sun in summer—as its “process.” It arrives with very low moisture content (4-6%) at the Centennial Woods mills in Laramie, a circumstance that eliminates the time typically required in a kiln. “It’s not even necessary to put this in a kiln, but some heat treatment is required when meeting exporting rules,” says Ed Spal, CEO of the company. This ready-to-hang feature of the Wyoming fence wood leads to minimal “movement” (expansion/contraction) of the product, Spal says.
gb&d
september–october 2017
25
UP FRONT SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION
3
CAN YOU USE IT AT HOME?
A zero net energy home that was clad in fence wood is among Centennial Woods’ favorite projects. The 5,320-square-foot home situated at an 8,000-foot elevation in Fraser, Colorado has everything a green building needs: a 17kW photovoltaic array that fully powers the home and two cars; a tightly insulated envelope; high-efficiency fiberglass windows; a green roof; LED lighting; and automated window shades. It has a HERS score of -22 (a standard new home scores at 100; anything less beats the average and below zero it produces more than it consumes). But the home’s most prominent aesthetic feature is the entire second floor exterior, faced in Centennial Woods board. The average annual temperature at this mountain retreat is 34 degrees, a condition that the former fencing can easily tolerate. ABSOLUTELY.
4
IS RECLAIMED WOOD CARBON NEUTRAL?
The reclaimed Wyoming fence wood can be found in projects in Laramie, Seattle, New York, Dubai, and elsewhere. The Singapore Green Building Council did a carbon impact study of the product and found that, even accounting for shipping
26
september–october 2017
across the Pacific Ocean, this weathered wood is carbon negative. “Because we do not have to do any kilning, a lot of energy is saved there,” Spal says. He notes that cedar, pine, and oak lumber all need extensive drying to give it
build-worthy characteristics. Most applications of Centennial Woods are in building interiors, away from the elements. That is largely driven by its rich aesthetic. But given its history, the product is wholly suitable for exterior applications.
The short answer? Yes. Several retail chains use reclaimed Wyoming fencing from Centennial Woods in their stores: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Shake Shack, Whole Foods Markets, and Boot Barn among others. The aesthetic works, particularly but not exclusively in outdoorsthemed businesses. But what gets a great deal of attention is a LEED certified Starbucks that is clad with Centennial Woods board on the exterior. It’s a concept being tested as a drive-thru and walk-up store only—no latte sipping in comfortable chairs inside, because there is no inside for public use. The building is made of a decommissioned shipping container, factory-rehabbed and delivered to the site in Denver where its arresting appearance serves as part of its signage. Spal explains the product qualifies for MR (Materials and Resources) in the MR3, MR4, and MR5 under LEED credits, the last of which for those installations within 500 miles of Laramie (Denver falls well within that range). And fortunately for multi-unit customers, “We have one of the largest supplies of reclaimed wood,” Spal says. “All have a consistent look. We’ve even helped with 10-year-old projects where they want to do an addition. The ‘new’ wood looks the same as what was installed a decade earlier.”
gbdmagazine.com
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF CENTENNIAL WOODS
5
DOES RECLAIMED WOOD EARN LEED POINTS?
FRONT GREEN BUILDING UP & DESIGN
Up Front Typology Inner Workings Trendsetters Features Spaces Punch List
gb&d
30 Letting the Outdoors In
This Minnesota retreat has stellar views filled with natural light.
32 Michigan Modern
Western Windows Systems provides expansive windows that meet energy standards.
34 West Texas Exposure
The Franklin Mountain House, near El Paso, dazzles in the desert.
september–october 2017
27
TYPOLOGY
GLASS HOUSES WESTERN WINDOW SYSTEMS IS BLURRING THE LINE BETWEEN OUTDOORS AND IN. BY SHAY MAUNZ PHOTO BY DIETRICH FLOETER
A building is a compromise. Take windows, for instance. A designer might envision a light-filled box of glass, only a fine line separating inside from out. It’s a beautiful vision, but sooner or later it will be confronted by the realities of the physical world: How large can a panel of glass be before it weakens and breaks? How far can you shave down the window frame before it’s too thin to support that glass? Will the glass box stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter? Will it be sustainable? Will it meet energy-efficiency regulations? That’s where Western Window Systems comes in. For almost six decades, the Phoenix-based company has been bridging the gap between imagination and reality with its innovative door systems and windows. The company’s products give architects the tools to design homes with abundant natural light, all while keeping the homes as energy-efficient as possible. In recent years, Western Window Systems has responded to the demand of designers of contemporary architecture for increasingly large sheets of glass, pushing the limits of width and height with each new product line. Today, a multi-slide door system—a wall of glass that slides open to merge the inside of the home with its environs—can be upward of 14 feet tall. Windows can stretch to 10 feet. “Other manufacturers just don’t do that,” says Ty Cranford, architectural director
28
september–october 2017
for Western Window Systems. The company’s newest product line, the Series 7000, is designed with the energy consumption and structural requirements of numerous regions of the country in mind. The advanced strength and performance of the new family of moving glass walls and windows, launching throughout 2017, make them suitable in any climate where indoor-outdoor living is a priority while maintaining Western Window Systems’ usual slim profile and eye-catching expanses of glass. The company has grown by 50% every year for the last five years, and it’s these kinds of advances in technology that have fueled the exploding demand for its products—vast walls of glass needn’t be limited to California’s mild climate anymore. “We’ve learned that everyone wants to live this way,” Cranford says. “They want to let the outside in.” gbdmagazine.com
TYPOLOGY
gb&d
september–october 2017
29
TYPOLOGY
LETTING THE OUTDOORS IN One technique for creating a light-filled building is to craft a narrow structure, so light from two sides is able to penetrate the entire space. The Calhoun Pavilions, designed by Minneapolis-based firm Peterssen/Keller Architecture, did just that, but multiplied by three. The firm’s clients, architecture-loving empty-nesters looking for a new home for the next phase of their lives, came to Peterssen/Keller with an unusual L-shaped lot that rises up from the street, offering views of Lake Calhoun and the Minneapolis skyline. They asked for a contemporary home that would make the most of natural light and seamlessly transition between inside and out. The resulting residence consists of three pavilions enclosing a private courtyard, with glasswalled lightwells connecting the pavilions and brightening the lower levels. The first pavilion houses a two-car garage. The second holds guest rooms and an office, plus an integrated kitchen, living room, and dining room, where a whopping 23-footlong Series 600 Multi-Slide Door from Western Window Systems opens onto the outdoor patio. The master suite is in the third pavilion, which sits on cantilevers over the courtyard and features stunning views of the lake and beyond.
30
september–october 2017
PHOTOS: GARRETT ROWLAND, GENSLER
PHOTOS BY PAUL CROSBY
gbdmagazine.com
TYPOLOGY
nesota, which experiences all four seasons to the max, this is a flexible alternative to installing overhangs for shade. After all, those are static throughout the year. A tree’s leaves fall as the temperature cools; in the summer, the trees provide shade, in the winter, sunlight penetrates. That means the home is able to incorporate vast expanses of glass, without worrying about overheating in the summer because of direct sun on the southern side. The northern exposure, where the sun is less intense, doesn’t make use of shade trees, and several large windows let in cool, even northern light all year long. “It is about as close to Johnson’s Glass House as we can get here in Minnesota and still stay comfortable,” Keller says.
To connect the pavilions to the outdoors and one another, Peterssen/Keller used large expanses of glass, taking advantage of Western Window Systems’ ability to deliver thermally broken aluminum windows—they feature an extra layer of insulation that is definitely needed in chilly Minnesota—that stretch from wall to wall and from floor to 10-foot ceiling. The glass creates a relationship between the indoors and outdoors and visually connects the pavilions to one another. “It’s indoor space bleeding into outdoor space that bleeds back into indoor space,” says Gabriel Keller, a principal at Peterssen/Keller. “So there’s this incredible continuity.” This being Minnesota, the designers freely invited light into the home to take advantage of passive heating and create a sense of warmth and brightness during the cold months. “In the north, we treasure the limited sunlight we receive through our long winters,” Keller says. On the building’s southern side, existing deciduous trees filter sunlight during the warm summer months. In a place like Mingb&d
This Minnesota residence is filled with natural light let in by innovative window solutions.
september–october 2017
31
TYPOLOGY
Strategically placed windows give this house plenty of light and unbeatable views.
MICHIGAN PHOTO BY DIETRICH FLOETER
Michael Fitzhugh is a Michigan native, but he left the state to study architecture and work in Salt Lake City and San Francisco. In 2004, he moved home to found his firm, Michael Fitzhugh Architect, and work on his lifelong dream: bringing contemporary design to northern Michigan. The area isn’t known for such design, partly because the cold weather and high winds traditionally haven’t been considered compatible with a contemporary aesthetic that includes walls upon walls of windows. Wouldn’t it be too hard to heat such a building efficiently? But things are changing, in no small part because of advances in window technology. When Fitzhugh designed the M-22 House on Lake Michigan in 2013, he was able to incorporate expansive windows and still meet energy standards, thanks to Western Window Systems’ tight, durable weatherstripping and dual-paned, triple-coated low-E glass, which helps block the transfer of heat. The result is a modern residence that uses rainwater, geothermal water, and gravity to generate power for
32
september–october 2017
the house and takes advantage of the sun’s energy for passive heating to ensure it’s as efficient as possible. The M-22 House is perched on a tall ridge overlooking Lake Michigan with an extraordinary view of West Grand Traverse Bay to the east. Fitzhugh wanted to use windows for two purposes: to show off those views and to bring plenty of light into the home. Obviously, he gbdmagazine.com
TYPOLOGY
MODERN
wanted to place windows on the eastern side, where the lake is, but eastern exposures offer uneven lighting—a lot of light in the morning, not enough light in the afternoon. And on the plot’s southern side, where there’s an abundance of sunlight throughout the day, there were few opportunities for big windows—the only view is of the nearest neighbor. gb&d
This is where Fitzhugh’s thoughtful, site-specific approach came into play. “Light comes in many forms,” he says. “It’s not about having a lot of windows; it’s about having strategically placed windows.” Throughout the house, Fitzhugh made small, thoughtful decisions to draw sun into the home, like placing a small window at the end of a hallway, so the corridor doesn’t end in a dark corner, but with a pool of light. To add a thermal layer between a large window wall and the outdoors, the home has a glass three-season sun room. In the spring, summer, and fall, the room acts as additional living space. In the winter, it insulates the rest of the home from the frigid temperatures. The kitchen has two long, narrow windows running practically the length of the room. When you stand at the kitchen stove and look out, you have a view, unobstructed even at the periphery. “You can go to a window and look out straight ahead, but it’s like you’ve got blinders on either side,” Fitzhugh says. “Having that uninterrupted panoramic is what makes it really special.” september–october 2017
33
TYPOLOGY
For the Tucson-based architecture firm Hazelbaker Rush, light is important from a psychological standpoint. “We are creatures that instinctively respond to the daily cycles of the sun,” says co-owner Dale Rush. “It’s imperative to allow the natural light into our homes and to let it dictate our schedule and inform our rhythms.” But sunlight also serves a pragmatic purpose: It’s one part of an arsenal of strategies used to reduce a building’s energy consumption. The Franklin Mountain House, 800 feet above El Paso, is no different, even if the harsh desert climate complicates things a bit. In the dazzling desert light of West Texas, taking advantage of the sun for passive heating—without turning a home into a hotbox—is tricky. But with some creative thinking, it can be done.
WEST TEXAS EXPOSURE PHOTOS BY CASEY DUNN
34
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
TYPOLOGY
Many of the Franklin Mountain House’s windows are lined with overhangs—Rush calls them “eyebrows”—to block direct light from the high summer sun. But in winter, when the sun sits low in the sky, the rays penetrate, heating the polished concrete floors. The floors then act as a thermal mass, storing energy during the day and releasing it at night as the temperature drops. Many rooms are entirely illuminated by sunlight during much of the day, meaning there’s rarely any need for the overhead LED lights. The living room and kitchen, for example, are lit through the Western Window Systems Series 600 Multi-Slide Door, which, Rush notes, stands up uniquely well to the dust and rocks invariably blown by the desert wind into its tracks, plus the scorpions,
gb&d
The house sits on a hill in three stacked volumes with expansive windows.
september–october 2017
35
TYPOLOGY
centipedes, vinegaroons, and other pests that “are constantly testing the perimeter,” he says. “The weatherstripping Western Window Systems uses does a good job of keeping the wilds of the desert on the outside.” The home sits on a steep hill and is arranged in three stacked volumes, with each level maintaining a direct connection with the earth and expansive windows forging a link to the outdoors. The few rooms where light isn’t desirable, like the wine room and the living room, sit back against the hill, while all the bedrooms face east, so you wake Large sheets of with the sun. The windows in the living room glass, overhangs, and kitchen face south but are flanked with and well placed windows an 8-inch overhang to temper the glaring abound here. desert light. In the upstairs hallway is the sole west-facing window. It’s set in a particularly deep eyebrow to protect it for most of the day, but around 3 p.m., the sun edges into just the right spot, pouring in direct light. To cut down on solar heat gain, that opening is covered with a roll-down shade programmed to drop every afternoon and retract in the evening, just in time to show off the sunset. The home is surrounded by gorgeous, unobstructed desert vistas. To ensure the purest views possible, Rush took advantage of large, undivided sheets of glass from Western Window Systems. In the upstairs hallway, for example, there’s a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling window that “makes it feel as if you could walk down the hallway and dive off into the canyon to the south,” he says. “The kids will press themselves up against the glass and the interior of the house disappears from view, and they are floating 20 to 30 feet above the desert, eye to eye with red-tailed hawks or golden eagles gracefully riding the thermals up the canyon.” gb&d
36
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
GREEN BUILDINGTYPOLOGY & DESIGN
Up Front Typology Inner Workings Trendsetters Features Spaces Punch List
gb&d
36 Getting the Green Light Green Scope Solutions improves
the way hotel groups operate.
42 Energy-Saving Chill KE2 Therm Solutions helps
some of the smartest companies stay cool.
48
Inside an Intelligent Urban Pyramid
Hotel Éclat is a modern marvel in Beijing, and it’s part of the city’s first LEED Platinum project.
september–october 2017
37
INNER WORKINGS
Retrofitting
businesses by focusing on lighting can add up to a huge savings.
