edc
6.12. ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FOR THE LEED
速
PROFESSIONAL
Todd Evans LEED AP BD+C Project Architect Black & Veatch Corporation
“Having the LEED AP BD+C credential put my resumé at the top of the pile during my job search, and I was hired within a month. ” Learn how Todd’s LEED AP Building Design + Construction credential sets him apart at www.gbci.org/Todd. Reader Service No. 107 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
A WIDER PALETTE FOR HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS Introducing noraplan® sentica Developed by architects and designers, noraplan® sentica is what you’ve asked for in a new floor covering. With the durability and comfort of nora® flooring, noraplan sentica provides a subtle tone-on-tone design highlighted by an array of colors to complement any healing environment. While created mainly for healthcare applications, noraplan sentica works beautifully in a variety of settings and also provides a harmonious complement to noraplan environcare. Ask for samples today. ™
Follow us @noraflooring
www.nora.com/us/sentica-launch5
Reader Service No. 26 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
Let’s Talk About Specs, Baby
Nothing comes close to the quality of Big Ass Fans®, unless you happen to mention our exceptional service. Our experts will work with you to specify the appropriate fans for your project and certified installers make sure your clients receive perfect fans, every time. From the first phone call to the first spin, the Big Ass Fan Company has you covered.
The Big Ass Fans project consultant team offers free design support and assistance with CAD files, Revit files, layouts, specifications, technical documentation, budgeting and fan selection, while LEED ® Accredited Professionals can tell you how Big Ass Fans contribute to your building’s LEED credits.
Working on a project? Need assistance now? Call our specs hotline today to speak with a project consultant. 877-BIG-FANS | www.bigassfans.com/edc
An ISO 9001:2008 certified company. Covered by one or more of the following U.S. Patents: 6,244,821; 6,589,016; 6,817,835; 6,939,108; 7,252,478; 7,284,960;7,654,798; D587,799; D607,988 and other patents pending. ©2012 Delta T Corporation dba The Big Ass Fan Company. All rights reserved. Reader Service No. 138 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
We get it. With all that goes into designing a portfolio-worthy space, carpet fiber doesn’t top your list. But uncommon fiber can make your work look better, longer—and that’s worth caring about. Really. Meet the new Antron® brand at NeoCon, Booth #10-111.
Reader Service No. 39 www.EDCmag.com/webcard © 2012 INVISTA. All Rights Reserved. Antron® and the Antron® family of marks and logos are trademarks of INVISTA™.
WWW.EDCMAG.COM june.2012
vol.15
no.6
contents 20
24
IN EVERY ISSUE EDC Online
7 8
Editor’s Note New + Notable
10 32
LEED Pro Spotlight 35
CEU
20 INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS As the workforce expands to five generations, costs can decline and productivity rise when companies adapt their workspaces. By Brigitte Preston
29F WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
R E N OVA T I O N S / A D D I T I O N S
24 EID: RISING FROM PHOENIX’S ASHES A neighborhood eyesore is resurrected into a netzero energy regional headquarters.
BIOBASED PRODUCTS Architects, designers and facility managers specifying green building products will benefit from the resources available through the BioPreferred program.
31A CARPETS, HEALTH AND IAQ
31D THE WATER-ENERGY CONNECTION Create an energy-efficient building by reducing water use. By Klaus Reichardt
42
Having an effective carpet cleaning program is the first step in maintaining indoor air quality. By Robert Kravitz
AEC/OM SOLUTIONS
34 GREEN MEDICINE Is sustainability in healthcare a new concept of ‘green medicine,’ or just good medicine? By Michael J. Berning, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C
O P E R A T I O N S / M A N AG E M E N T CEU
27 SURE FOOTED No matter what floorcovering you choose, make sure it is installed correctly. By John McGrath
ON THE COVER:
DIGITAL
29D SUN DRIED A commercial coin Laundromat lowers its water bills by adding a solar hot water system at no cost. By Coryn Wolk
A film studio finds paradise using simple, local materials.
PROJECT: Green competition once again shows off projects that make the best use of tile and stone design. By Derrick Teal
DIGITAL
DIGITAL
16 EID: BLISS IN A BOX
29A HARD CHOICES
DIGITAL
NEW CONSTRUCTION
DIGITAL
Advertiser Index
30 SUSTAINABILITY AS THE NEW SAFETY A culture of sustainability exists when green practices become a habit. By Tommy Linstroth, LEED AP
DESIGNED BY SJK ARCHITECTS, THE OFFICE BUILDING FOR M/S. NIRVANA
35 SUSTAINABILITY FLOORS THE INDUSTRY With transparency initiatives, newer standards and increasing quantities of recycled and recyclable content, the commercial flooring industry is embracing sustainability more than ever. By Barbara Horwitz-Bennett
FILMS TAKES FIRST PLACE IN THE COMMERCIAL NEW CATEGORY OF THIS YEAR’S EID AWARDS. SEE THE STORY ON PAGE 16. PHOTO BY PALLON DARUWALA, COURTESY OF SJK ARCHITECTS.
EDC’S USE OF ROLLAND ENVIRO100 PRINT INSTEAD OF VIRGIN FIBERS PAPER REDUCED ITS ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT BY:
6
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Tree(s): 84
Solid Waste: 10,290 LB
Water: 81,399 GAL
Air Emissions: 26,747 LB
edc
WWW.EDCMAG.COM
online
Continuing Education Units http://cecampus.bnpmedia.com See EDC’s CEU offerings at our new Web portal, CE Campus (http://cecampus.bnpmedia.com). Access all of our articles and webinars available for AIA and GBCI credit. The portal features an improved quiz and grading system. Find this month’s CEU, “Sustainability Floors the Industry” online at the portal.
Water Conservation 101: The Elements of Facility Design
Recent CEUs
Best practices for water conservation and protection include not only cutting-edge building systems but also end-user awareness.
By C.C Sullivan
The Justice Center in Bonney Lake, Wash., uses water-conserving techniques for landscaping and site use. ABOVE
PHOTO COURTESY OF GROUP MACKENZIE.
The
VIRTUAL GREEN EXPO is back with a focus on greening existing buildings!
Q Attend live keynote session and webinars – all included with your FREE registration Q Earn AIA and USGBC continuing education credits Q Chat in real-time with industry experts
Q View technology demonstrations Q Visit exhibits Q Download collateral Q Network with peers
Register today at www.TheVirtualGreenExpo.com Thursday, August 2, 2012 | 9AM - 4PM PRESENTED BY: EDC EVENT SPONSOR: Armstrong
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NETWORKING SPONSOR: Duro-Last
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For Subscription Information or Service e: EDC@halldata.com p: 847.763.9534
EDITOR’S NOTE
Environmental Design + Construction 2401 W. Big Beaver, Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084 p. 248.362.3700 w. edcmag.com
TRICKS
DIANA BROWN Group Publisher e: brownd@bnpmedia.com p: 248.244.6258
of the Trade
MICHELLE HUCAL, LEED AP Associate Publisher e: hucalm@bnpmedia.com p: 248.244.1280
EDITORIAL DERRICK TEAL Editor e: teald@bnpmedia.com
I was a horrible student. Elementary school, middle school, high school and college were all just means to an end: being done with school. (That reminds me, I should thank my parents for imparting enough of their wisdom on me to understand the importance of obtaining an education.) Now, don’t confuse being a poor student with being a troublemaker. I wasn’t ... at least not all of the time. I also didn’t get horrible grades ... at least most of the time. My problem was I absolutely hated studying and rote memorization. So, how did someone like me make it through all of those levels prior to being able to hack into a school’s server and change my grades? (Okay, I could’ve cheated and changed my grades the old-fashioned way. I did have the keys to my college’s administration office after all, but that’s another story.) The answer is: I was tricked. The curriculum at each level of my education included topics of enough interest to me, or the instructors were good enough, that I forgot I was learning. Certain courses were obvious, particularly electives like wood shop or bowling. But American History 1600 to 1700? Eastern religions? Immigration in literature? These topics don’t scream “excitement” for me. However, either the content or the presentation of the content drew me in so much that I couldn’t help but learn it. And EDC is trying to do the same thing for you with our CEU courses. We know that most of you are required to take continuing education courses to maintain
your credentials. And I’m sure there are more than a few of you out there who, like me, don’t particularly care for the academic-type of setting. Now, I’m not saying that our courses are going to be so wildly entertaining that you’ll want to take them instead of watching Game of Thrones or something, but they do pass the Derrick test. What’s the Derrick test? It’s a test to see if any of our CEUs cause me head trauma, i.e., I become so bored with it that I fall asleep and crack my head on my desk. And some of these I’ll have gone through multiple times before they get to you. Take our print CEU “Sustainability Floors the Industry” on page 35. I’ve read through that five times, all without incident. You can see all of our CEU offerings at our new Web portal http://cecampus.bnpmedia. com. You’ll be able to access EDC’s current print CEU articles, as well as our current and on-demand webinars and courses available for AIA and GBCI credit. You’ll even be able to see what other BNP Media publications, like Architectural Roofing & Waterproofing, Walls & Ceilings Architect and Contemporary Stone & Tile Design, are offering. Best of all, we’ve improved the testtaking process and the delivery of your certificates. So go get those learning units! Cheers,
p: 248.786.1645
LAURA ZIELINSKI Associate Editor e: zielinskil@bnpmedia.com p: 248.786.1680
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CORPORATE DIRECTORS JOHN R. SCHREI Publishing RITA M. FOUMIA Corporate Strategy SCOTT KRYWKO Information Technology VINCENT M. MICONI Production LISA L. PAULUS Finance MICHAEL T. POWELL Creative NIKKI SMITH Directories MARLENE J. WITTHOFT Human Resources SCOTT WOLTERS Events
BNP Media Helps People Succeed in Business with Superior Information
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DERRICK TEAL EDITOR
EDC is the official magazine for the LEED ® professional. 8
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june.2012
WINDOWS • CURTAIN WALL • ENTRANCES • STOREFRONT
®
35% improvement in U-factor performance.
The new 8750XD™ Unitized Curtain Wall from EFCO enables you to achieve a remarkable 35% improvement in U-factor. The system features innovative Duracast® fiberglass composite to provide superior efficiency and structural performance. And, the vertical integration of EFCO assures quick response times, precision manufacturing, and unmatched service with every delivery. Learn more about the 8750XD system at www.efcoexactly.com/8750XD. You simply get more with EFCO. Exactly. To learn more, call 1-800-221-4169 or visit efcocorp.com. © 2012 EFCO Corporation Reader Service No. 6 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
NEW +
NOTABLE
HYDRONIC HEAT PUMP WaterFurnace introduces the 5 Series 502W12 high temperature hydronic heat pump. In a building with a radiant floor heating system, the unit’s higher water temperature of 150 F means the 502W12 reportedly can be installed between joists under the floor, removing the need to alter existing flooring. Two high-efficiency compressors, compressor blankets, doubleisolation mounting plates and a discharge muffler are intended to ensure a quiet and energy-efficient system. The 5 Series 502W12 exceeds ENERGY STAR requirements and may qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit. www.waterfurnace.com WaterFurnace International Inc. Reader Service No. 76
PROFESSIONAL PAINT LINE COMPLETE WALL SYSTEMS The CommercialComplete Wall Systems is designed to be a systemized wall approach that addresses energy efficiency and continuous insulation, air barrier, moisture resistance and fire per formance for a variety of construction types — all with sustainable product attributes. CommercialComplete Wall Systems can be designed to meet or exceed the ASHRAE 90.1 energy efficiency and air infiltration requirements for walls, as well as to comply with the International Building Code requirements for fire, structural and water resistance. www.owenscorningcommercial.com
10
Available in almost any color and in sheens ranging from flat to semigloss, Mythic Pro is designed as a nontoxic, ultra-low odor, high-quality paint line formulated specifically for painting professionals. The per formanceguaranteed paint is designed to meet LEED criteria for coatings used in buildings. This new line was developed for rapid commercial application and is available in both one- and five-gallon pails. Mythic Pro aims to meet all of painting professionals’ needs including excellent airless spray and superior touch up — below the price of the original Mythic paint, which is now called Mythic Classic. www.mythicpaint.com
Owens Corning
Mythic Paint
Reader Service No. 75
Reader Service No. 77
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june.2012
+ NOTABLE
NEW
ARCHITECTURAL LIGHT SHELF The InLighten Light Shelf reportedly leverages minimal material content, sightlines, weight, installation and maintenance efforts, all while maximizing daylighting and design options at a competitive price. Panels can be fabricated and assembled in the shop, reducing time spent in the field before installation. In addition to increased daylight control and energy savings, InLighten may help earn LEED credits in several categories. www.kawneer.com Kawneer Company Inc. Reader Service No. 78
sloan performance also comes in RAINSCREEN SYSTEM A new design variation of the Dow-Knight CI-System continuous insulation rainscreen façades enables the overlap of panel cladding. Called Sloped-CI, the rainscreen allows for large panels to be installed lapstyle on a building’s façade, creating texture and shadow for an almost threedimensional effect. Sloped-CI is designed to work with metal, composite and other panelized cladding options. The interior infrastructure of the frame is identical to the conventional Dow-Knight CI-System, offering continuous insulation with an architectural twist. www.knightwallsystems.com
white A full line of vitreous fixtures engineered and built exclusively for commercial use Maximum performance at any flush volume The perfect partner to our industry leading flushometers and faucets From the leader of energy- and water- efficient commercial restroom solutions Scan with Smart Phone for more information
www.sloanvalve.com
Knight Wall Systems Inc. Reader Service No. 79 Reader Service No. 70 www.EDCmag.com/webcard www.edcmag.com
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+ NOTABLE
NEW
FIRE-RATED PANELS WoodTrac expands its ceiling system product offering with the addition of Class A panels for its suspended ceiling system. The fire-rated ceiling panels are available in three different finishes and three profiles of moldings, which can be mixed and matched to meet a desired look. Class A panels are made of 3/8” fire-rated board laminated on both sides with high-definition micropaper. The ceiling panels come with a five-year warranty. www.woodtrac.com Sauder Woodworking Co. Reader Service No. 80
GET THE WHOLE STORY ON-LINE, VISIT: lafarge-na.com/visitwithme
I may not be able to smash through walls, hrough ugh wal but I can n make m e old o gypsum as goo good as new. ne John Lankford, LEED Green Associate Lafarge Gypsum m
MOISTURE-CONTROLLING INSULATION MR Faced Batt insulation was specifically created to control moisture. The lightweight thermal and acoustical fiberglass insulation is made of long, resilient glass fibers bonded with an acrylic thermosetting binder. The facing reportedly serves as an integral vapor retarder and is additionally protected against potential fungi growth. MR Faced Batts are available in a variety of R-values up to R-38, and in pre-cut batts to fit standard wall cavities. www.jm.com Johns Manville Reader Service No. 81
Lafarge is about so much more than materials. It’s about the people who stand behind them. It’ss about the people dedicated to transforming materials to adapt to our everyday eryday environment. These are the people of Lafarge. Those who are totally committed to finding sustainable solutions for a better world. Those who collaborate with architects, leading universities, research centers, industry and environmental organizations to make sustainable construction a reality. I’m proud to be one of these people. Join me online where I discuss Lafarge’s ability to provide practical solutions for sustainable outcomes.