GETTING THE GREEN LIGHT Green Scope Solutions (GSS) offers comprehensive solutions that change the way hotel groups do business. By Mike Thomas Photography by Christopher Free Lighting. It’s a crucial part of the upscale hotel business. Lighting creates a certain ambience, which in turn affects how guests view their surroundings and the degree to which they enjoy their stay. And if they enjoy their stay, they’re more apt to come back—perhaps repeatedly. Experts say it’s especially important that hotels have the right type of lighting in on-site restaurants. After all, mood and food go hand-in-hand. But lighting is voracious when it comes to energy, consuming more electricity than anything else (cooling, ventilation, and so on)
38
september–october 2017
in both residential and commercial buildings across the country. It stands to reason, then, that enhancing the energy efficiency of any lighting system—whether as part of new construction or a retrofitting process—has a sizable impact both financially and environmentally. That’s where Chicago-based Green Scope Solutions enters the picture. The sister company of Option One Energy, one of GSS’s specialties is installing retrofitted lighting solutions in a wide variety of structures. Recently, the American hotel chain Strategic Hotels & Resorts (SHR) contracted them to revamp lighting in 18 of its gbdmagazine.com
INNER WORKINGS
6 PHASES TO A COMPLETE LIGHTING SYSTEM
1 • Initial Meeting / Lighting Survey • Audit
The Green Scope Solutions Turnkey Process
6
2
• Delivery of Closing Package • Ongoing Warranty Management • Future Product Reordering
• Rebate Procurement • Engineer/Spec
3 • Proposal Delivery • Mock-up/ Sample Hang • Approval
5 • Start Install • Project Manage Throughout • Recyling • Job Completion gb&d
4 • Utility Pre-Walk
september–october 2017
39
energy saving applications. Hogin says this most recent experience of working with GSS and OOE was also very positive. GSS is the demand solutions wing of these businesses. “The first step for our lighting process is to do a thorough discovery, followed by a full facility survey,” GSS co-principal Brian Mavraganes says. “This is just phase one of our six-phase turnkey process.” Prior to overhauling SHR’s chain of hotels, Green Scope had already proven itself by installing new LED lighting and controls at Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay in California. Following its standard procedure, GSS created LED-lit mock-ups of the spaces to be retrofitted. “The last thing we want is to start [installing] lights that we feel should be hung, and then that color doesn’t reflect well with the space,” Mavraganes says. Aside from being visually pleasing, the retrofitting resulted in annual energy savings of around $200,000. Other GSS clients— including a hotelOne of Green Scope condo building Solutions’ specialties in New York and is installing retrofitted a large restaurant lighting solutions. The chain—also have company begins its seen significant turnkey lighting process with a thorough discovery, reductions in followed by a full facility lighting costs. survey. “It’s very rare for us to engage hotels across the country. Rolled out over a client and not nearly two years, the multimillion-dollar be able to show project required lots of number crunching a savings or find an opportunity to save them and 30 people on several installation teams. money through lighting, controls, and energy Longtime GSS partner Philips Lighting procurement/management,” Mavraganes provided the lighting itself, with lamps says. LED technology, he explains, has made ranging from 2 to 10 watts in a variety of color great strides in the last five or so years and temperatures. In many cases GSS used Philips’ is now at the point where closely matching Warm Glow technology, which retains the same the illumination capabilities of incandescent look and feel of incandescent lamps. lighting is easier than ever. “GSS and OOE were brought in to look at “Everyone’s misconception back in the day successful ways to reduce energy costs,” says was, ‘It’s an LED; it’s super white.’ That’s not it David Hogin, SHR’s executive vice president and anymore,” Mavraganes says. “They can match chief operating officer. “Through their efforts, colors down to 1500 Kelvin as well as achieve we converted the majority of our portfolio from florescent and incandescent to LED lighting. They the dimming capabilities of an incandescent or converted or replaced fixtures where needed, and halogen.” Couple that advanced technology with filed for rebates on our behalf. We found their guaranteed cost cutting, and convincing clients solution to be seamless and turnkey.” to jettison energy-gobbling incandescent bulbs OOE is the energy supply and management and aesthetically harsh florescent ones for wing of the two businesses and was able to assist SHR with procurement and cost analysis on other superior LEDs is less challenging than it once
40
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
PHOTO: COURTESY OF GSS
INNER WORKINGS
INNER WORKINGS
By the Numbers
was. “It’s quantifiable,” Mavraganes says. “If you’re going from 6,000 50-watt bulbs to 6,000 7-watt bulbs, and they’re on 24 hours a day and you’re paying 10 cents a kilowatt, it’s pretty easy to figure out the savings you’re going to achieve.” As an added bonus, there’s also a brandenhancing component. These days, more and more guests expect the hotels in which they stay—particularly top-tier establishments like those Option One Energy and Green Scope Solutions work with—to be environmentally friendly. Through “green” lighting and other means, more and more hotels are obliging—always, of course, with a sharp eye on the bottom line. “The dilemma can be that everyone needs to be on the same page when working on a large project,” says GSS Co-Principal Adam Morris. “You have operations, construction, and the design side, and they don’t always have the same agenda. Design is going for ambience, operations is going for reducing maintenance costs, and construction is trying to come in under budget. We help bridge this gap by getting everyone on the same page and finding a solution that works for everyone.” While GSS’s LED conversion process costs a bit more on the front end, future savings make up for the investment and then some. Incandescent lighting is less expensive, but not when you take into account electric and gas costs down the line, as well as parts and labor when the shorterlife bulbs wear out and require replacement. According to Philips Product Manager John Hynek, incandescent lamps last about a year in a hotel setting whereas LED lamps can chug along for a quarter-century. And going from 60 watts to 9 watts makes a huge difference in energy consumption. Philips product management recognizes the value of the GSS and Philips relationship happening hundreds of miles away in Chicago and throughout the U.S. To have a relationship like Philips has with GSS gb&d
u Approximate annual energy savings, including light bulb spend, at some of the SHR hotels: Laguna Beach, California RitzCarton: $200,000; Palo Alto Four Seasons: $190,000; Jackson Hole $150,000; Chicago InterContinental $125,000; Four Seasons DC $120,000; Fairmont Scottsdale $200,000. u 95% of GSS projects take 24 months or less, with many completed in 20 months or less. u GSS LED retrofitting, which comes with a five-year warranty (thus negating the cost of replacement bulbs for five years), cuts light bulb budgets by 85%. Annual spending for incandescent bulbs can be upwards of $4050,000.
is unique for the hospitality market in particular, as this market in general has been a bit slower to adopt LED technology. When adoption does happen, it’s often with tier 2 LED products, which appear lower in cost initially but are actually higher in cost in the long run due to lower quality and shorter lifespans. More and more companies are becoming aware of these advantages and others, Mavraganes says, and the tide is turning for commercial properties despite the modestly higher initial expense. Being energy efficient—and going “green” in general—is increasingly the norm rather than the exception, and LED lighting is a big part of that shift. He hopes residential properties will follow suit in ever-greater numbers. “The green movement has begun, but we have barely scratched the surface,” Morris says. “One of my favorite quotes from Gandhi—which I think best expresses how I feel about climate change and the green movement—is ‘the difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.’” gb&d
*Information provided by Brian Mavraganes & Adam Morris at GSS & OOE
september–october 2017
41
INNER WORKINGS
42
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
INNER WORKINGS
ENERGY-SAVING CHILL—WITH SUPER-HOT MONITORING How some of the country’s smartest companies are using KE2 Therm Solutions to improve operations By Ashwin Jagannathan Photography by Cathy Rennick
Not too long ago, sophisticated refrigeration controls, with some limited benefits, were only accessible to mammoth supermarket chains— and at a cost. For the overwhelming majority of organizations with refrigerated storage spaces, refrigeration controls remained frozen in time with inefficient mechanical controls that hadn’t changed much since the 1970s. It was in this stagnant landscape that KE2 Therm Solutions stepped in to modernize the refrigeration control field. KE2 Therm may not have been the first company to make the leap, but its efforts soon had a significant impact on how some bigKE2 Therm name organizations control their refrigerated Solutions provides spaces, from Walmart to the University of refrigeration controls Wisconsin to Braum’s Dairy Store and others. so you can rest easy. Inspiration for advanced controls came from studying the refrigeration controls found in Europe, according to Jeff Kavanagh, KE2 Therm’s vice president of marketing and sales. But rather than imitate the controllers, KE2 Therm improved upon them, says Ryan Kliethermes, KE2 Therm’s product manager. “Electronic control was the way Europe had gone. We took things several steps forward. It was a combination of targeting and improving efficiency in North America and taking advantage of the latest communications technology,” Kliethermes says. With the adoption of KE2 Therm controls, large chains have seen significant improvements in energy gb&d
september–october 2017
43
INNER WORKINGS
44
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
INNER WORKINGS
efficiency, but even smaller footprint locations have been able to modernize their refrigerated spaces thanks to KE2 Therm’s efforts to lower the barriers to better controls. Unlike previous refrigeration controllers, the cost is manageable—and the controllers often pay for themselves quickly—and there’s no proprietary software or cost required for remote access and alarms. “Any place that has a refrigerated space could benefit,” Kliethermes says. “And most would not have the opportunity to monitor and control remotely without KE2 Therm technology. We are found in hospitals, schools, zoos, and restaurants—from mom-and-pops to major franchises and other custom controlled environments in manufacturing operations across the U.S., Canada, and Japan.”
KE2 THERM CONTROLS ARE FOUND IN HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, ZOOS, AND RESTAURANTS—FROM MOM-AND-POPS TO MAJOR FRANCHISES AND OTHER CUSTOM CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS IN MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS ACROSS THE U.S., CANADA, AND JAPAN.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF GSS
BIG BENEFITS ARE A BREEZE
KE2 Therm has installations all across North America, from the Dallas Cowboys Stadium to Universal Studios to meatpacking warehouses and everywhere in between. Adding KE2 Therm adaptive refrigeration controls reduces energy costs, lowers service costs, and eliminates product loss, providing many businesses with some serious peace of mind. After all, if you’re a business with $20,000 worth of food in your freezers, you certainly don’t want to throw that out. Kavanagh says KE2 Therm stepped in to fill a void in the industry, advancing refrigeration controls beyond supermarkets to include the restaurants, schools, prisons, and hospitals that also have refrigeration needs. “When you start looking at it, you’ve got probably 2 million locations that basically had no technology available to allow them to become more energy efficient,” he says of the years before controls like KE2 Therm’s. Accurate, real-time data and helpful alarms go a long way to save time, money, and energy. Champion Air, which services regional Dairy Queen stores among other clients, had been experiencing repeat issues with thermostat and time clock failure and was unsatisfied with the alarm notifications. After installing the innovative KE2 Therm refrigeration controllers and monitoring technology, the problems were resolved almost instantly. “They were a blessing,” says Steve Messer, owner of Champion Air. He says the KE2 Therm controllers allowed Champion Air to eliminate fan failures due to gb&d
iced evaporators. Moreover, the monitoring abilities that KE2 Therm provided helped the business keep better tabs on its refrigerated spaces, with improved alarm notifications so they could respond more quickly and effectively when problems arose. “With our patented communication technology, every controller we make can be accessed remotely, and users can receive alarm notifications via text or email. This
KE2 Therm offers
accurate, real-time data and helpful alarms.
september–october 2017
45
INNER WORKINGS
46
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
INNER WORKINGS
allows for a proactive response to system problems and helps avoid catastrophic failures and loss of refrigerated product,” Kavanagh says. Having the controllers also helps to reduce costly nuisance service calls. E-Z Mart Stores, a convenience store chain, was able to eliminate these calls after adopting KE2 Therm controllers, according to Darren Washington, HVAC-R supervisor for E-Z Mart Stores. “I was able to identify a faulty compressor start component by the ability to remotely monitor the system. I was able to dispatch the service technician quickly with a diagnosis and proper parts to fix the situation,” he says. “Also, I have been able to call stores to quickly address potential issues and product loss by noting when freezer and cooler doors are open too long. EZ Mart has reduced expensive product loss by monitoring sites and identifying issues before they become a problem.” Excessive defrost cycles are a common problem that besets refrigeration spaces, and it’s exacerbated by organizations being unaware of how often it happens. With KE2 Therm’s adaptive, demand defrost, the defrost cycles are automatically matched to the system’s needs. This typically reduces the time spent in energy-guzzling defrost cycles by more than 70%. At E-Z Mart Stores, Washington found that using KE2 Therm’s demand defrost reduced the defrost cycles from 28 to less than 8 times per week. Retail behemoth Walmart has extensive facilities with significant refrigerated needs to say the least, and KE2 Therm’s controllers have also made a huge difference there. Walmart noted that average room temperature at defrost termination with KE2 Therm controllers was almost 10 degrees lower based on a more efficient management and termination of defrost cycles, according to Monte Crofutt, technical standards director for Walmart Realty Standards Group. “The higher average temperature at defrost termination is a good indicator that the rack gb&d
controller runs the defrost heaters for longer periods of time, putting more heat into the freezer during each defrost. The hotter coils contribute to the fogging effect in freezers, which results in more “snow and icing” buildup on fan guards, ceilings, product, and racking. The most obvious side effect is that the additional heat load must be removed by the compressors on the rack, which can be avoided, and result in a significant amount of energy savings. Large or small, many organizations hear about KE2 Therm’s services through positive word of mouth. In several cases, businesses are simply looking for improved energy efficiency overall, without necessarily realizing they can save energy in their refrigerated spaces, too. When they finally try KE2 Therm, they’re struck by how easy and effective the controllers are. As KE2 Therm’s products continue to benefit a wide range of organizations, Kavanagh says he sees the company occupying a role in refrigeration similar to Nest’s role in the smart thermostat industry. “Forty years ago, people had mechanical thermostats. Now you have technologies like ours that are more adaptive to provide better equipment operation and peace of mind for all types of refrigerated spaces.” gb&d
KE2 Therm
Solutions’ controls reduce energy costs, lower service costs, and eliminate product loss.
september–october 2017
47
INNER WORKINGS
This Beijing hotel is part of the city’s first LEED Platinum project.