Visit: lafarge-na.com/visitwithme
© 2012 Lafarge North America Inc. LEED and the related logo is a trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and is used with permission.
NON-PVC TILE Armstrong Commercial Flooring launches STRIATIONS, its next generation of non-PVC, Biobased Tile (BBT), along with two new premium tiles, RAFFIA and CHROMASPIN, designed to offer benefits such as low maintenance and recycled content. All Armstrong resilient products are FloorScore certified and independently tested and certified for compliance with California section 01350 for low-VOC emissions. www.armstrong.com Armstrong World Industries Inc. Reader Service No. 82
Reader Service No. 71 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
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+ NOTABLE
NEW
ARCHITECTURAL FABRIC MEMBRANE
FSC-CERTIFIED PANELS
Birdair Inc.’s ETFE, or ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, is a transparent film suitable for large- and medium-scale architectural projects. Used for both roofs and façades, the material is designed to be lightweight and flexible. ETFE film can be used in place of traditional glass and plastic for permanent or temporary structures. When ETFE film is used in a twoor three-layer model incorporating an air space, it reportedly provides excellent insulating capability. The material is recyclable and durable, reportedly lasting more than 20 years without losing transparency or strength. www.birdair.com
Ideal for high-profile applications such as furniture, cabinetry and fixtures, PureBond Classic Core panels are manufactured using voidless engineered MDF crossbands in combination with a veneer inner ply construction. The design of the panels reportedly delivers a surface quality that is comparable to composite core substrates while also providing the lighter weight and increased strength of veneer core. Classic Core panels are manufactured using no added urea formaldehyde, are CARB Phase 2-compliant and also may contribute to LEED IEQ 4.4 credits. They can be ordered as FSC-certified products upon request. www.cfpwood.com
Birdair Inc.
Columbia Forest Products
Reader Service No. 83
Reader Service No. 84
GREEN RESTROOMS SAVE MONEY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
NEXT GENERATION GREEN RESTROOM DESIGN
The USGBC, SLOAN and Excel Dryer join forces to offer a new CEU Course, Next Generation Green Restroom Design (NGGRD). NGGRD shows architects and designers how to specify the most cost effective, hygienic and green restrooms with today’s newest technologies.
REDUCE
WATER UP TO 50% • COSTS BY 90% • CARBON FOOTPRINT OVER 70%
REQUEST INFORMATION AND PRICING OR TAKE THE COURSE AT
( SEARCH “EXCEL
www.aecdaily.com
DRYER ” OR
“ SLOAN”)
800-255-9235 www.exceldryer.com
800-982-5839 www.sloanvalve.com
Reader Service No. 72 www.EDCmag.com/webcard www.edcmag.com
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+ NOTABLE
NEW
ECO-FRIENDLY FINISH
ENERGY WASTE ANALYZERS
Unearthed Paints’ new natural Hard Wax Oil finish is designed to be a durable surface treatment for wood, cork and stone in interior applications. Hard Wax Oil is reportedly produced from natural raw materials, non-toxic and VOC-free. The finish is designed to provide a breathable silky-matte finish that penetrates deep into the wood while allowing the wood’s inherent characteristics to show through. www.unearthedpaints.com
The Fluke 430 Series II three-phase power quality analyzers use an algorithm to measure energy waste and quantify its cost. The 430 Series II helps facilities reduce electrical power consumption and improve the performance and lifespan of electro-mechanical equipment by providing the ROI justification to mitigate power quality distortion. In particular, the 430 Series II allows facilities to assess the impact of new energy-efficient, electronically driven systems from lighting to motor controls to HVAC. www.fluke.com
Unearthed Paints
Fluke Corporation
Reader Service No. 85
Reader Service No. 86
Take your concrete from
GRAY toHSFBU
Create inďŹ nite colors and effects in high-performance, lowmaintenance sustainable concrete oors and hardscapes. It’s fast and easy with Consolideck GemTone Stains and Consolideck ColorHard for polished or unpolished concrete, indoors or out. Permanent, environmentally friendly water-reduced colors use no harmful acids or solvents.
LED LIGHTING SYSTEMS
Flooring products that make concrete oors harder, denser, shinier, more colorful and less costly to install and maintain.
OFXMZ JOTUBMMFE t FYJTUJOH M J U MMMM E J UJJ NSF REGISTERED ConsolideckÂŽ LSÂŽ ConsolideckÂŽ LS/CSÂŽ ÂŽ ÂŽ Consolideck LSGuard
GE Lighting
t XXX DPOTPMJEFDL DPN t XXX QSPTPDP DPN Reader Service No. 73 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
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The GE Tetra LED Lighting Systems family is designed to deliver superior light uniformity in shallow cabinet signs. Tetra EdgeStrip and Tetra miniStrip are designed to replace T8 fluorescent tubes by offering a number of features that provide superior visual performance in any climate while reportedly delivering up to 90 percent energy savings compared to T8 lamps. The systems feature optical lens technology, which captures otherwise wasted light and redirects it toward the illuminated surface to maximize the performance of each LED module. www.gelighting.com
Reader Service No. 87
Acrovyn® 4000’s contemporary new texture, or…
everyone else’s pebblette texture? You decide.
We understand that people use wall protection because they need it, but we also know how important aesthetics are to our customers. Acrovyn® 4000 now has a contemporary new texture that designers and owners overwhelmingly prefer over other wall protection’s pebblette texture. Acrovyn® 4000 has excellent color consistency without the unacceptably high gloss levels common to the competition. Acrovyn® 4000 is PVC/PBT-free, and it’s easy to clean. Choose the wall protection that belongs in today’s interiors. Visit www.c-sgroup.com, call 888-621-3344 or find Construction Specialties on ®, ® or twitter.com/acrovyn. &
Protection for tomorrow’s environment Reader Service No. 43 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
AWA R D S
Bliss IN A BOX 16
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A film studio finds paradise using simple, local materials. Nirvana is an office space for an ad film production company. A film production firm that thinks out of the box, its films are a surprise — an unexplored humane perspective on a product. Its workspace is based on the thought that the connection of synapses creates ideas — not privacy or isolation. The office building for M/s. Nirvana Films is EDC’s Excellence in Design Commercial New Construction winner, the first time an international project has won. The “box” for Nirvana emerged, as with all urban buildings, out of a small corner plot in the heart of the busy and lush neighborhood of Indira Nagar in Bangalore. Optimizing space, site setbacks and allowable floor space index (FSI) for a commercial project helped achieve 8,000 square feet of total built up area on a site of 3,000 square feet. The complete building, and all services, was built within a budget of INR 2.25 Crores, or approximately $436,000 USD. The unfortunate situation of the corner plot, open along its south and west faces, was reversed by adopting a design core — the north/ south connector staircase that slices through the building with a huge skylight above, suffusing it with sunlight and natural ventilation much like a courtyard would in another typology. However, this project explores the possibilities inherent in a commercial building despite the constraints of Indian real estate and state bylaws. The resulting urban typology overturns all norms — using almost no electricity — for light or ventilation. The divisions of work and non-work, outside and inside, are obliterated by the presence of the staircase core. The façade further facilitates the connections to the outside with the fixed glass and operable acrylic louvers.
2012 Commerical New Construction Winner N A M E : Office building for M/s. Nirvana Films S U BM I T T E D BY: SJK Architects (www.sjkarchitect.com) IMAGE BY PALLON DARUWALA, COURTESY OF SJK ARCHITECTS.