HOTEL ÉCLAT: INSIDE AN INTELLIGENT URBAN PYRAMID By Chris Howe
Chaoyang is the most populous district in Beijing. Literally translated to “facing the sun,” it’s home to most of the city’s embassies, high-end shopping, and thousands of local residents. It is also home to Parkview Green, a stunning glass pyramid and shining example of green building and the first integrated commercial complex to be awarded LEED Platinum in China. With more than 2 million square feet, the building houses office, conference, retail, leisure space, a Tesla dealership, and the amazing Hotel Éclat. THE CONCEPT
The first thing you notice about Parkview Green—designed by Integrated Design Associates and engineered by ARUP—is its pyramid shape, which serves multiple functions. The shape was chosen as a consideration to the residential area it’s next to, as it minimizes blocking natural light. It also acts as a bubble around two nine-story and two 18-story towers within it, creating a “microclimate.” The buffer zone created within helps keep the environment relatively uniform and easily changed. It also increases the thermal insulation, reducing energy consumption. The concept creates a neighborhood within a neighborhood, a controlled and highly efficient year-round green space to live, work, and play.
48
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
INNER WORKINGS
Green Facts About Parkview Green • Parkview Green FangCaoDi was able to recycle 81% of its construction wastage, much higher than the LEED requirement and average rate in China. • Regional materials acquired within 500 miles of the building site make up 42% of total material cost of Parkview Green FangCaoDi, significantly exceeding LEED requirements of 20%. • Highly filtered indoor air quality throughout the offices and retails spaces. • Parkview Green FangCaoDi meets MERV 11 standards of air quality, the highest standard for mixed use development. Traditional buildings on average meet only MERV 7 standards. • Access to natural daylight throughout the building due to the transparent ETFE membrane roof with 98% less UV.
gb&d
september–october 2017
49
INNER WORKINGS
Biophilic design
combines with community and entertainment at Parkview Green.
è HIGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY
“We are putting living, working, socializing, and shopping all together,” says Oliver Lai, general manager of Parkview Green. “Like a small city è you can stay, you can find food, you can find entertainment, watch a movie, you can have a family hangout.” Though “one building, one city” design concepts aren’t new, Parkview Green’s execution is fantastic. You get the feeling you are entering an entire neighborhood versus an enclosed mix-use building. Biophilic design practices and unusual navigation patterns (the building houses the world’s largest indoor bridge) make the building something to explore, versus be trapped in. Visitors are also met with a daring, and expansive, collection of modern art, including more than 40 sculptures by Salvador Dali.
SUSTAINABILITY
What really stands out at the hotel is the engineering work done by ARUP. Their HIGH WATER EFFICIENCY team created special ventilation louvers, installed Parkview Green FangCaoDi at the top of the building, achieves 211 L/m2/Year, that act as chimneys, which is a savings of 48% over allowing the warmest air LEED baseline. to escape and creating an upward flow of air. As the air escapes, cooler air is drawn up from the bottom of the building, creating air movement and natural ventilation. In March 2017, the building also earned Asia Pacific’s first LEED Dynamic Plaque, which, according to George Wong, executor of Hong Kong Parkview Group, is “Parkview Green’s architectural Bible. It focuses our construction around function and the surrounding environment, creating a firm sense of corporate commitment.” The building currently uses THE ROOMS AT HOTEL ÉCLAT 44% less energy than industry standards. The five-star, 100-room, luxury hotel with 20 individually styled suites with their own private indoor terrace and pools (pool water is run to the basement, cleaned, and reused in THE VERDICT the greywater system). The suites are expansive (Lady Gaga Hotel Éclat is an amazing building. It sets an example for hosted her birthday party there) and can run upwards of spectacular green building, intelligent design, and high $17,000 a night. Standard suites, with a “terrace” (actually performance. However, it also embraces it’s uniqueness—there still indoors) are a much more reasonable $340 a night. All is no hotel quite like it in the world. It’s thoughtful without rooms come with access to a gym, purified water, and fresh being bland, daring without being uncomfortable. The building fruit. Each guest floor is themed and is carefully hosted by has definitively raised the bar for sustainable hospitality in thoughtful staff. Beijing. gb&d
50
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
PHOTOS, THIS PAGE AND PREVIOUS SPREAD: HOTEL ECLAT BEIJING
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Parkview Green FangCaoDi achieves 89 KWH/m2/Year, which is 44% less than the LEED ASHRAE standard baseline.
GREEN BUILDING INNER WORKINGS & DESIGN
Up Front Typology Inner Workings Features Spaces Punch List
52 9 Unconventional Ways to Bring Light into a Building Lacey Glass incorporates translucent skylights, polycarbonate cladding, and more.
56 Doing What’s Right True Manufacturing has a long history in refrigeration innovation.
62 Chemicals That Save LANXESS works to provide greener options for paints and coatings.
66 Believing in Better Mohawk’s committed to sustainability on a higher level.
70 Permeating Design
Unilock permeable pavers let storm water in and keep heat out.
76 Weather the Storm NUDURA’s insulated concrete forms are strong, versatile, and efficient.
gb&d gb&d
september september––october october 2017 2017
51
9
L A N O I T N E V N UNCO WAYS TO O T N I T H G I L G N BRI A BUILDING
T
BY EMILY TOREM
HE EXPERTS AT LACEY GLASS say it’s no surprise that a brightly lit space is a desirable one—whether it’s for functional reasons or physical ones. Studies by the Heschong Mahone Group and the California Sustainability Task Force showed that students improved test scores and hospital patients healed up to 15% faster when exposed to natural daylight. Lacey Glass has been brightening up the Pacific Northwest for nearly 40 years through strategic daylighting (the intentional and controlled introduction of light into a building) that challenges conventional notions of how to get light into everyday spaces. They also offer more sloped glazing and translucent glazing systems than anyone in the Pacific Northwest region. Phil Zeutenhorst, president of Lacey Glass, wants to change the way people light buildings for comfort, visibility, and sustainability—starting with getting rid of some of those windows. “[People like to say] ‘just open up the side of building and let in all the light you can.’ But this adds hotspots and glare,” he says. Not only that, the beam of bright light can amp up visual contrast, making the rest of the interior look darker. “Any light that casts a shadow isn’t good for daylighting because you end up working in your own shadow. Diffusing daylight with translucency also cools it, which is better for a building’s energy costs (although there is a place for transparent glass, too). The more you spread natural daylight around, the better.” When you have a bright beam of sunlight, it warms the surrounding area, so you are essentially creating hot spots and then wasting money to mechanically cool the space. These are just a few of the many inspiring and unconventional ways Lacey Glass brings light into its projects.
52
september–october 2017
1 FLEXIBILITY & FUNCTIONALITY Although “stunning” and “sewage” aren’t often in the same sentence, the Brightwater Wastewater Treatment Plant encompasses both, hosting weddings and tours as well as serving an all too important purpose. The plant keeps the visitors’ center and covered walkways bright and airy with warm wooden beams and plenty of natural light, thanks to a series of translucent skylights from Lacey Glass. “In the Pacific Northwest, you need to cover everything because it rains all the time,” Zeutenhorst says. “We wanted to bring the outdoors indoors.” Large removable skylights make it easy to access the plant’s equipment and water pumps, while keeping the area well lit and protecting maintenance personnel and equipment from the elements. gbdmagazine.com
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF LACEY GLASS
FEATURES
FEATURES
2
C
DIFFUSING LIGHT CREATIVELY
LEARSHADE, a new PANELITE product Lacey Glass is using, supports LG’s daylighting philosophy with advanced technology. “It diffuses light, but you can still see through it, which is pretty unconventional,” Zeutenhorst says. “It reduces solar heat gain by cutting down light transmission into the building. Once light scatters, it doesn’t create heat as much.” ClearShade has been used on projects like the StoryCorps building in Manhattan, where its excellent sound attenuation properties help the recording studio collect and archive American oral histories.
3
Controlled Daylighting The focus was on adequately highlighting displays without overheating them at the STILLAGUAMISH INDIAN CULTURAL CENTER. Considering the environment lacked frequent direct sunlight, the challenge was to make sure the center received enough light when conditions were cloudy without damaging displays if a rogue scorcher or constant hot spots were to hit. “We had to design the lighting system around the worst case scenario, which is two weeks of 90-degree weather in August,” Zeutenhorst says. “If you design natural daylighting for December and January lighting conditions, you have a giant mechanical system and a big electric bill.” The solution? Mechanical louvers that respond to a set light level, almost like a thermostat. At Stillaguamish, the louvers adjust depending on external lighting sources, saving energy and maintaining a consistent level of light year-round. gb&d
september–october 2017
53
FEATURES
REFLECTED LIGHT At the Mount Angel Abbey in Mount Angel, Oregon, adjustable louvers fine-tune incoming light from a skylight, enabling the classroom to lean on natural sunlight 95% of the time. Electrical lighting is a mere backup. The team achieved this by collaborating with the University of Oregon, who tested out models of a custom-designed skylight with reflectors and louvers on a virtual sky before deploying it in the classroom. “They open the louvers when they need light,” says Kent Duffy, principal at SRG Partnership. “The trick is the radial elements— triangular shaped aluminum extrusions—that are spaced more densely in the middle and less so toward the edges. You don’t have hot spots or heat gain.” The aluminum does an incredible job of reflecting incoming light around the space. The louvers are parallel half cylinders that rotate and adjust to the available amount of incoming light. “We were shooting for a daylight between 20 and 45 foot candles (fc),” Duffy says. “Outside, in the clear blue day, it was 9,000 fc. We hit exactly 45 fc on a desktop.
54
september–october 2017
5 Switchable Glass A custom-made cantilever machine made by Lacey Glass was part of the innovation used at Delta Airlines Club at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The lounge has a stunning view of the Olympic Mountains, but it faces west, which posed a problem. “The glare and the heat gain would have been tremendous,” Zeutenhorst says. Enter Lacey Glass’s brilliant solution—electrochromic coatings, or a glazing system that responds to light and heat via sensors that increase or decrease window tints as needed. The glazing switches between the clear state and the tinted state by sending electrical voltages between tiny layers of metal oxides. That means that when the sun hits with full force, waiting passengers can still enjoy gazing out at the mountains. Electrochromic coatings are a big deal in the industry now, that’s for sure, as the outlook for electrochromic glass is growing dramatically, Zeutenhorst says. gbdmagazine.com
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF LACEY GLASS
4
FEATURES
6 CUT GLARE The futuristic T. Evans Wyckoff Memorial Bridge at the Museum of Flight in Seattle shuttles pedestrians over a busy thoroughfare. The 200-foot pedestrian bridge was a challenge to completely enclose with an affordable material because it’s a curving, tubular structure, explains Duffy, who worked on the bridge. With railings on both sides to cut blustering winds, one side is open and one is glazed full height, letting light pour in from all angles. “When you walk across the bridge, you feel like you’re in this very open, airy passage. Having light fill that whole space supports that open feeling,” Duffy says. A translucent lid diffuses light enough to keep the baking sun at bay, while also extinguishing glare for pedestrians.
7
8
Use Clear Glass
The atriums between the Rainier Buildings at PIERCE COLLEGE use clear glass to help maintain an outdoor feel, or at least a connection to it. “Translucent lighting solutions—which diffuse light and are not completely transparent—are actually best for work spaces,” Zeutenhorst says. “You’re trying to give people who are cooped up indoors some healthy (and even) daylight.” Clear glass, which makes up the wall of windows on the atriums, works the opposite way, sharpening high-contrast shadows and unobstructed views of grass, trees, and sky to inspire a more relaxed feel. Where a deep shadow might make computer work challenging, the natural play of light as the sun goes down is more than welcome in a bustling atrium.
9 POLYCARBONATE CLADDING
O
pen classrooms are the perfect playground for active minds, but in the case of the
FEDERAL WAY SCHOOL DISTRICT in Seattle, they
presented a daylighting riddle. In the schools’ open, warehouse-like spaces, skylights were proposed since the walls would largely be opaque partitions. But skylights were also prohibitively expensive. “Having a roof with a ton of holes in it is a
gb&d
pain for the contractor,” explains NOAH GREENBERG, principal at DLR GROUP, who worked on the schools. So Greenberg and his team thought up a solution that preserved the flexibility of the classrooms while filling them with light: using polycarbonate as a cladding material. The hearty, economical material was the perfect choice, as it diffuses light gently into the wide, open classrooms, providing even light from above.
FILTER INTENSESUN Avoiding the greenhouse effect was paramount for passengers waiting for the ferry at a beautiful terminal on Puget Sound. The roof is translucent glass to filter the intense overhead sun, but the vertical glass is clear to preserve maritime views, making for a comfortable, yet scenic view for waiting ferry patrons. september–october 2017
55
FEATURES
DOING WHAT’S RIGHT
MEET TRUE MANUFACTURING. THE REFRIGERATION INNOVATOR LEADING THE CHARGE BY COLLEEN DEHART
56
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
FEATURES
gb&d
september–october 2017
57
Manufacturing in his family’s garage in 1945, he wasn’t trying to start a revolution. He was trying to support his family with a quality product. The privately held, familyowned company—which now distributes worldwide—is leading the charge in natural refrigerants. True utilizes propane-based hydrocarbon refrigeration to create refrigerators and freezers that are both energy efficient and environmentally friendly. The first of his family to go to college, Trulaske paid for the whole thing on his own dime. An enthusiastic participant in ROTC,
58
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
PHOTOS, THIS SPREAD AND PREVIOUS: COURTESY OF TRUE MANUFACTURING
WHEN BOB TRULASKE STARTED TRUE
he became a pilot during World War II. He flew numerous missions throughout the war—most notably on D-Day. That true American devotion stuck with him throughout his business practices. The company is proud to say they are almost entirely American-made — manufacturing more than 85% of components in-house. “We consider ourselves manufacturers in every sense of the word,” says John Ebenroth, national director of sales and marketing for True Manufacturing. “We wear that badge on our chest very proudly. We are proud we are employing American people and glad we are not taking these jobs out of the country.” Part of producing the majority of components in-house ensures the company maintains consistent quality standards. Anything the company is unable to produce in-house they source to other American-made suppliers, and if they must go overseas for a component, they look for high quality over low price, Ebenroth says. “This was passed down from my father … it was a big part of what he did,” says True Manufacturing Owner Steve Trulaske, son of Bob. “We have a huge focus on making sure the quality of the components are good, and with everything we do internally with the designs. We know what works and what doesn’t and we consider ourselves experts.” Refrigeration has come a long way since Bob started the company 70 years ago. The type of refrigerants used has changed as environmental regulations have become stricter and awareness of refrigerants’ effects on global warming has grown. We recently sat down with the experts at True to find out more about their industry leading conversion to R290 refrigerant and just what that means for the industry.