Wherever possible, local materials, like the fabric for the sofa, were chosen to encourage the economy.
DAT E C O M P LE T E D: September 2011 S I Z E : 8,000 square feet
ABOVE
LOC AT I O N : Bangalore, Karnataka, India C O S T: INR 2.25 Crores (approx. $436,000 USD) C E R T I F I C AT I O N S /AWAR DS: ACES OF SPACE Design Awards 2011, India for Commercial Architecture (national level); IIID MK Awards 2011, India for Commercial Interiors (national level)
The louvers, opaque and solid, open in unison to allow the breeze in — modulating light, wind and rain. The notion of wall and window is interchanged, leading to a dynamic façade. The window is solid; the wall, made of these louvers, is transparent and open. The louvers were custom made and used as a moveable exterior element for the first time in India. The staircase core needed a permeable flexible device to allow light and ventilation, and yet block out rain and peering neighbors. This 18’-high wood and clear acrylic “jali” is actually a set of interlocked 6”-wide louvers that allow airflow though the stairwell. The solid black bathrooms, the only space that demands privacy, contrast completely with the suffused light quality of the rest of the building. The studied lightness of structure and material — no beams, and three materials: old recycled wood, concrete and glass — produces a building where light and shadow, thought and interaction become the protagonists. Daylight has been optimized, producing naturally lit spaces. A portion of the roof slab is cut out, forming a semi-open terrace on the floor below for added daylight. A tensile sail is used to shade the space and protect it from rain. No artificial light is used during the www.edcmag.com
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ALL IMAGES BY PALLON DARUWALA, COURTESY OF SJK ARCHITECTS.
PREVIOUS PAGE The wood and acrylic “jali” lets abundant light and air into the staircase.
The client desired a space that included both serious work areas and places to relax.
ABOVE
The custom-made louvers take the place of a ventilation system.
RIGHT
www.edcmag.com
17B
Watch the video for more images, floorplans and insights on M/s. Nirvana Films’ office.
Winning Team AR C HI TEC T: SJK Architects, Mumbai PAR TNER -I N-C HAR G E: Shimul Javeri Kadri (Principal), Sarika Shetty (Associate) C LI ENT: M/s. Nirvana Films, Bangalore MEP ENG I NEER : Mr. Charandev, M/s. Meca Engineers, Bangalore STR UC TUR AL ENG I NEER : Mr. B.C Shivanand, M/s. S & S Associates, Bangalore C I VI L, C AR P ENTRY AND SERVI C ES C O NTR AC TO R : Disha Engineering C O NSTR UC TI O N MANAG ER : Ar. Poonam Sachdev, Bangalore
Materials FLO O R I NG : UltraTech Cement in-situ Indian Patent Stone (IPS) floor with Owens Corning Anti-Crac (glass fiber); coconut oil (polish); Sira granite (bathrooms) CEILING: Form-finished concrete slab soffit of the building shell/roof forms the ceiling. WO O D: Old BTC wood from local markets; salvaged wooden windows and doors ROOFING: RCC flat slab; Thermoseal (thermoplastic coating); Grorich (Teflon-coated fabric) HVAC SY STEM AND AP P LI ANC ES: The building is naturally ventilated with no HVAC system installed, except in the server and editing rooms. These are 3-star rated Blue Star high wall split units. INTERIOR FINISHES AND FURNISHINGS: The building’s raw shell itself forms the finished interior. PAI NTS AND WALLC O VER I NG S: Birla White Wallcare putty; Asian Paint’s Morning Glory (White) Royale luxury emulsion (interior wall finish); Asian Paint’s Morning Glory (White) Apex Ultima (exterior wall finish); linseed oil (wall treatment) IMAGE BY PALLON DARUWALA, COURTESY OF SJK ARCHITECTS.
ABOVE
Raw materials blend with kitschy art in the dining area.
B UI LDI NG ENVELO P E: Saint Gobain (clear float glass); Dow Corning (sealant); Lion Chemtech Tristone (acrylic surface); recycled wood and clear acrylic (jali) P LUMB I NG FI XTUR ES: Kohler July Series (fixtures); drinking water filter system LANDSC AP I NG : Native and indigenous bamboo, foxtail palms, ficus tree, elephant ears, heliconias; no lawn; the only mango tree onsite was integrated into the staircase treads.
day. Since this is a creative advertising studio with erratic work hours, artificial lighting had to be efficiently worked out for nighttime use. LEDs in leisure spaces and fluorescent tube light fittings in task spaces were used to conserve power. An energy meter has been installed to monitor the service systems. Use of water has been optimized in basin faucets through sensors on taps, and dual-flush toilets are used to optimize water consumption. Rainwater runoff from the west-side roof is harvested in a water collection pond at the stilt level and used for landscaping. Rainwater down-take pipes terminate into a filter medium around the bore-well, recharging the borewell to eventually increase ground water level as well as reduce its hardness factor. The contemporary building stands for innovation, sustainability and pluralism with all stylistic features co-existing. Old classical chairs and furniture pieces have been reused. A chesterfield sofa was reupholstered in a colorful patchwork pattern of cotton fabrics from a local market. Tables and carts were refurbished with local stone tops to become the dining
O THER : The dustbins, baskets, trays, mats, etc. used throughout the building are made of rapidly renewable material like bamboo and banana fiber. The client segregates garbage within its premises. Nirvana intends to use the wet garbage toward vermicomposting (composting using certain worm species). The compost will be used as fertilizer for the landscape.
room tables, and the workstations are drawers topped with painted wooden slabs. The director’s table is made of a sewing machine base with a wood top. Window shutters, old eaves boards and reused colored glass have been arranged to form a chest of drawers. The project’s success is revealed with the production team’s comments. “We work longer hours and look forward to coming to work. We love the light, and it’s everywhere.” edc THE ABOVE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY SJK ARCHITECTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EDC’S ANNUAL EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AWARDS CONTEST, VISIT EID.EDCMAG.COM.
See more photos in the digital edition or online at EDCmag.com! 18
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© 2012 Kawneer Company, Inc.
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INTERIOR
DESIGN Trends
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By Brigitte Preston
Combine the economic recession with an unprecedented five generations in the workforce, and conditions exist for dramatic restructuring of office space. Today’s designers are being sourced to conduct complex analyses of organizational operations and corporate culture to create dramatic, new solutions based on shifting workplace dynamics. THE GENERATIONS Much of this analysis is conducted by measuring how a particular workforce interacts with its physical environment. In general, Traditionals, those born before 1946, are working much longer before retiring, either for financial reasons or to keep active and engaged within their industry. This group, along with the Baby Boomers — who dominated the workforce for 30 years through sheer numbers — are territorial: They still cling to the ideal of a private office, if not the coveted corner office. The Millennials (1977 to 1997), however, are much less territorial, and they are expected to surpass the Boomer majority by 2015. Members of Gen2020, the youngest generation, have already started entering the workforce, primarily as game and app designers or techpreneurs. These two younger generations are much more flexible about where they work; they are highly mobile and hyper-connected. Essential workspace requirements for Millennials and Gen2020 are far different than the elder generations. Their requirements include comfortable office chairs, easy access to electrical outlets for recharging multiple devices, an abundance of natural light, and an emphasis on sustainability in the overall office design. Raised with an eye on the
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E N G I N E E R E D S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y
rule Products that are not engineered to extend the life of a building
As the workforce expands to five generations, costs can decline and productivity rise when companies adapt their workspaces.
are not sustainable.
We Value Engineered Sustainability™ www.SYNTHEONInc.com Reader Service No. 74 www.EDCmag.com/webcard www.edcmag.com
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OPENING SPREAD Google Austin’s large, common multipurpose room houses the dining hall, dance floor and music venue. IMAGE COURTESY OF THOMAS MCCONNELL.
LEFT Collaborative areas suit the needs of frog design, an innovative global firm. IMAGE COURTESY OF THOMAS MCCONNELL.
environment, these groups want to be a part of the solution, not the problem. FEWER CUBES, MORE COLLABORATION The trend toward an increased focus on collaboration has some corporations leaving the hierarchical organizational structure behind and turning to a team-oriented approach. Old-style cubicles arranged in linear fashion are being reduced in favor of open, shared workspaces for small teams. Moveable chairs, tables and partitions allow for spontaneous groupings or easier reallocation of floor space as needs change. With employees’ flexible schedules, their ability to work remotely, and an increased focus on innovation driven by collaboration, workers are no longer tied to traditional workstations, eliminating the need for a one-workstation-per-employeemodel. The old model of 8’x8’ stations for every employee no longer serves the reality. Across organizations, the use of more natural lighting results in a decreased partition height for cubicles, which also fosters communication and collaboration. The layout of collaborative as well as private work areas, however, is determined by the design analysis of an individual company’s culture and work style. This 22
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analysis is then applied across the entire workspace, including spatial dimensions, workflow and workstation setup. For companies on the leading edge, like social media tech firms or interactive ad agencies, the mix of communal space dominates, whereas more traditional industries have a higher proportion of individual work areas. Some leading companies have shrunk the footprint of their real estate dramatically. Within a given company, people have a 5 to 15 percent mobility ratio. What’s more, design studies estimate that significant portions of a company’s workforce are at their desks just 60 to 70 percent of the time. This means organizations need less fixed real estate and seek different solutions to accommodate mobile workforces. For some, remote employees can make a reservation for an available workspace. As more companies encourage staff to work remotely, less real estate is required, facility costs are decreased and the environmental footprint shrinks. And, while overhead decreases, many indications suggest working remotely promotes productivity. SITTING ON THE BENCH For organizations at the bleeding edge, filled with younger generation workers, benching
offers a unique, collaborationinducing solution. Benching is a furniture concept that creates work areas for individual employees during their flex hours or for a designated team. Benching is an open, table-based furniture setup that encourages employee interaction and teaming. Most wear headphones to reduce ambient noise or listen to music. When they need privacy for phone calls or one-on-one conversation, they move to a more appropriate space. But a change in management is required to transform to a more mobile workforce or communal workspace. Many leaders of organizations still find it difficult to shake loose from the old paradigm, and are slow to adopt the mindset that productivity can be supported, and even rise, with less space and fewer workstations. And, for some organizations, where the work requires less collaboration and more individual focus, benching could be a distraction. In design, one size will not fit every organization.
penditure; it sometimes means shifting dollars to technology and branding rather than furniture and finishes. People want to have the feel of daylight and openness in their workspace. Despite more stringent energy codes that place limitations on artificial lighting, products like LED lighting promise to provide solutions that are both functional and environmentally friendly. While meeting the needs of all five generations in the workforce can be challenging, each organization’s culture, objectives and operations must be analyzed and synthesized to optimize the outcome. Time and effort focused on the upfront analysis and planning can be offset by the savings on facility size and cost, as well as a resulting increase in productivity and employee retention. Organizations are in a unique position to tailor their workspaces in a way that supports their goals, decreases overhead and aligns with the specific needs of their workforces. edc
LESS IS MORE A streamlined and aesthetically pleasing work environment is important for employee retention. This does not have to mean an increase in capital ex-
BRIGITTE PRESTON IS DESIGN PRINCIPAL WITH DALLAS-BASED LAUCKGROUP, AN INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE FIRM. SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING DESIGN CONCEPTS THAT MEET BUSINESS NEEDS FOR LEADING CORPORATIONS.
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AWA R D S
A NEIGHBORHOOD EYESORE IS RESURRECTED AS A NET-ZERO ENERGY REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS.
When it decided to “build”
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a new Phoenix Regional Office, DPR Construction, a national general contractor/construction manager, committed to a redeveloping Phoenix community. It wanted to integrate its values and culture by creating a model of how to live and work in the desert, while sustainably and cost-effectively providing a great employee environment. Because of that vision and the subsequent execution, DPR Construction’s Phoenix Regional Office is EDC’s Excellence in Design Commercial Renovation winner. While many sites for the office were evaluated, a single-story 40-year-old, distressed adultthemed retail boutique — a visual reminder of the urban blight Phoenix struggled to revitalize — was ultimately chosen. Located on a highly conspicuous and busy intersection surrounded by land previously developed with midrise commercial buildings, the project is ideally situated within a half-mile radius of numerous restaurants and a light rail stop connecting the project to Mesa, Tempe, and downtown and West Phoenix. The project’s proximity to Sky Harbor allows visiting colleagues to take the light rail directly from the airport, reducing
emissions commonly associated with travel. From the outset, DPR established a goal of a 10-year return on investment for its net-zero energy strategies. It challenged the team to think innovatively and insisted, “No idea is a bad idea.” DPR put all approaches on the table, including raising acceptable comfort conditions as part of the effort to improve energy performance and change the culture in the office. The project evolved quickly and required weekly team meetings to vet all concepts and approaches proposed by the project team. Each proposal was evaluated thoroughly and, when appropriate, modeled to
determine the overall impact on the project’s goals. The DPR building features many strategies that combined to reduce energy and create a healthy environment for employees. With building orientation predetermined by the existing structure, the team’s approach was to create an adaptive response to the building’s environment. South and west façades were left largely intact with few to no openings. The east façade is characterized by four passive “shower towers” which are part of the building’s natural ventilation system. A weather station on the roof reads climatic conditions and adjusts these systems accordingly. It has
the ability to open windows, activate passive evaporative cooling towers and control heat through operation of an 80-foot-mounted solar chimney. These systems combine to generate 16 tons of natural cooling, enough for the open office space and reduce mechanical conditioning needs by 30 percent. Both the east and north façade were punctuated with large expanses of glass to allow natural light to penetrate the space. Horizontal shading devices are used to minimize direct solar gain, while vertical green screen elements surround and create outdoor spaces, filtering light and screening views of adjacent parking; both offer-
ALL IMAGES BY GREGG MASTORAKOS.
PREVIOUS PAGE The eastern courtyard features shower towers and custom green screening.
Connecting the exterior to the interior allows natural ventilation and light to permeate the space.
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More images are available in our digital edit ion or online at EDCmag.com!
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ALL IMAGES BY GREGG MASTORAKOS. FLOOR PLAN COURTESY OF SMITHGROUP JJR.
The open office concept at the Phoenix headquarters gives everyone access to exterior views.
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The view from the solar PV parking canopy.
As the floor plan indicates, plenty of meeting spaces were included in the design.