FEATURES
Unilock pavers TKTKTKTKTKT
gb&d: What is hydrocarbon refrigerant (also known as R290)? Ebenroth: It is a propane-based refrigerant that is very environmentally friendly. It is not man-made; there are no chemicals. It is able to absorb and dissipate heat more efficiently than current refrigerants. It is safe. When people hear propane they think of a barbecue grill. It is very different. The amount of propane is very small. In our largest systems it is less than 150 grams—as much as a couple BIC lighters. Our smallest systems are using half of that or less. gb&d: Why did you make the decision to move to hydrocarbon refrigerant? Why is it better than other refrigerants? Steve Trulaske: It was really because we saw it was the best. It created better reliability and operation of our cabinets. That was really the driving force. It is simply a better refrigerant. It has better capacity to remove heat out of the cabinet, and it is better for the environment. These are the best refrigeration systems we have ever designed and built. The Global Warming Potential (GWP) of hydrocarbon refrigerant R290 is a three, whereas current hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants score as high as 3922. R290’s thermodynamic properties are superior to common HFCs, meaning it can absorb more heat, faster for quicker temperature recovery, and thus consumes less energy. gb&d: How important is environmental social responsibility to True Manufacturing? Ebenroth: We want to continue to be a responsible manufacturer. When the life cycle of a refrigerator or freezer is done, they do have an impact during disposal. We want to do our part to make sure it is as clean and environmentally responsible as possible. gb&d
september–october 2017
59
FEATURES
60
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
FEATURES
AMERICANMADE, AMERICANDRIVEN, DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED
They also use a lot of energy when operating, and we want to make sure we are minimizing the effect of that as much as possible. We have made an effort to redesign systems so they utilize as little energy as possible while maintaining food safety. We have to strike a balance between the two because we do not want to sacrifice safety. Hydrocarbon allows us to do both. gb&d: As an industry leader, how do you hope to influence other industry professionals? Trulaske: I think it is just good business practice to take the approach we are taking, but I have to admit that this path we have gone down with R290 has been a very expensive path. There are other alternatives we could have gone with and a lot of other companies are going that way, and I understand why. It is expensive to convert your whole factory to R290, but I think it is the best thing for the environment and the world. It is a win-win—you save on energy costs and you are gb&d
helping the environment. I encourage each person to consider the best solution for their individual business. gb&d: What does the future of True Manufacturing hold? Are there other innovations coming down the pipeline? Trulaske: Of course. We are working on them every day. The world of refrigerants is big and full of different technologies that could come along. It is a very exciting time. We will start to see some real innovation come along in the controllers and electronic thermostats we are employing. There will be great benefits to the user, and the control of the cabinet. We will be using some different and better materials. There are some pretty exciting things we are working on. Ebenroth: We will continue to work on being American-made, American-driven, designed, and developed. We are very customer-focused so we develop products and approaches that are customer-driven, not internally driven. We will continue to evaluate the industry and customers’ needs and develop from there using the made in America with innovation mindset. gb&d: Where are refrigerants going? Ebenroth: The regulatory piece is the fulcrum of all of this. Depending on what the administration decides one way or another, we are prepared for both scenarios. We will continue down the path of R290. We are doing it for the right reasons and it has given us the right results. The industry is looking for replacements for the common ozone-depleting refrigerants, but they are focused on R290, so it has been a simple decision for us for the future of our product. gb&d PHOTOS: COURTESY OF TRUE MANUFACTURING
september–october 2017
61
FEATURES
CHE MI CALS
THAT SAVE
gb&d
september–october 2017
62
FEATURES
FEATURES
BUILDING MATERIALS ARE COMPLEX, AND PROTECTING THEM FROM MOLD REQUIRES BIOCIDES. LANXESS WORKS TO INNOVATE TOWARD SMARTER, GREENER INPUTS TO GIVE BUILDING MATERIALS A LONGER LIFE. BY RU S S K L ET T K E gb&d
september–october 2017
63
FEATURES
BETWEEN THE MAJORITY OF MANMADE THINGS IN OUR LIVES—HOUSES, VEHICLES, BUILDINGS, PRODUCTS—AND OURSELVES LIES A VERY THIN LAYER OF PAINTS AND COATINGS. THESE TINY BARRIERS ARE MEASURED IN MILS (U.S.) AND microns (globally), and yet are expected to withstand the dings, slings, and arrows that the world throws at them. Wall paint and wallboard endure abuses like mold and other living microorganisms that find their way into our homes. The mold problem has long been solved with biocides—chemical substances used to inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, mold, and fungi. When using biocides, producers and paint and coatings manufacturers alike must comply with environmental and regulatory requirements—as well as consumer and market demands—which often drives them to look for more innovative and environmentally friendly solutions.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES LANXESS, a leading specialty chemicals company operating in 25
countries with 75 production sites and 19,200 employees, has devised several such solutions at its R&D facility in Leverkusen, Germany. As a leading biocides supplier to the paints, coatings, wood protection, gypsum board, and several other industries, the company’s Material Protection Products business is called on to develop modern preservation solutions to support the paint industry in its transition to more environmentally compatible preservation systems, without losing efficacy. Patricia Souza and Cecilia McGough, representatives from the company’s Material Protection Products business unit at LANXESS’s U.S. headquarters in Pittsburgh, explain how and where solutions using chemical innovations make for cleaner and greener indoor and outdoor environments. “As the paint industry evolves from solvent-
THIS PRODUCT IS GREENER THAN MOST OPTIONS. 64
september–october 2017
based products to more environmentally friendly water-based and natural products, the need to control microbial growth increases,” says Souza, who leads the company’s Material Protection Products division. The most current iteration in the biocide arena is a slower release biocide technology that she says is encapsulated in a matrix that slows the diffusion rate. “The biocidal agent still inhibits microbial growth,” she says, explaining that the slow release biocide delivers the biocidal agent at a low concentration, which controls and inhibits the microorganisms growth while minimizing potential environmental effects such as leaching in outdoor applications. When this product achieves regulatory registrations approval in the United States, she says it will likely serve a number of additional product applications, including water treatment, oil and gas, and paper, among others. “Anything with some water content and nutrients has this potential for microbial growth,” Souza says.
STRONG SOLUTIONS One significant industry with a microbial-vulnerable product that surrounds us, literally, is gypsum wallboards. The facings get painted, usually, but the back of the wallboard is coated in paper. Natural or synthetic based gypsum material provides the nutrients for microorganisms, especially molds, which can become a gbdmagazine.com
FEATURES
PHOTOS, THIS SPREAD AND PREVIOUS: COURTESY OF LANXESS
LANXESS provides environmentally friendly solutions that inhibit fungal growth and more.
problem when moisture touches the paper. This can happen in shipping, construction site storage, and even after installation when water becomes trapped behind walls. In some homes built under wet or humid conditions, that water embeds in the paper backing. This became a widespread issue in homes built in Texas and the Southeast in the late 1990s; many houses had to be stripped to the studs to replace the wallboard and in some cases were demolished because occupants got sick from mold. McGough, technical marketing manager for Material Protection Products at LANXESS, says the company already provides more gb&d
environmentally friendly solutions for wallboard treatment. One such product is Sporgard® WB, a formulation of three fungicides that synergistically inhibit fungal growth that tends to cause odors, staining, discoloration, and biodeterioration. “Because it is product that has also been used in food applications and is VOC-free, this product is greener than most options currently on the market,” McGough says. “Finished goods companies who formulate with these fungicides (if the remaining raw materials are GREENGUARD approved), can submit their products for GREENGUARD certification.” Sporgard® WB, as well as the slow-release biocide in development, has an additional waste-reduction benefit: It can extend the shelf life of paints and other building materials. “At LANXESS, we strive to be sustainable and to reduce our footprints along the value chain,” Souza says. Indeed the global company occupies an enviable position on both the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and FTSE4Good. Both are guides for investors interested in eco-investing, as measured against criteria in responsible and sustainable operations, products, and global citizenship. gb&d september–october 2017
65
FEATURES
Mohawk’s Sustainability Transformation BY MIKENNA PIEROTTI
BELIEVING IN BETTER 66
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
Few companies can boast a commitment to pushing the envelope as long and enduring as Mohawk. For nearly 140 years, this leading flooring company, the world’s largest, has made transformation one of its top priorities. This willingness to look to the future for everything from design to cultural trends has allowed Mohawk to grow into a family of brands offering global customers more than 30 flooring options and hundreds of high quality, eco-friendly products—from residential carpet to commercial tile. At Mohawk, sustainability is more than a marketing tactic, it’s imbedded in their culture. But until recently, while the company was adept at walking the walk, talking the talk—promoting and articulating their vision—wasn’t given the attention it needed. PHOTO: COURTESY OF MOHAWK
G N R
FEATURES
BELIEVING IS DOING
Enter George Bandy, Jr., a veteran of the sustainability realm for over 20 years. He’s been chairman of the board for the USGBC, head of sustainability at Interface, and sustainability officer gb&d
for the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. When he came on as vice president for sustainability at Mohawk in July 2016, he immediately saw what Mohawk was doing right— and what it could do better. “Often, because of their size, sustainability attributes were just things they knew they needed to do,” Bandy says. “They were leading in the marketplace they were in, but it wasn’t really in a comprehensive format you can deliver with a message.” In order to become not only a leader in sustainability but also a source of inspiration in the marketplace, Bandy knew Mohawk had to learn to connect the disparate dots of the sustainability initiatives they were already investing in—design, transparency, and innovation—and corral them all under a new narrative. That narrative became known as “Believe in Better.” “‘Believing in Better’ is a mindset that everyone has a role to play in getting better around sustainability together,” Bandy says. “We can compete on other things—design, cost, texture, color, performance, delivery, service, operational excellence—
Mohawk’s Lichen collection has a net-positive impact on the environment.
september–october 2017
67
FEATURES
we can compete on those platforms, but in terms of the environmental aspect, it’s not OK for us to privatize the wealth and socialize the risk.” Rather than simply focusing on their numbers, of which Mohawk boasts some great ones—like the 5.5 billion plastic bottles and plastic bottle caps they’ve recycled into residential products or the more than 500 Red List–free products they’re going to market with—this flooring giant is looking to promote a new mindset. “How do we make the world better? How do we make the people who work for us better? How do we create a better place for us to exist and contribute? How do we filter and foster that in a way that our customers begin to see us as a better partner to do business with? ‘Believing in Better’ is about thinking holistically about the value that we leave rather than the mark that we make,” Bandy says. And it all starts with pulling back the curtain on their truly innovative, and conversationprovoking designs.
MAKING MOTHER NATURE SMILE
Perhaps no better symbol of Mohawk’s evolving design exists than the company’s 2017 NeoCon showroom, which won the company three “Best of NeoCon” awards, including one for its innovative Lichen Collection, a new modular plank carpet system that marries biophilic design (in perfect mimicry of natural forms and colors—bright greens, oranges, and rich grays that literally pop off the floor) and sustainability. Lichen became
68
september–october 2017
the first flooring product to earn the International Living Future Institute’s Living Product Challenge Petal Certification and has a net-positive impact on the environment and communities. Bandy says this collection is just one example of how Mohawk is leading the charge in merging inspiring design and green technology. “We were looking to create a beautiful design that also speaks to what designers are looking for, that has the color palettes people are resonating with, but at the same time doesn’t lose the sustainability value and how that is implemented as part of the process.” As vice president of sustainability, it’s been Bandy’s job to make sure that holistic approach becomes imbedded in what the company does, how they think, and how others think of them—as a company that isn’t just working to protect the Earth we have today, but one aspiring to make it better. “I like to say we are creating the type of flooring that makes Mother Nature smile,” he says. And in this marketplace, transparency is critical to that process. In addition to using the Declare Label on quite a few of their products, Mohawk is taking transparency to a whole new level, opening up both its products’ performance and its manufacturing processes to public scrutiny, gbdmagazine.com
FEATURES
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MOHAWK
VP of Sustainability George Bandy, Jr. takes a holistic approach at Mohawk.
including how the people who make their products are treated. “We want the people who make our products to be healthy and well, not just the products that come out,” Bandy says. From opening healthy life centers for employees to use to bringing in nurse practitioners to treat workers at their facilities, they’re betting on the idea that healthy workers make better products. “Our customers, especially the millennials, are asking for that type of transparency,” he says. This mindset also feeds back into their research and development in new ways. Bandy describes their R&D team like brothers and sisters, constantly challenging each other and feeding off every corner of the company, its many partners, and hundreds of products. “For example, we can learn something about stability from hard surfaces, we can learn something about acoustical value from soft surfaces, we can learn something from our residential brands about comfort. We talk to each other, not just across the platforms that you see, but in ways you don’t.” That system of cross-pollination has led to some revolutionary products, from products with an inherent acoustical inner layer construction that eliminates the need for underlayment, which gb&d
reduces cost and installation time, to a new form of enhanced resilient tile (formerly known as Luxury Vinyl Tile) that doesn’t contain vinyl or PVC, soon to be released.
TOWARD THE FUTURE
Beautiful designs and innovations aside, Mohawk’s focus on changing the conversation is one of their most unique aspects. “We are touching folks in a different way in order to create a mindset, plant a seed. That’s a little bit different than just talking about what we are able to accomplish.” Rather than “sticking our chest out,” Bandy says Mohawk is sharing and inviting customers, partners, and communities to become extensions of the Mohawk “Believe in Better” story. That includes the end-users of their products—real people. “We have begun to look beyond to see the person who catches the bus to work and has to be in that space. If we can create a space where you feel better inside than you did outside, where people are more innovative and creative at work than they are outside, that’s the goal,” Bandy says. “That’s where creativity is born.” gb&d september–october 2017
69
When it was time for Chicago’s big redevelopment project at Navy Pier, the experts turned to Unilock.
70
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
FEATURES
PERMEATING
G O O D
DESIGN UNILOCK PERMEABLE PAVERS GO WITH THE FLOW OF NATURE BY LETTING STORM WATER IN AND KEEPING HEAT OUT BY BRIAN BARTH
gb&d
september–october 2017
71
FEATURES
VERY TIME IT RAINS, ELAINE WILLIS SMILES. As
the director of commercial strategy for Unilock, North America’s premier manufacturer of concrete pavers, she takes satisfaction knowing she’s helping to make the planet a little more permeable each day. The company was a pioneer in designing paved surfaces that allow storm water to infiltrate back into the subgrade as it falls, unlike impervious concrete and asphalt surfaces that channel runoff into rivers and streams, creating a host of environmental issues and contributing to downstream flooding. It happens to be pouring when I reach Willis at the Toronto headquarters for Unilock. Again. For several years in a row, the city has seen above average rainfall, not unlike many other regions of the world in the age of climate change. Huge tracts of waterfront property on Lake Ontario have been submerged for over a month. “If we had more permeable surfaces we could greatly reduce some of the issues we’re having with storm water,” Willis says. “A lot of people don’t realize that permeable pavers don’t cost any more than traditional pavers.” She adds that the only real difference in a permeable paver, versus a traditional paver, is a larger joint size, which allows water to infiltrate without sacrificing the strength of the pavement.
THE POSSIBILITIES OF PERMEABLE Long used for patios and plazas, interlocking pavers are increasingly employed in parking lots, roadways, and other large-scale
72
september–october 2017
Institute of Architects and the American Library Association in 2016.
“Rather than looking at paving as just a piece of infrastructure, why not put in something that is both more functional, and beautiful, than ordinary paving?” McCauley says. “In the early days of permeable pavers, they were very utilitarian, not something that would complement a landscape architect’s design. But Unilock has been ahead of the game in pushing paver design to align with what landscape architects are doing today. We’ve specified their permeable pavers more than any other.” Chicago, like most large cities these days, requires on-site storm water capture as part of its building code. McCauley says there are a variety of ways to meet such requirements, though permeable pavers are often the most cost-effective approach for large paved surfaces. Many municipalities offer rebates and other incentives for permeable surfaces, making eco-friendly pavers an easy choice.
THE SUSTAINABLE SIDE Plus, there are other environmental benefits to be had. By choosing light-colored pavers, the heat gbdmagazine.com
PHOTOS, THIS SPREAD AND PREVIOUS: COURTESY OF UNILOCK
E
commercial applications. Installation is a bit more costly than asphalt or concrete, but they last longer and have lower maintenance costs, helping to recoup the investment over time. A study of a large permeable paver parking lot at the Morton Arboretum near Chicago, which sees 850,000 visitors annually, found that the $80 per square yard maintenance costs on asphalt were nearly double what it costs to maintain the pavers, leading to a break-even point of 23 years for the investment, which is less than half the lifespan of the pavers. The large permeable surface factored heavily in achieving SITES certification for the project. Porous pavement, which refers to pouring asphalt in a way that leaves the surface full of holes when it hardens (like igneous rock), is also an option for infiltrating storm water runoff. However, these products have a tendency to quickly become clogged and cannot be readily cleaned out, defeating the purpose. Should permeable pavers become clogged and begin to lose their perviousness, the problem is easy to fix, Willis says. “You can often just vacuum out the clogged joint material and that takes care of it. At worst, you may have to pull up some of the pavers and replace the aggregate, but you are able to reuse the same paving stones. With pervious asphalt, you have to replace it entirely if it becomes clogged.” Of course when it comes to aesthetics, asphalt and concrete don’t hold a candle to the beauty and grace of pavers. Brad McCauley, a managing principal at the Chicago-based landscape architecture firm Site Design Group, has been specifying Unilock permeable pavers on his projects for more than a decade. The firm has more than 100 LEED-certified projects under its belt, and he says almost all of those have a permeable paver component, including the Chinatown Branch of the Chicago Public Library, which won the Library Building Award from the American
FEATURES
Unilock’s permeable pavers have been used as solutions at major universities, libraries, and even the UN headquarters in New York.
absorption of the surface is vastly reduced, helping designers meet LEED’s solar reflectance index (SRI) requirements and diminishing the urban heat island effect. Unilock also offers custom manufacturing for large installations, which enables locally sourced waste products to be recycled as a part of the paver mix—ingredients known as supplementary cementitious materials. At Chicago’s Navy Pier redevelopment, a SITES-certified project designed by James Corner Field Operations, Unilock used copper slag for 30% of the concrete paver mix. And when the United Nations headquarters in New York was renovated recently, the window glass was ground up into a pozzolan and repurposed as 20% of the mix for the Unilock permeable pavers specified by the design firm di Domenico + Partners. “Recycling, reducing the heat island effect, and recharging local aquifers, all with a product that is infinitely more appealing than black asphalt—what’s not to like about that?” McCauley asks. “We’re always working to be good stewards of the land, and permeable pavers are a big help with that.” gb&d
gb&d
THE GLOSSARY PERMEABLE PAVER Pavers with a larger gap size that allows water to infiltrate. Unilock Eco-Promenade™ permeable pavers have a 7mm gap size.
SOLAR REFLECTANCE INDEX (SRI) A measure of a surface’s ability to reflect heat from the sun. LEED standards require a minimum SRI of 29.
SUPPLEMENTARY CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS (SCM) Waste products or natural materials used as an admixture in concrete. SCMs such as fly ash, blast furnace slag, and ground glass are options to increase the recycled content of pavers.
september–october 2017
73
FEATURES
B Y A S H W I N J A G A N N AT H A N
74
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
FEATURES
W EAT H E R T HE NUDURA’s insulated concrete forms are resilient, versatile, and energy efficient.
gb&d
september–october 2017
75
FEATURES
NUDURA’s ICFs opened up a world of possibility for the Augustus Plaza in Fort Worth.
AS NATURAL DISASTERS BECOME BOTH MORE COMMON AND MORE EXTREME, CREATING BUILDINGS THAT ARE CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING A SERIOUS ONSLAUGHT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
76
september–october 2017
PHOTOS, THIS SPREAD AND PREVIOUS: COURTESY OF NUDURA
Among the most resilient materials available now are NUDURA’s insulated concrete forms (ICFs). And they’re not just resilient—they also offer a wealth of other benefits for prospective builders. For starters, ICFs have been proven to survive even the most hellacious conditions. “ICFs won’t allow two-by-fours to go through them at 300 miles per hour,” says Ken Taft, an architect with Bobby Cox Companies, who’s worked with NUDURA’s ICFs on projects like constructing the Augustus Plaza in Fort Worth, Texas. Some of the ICFs’ many benefits were illustrated in this project, proving that they are both adaptable and cut down considerably on building time—and they save money as a result. Because the ICFs are liquid to start and solid when they finish, they can be molded into an array of shapes. “The form is adaptable: curves, slopes, and anything else, you can do in construction. Different forms have been tested,” Taft says. That means that aesthetic appeal doesn’t have to be sacrificed in order to achieve energy efficiency. The Augustus Plaza building in its finished state offers clear proof of that idea. Its exterior takes a stylishly angular approach, with a sideways-pyramid shape jutting out of its front section and jagged edges along its sides. “NUDURA doesn’t have any less aesthetic appeal than any other product,” Taft says. “You can do anything you want with it. You can cantilever it and make any shape you want to.” In addition to their flexibility, ICFs also let architects easily add striking exteriors, which paid off handsomely in the Augustus Plaza construction. “Using [the ICFs] allowed us to be innovative in how we put our exterior material on, which is a granite-clad system. The structure was built with the NUDURA ICFs. Not only the exterior, but the interior as well. It gave us our insulation, our structure, and our studs,” Taft says. gbdmagazine.com
FEATURES
gb&d
september–october 2017
77
FEATURES
SAVING TIME AND MONEY
In addition to the visually appealing sheen they offer with the added granite exterior, NUDURA’s ICFs addressed budgetary concerns by reducing the amount of time needed for construction. “If you can cut two weeks on a four-month project, which the ICFs allowed us to do, that’s pretty significant,” Taft says. He says if it weren’t for a malfunction with installing the elevators— an error completely unrelated to NUDURA’s products—the Augustus project would’ve taken even less time to complete.
BUT WHAT MAKES ICFS DIFFERENT, REALLY?
Structures with ICFs are protected against all but the most inconceivable tornadoes and hurricanes, whereas structures made with wood would be decimated under the same conditions. Even for those who live in areas not frequently affected by extreme weather, having ICFs offers peace of mind— and built-in resistance—should a severe storm hit. ICFs differ from regular concrete in that, as their name implies, they’re a forming system for monolithically poured concrete. Unlike concrete, ICFs lack seams at their corners—they allow concrete to flow from one corner to another. The form itself stays in place and creates insulation, which distributes NUDURA’s ICFs. Concrete, of course, has a well-deserved reputation for sturdiness, but ICFs take that even further, as evidenced by many recent building projects in which they prove to offer unparallelled energy efficiency, adaptability, and longevity. “Concrete is concrete. It’ll be around for 100 to 200 years, whereas wood will be replaced after 35 to 50 years,” Taft says. That staying power means ICFs offer an unbeatable return on investment. In fact, they usually pay for themselves in energy savings after about a year. “They may cost more upfront, but they’re worth it,” Taft says.
WHERE DO THE SAVINGS COME FROM?
Those energy savings come from a variety of sources, according to Cameron Ware of Futurestone. The walls of a structure account for as much as 16 to 18% of its thermal envelope. That might not seem like much, but it can make a significant impact on a building’s overall energy output—ICFs ensure this energy doesn’t leak out into surrounding areas. These savings make ICFs a leading force in helping structures become net-zero energy buildings. The ICFs’ insulating effect works similarly to how cave walls work. “If it’s 100 degrees
78
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
FEATURES
ICFs help keep buildings comfortable in temperature.
gb&d
september–october 2017
79
FEATURES
“This is where architects and contractors need to be. ” NUDURA’s ICFS represent the future of building materials.
80
september–october 2017
outside, it’ll feel cool in the cave,” Ware says. “Come back to the same cave in the winter, and it’ll feel warm in relation. ICFs behave in a similar way.” So ICFs can easily help building owners achieve significant reductions in heating and cooling costs. Taft also says ICFs’ impact on the thermal envelope is huge. “You can cut down on your air conditioning requirements,” he says. “And when you have the mass of the concrete, the heat doesn’t travel as much.” Compared with wood and other alternatives, the difference is stark. “Wood isn’t an insulator,” Taft says. “A one-to-two inch layer of foam won’t cut it either. It takes 5 to 6 inches of a good insulator to meet building codes now.” Simply put, “You can’t build a wood structure and meet the codes,” he says. Ware says that while other aspects of building structures have increased their energy efficiency by leaps and bounds, walls have lagged behind. He points to windows with unheard of R-values, but says the “[builders] have ignored the walls. Walls have become a weaker and weaker link.” And, he says, a building is only as energy efficient as its weakest link. As a result of this neglect, “the impact of walls is greater because everything else has improved.”
EVEN MORE BENEFITS And the NUDURA ICFs have other features that are unique. Unlike its competitors, for example, the NUDURA ICFs are a collapsible-type block. In practice, that means builders can get twice as much storage space out of the ICFs, or they can fit twice as much of the products in their trucks, which can help to save transport trips, Taft says. For Taft and architects like him, there’s no question that NUDURA’s ICFs represent the future of energy-efficient building materials. “This is where architects and contractors need to be. You take one product and it replaces about four others when you talk about [the ICFs’] insulation, studs, and structure,” he says. Moreover, making the switch to these building materials wasn’t as challenging as one might expect, even if the upfront costs were higher than some competitors. While some architects may be set in their ways, Taft is confident NUDURA’s ICFs can convince them of their advantages the way they did for him. “It wasn’t difficult for me to adapt. Once you realize how good a product is for your client, you make it work.” gb&d gbdmagazine.com
PHOTOS, THIS SPREAD AND PREVIOUS: COURTESY OF NUDURA
GREEN BUILDINGFEATURES & DESIGN
Up Front Typology Inner Workings Features Spaces Punch List
gb&d
84 Heron Hall
Jason McLennan’s house is a beautiful example of a living building.
88 NorthEdge
Design and community combine in Seattle.