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2012 Commerical Renovation Winner
NAME: DPR Construction Phoenix Headquarters SU B M I TTE D B Y: SmithGroupJJR (www.smithgroupjjr.com)
Materials
D ATE C O M P L E TE D : October 2011
FLO O R I NG : Shaw Contract Group (carpet tile); Johnsonite Inertia Sports Tile (rubber floor tiles); Johnsonite (rubber base); Staticworx EC Series (static dissipative rubber)
SIZE : 16,533 square feet
C EI LI NG : Armstrong Ultima (acoustic ceiling grid and tile)
LOC ATIO N: Phoenix
WO O D: Plyboo (slat walls, workstation end-panels and feature millwork)
CO S T: approx. $2.5 million
HVAC SY STEM AND AP P LI ANC ES: Dyson Airblade (hand dryers); Bosch (dishwashers); Sub-Zero (refrigerators and wine coolers)
CER TIFI C ATIO NS / AWA RDS : Net-Zero Energy, LEED registered (Seeking LEED-NC Platinum)
Winning Team
I NTER I O R FI NI SHES AND FUR NI SHI NG S: Alkemi-acrylic (solid surface countertops); CaesarStone (solid surface countertops); Alphsorb (fabric-wrapped acoustic/ tackable workstation wall panels); Knoll Resolution (acoustic/tackable workstation wall panel fabric); Carnegie Xorel (fabric on delta acoustic panels); Ultrafabrics; Wilsonart Laminate (tabletops); Maharam (fabric)
ARC H I TE C T: SmithGroupJJR PAR TNE R -IN-C HAR G E: Mark Roddy, AIA, SmithGroupJJR CLI E NT: David Elrod, LEED AP, DPR Construction MEP E NG INE E R : Kema and SmithGroupJJR ST RU C TU R AL E NG INE E R: Clifford Paul, PK Associates CO NS TR U C TI O N M AN G E R: Cassie Robertson, LEED AP, DPR Construction
PAI NTS AND WALLC O VER I NG S: Sherwin-Williams (Acrolon 2118 HS Polyurethane, Southwest Builders Summit Exterior Latex, Faux Impressions Venetian Plaster, ProGreen Latex Primer and ProMar 200 Zero VOC Latex); Aqua-Trete (water repellant for CMU); (drywall paint); IdeaPaint (writeable wall finish); Arizona Tile Fibra (porcelain wall tile and wall base); Interstyle Madras (glass accent tile); Daltile Glass Reflections and Keystones Coastal (glass tile); Feiteng Aluminium Composite Panel Co. (interior and exterior panels); Forbo Bulletin Board (linoleum surface material) ENER G Y EFFI C I ENC Y: Big Ass Fans (ceiling fans); Solatube (solar tubes) B UI LDI NG ENVELO P E: PPG Solarban (glass in operable windows) P LUMB I NG FI XTUR ES: Water Tec (reverse osmosis system); Kohler (waterless urinals); Sloan (electronic faucets); Sloan Flushometer (dual-flush toilets); Rheem SolPak (solar water heating system) LANDSC AP I NG : McNICHOLS ECO-MESH (trellis system)
ing extended yearly use to the 2,600 square feet of employee wellness space outdoors. Eighty-two ducted Solatube solar tubes bring daylight from the roof down to a usable height within the space and are designed to provide enough light during operating hours to reduce artificial light usage by more than 70 percent. Twelve Big Ass Fans are further utilized to improve air circulation and enhance cooling for employees. The building’s perimeter walls were adequately insulated, but the roof required additional insulation along with a new reflective coating. Window systems utilize insulated low-E glass with a low SHGC. All the existing mechanical units were replaced with highefficiency units, while a direct digital control system provides precise temperature control and makes smart operational 26
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decisions, providing energy and operating cost savings. High-efficiency light fixtures and daylight sensors were used throughout the open office space. All interior lighting is separately metered to provide for continuous measurement and verification. Domestic hot water heating is provided via a roof-mounted solar thermal system with electric backup systems for sinks and showers. The project incorporates a “vampire switch” near the front door, which powers off 90 percent of plug loads at the end of each day. These features and many others combined with a 79kW PV array to help make the DPR offices net-zero energy. Materials were chosen because of their environmental attributes and combined to create a vibrant, modern environment free from many hazardous pollutants.
Ninety-seven percent of the wood used on the project came from FSC sources. Screen walls located throughout the office are made from FSC bamboo and account for 3.35 percent of the material costs on the project. All finishes were specified with lowor no-VOC content. Recycled content makes up 32.76 percent of materials for the project and 12.88 percent were regionally extracted and manufactured. At the end of the day, 78 percent of all materials removed from the site were recycled, reducing landfill waste by 252 tons. edc
This cross section demonstrates some of the bioclimatic strategies used in the project.
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DIAGRAM COURTESY OF SMITHGROUPJJR.
THE ABOVE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY SMITHGROUPJJR. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EDC’S ANNUAL EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AWARDS CONTEST, VISIT EID.EDCMAG.COM.
SURE FOOTED No matter what floorcovering you choose, make sure it is installed correctly. By John McGrath With all of the fast-paced hype that green building is receiving throughout the facility management and construction industry, it’s easy to overlook some elements that may not be right in front of a building manager’s nose. In this article, I invite you to keep your head down — straight down — and examine the role floorcovering plays in a green building project.
Flooring is one of the most significant and important building systems in a commercial structure. However, regardless of the quality of floorcovering product, the real worth of sustainable carpet, vinyl, linoleum, wood, ceramic or tile will be maximized and provide a return on investment if installed by a professional who understands the green building process.
In fact, by specifying the qualifications of the floorcovering professional as well as the flooring products, a facility manager can contribute to the accumulation of LEED points for both new construction and existing buildings via LEED’s operations and maintenance categories. Did you know that products and installation materials contribute to LEED in seven of nine categories, and four of those seven areas encompass flooring? Flooring plays a lead role in Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), Materials and Resources (MR), Innovation and Design Process (IDP), and Regional Priority. Flooring can help with LEED points in the categories of new construction, major renovation, existing buildings, commercial interiors, schools, retails, healthcare and homes. PICK YOUR PRODUCT WISELY To gain MR credits, look for products high in recycled or rapidly renewable content such as recycled rubber, carpet fibers or cork. MR credits are available if the product is made locally or regionally, meaning materials used to make the flooring are extracted, harvested or manufactured within 500 miles of the jobsite. It’s also possible to capture an MR point if the flooring can help to reach 2.5 percent of the total value of the building materials made from rapidly renewable materials, which include plants typically harvested in a 10-year cycle. Common substances here are cork, linoleum and bamboo. www.edcmag.com
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IEQ credits are found by carefully selecting adhesives, solvents and carpet systems that meet established air quality standards. The South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) Rule #1168 dictates volatile organic compound (VOC) content limits, which can earn another LEED point for qualifying. To gain another LEED point for flooring systems, carpet and cushion systems must meet Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label program parameters, while hard-surface flooring must be compliant with the FloorScore standard. Wood floor finishes also must meet requirements under the SCAQMD Rule #1168. In the world of carpet, capturing LEED points is a viable goal in a variety of categories — too many to examine here. But as an example, let’s look at new construction MR. Carpet LEED points can be accomplished by focusing on reuse, such as mandating the use of existing interior nonstructural floorcovering elements in at least 50 percent of the completed building. The premise is to extend product life cycles, conserve resources, retain cultural resources and reduce waste. Up to two points are available under new construction MR if the project diverts construction and demolition debris from disposal in landfills and incineration facilities. The motivation is meant to redirect recovered recyclable resources back to the manufacturing process, and reusable materials are to be sent to appropriate sites. Building managers can help work toward LEED points regarding the use of carpet by mandating the recycling and/or salvaging of nonhazardous construction and demolition debris, and establishing goals for diversion from disposal in landfills and incineration facilities and adopt a construction waste management plan. Still another 1 to 2 points can be had in the MR section 28
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if flooring materials are reused products. Salvaged, refurbished or reused materials should constitute at least 5 percent of the total value of flooring materials on the project. Materials with recycled content that make up at least 10 percent of the cost of the project materials also help capture LEED points. Wood products have received a lot of attention lately. For LEED credits, points are available to encourage environmentally responsible forest management.