90 Bates College Advanced Technology Center
In Tacoma, this center of learning embraces coworking and technology.
september spetember–october 2017
81
SPACES SEATTLE
GREENER BUILDING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
S
EATTLE’S M O ST N O TAB L E
and visible feature may be its iconic Space Needle. But as Seattleites will tell you, building cranes are quickly taking up the negative space between skyscrapers and mountain views. Seattle is growing fast, thanks to tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. But this Pacific Northwest city has long been known for a certain ethos of sustainability. Even with an exaggerated building rush, that ethos of responsible living remains. Here, single-stream city recycling is as accepted as a public water utility. Now residents can even compost through city services. Responsible residents bike to work along the meandering Burke-Gilman Trail, which winds riders through waterfront vistas. A lush public park system extends deep throughout the city. The “Seattle box,” a variant of the American craftsman style, has evolved into a new style—still boxxy, but also ultra modern and super efficient. And in April 2017, the city released its environmental progress reporting, showing that more Seattlites are riding transit, buying from local farmers, conserving more energy, and cutting the amount of waste going to landfills. It seems Seattle’s residents recognize the unique qualities of their home on the Puget Sound. Here, when it’s not raining, visitors find breathtaking water and mountain views at every turn. Through green building and design, this town is doing everything in its power to sustain those qualities. W R I T T E N B Y K AT E G R I F F I T H
82
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
SPACES
gb&d
september–october 2017
83
SPACES SEATTLE
84
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
SPACES
HERON HALL PHOTOS BY DANIEL BANKO
How One Green Building Superstar Created His Own Family’s Nest
gb&d
s
the board of the International Living In the cool beauty of the Pacific Northwest, Bainbridge Island is an Future Institute, CEO of McLennan oasis within an oasis. The Seattle Design, and as an award-winning bedroom community, dubbed by architect and author, McLennan is no some the Nantucket of Washington, stranger to the tenants of green buildis one of the last spaces within uling and design. In 2012 he received the Buckminster Fuller Challenge tra-tech Greater Seattle where a naAward and just last year received an ture lover can get back to the land. Chicken coops reign, deer roam free, Award of Excellence from Engineering News-Record magazine. salmon jump with wanton abandon, With so many accolades under and eagles occasionally dive-bomb his belt, McLennan didn’t take the duck ponds. design of his family’s sanctuary When green building superstar lightly. After a couple years of planJason McLennan, while walking a patch of the island that would ning, McLennan broke ground on become a piece de resistance de his family home. Dubbed Heron Hall, sustainability, found himself visited the space has drawn the attention of first by a crow, then by a frog, and designers, sustainability gurus, and finally by a heron, he knew he was locals since its 2-foot earthen walls home. Natural flora and fauna were first rammed. abounds, thanks to the site’s posiThe 3,200-square-foot home intion on the sunny southern portion corporates the community tenants of Bainbridge and a previous landof open living spaces, swaths of natural light, and rooms designed owner’s dedication to watershed to nurture connection and family. restoration. “I really loved the idea “The kids’ bedrooms open up into of being part of a development area that has been made better by people, the family room directly. I really wanted to encourage sibling connecas opposed to being made worse,” McLennan says. “I’m delighted to be tions and family connections. There part of that.” are different spaces, but they’re He was delighted, too, to have the all open to each other.” Small opportunity to build a home for his bedrooms encourage McLennan’s family of five while showcasing the three younger children to spend principles of sustainable building he time in a shared family room. Tiny advocates for every day. As chair of openings between bedrooms foster
Jason McLennan’s Bainbridge Island house is a knockout example of a living home.
september–october 2017 JONNU SINGLETON
85
s
SPACES SEATTLE
Interior siding from local cottonwoods plus countless other green features are encountered at every turn inside Heron Hall.
page 66, See Mohawk, carpet. is th for more on
the Wes Anderson-ian vision of idyllic childhood antics. Outside, acres of Pacific Northwest scenery and a convenient walking distance to the local pool have created a South Bainbridge neighborhood kids’ hub. “That’s been kind of fun,” McLennan laughs. “We love the whole house. We use the whole house as we thought we would.” That’s good news for a building that’s well on its way to becoming a certified residential Living Building—a standard of sustainability more rigorous than LEED and developed by McLennan and the Cascadia Green Building Council. The Living Building Challenge is based on more than
86
september–october 2017
specs. A space must demonstraate performance within seven sustainability areas, including water, energy, and materials, through 12 consecutive months of evaluation. To that end: The home combines on-site construction with salvaged items. The double-height living space is structured by insulated rammed earth walls and south facing glass doors for energy efficiency and thermal mass. Upper level exterior walls feature the Japanese charred wood finish Yakisugi. Instead of drywall, the home has interior siding fashioned from the cottonwoods taken down at the building site (incidentally, cotton-
woods were the only trees that had to be removed) and local Forest Stewardship Council–certified wood products. As a living building, it features composting toilets and a green roof system. A system of 10kW photovoltaic panels keeps the house and the family’s cars fully charged. The rainwater-only home uses a 15,000-gallon cistern for daily home water use and a 4-foot-deep agricultural cistern for landscaping and gardening. Materials and decorative elements are mostly local and mostly salvaged. McLennan, wife Tracy, and three of four children—the fourth is living up his young adult years in Seattle gbdmagazine.com
SPACES
A LIST OF RESOURCES PHOENIX COMPOSTING
FREDERICKSON ELECTRIC
BIG ASS FAN COMPANY
RAINBANK RAINWATER SYSTEMS
COLUMBIA GREEN
PROSOCO
KNAUF INSULATION SOLARWORLD SIREWALL SOLAR DESIGN ASSOCIATES
gb&d
JELD-WEN NEIL KELLEY CABINETS SUSTAINABLE NW WOOD COYOTE WOODWORKS
proper—transplanted to Heron Hall in May. The family is still putting the finishing touches on their home, including landscaping. McLennan says he wants to go for Living Building certification when the family is more acclimated, and then to address each of the certification tenants in stages. Meanwhile, tours of Heron Hall, which numbered in the hundreds as construction was under way, have petered off, by design, as the family settles in. “I’m happy with how people seem to respond to the house from all walks of life, whether
they’re into sustainability or not,” McLennan says. “And that’s part of the goal: You can do stuff like super efficiency and composting toilets and it can still be really beautiful. It’s not weird. People can see it can be better. That’s part of the educational goal of the house.” Meanwhile, the family is enjoying the sun and cool breezes of Seattle summer and fall from their porch, where herons strut their graceful bodies and, occasionally, eagles feel the need to terrorize the ducks. No worries, McLennan assures, the mama ducks are savvy. gb&d september–october 2017
87
SPACES SEATTLE
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Using Design to Integrate Technology and Community at NorthEdge
88
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
SPACES
s
In 2013, a brownfield sat, perched on a hill, adjacent to sparkling waters overlooking a perfect view of the Seattle skyline. This derelict service yard separated the cozy homes of Seattle’s Fremont and Wallingford neighborhoods from Lake Union, where, on sunny days, boaters, paddleboarders, kayakers, and seaplane pilots revel in an aquatic playground. “There were a couple of abandoned structures on the site,” recalls Erik Mott, design principal at Perkins + Will in Seattle. “They were some sort of public works, industrial low-rise buildings. It was definitely in need of something different—it was an eyesore in the community.” Four years later, the space has been transformed into a showcase of a new Seattle, one that marries neighborhoods with technology, growth, and aesthetics. Dubbed NorthEdge, it is home to a 208,000-square-foot technology office space and leading data visualization company, Tableau. The building stretches a full city block, while incorporating design tenets of maximized natural light, outdoor spaces, and large, continuous floorplates offering a variety of experiences. It’s designed as a single four-story building organized around a 38-square-foot outdoor courtyard. “Taking a Completed in 2016, block and developing Seattle’s NorthEdge a courtyard type of combines natural building that can be light, outdoor spaces, experienced either as and continuous two separate buildings floorplates for a or as a single building creative, communal feeling. gave us the opportunity to create a sense of a campus,” Mott says. The simultaneous experience of being in one place and in several different places creates identity on multiple levels, he adds, for building tenants and the community alike. Perhaps most importantly for NorthEdge neighbors, the building’s standout design still blends in. Extensive glass walls create a transparent lobby space, allowing
gb&d
PHOTOS, NORTHEDGE: LARA SWIMMER. AERIAL: TIM RICE
pedestrians to see directly through the building to the lake below. The central terrace provides another view of Seattle’s in-demand waterfront. To further blend with the community, designers took inspiration from the nearby Gas Works Park, a beloved local park that stands as a monument and museum to Seattle’s industrial past. “Gas Works is this very iconic place, and it was created as a public park in the mid-60s and ’70s from a formerly industrial facility,” Mott says. “The idea of reclaiming land used for an industrial purpose was, conceptually, something we wanted to build on. There was an opportunity to create a public space, a place for a community to have an identity and to experience the water’s edge.” Materially, that expression took the form of weathered steel, concrete, and glass. NorthEdge was originally configured as a research space, but as the design process played out over quite a few years, the development plan changed. “The objective changed to a workplace office environment, so we adapted the building structure, floor heights, and systems of the building to meet a very forward-looking workspace,” Mott says. LEED Silver–certified, the building’s amenities include easy access to public and alternative transportation. Kayak and bike storage allow tenants to take advantage of their proximity to Lake Union and the Burke-Gilman Trail, a bike path connecting much of the city. What’s perhaps most exciting in terms of sustainability, however, was the redevelopment of the site around water and water management. The building itself is stacked along the grade of its hillslope. “And that hillside is a watershed with underground water heading to the lake. The water was dirty and had to be cleaned up,” Mott says. Maintaining the integrity of the watershed was an intensive part of the design process. The development’s LEED certification notes a continued focus on water use, with a 57% reduction in landscaping use and a 35% reduction in potable water use. “It was a very exciting building to work on and see constructed because of its unique approach in terms of organizing the mass of the building on the site,” Mott says. “It’s always great to work on a building with innovative and unique development goals.” gb&d september–october 2017
89
SPACES SEATTLE
The building links to existing facilities with a new entry courtyard and a cohesive material palette. Colors are used to identify key building features like the green broadcast studio.
s
ACCESS THROUGH DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY PHOTOS BY FRANCIS ZERA
90
september–october 2017
Visitors to the greater A D VA N C E D Seattle area, awed by the T E C H N O LO GY scope of the city’s growth, CENTER can sometimes forget the LOCATION: high-tech office spaces and TACOMA garden rooftops of new SIZE: apartment buildings aren’t 51,629 SQUARE FEET accessible to everyone. COMPLETION: As Seattle hurtles full DECEMBER 2015 speed into new economies ARCHITECT: and a building frenzy led by MCGRANAHAN green design, communities ARCHITECTS with little proximity to the COST: Microsofts and Amazons of $19,513,380 (PUBLICLY FUNDED) the world are increasingly left behind. But down the road in nearby Tacoma, a community college is paving the way for equal access with an award-winning technology center. Bates Technical College has three campuses around Tacoma. One, until recently, contained little more than the local news channel’s broadcast station, a parking lot, and some satellite dishes. “That campus straddles the Central Tacoma and Hilltop neighborhoods, which have struggled historically with economic and gang-related challenges,” explains Matt Lane of Tacoma’s McGranahan Architects. “The college wanted to address those issues and serve traditionally underserved populations in the area—to not only have a community hub, but to encourage STEM education.” But for students to even want to attend classes there, the college needed a facility that would be flexible, dynamic, and exciting. That’s where Lane and his project team came in. Their design for the Bates College Advanced Technology Center recently received honorable mention by AIA Seattle’s Honor Awards. “You walk into the building and you can see the technology on display,” Lane says. “We exposed a lot of the systems in the building, even the server rooms, which are usually put into closets. You see how students are working in programs and how the building itself works. The college calls it ‘pulling back the technological curtain.’ When they bring young people into the building they get really excited.” The building is structured around the existing brutalist structure of the broadcast studio, which continues to have an integral partnership with the school through a broadcast lab. But inside, systems are flexible enough to fit with the ever-changing needs of a community college whose offerings must change with the needs of its students and the local markets. The school de-demarcates the boundaries of academia, allowing more interaction between students, teachers, and staff. Floor plans offer customizable event spaces used by both the college and the surrounding commugbdmagazine.com
SPACES
gb&d
september–october 2017
91
SPACES VANCOUVER
“
The building is more about being a community hub and fostering community connections.
92
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
SPACES
gb&d
september–october 2017
93
SPACES SEATTLE
s
Ground level and rooftop outdoor spaces encourage outdoor learning and social gathering.
nity. Swaths of natural light pour in from the concrete and glass facades, which offer sweeping views of Mount Rainier, a natural inspiration if ever there was one. “The U Tube Cube is the first thing you see when you walk in,” Lane says of an entry wrap and presentation space. “It has a lot of different screens throughout, so the digital media projects the students are working on can be displayed.” There, a sustainability kiosk also shows the energy use of the building: A green roof, which acts as a faculty lounge space, captures rainwater runoff, while a ground source heat exchanger and heat recovery from the server tower offer massive energy savings. McGranahan estimates a 35% reduction in energy use, a savings of nearly $25,000. Thanks to irrigation
94
september–october 2017
and domestic water use reduction features, hundreds of gallons of water are saved each year. While the building is LEED Gold–certified, Lane says that’s not what’s most special about the building. “It’s not like the energy savings or sustainability features are front and center. They’re integral to the building and they’re definitely helping its energy performance, but they’re integral to the design. They’re not super expressive,” he explains. “The building is more about being a community hub and fostering community connections.” One year after opening, Campus Dean Josh Clearman says enrollment has increased by more than 30%, thanks in part to the center’s design. Open floor plans with peaceful corridors and spaces like a transparent student lounge nurture co-learning, inclusivity, and technology. “A key component to student persistence in education is a sense of community, and this building design fosters that sense of community,” he says. gb&d
gbdmagazine.com
GREEN BUILDING & DESIGN
Up Front Typology Inner Workings Features Spaces Punch List
gb&d
96 WSLA Insights
The CEO of the Sustainable Performance Institute looks at the keys to success.
97 Material Transparency Today
What do you need to know before selecting your next project’s materials?
98 Person of Interest
Environmentalist and author Paul Hawken shares some big ideas.
100 Lessons Learned
MIT’s Skylar Tibbits shares a bit about what he’s been working on in the Self-Assembly Lab.
102 In the Lab
Emergy Labs works with Argonne National Laboratory to get a new sustainable material out into the world.
september–october 2017
95
PUNCH LIST WSLA INSIGHTS
Real Innovation isn’t Simply Technology How does your firm stack up when it comes to these characteristics of success?
2015 WSLA WINNER
Barbra Batshalom Executive Director, Sustainable Performance Institute
Many green building articles are about technologies, design strategies, and the sexy innovations of both. My personal obsession is to focus on how organizations evolve a culture of innovation so the best technologies and strategies are deployed consistently across a firm’s portfolio. To put it simply, I focus more on the “how” and less on the “what.” When you think of sustainability, you think solar panels, green roofs, cork flooring, bamboo—hightech clean energy and low tech, clean and regenerative products—but experts know 90% of true sustainability lies in the decision-making that achieves optimized building systems integration. Rating systems have gotten practitioners thinking about specific criteria, but they haven’t succeeded in influencing the culture of design firms or the methodology for project
96
september–october 2017
delivery that allows innovation and integration to happen consistently. Architecture 2030 and the AIA 2030 Commitment have been the catalysts challenging firms to think about how, as organizations, they need to shift culture and practice to align with the outcomes of a healthy, net positive future. My passion lies at the intersection of technology, systems, process, and culture. My background in architecture and social psychology gives me a unique perspective engaging the human dynamics of decision-making and creative collaboration in technical work. This focus feels especially timely now that we understand that the answer is not technology, but practice—and the only way we can truly achieve sustainability goals is to transform professional practice. Many “green” firms have achieved “random acts of sustainability.” They have exemplary projects in their portfolio and awards, but the bulk of their work doesn’t replicate those successes. The ability to achieve these best practices is not yet in the DNA of the firm or its project delivery methodology. Since 1998, my focus has been on figuring out what the ingredients are to transform traditional practice to one that can truly deliver consistent, high-quality sustainability services. Over the past two decades, we have developed frameworks and methodologies that have helped many firms achieve this transformation. One of the most important actions a firm can take is to focus on its delivery process and “re-design” it to align
with sustainability goals. This exercise gives firms a chance to deconstruct what they do on a daily basis, understand the barriers, and re-engineer solutions that improve the value of their work. From working with hundreds of firms over the last 19 years, we’ve developed the SMARTsustainability™ Framework, which outlines the characteristics of success. The five categories of that framework are below. How does your firm stack up?