THE FLOORSCORE PROGRAM There are a number of certifying and standard-setting organizations that provide support for and complement the LEED program. The U.S. Green Building Council has approved hard-surface flooring products certified by the FloorScore program as an alternative compliance path to achieve LEED credits for new construction. Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) — a credible third-party testing, evaluation and certification system for indoor air quality performance — helped develop the FloorScore program. Assisting in the FloorScore program is the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI), which also acts as a flooring products certification program focusing on indoor air quality. A MATCH MADE IN GREEN A green floor’s performance will reflect how well the building manager and construction team married product specification and installation requirements. The best green product in the world will be useless if installed improperly or without regard to adhering to LEED’s exacting standards. Therefore, it does matter who installs the floors. A mechanic without the knowledge of VOC emissions of open adhesives, for instance, can invalidate a LEED application for indoor air quality. To shield a LEED project from unnecessary loss of points,
facility managers should require that the flooring contractor place trained, certified crews on the jobsite. It is important to always be sure that your flooring contractor is competent and staffed with well-trained installers before they arrive on your jobsite. One way to ensure that is through detailed specification. Mandate that your flooring materials are installed by a certified professional. That specification still keeps your project open to dozens of prospective, qualified contractors, while at the same time weeding out poorly trained, ill-qualified, less reputable or less-equipped outfits. SUMMARY Regardless of a green project’s size, shape, schedule or budget, it pays to keep a sharp eye on the flooring component. By carefully specifying flooring products and employing equal diligence in mandating the level of competence in the installation crew, LEED points should roll into your program, courtesy of your floorcovering, without fail. edc JOHN MCGRATH IS DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND TRAINING ALLIANCE (INSTALL).
ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF INSTALL.
LEFT The right floorcovering can help a project earn LEED points in four out of seven categories.
Installation is as important as specification. Flooring materials should be put in place by a certified professional.
ABOVE
100
%
The ONLY number that matters when it comes to
SUSTAINABILITY. for more information visit www.biopreferred.gov 1-800-842-7839 www.forboflooringNA.com www.floorcostcomparison.com info.na@forbo.com
creating better environments Reader Service No. 16 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
sheet and tile USDA Certified 100% biobased
HARD CHOICES PROJECT: Green competition once again shows off projects that make the best use of tile and stone design. By Derrick Teal
There was a fair amount of change this year for Coverings’ annual PROJECT: Green competition sponsored by EDC. First, we welcomed some new judges into the fold while saying goodbye to a few others. Second, we did our usual round of judging which projects best exemplified the overall sustainable use of tile and stone, but found that some other projects displayed
such innovation that they had to be mentioned. These projects created a new “Idea Center” where their initiatives were put out there for all to see. Finally, I emceed a panel comprised of representatives from Best In Show projects who provided an in-depth look at the numerous sustainable initiatives achieved by their projects during a CEUapproved session at Coverings.
B EST I N SHO W: Commercial – New NAME: Schluter Reno Distribution and Training Center C O MPANY: Schluter Systems L.P. P R O JEC T LO C ATI O N: Reno, Nev. P R O JEC T TEAM MEMB ER S: - Project Manager: Dahltan Inc. - Owner Reps: Schluter Systems - Architect: Cathexes Inc. - MEP Engineering: Harris Consulting Eng. - Construction: Miles Construction - Structure: Gabbart & Woods - Commissioning: Bender Engineering P R O JEC T DESC R I P TI O N: Designed to meet LEED Gold certification, Schluter’s 90,000-squarefoot Reno Distribution and Training Center has more than 41,000 square
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The following is an overview of the projects the judges chose to showcase at this year’s show. This link: http:// bit.ly/JV1TlR leads you to a pdf containing all of the information displayed on the show floor at Coverings. So, check it out if you want to see more, and keep on the lookout for the opening of next year’s competition!
feet of installed tile — clearly, this facility favors tile as a surface covering. Although commonly used on floors, tiles in this facility have been applied to every possible surface. The construction of this facility was done on a controlled site that ensured the most environmentally sound methods were used. This facility is an excellent example of how ceramic tile applications are consistent with green building practices. Tile was not only used on floors, it was also the material chosen for the exterior façade, with 24” x 24” porcelain tile applied over a combination of Schluter-KERDI-BOARD and Schluter-DITRA-DRAIN.
BE S T I N S H O W: Commercial – Remodel P ROJ E C T N A ME: San Francisco International Airport Terminal 2 (SFO T2) C OM PA N Y: Crossville Inc. P RO J E C T LO C ATI O N: San Francisco P RO J E C T T E A M MEMB ER S: - Owner-Client: City and County of San Francisco - Architecture & Design: Gensler - General Contractor: Turner Construction - Flooring Contractor: De Anza Tile - Demolition Contractor: Silverado Construction - Tile Manufacturer: Crossville Inc. - Tile Distributor: Butler Johnson - Setting Manufacturer: Custom Building Products P RO J E C T DE S C R I P TI O N: The first LEED Goldregistered airport terminal in the U.S., San Francisco International Airport Terminal 2 (SFO T2) is an airport built for people and the planet without compromising on style or functionality. The T2 renovation supports SFO’s goals of zero waste, sustainable education and a reduced carbon footprint. In the restrooms, rectified 12” x 24” field tile in Color Blox EC “Sea Otter” by Crossville Inc. was installed on the floors, running parallel to the vanity areas to act as a “yellow brick road,”
directing the flow of traffic from the entrance back to the toilet area. A coordinating cove base trim was used around the perimeter of the room. The walls were installed with rectified 12” x 24” Color Blox EC field tile in “Sand Box” by Crossville Inc.; but here the tile was laid horizontal to the floor. The end result is a renovation that elevates the travel experience and reduces traveler stress through sustainable design strategies and materials.
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BE S T I N SHO W: Institutional – Remodel P RO J EC T NAME: John C. Kluczynski Federal Building C OM PANY: Crossville Inc. P ROJ EC T LO C ATI O N: Chicago P RO J EC T TEAM MEMB ER S: - Owner-Client: GSA - Architecture & Design: Cannon Design - General Contractor: Pepper Construction - Flooring Contractor: Trostrud - Demolition Contractor: Break Thru Demo - Tile Manufacturer: Crossville Inc. - Tile Distributor: Virginia Tile - Setting Manufacturer: MAPEI P R O J E C T D E S C R I P T I O N : The Chicago Federal Center was commissioned by the U.S. General Services Administration as part of a 1950’s plan to modernize the federal government administration and judiciary buildings. The Federal Center now stands as an architectural landmark touted as a “study in geometric perfection.” The toilet rooms had not been updated since 1974, and the aesthetic objective was to create a room design that would
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harmoniously resonate with the original architecture, while incorporating high-level water efficiency and ADA accessibility compliance. The project required that part of the existing porcelain tile and all of the existing porcelain fixtures were to be recycled and reused to create new porcelain tile for the project. More than 57,000 square feet of new tile was installed in all the toilet room floors and floor to ceiling along the room’s wet wall. An estimated 102,000 pounds of porcelain material from this building was diverted for recycling/reuse to create new post-consumer recycled content tile for this project. edc
IMAGE COURTESY OF TONY POWELL.