1
LEADERSHIP, STRATEGY, AND CULTURE. Does your
firm have a leadership commitment to sustainability, a vision, and goals that translate the vision into actions, expectations, and accountability? Have you developed an effective change management plan that creates buy-in?
2
COLLABORATION AND TEAMWORK. Has your
firm articulated expectations for consultants? Is your project delivery process aligned with your performance goals, and are your consultants engaged appropriately? Do you build teams and learn from your experiences?
3
PROJECT DELIVERY. Have
you developed a firmspecific project delivery methodology? Does everyone have a shared understanding of how you consistently achieve excellence? Is every project driven by clear performance goals and (internally driven) best practices? Is your delivery methodology supported by QA/QC? Are team leaders accountable for performance?
Are the right tools and analysis used at the right time?
4
INFRASTRUCTURE & SUPPORT SYSTEMS. Are
project-specific activities supported by organizational resources and management? Are HR, marketing, professional development, new employee onboarding, knowledge management, office operations, IT, and communications aligned with sustainability goals to support desired outcomes? Is the firm’s culture aligned with goals through these organizational elements?
5
IMPACTS & OUTCOMES.
Does the firm measure and track portfolio-wide performance and learn from the data to continuously improve project outcomes? Does your firm “walk the talk” and behave consistently with sustainability goals? Does the firm engage with social impacts to make a positive impact?
Barbra Batshalom is the executive director of the Sustainable Performance Institute. She is a social entrepreneur, educator, and change agent working with a variety of organizations to help them institutionalize sustainability and achieve measurable improvements in performance and profitability. With a diverse background of fine arts, social psychology, and 20-plus years in architecture and sustainability consulting, she brings a variety of skills to her work and a unique perspective engaging the human dynamics of decision-making and creative collaboration to technical work.
gbdmagazine.com
PUNCH LIST
Material Transparency Today Clients count on architects to make the right choices
Anne Hicks Harney Founder, Long Green Specs
tects followed the coverage of the Grenfell Tower fire in the U.K. recently. These types of tragedies are devastating, and American architects work hard to assure that a similar event won’t happen here. In the U.S., most jurisdictions have adopted the International Building Code that has restrictions on cladding, and the requirement that cladding systems meet the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 285. This is a basic requirement that building cladding systems will be non-combustible.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF VANDUSEN
WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?
Architects design buildings. A critical piece of the design process is selecting our material palette. A key part of the design of a high-performing building is the selection of high-performing materials. Architects own material decisions for a majority of the building products used to construct buildings. And our clients depend upon us to make responsible material selections. Building product selection is a complicated business. We balance many criteria when selecting materials. Materials must at minimum meet performance requirements, comply with budget restrictions, and conform to aesthetic goals or guidelines. They also need to meet maintenance requirements and follow code requirements regarding the health, safety, and welfare of the building occupants. Performance metrics typically come first—the roof needs to keep the water out, the floor needs to be durable. But health/safety/welfare concerns are critical, too. Many archigb&d
We are familiar with flammability, but what other dangers lurk? And what other selection criteria can influence our building product selections? In the last few years, the concept of material transparency— understanding the environmental and health impacts of materials—has gained interest and traction in the American market, but unlike flammability issues, no regulations are pending to help architects navigate these waters. We need to find our way using the tools that already exist. Material transparency is about gaining a full understanding of what a material is made of. When we talk about transparency, we think in terms of two impact categories— environmental and health: • Environmental impacts are about negative impacts to our earth and environment. These are disclosed in three categories: Atmosphere, water, and earth. Under atmosphere, the primary impact is global warming potential and embodied carbon. Embodied carbon is the carbon
dioxide emitted during the extraction, manufacturing, construction, use, and endof-life phase of a product’s
tects such as myself have been requesting this information from manufacturers for years. There are many CSI categories
“Everything in our environment has the potential to get inside of us.” lifespan. A material with a lower embodied carbon has a lesser effect on the health of our planet. • Health impacts are all about understanding what ingredients are in our building products and minimizing the use of toxic ingredients. According to Michael Braungart, close to 50% of the chemicals found in mother’s milk are sourced from building materials. Everything in our environment has the potential to get inside of us (and be passed on to our children), and it is because of this basic fact that we need to be vigilant about the building materials that we use. If we’re going to improve the environments we design, the critical first step is disclosure and demanding manufacturers tell us what is in the products we’re using. Many tools already exist to find this information, from EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) to HPDs (Health Product Declarations). MAKE THE ASK
I want to stress the importance of making the ask. The market is being saturated with declaration documents because archi-
that now have high-performing product choices that all have declaration documents. Once that happens in a category, no architect needs to settle for specifying a product that doesn’t have information disclosed. Manufacturers understand that—there is nothing like market pressure to make real change. If architects stop specifying lesser materials, they will be dropped from the marketplace. That is what we need to do to improve the environment in which we live. We owe to ourselves to improve our environment.
Anne Hicks Harney has more than 30 years of experience, with an emphasis on providing high-quality design imbued with a solid technical foundation and a sustainable emphasis. As the founder of Long Green Specs, she provides sustainability focused construction specifications and building science expertise to architectural firms across the country. She is the chair of the AIA Materials Knowledge Working Group and has been a member of the USGBC Materials & Resources Technical Advisory Group since 2014. In 2016, Harney was elected to the AIA College of Fellows and was named a LEED Fellow by the USGBC.
september–october 2017
97
PUNCH LIST
Person of Interest Paul Hawken The recently published Drawdown is the culmination of that effort. The book describes and measures the potential impact of 100 solutions that could reverse the buildup of atmospheric carbon—i.e., reverse global warming—within three decades. Environmental author and activist Paul Hawken is at the helm of this ambitious project. He spoke with gb&d about how to mobilize people, why words matter—and why climate change is a gift. gb&d: Drawdown argues that “the only goal that makes sense for humanity is to reverse global warming.” How did the research lead you to this conclusion?
“Climate change is a gift, not a curse.” Interview by Margaret Poe
Our globe is warming—that’s an indisputable fact. What’s not so obvious is this: What do we do about it? Researchers across the world are at work on solutions. But which solutions work? How do they all fit together? And can they make a big enough impact, in time? These are some of the questions addressed by the Project Drawdown team, a coalition of more than 200 scientists, economists, analysts, activists, and experts who have rigorously studied the efforts already under way to address global warming.
98
september–october 2017
Hawken: It is the other way around: The conclusion led me to the research. I would not say reversal is something we at Project Drawdown argue for. The need to do so is evident for the past three decades in every shred of science about the soaring levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Current and predicted future levels of greenhouse gases cannot sustain a world of 7-10 billion people. In the 2 million-year history of our genus Homo, we have never existed at levels above 300 ppm until 1940. The previous time levels of carbon dioxide reached 285 ppm was 125,000 years ago in the Eemian Period and hippopotami and crocodiles were lounging in the Thames River Delta, a wetland that extended far across the eastern plains of Kent and Essex. Counting 40 other types of greenhouse gases, including methane, hydroflourocarbons, nitrous oxide, the carbon dioxide equivalent levels in the atmosphere exceed 480 pm at this writing.
sense, especially in a world where there are lists and rankings for virtually everything. We know the 100 richest people in the world, in detail, but we had not identified and modeled the 100 most substantive solutions to reversing global warming and saving civilization. Not sure what that says. gb&d: From its language to the focus on evidence-driven results, the book takes a positive approach, free of much of the gloom and doom you find in other works about global warming. Why did you take this approach? Hawken: The “doom” part, the impending threat heralded by the rate of climate change, is impeccable science, no question about that. In my estimation, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is humanity’s greatest collective scientific achievement. However, communication that emphasizes disaster and doom, and how impacts are getting worse faster, does not mobilize people. It makes people numb. IPCC science is a brilliant problem statement. Got it. So let’s focus on solving the problem, especially given the long odds, rather than restating the problem over and over. gb&d: Why is it important to present climate solutions in language that’s jargon-free and accessible to the broadest possible audience? Hawken: I think your question is a precise statement. It is important to present climate solutions in jargonfree and accessible language so that it can reach the broadest possible audience.
gb&d: Drawdown is presented as the most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming. Why didn’t anyone create this type of roadmap until now?
gb&d: What is the most important takeaway you want readers to gain from Drawdown?
Hawken: I ask myself that question at least once a day. It does not make
Hawken: That we should move from reduction to reversal in our thinking; gbdmagazine.com
PUNCH LIST
that reversal is possible; that climate change is a gift, not a curse; that it is feedback from the planet and any system that ignores feedback perishes; that it is an invitation and opening to create a far better world than the one we live in now. That is five takeaways, all interconnected. gb&d: The book says distributed energy storage may be the “transformation that transforms the energy industry.” Can you elaborate on why storage developments are so essential to reversing global warming? Hawken: Both wind and solar energy are variable. Storage allows energy to be captured when available and utilized when needed. It replaces the need for baseload power—electrical generation currently being supplied by coal, gas, and nuclear. It would obviate the need for electric grids in many regions and countries and bring energy to more people faster. gb&d: Given that buildings account for more than 40% of total U.S. energy consumption, they clearly play an essential role in reversing global warming. What is the most important thing for building professionals to do to reduce their impact? Hawken: The most important objective would be to drop the word reduce. Reducing, mitigation, and slowing have been the bywords for the climate movement for decades. LEED standards were a big breakthrough when they were first developed and applied. Today, given what we know, reducing reliance on carbon-based energy is a non-starter when it comes to climate change. It is basically Thelma and Louise in slow motion. Buildings should be net-zero energy, water, and waste at the very least. Given the work of architects Jason McLennan and Stefano Boeri, and biologist Janine Benyus, we are moving toward buildings that are like a forest, biodiverse cities that are rivers of gb&d
green, human habitation that is just as, if not more productive, than the ecosystem services provided by the native landscape we build on. I met an architect from a local firm at the Boston Society of Architects meeting last year who said his firm would only accept commissions for net-zero or netpositive buildings. When asked why, he said it would hurt their reputation if they did other types of buildings with lower standards. Architecture is changing fast. gb&d: Drawdown observes that food production is the leading cause of global warming. What can consumers do to learn about the effects of the food system on climate and work to reduce that impact? Hawken: There are many ways to stack the solutions and sectors and come up with the top causes and solutions, but we sort of eschew that. All solutions are critical as they are all part of a system. We ranked the carbon impact of the solutions because our goal was to measure them precisely. Food and food-related agriculture did top the electrical energy generation sector. The reason it took us nearly three years to measure and model the solutions is because they are intimately related and connected, and the system dynamics are fascinating. Two of the top five solutions are Reducing Food Waste and a Plant-Rich Diet. We did not see that coming. However, our job was to do the math, not predict. gb&d: The book notes that women and girls are disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of global warming— and pivotal to reversing it. How do the solutions in Drawdown transform the lives of women and girls?
ABOVE Drawdown looks at what could be done to reverse global warming.
world long had a bias that it is more beneficial to educate boys rather than girls. Why this was believed is another one of those questions that anthropologists may shed light on, but nothing could be more mistaken. Educated girls become women on their terms, they earn more, have fewer children, and are able to put more resources into their children. Girls forced into early marriage by their family, culture, or religion grow into womanhood on terms forced upon them and do not have access to family planning. They have on average fiveplus children, are more likely to be impoverished, and face greater health problems for themselves and their offspring. Women with an education that goes beyond 10th or 11th grade have an average of two children. They are problem solvers in the world, a precious resource that could mean the difference between 10.8 billion people on the planet in 2050—or 9.7 billion—according to the U.N. We are told climate change is a technological problem, and to be sure we need new technologies, but at its heart, reversing global warming is a cultural problem. We can drown the world in more scientific facts, but it will make little difference. We tried that, and look where we are in the U.S. Empowering girls and women is without question one of the most significant solutions the world can embrace. gb&d
Hawken: Every solution impacts both genders. The solution that impacts girls the most is education, supporting their ability to stay in school and get a high school degree or better. The september–october 2017
99
PUNCH LIST
Skylar Tibbits LESSONS LEARNED Interviewed by Shay Maunz
u Some things humans think they’re good at, they’re really not so good at. Like
construction. Sure, we’ve been building things for thousands of years, but it’s still difficult—we’re always running into physical limitations or time and budget constraints. “Buildings still take a lot of time and energy and money to put together, so we could get better at that,” says Skylar Tibbits, director of the SelfAssembly Lab at MIT. Tibbits’s research focuses on self-assembly, or the idea that, instead of the typical top-down approach to construction—somebody designs the thing, then figures out how to put it together—components could actually assemble themselves, without help from humans or machines. “It’s how our bodies and nature build things,” he says. “I’m interested in how we translate that to the human scale.” He also works on programmable materials, which are designed to change shape or properties on their own, taking cues only from their physical environment. u “It’s important to not be siloed into one discipline.”
Tibbits got his undergraduate degree in architecture, then immediately went to MIT to study computer science, design, and computation. All of that informs the work he does today. “If you get stuck in the legacy of your own work and the legacy of your own discipline, that constrains how you look at a problem.”
100
september–october 2017
“Everyone thinks we work on futuristic stuff, and in some ways we do. But we care about making the future real now. We’re looking at tomorrow and next week and trying to get stuff to work.” Director of the SelfAssembly Lab at MIT and editor-in-chief of 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing Journal
ask us to do a thing that is super mundane and boring. They come to us for the weird stuff, maybe because we built a brand around the weird stuff.” u It’s not about what you can imagine—it’s about what you can do. “Everyone thinks we
u A diverse team means more ideas. “I find it really useful
to have different perspectives, different skillsets, different venues to exhibit the work, different applications for the work—artistic applications and academic applications and commercial applications. They all afford different opportunities.” At the SelfAssembly Lab, the team includes architects and artists, computer scientists, and mechanical engineers. With so many different perspectives at hand, each problem could find a dozen different solutions. u Just because it’s not immediately useful, doesn’t mean it won’t be someday.
Everything Tibbits does falls on a spectrum—from the radical to the relevant. On one end are artsy, farout projects like the “Rock Print” installation, which used an algorithm to build a sculpture using nothing but filament and loose stones; it was installed at the Chicago Architecture Biennial in 2015. On the other are immediately useful things like programmable carbon fiber, which Airbus is already using in plane engines. It changes shape to improve aerodynamics depending on temperature and air speed, without complicated and expensive electronics. u If you make a name for yourself doing interesting work, you’ll get to do more interesting work. “We’re
pretty lucky because most people don’t come to us and
work on futuristic stuff, and in some ways we do. But we care about making the future real now. We’re looking at tomorrow and next week and trying to get stuff to work.” Sometimes the team at the Self-Assembly Lab does things just to prove they’re possible— like designing components that come together to form a cell phone when tumbled randomly in a machine (yes, they did that). And while some of Tibbits’s work might seem out there, it’s forming the basis of an emerging field. “It’s not just, what’s the craziest thing you can think of?” he says. “If we can’t make it happen, we don’t care about it.” u “My work is an endless search for what is interesting.”
When we think of a noble pursuit, we might expect someone to pick a big problem, and tackle it in a straightforward way. But with a field as new as self-assembly, it’s more about following every interesting lead to learn as much as you can. “It’s like an endless quest instead of working to reach some final goal.” u “In some ways what I do is like basic research, but it’s also super, super close to an artistic practice. If you go the
lab of some quantum physicist or mathematician, they’re working on some totally strange, totally irrelevant thing that they’re hoping to make relevant down the line—and it’s the same for artists. They all just wandered into some crazy thing that sucked them in for their whole career. I’m a blend of those two things.” gb&d gbdmagazine.com
PHOTO: COURTESY OF TED
PUNCH LIST
gb&d
september–october 2017
101
PUNCH LIST
Emergy can help reduce the chemical and energy industries’ operational costs by 25%—using less energy, less raw material, and less storage and shipping space, and requiring less maintenance.
102
september–october 2017
gbdmagazine.com
CARBON PUNCH LIST
In the Lab
Tyler Huggins and Justin Whiteley Emergy Labs Cofounders, Chicago, IL Written by Laura Rote Photography by Mark Lopez for Argonne National Laboratory
Lithium-ion batteries, air and water filtration, gold mining—the porous carbon grown by Emergy Labs can be used just about everywhere and can replace some very inefficient materials, it seems. Emergy, started in 2015 by then-University of Colorado Boulder students Tyler Huggins and Justin Whiteley, is now getting the help it needs from Argonne National Laboratory to get off the ground and into the market, where it can make
Q A gb&d
a real difference in a number of industries. “I don’t think people truly appreciate where a lot of these fundamental materials are derived from,” says Whiteley, chief technology officer for Emergy. Whiteley runs the company alongside its only other fulltime employee, CEO Huggins. He says people often wonder about coal power, asking why we’re still using the filthy resource. But coal isn’t just used for
gb&d: What drew you to this type of work? Huggins: I have always been passionate about sustainable development. Initially I started a land restoration company working on forest health improvement projects, but it seemed I was limited by a lack of experience and credentials. I felt I needed to go back to school and get a few more letters after my name before people would take me seriously. So I did, getting a master’s in sustainability engineering and a Ph.D. in environmental engineering. I was always looking for a technology I felt could help create a more sustainable society. I believe entrepreneurship guided by sustainable principles can have the greatest impact. The technology we’re working on now, I believe, has the right combination of advanced technology, practicality, and addressing a real need, to make it a success. Whiteley: Carbon materials haven’t changed really over the last 100 years. They remain derived off coal, wood, or coconut. They have locked intrinsic features. If you want to change them, you have to use energy intensive manufacturing processes. Since we have precision control over how the organism grows by
power. In fact, an extensive amount of materials comes from coal, including the majority of water filtration materials. “How about replacing some of these materials that are derived from coal?” he asks, noting the resource’s CO2 emissions. Through the Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI) startup program at Argonne, Emergy Labs is developing its sustainable carbon material in an effort to do just that. CRI sets out to
changing the organism and not the manufacturing process, we can actually grow a variety of materials for a whole suite of applications in a single facility using a single process line. gb&d: What inspired you to create a new material? Huggins: A lot of the inspiration behind this came from observing biological systems in nature. Biology has unmatched efficiency at the molecular level, with the ability to produce extremely sophisticated materials, unlike anything we can make in the lab, with little waste and energy. Nature has a billion years’ head start, and we can learn a lot about how to make stuff sustainably. But biological systems are inherently selfish, allocating energy and resources for self-preservation and reproduction. It is our goal at Emergy to harness natural processes but guide them into making materials used to solve problems in our society effectively. We are taking an engineered approach, which preserves the efficiencies intrinsic to biology but allows us to make much higher performing materials than you would get if you just went out and harvested naturally grown biomass.
september–october 2017
103
PUNCH LIST CARBON
gb&d: How do you hope this new material can be used?
provide a stronger bridge from great idea to marketplace—a path where, historically, most innovative ideas die due to a lack of investment and support. But how does it work? Emergy uses a filamentous organism to capture renewable and sustainable carbon from wastewater to grow fungus and create products like battery electrodes. Emergy’s carbon can replace that which comes from more intensive manufacturing processes from coal, coconut husks, or wood. “We don’t have to go out and harvest some natural resource or grow a whole field of coconuts to produce a material. We can produce this more simply and in a much more geographically diverse way—where we need it.” Rather than produce, say, tons of coconuts in Asia and then pay to ship them all over the world, we could produce a more sustainable material close to home. “That’s where we see ourselves. Producing more material where you need it,” Whiteley says. Huggins says the benefits are clear. “For industry, the processes become more efficient and use less resources. For society, we can greatly reduce the carbon footprint.” Huggins and Whiteley say they are fortunate to have won funding and support from Argonne, as they’re now in the midst of working with experts at the world-class lab to further test the abilities of the material and find commercial partners. We recently sat down with the innovators to find out what it all means—and what’s next.
HAVE A GENIUS IDEA? Apply to join the second Chain Reaction Innovations cohort and receive up to $350,000 in funds for use in R&D at Argonne National Laboratory by applying here: chainreaction.anl.gov/apply/
Huggins: Ultimately I hope to see it disrupt the activated carbon industry. Activated carbon is ubiquitous, used in almost every major industry of our economy, yet it is produced using unsustainable methods with little change in the last 70 years. If we can scale our production process, while maintaining our higher performance and lower cost, we will be able to provide a competitive alternative to conventional activated carbon that has significantly less impact on the environment. gb&d: At first you focused on batteries. What changed? Whiteley: We had a material that performed well as a lithium-ion battery anode, so we thought we’d start investigating the possible paths for commercialization by contacting battery manufacturers. We realized this path would be a tricky way for us to start. If you look at lithium-ion batteries, they’ve been using the same materials since 1991, and trying to convince them to take a risk and use a new material would be at least a 5- to 10year approach. So we pivoted and started looking at the strengths of our materials. gb&d: So where do you fit in? Whiteley: One avenue we’re pursuing is water filtration. Both of us recognize the extreme importance of clean water, and we would focus on targeting more specific components, such as lead. The metric for success in this case would be if we could make our carbon the premier material at removing some of the toughest components. One application we’re pursuing is in the gold mining industry. In gold mining, large amounts of activated carbon is used during the gold extraction process, and this carbon is completely derived from coconut shells—a resource-limited and geographically isolated material that needs to be shipped all over the world. We’re working with some commercial gold mining partners to test out our material, proving that this would indeed work better. It means higher gold recovery, greater efficiency and, if you step back and look at it overall, lower energy consumption per amount of gold recovery. gb&d: What has being part of the Argonne program meant for you? Huggins: First off, it was a highly competitive process with many talented
104
september–october 2017
participants and great ideas, so I am very honored to be accepted into the program. Being part of this program means I can continue the development and commercialization of a technology I believe can help make the world a slightly better place, which I would not be able to do otherwise. It’s not like we could max out our credit cards and move into our parents’ basements; it is just too complicated. Whiteley: It’s really invaluable. When we started to think about next steps for our company while still at Colorado, we were like, “We need to start a research lab.” That could cost a couple million dollars. Now we have lab space here that one of the scientists provided us. We have access to all the equipment. It allows us to work with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business—one of the best business schools in the world—who is helping us with business development. gb&d: What’s been most surprising? Huggins: That how good an idea is plays a very small part of what makes a technology successful. As I mentioned, activated carbon is used in a lot of major industries, some of the biggest, like energy and manufacturing. These industries are huge and slow moving, reluctant to try new things. The process of technology development takes time. Whiteley: When we first started we didn’t have a whole lot of commercialization expertise. We’d been working in the lab for so long—you get this idea that what you’re working on, because it’s so amazing and so great, why wouldn’t people want this? You start realizing that some of the things you think are most interesting, like the sustainable aspect of this new material, are the least interesting to the person who’s going to be buying the material. We found that in order to really get these new renewable sustainable solutions out there, you have to be able to far exceed the performance of what they already have—and it’s going to have to be the same price or less ... even if it is vastly outperforms it.” gb&d: What’s next? Whiteley: We are a quarter of the way in with the program (in July). We’ll be in the lab the rest of time. And we do still have access to these world-class labs after that (past the funding limit of two years). We fully intend to continue to research past that two-year timeframe. Next year, ideally we would like to set up a pilot plant. gb&d
gbdmagazine.com
PUNCH LIST
2017
women in sustainability leadership awards
THE WOMEN IN SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARDS WAS CREATED TO HONOR POWERFUL WOMEN THAT ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD BY IMPLEMENTING LASTING CHANGE. Visit gbdmagazine.com/WSLA to learn more.
gb&d
september march –october –april 2017
105
PUNCH LIST
Directory & Index
ADVERTISERS
C Centennial Woods, 24
S SMDI, 20
D Delta Airlines Club, 54
McGranahan Architects, 90
T Tableau, 89
centennialwoods.com
smdisteel.org
di Domenico + Partners, 75
McLennan Design, 84
Taft, Ken, 76
307.742.3672
412.922.2722
DLR Group, 55
McLennan, Jason, 84
T. Evans Wyckoff
Messer, Steve, 45
Memorial Bridge, 57
Tibbits, Skylar, 100
Duffy, Kent, 54 F Fabcon, 5
T Tarkett, Back Cover
fabcon-usa.com
tarkett.com
E Ebenroth, John, 60
Morris, Adam, 41
Trulaske, Bob, 60
800.727.4444
877.827.5388
Emergy Labs, 103
Trulaske, Steve, 60
EZ Mart Stores, 47
Mott, Erik, 89
G Greenbuild, 8
greenbuildexpo.com
truemfg.com
True Manufacturing, 56
H Hotel Eclat Beijing, 48
District, 57 Futurestone, 78
Green Scope Solutions, 38
Greenscope.biz
Morton Arboretum, 72 Mount Angel Abbey, 54
+ 86.10.8561.2888
K KE2 Therm Solutions, 42
U Unilock, 70
North American Passive
V Vayyar, 14
House Network Annual
VERGE, 16
unilock.com
G Google, 13
630.892.9191
Greenberg, Noah, 55
NorthEdge, 88
W Western Windows, 28
H Harney, Anne Hicks, 97
P Panelite, 55
westernwindowsystems.com
Hawken, Paul, 98
877.268.1300
Heron Hall, 84
PHIUS , 17
Hogin, David, 40
Philips Lighting, 40
Huggins, Tyler, 103
Pierce College, 55
Hynek, John, 41
Plantagon, 14
Conference, 17
L Lacey Glass, 52 laceyglass.com
W Ware, Cameron, 78 Washington, Darren, 47
ke2therm.com 636.266.0140
Colorado Boulder, 103
N Navy Pier, 70
eclathotels.com/beijing
U University of
F Federal Way School
800.325.6152
MIT Self-Assembly Lab, 100
PEOPLE & COMPANIES
I Integrated Design
A Architecture 2030, 96
Associates, 48
360.459.8411 Lanxess, 62
lanxess.us
Laboratory, 103
ARUP, 48
M Mohawk, 60 mohawkflooring.com
B Bandy Jr., George, 69
800.266.4295
Bates Technical College, 90
Bobby Cox Companies, 76
866.468.6299
International Airport, 54
Code, 20
The Six, 18
International Living
Solar Power International, 16
Future Institute, 70
Souza, Patricia, 66 Spal, Ed, 22 SRG Partnership, 54
Stillaguamish Indian
Treatment Plant, 54
K Kavanagh, Jeff, 43
Brooks + Scarpa, 18
Kliethermes, Ryan, 43
Z Zeutenhorst, Phil, 54
S Seattle-Tacoma
International Green Construction
nudura.com
Wong, George, 50
R Rush, Dale, 28
Operations, 75
Brandt, Kate, 12
Willis, Elaine, 70
Project Drawdown, 98
J James Corner Field
N NUDURA, 76
Whiteley, Justin, 103
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 98
Argonne National
Perkins + Will, 89
Cultural Center, 55
Brightwater Wastewater
Strategic Hotels & Resorts (SHR), 38
O Option One Energy, 38 optiononeenergy.com
C Cascadia Green Building
312.985.7987
Council, 86
106
L Lai, Oliver, 50 Lane, Matt, 90
Chain Reaction Innovations, 103
P PROSOCO, 94
Clearman, Josh, 94
M Mavraganes, Brian, 49
prosoco.com
Cranford, Ty, 28
McCauley, Brad, 72
800.255.4255
McGough, Cecilia, 66
september–october 2017
Crofutt, Monte, 47
INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING?
Contact Laura Heidenreich at laura@gbdmagazine.com for more information about advertising in our print magazine, tablet/mobile, web, and e-newsletter, as well as custom media.
gbdmagazine.com
S A V E
T H E
N O V E M B E R
D AT E
3 0 ,
2 0 1 7
T H E L U C K Y #13
GREEN GALA Featuring THE CHARITY CASINO & COCKTAIL HOUR GREEN GALA DINNER SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION AWARDS
USGBC-LA.ORG/EVENTS
F