SUNDried A commercial coin Laundromat lowers its water bills by adding a solar hot water system at no cost. By Coryn Wolk
In Pennsylvania, a commercial coin Laundromat not only had its rooftop solar hot water system installed at no cost, but also the facility’s hot water bills will be forever reduced. Pfister’s Family Laundry in Westchester, Pa., was already ahead of the game before it decided to become the first Laundromat in Pennsylvania to use solar-heated water. The Laundromat had already installed state-of-the-art digital equipment that minimized water usage. But with hundreds of daily customers loading the facility’s 50 washing machines, some of which hold 75 pounds of
laundry, the Laundromat’s need for hot water was still great and constant — almost 10,000 gallons per day. Mike Pfister, owner of Pfister’s Family Laundry, needed to reduce his energy costs. In an industry that “likes to think of itself as a leader in energy efficiency,” as Brian Wallace, president and CEO of the Coin Laundry Association, says, solar heating and cooling was the clear choice. When most people think of solar energy, they imagine solar photovoltaic cells (PV). Solar heating panels are different than PV cells. And although solar heating, or “solar thermal,” en-
compasses various technologies, the best technology for a given building is determined by the task required of the system — whether that be heating tap water or heating water for sanitizing food processing equipment. But all systems work on the basic principal of converting incoming solar radiation — sunlight — into heat. Solar water heating systems simply circulate liquid through rooftop heatabsorbing panels warmed by the sun. Solar-heated food-grade antifreeze or water transfers the heat to storage tanks that feed heated water into the conventional hot water system. The www.edcmag.com
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IMAGE COURTESY OF RUSHFORTH SOLAR.
system uses glycol in Pfister Family Laundry’s case. While rooftop solar panels do heat up quickly, solar water heating requires a conventional backup system for very cloudy days. And while the savings last for decades, the payoff period required for an upfront investment can sometimes be a hindrance for some smaller businesses. Solar thermal may be a difficult sell to the coin-operated Laundromat industry because the business owner is typically not the building owner, explains Seth Warren Rose, executive director of Eneref Institute. “However, we’ve found that power purchase agreements can often be a gateway for renewable energy systems into leased spaces because the burden of the upfront cost is not on the facility operator, but rather on a third-party financer,” says Rose. In this case, Skyline Innovations had just the financial tools Pfister needed to get started on solar heating and cooling. Says Pfister, “I’d been looking over it for a long time, and then Skyline Innovations came to me.” Skyline paid the costs and shared the benefits of a solar thermal installation through a third-party financing arrangement called a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Through the PPA, Skyline guarantees customers’ savings by covering the upfront cost of the installation and selling the energy produced by the 29E
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system back to the building at a fixed discount to the utility rate. Skyline owns, operates, monitors and maintains the system over the length of a 10year contract. As Skyline Innovations CEO Zachary Axelrod explains, “We provide price-indexed energy. Every unit of heat we deliver will be a fixed percentage cheaper than utility-supplied fossil fuel for the property owner if we deliver it,” usually at 15 percent to 35 percent less than the utility. The customer thus gets the desired energy-efficient system and savings without the upfront expenditure or logistical responsibilities. Pfister emphasizes, “They take care of everything. From the installation to the permits to all the details that no one else is familiar with unless you’ve been in the business.” Even with third-party financing, solar heating projects often require incentives to compete with taxpayer-funded oil and natural gas extraction. Statelevel incentives for commercial installations are typically based on a percentage of the installed cost of the system, or on the square footage of the installed collectors. However, while some new state programs are being developed, other state programs are disappearing. The best resource for learning about current incentives is managed by the North Carolina Solar Center, www.dsireusa.org.
Additionally, solar heating for applications like water heating and space heating and cooling is eligible for the 30 percent federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The combination of the ITC with any local or state incentives can sometimes cut the cost of a thermal system by more than half. And although Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) — the solar credits that power utilities pay to customers who install solar on their roofs — are mostly generated by photovoltaic systems, solar heating counts toward the solar renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requirement in several states, including Arizona, Washington, D.C., Maryland, North Carolina, Nevada and New York. Today, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is working to have more states allow for solar heating to qualify as part of its RPS. And for good reason; the solar heating and cooling sector has produced a strong return on investment for the public dollar and, according to SEIA, more than 90 percent of Americans want greater use of these technologies. The Skyline and the Pfister Family’s Laundry project happened with the help of both federal and Pennsylvania tax incentives. The project was eligible for and received the U.S. Treasury Department Renewable Energy Grant, which covered 30 percent of project costs. In addition, Pennsylvania
state incentives covered around an extra 20 percent of costs. While applying for tax credits is a work-intensive process, Skyline Innovations “did all the paperwork,” according to Pfister. Skyline also got the necessary approvals from the complex owners and the township. Alan Rushforth, who designed the system and headed the installation, conceived a creative platform for the large storage tank. If the tank were placed on the roof, it would freeze in Pennsylvania’s cold winters. Since the building had no spare floor space but had 15-foot ceilings, Rushforth designed a structural platform over the gas water heaters to hold the 500-gallon solar tank. Overhead, eight 4’x10’ solar collectors have an eye-catching perch on the roof. After the initial installation, Rushforth made several visits, painstakingly ensuring that the system ran at 100 percent capacity. And thanks in part to his work, this solar system has a bright future: According to Eneref Institute, it’s not unusual for solar heating systems to continue to operate for thirty years. As the de facto utility and an industry leader in its use of monitoring technology, Skyline Innovations will use its special software to ensure that the solar hot water system is running optimally at all times. And while Skyline continues to take care of the entire system, all Pfister needs to do is pay his permanently reduced bills. Regardless of the system’s production, Pfister pays Skyline the same agreed-upon rate for the Laundromat’s hot water, indexed at 35 percent below the standard rate. Energy savings aside, Pfister finds that customers appreciate the system, which is visible on the roof, saying, “I think everybody really likes the fact that it’s the image that you present. Which is nice, every business could use that, everybody embraces the concept.” edc CORYN WOLK IS EDITORIAL RESEARCHER WITH THE ENEREF INSTITUTE.
Need to Know
What You about Biobased Products
ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS AND FACILITY MANAGERS SPECIFYING GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE BIOPREFERRED PROGRAM.
WHAT ARE BIOBASED PRODUCTS? Biobased products are produced from plants and animal byproducts, rather than petroleum or natural gas bases. The content of these goods originates in whole or in significant part from agricultural, forestry or marine materials. The legal definition comes from federal farm legislation and applies to new products in emerging or resurgent markets. Mature market products, or those with a significant market penetration in 1972, like paper plates and wood furniture, are excluded from the BioPreferred program. WHAT IS THE BIOPREFERRED PROGRAM? The BioPreferred program was established by the 2002 Farm Bill and has been strengthened by subsequent federal law as well as Executive Orders 13423 in 2007 and 13514 in 2009. Under the leadership of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the program sets biobased content criteria for product categories and oversees the certification of products for biobased content. The BioPreferred program is intended to increase federal procurement of biobased products to promote rural economic development, create new jobs and provide new markets for farm commodities while helping to decrease dependency on petroleum-based products.
WHAT DOES THE LABEL MEAN? The USDA Certified Biobased Product label became operational in February 2011 to confirm the biobased content of the packaging, the product or both.
Products displaying this label must meet minimum biobased content criteria established for the designated product category or the non-designated minimum of 25 percent. Designated category criteria are established based on industry performance data collected to support the preferred procurement process and include categories that range from as little as 7 percent for carpet to 90 percent for non-carpet floor covering, for example. Manufacturers and vendors using the BioPreferred label on a product have submitted test evidence verifying the biobased content of the product or package to USDA conducted by an ASTM-approved laboratory. The label confirms that the biobased content percentage indicated on the label is taken directly from the lab analysis. HOW ARE PRODUCTS CERTIFIED? USDA has established minimum biobased content for each product category designated for federal procurement.
IMAGE COURTESY OF FORBO.
LEFT Marmoleum sheet and tile resilient flooring products carry the BioPreferred label for being USDA certified 100 percent biobased.
The biobased content is determined by applying ASTM D6866, a standardized analytical method that compares the renewable/biological carbon to total organic carbon within solids, liquids and gases. The term “renewable,� for testing purposes, refers to recent plant-based and animalbased materials. WHAT ARE THE PRODUCT CATEGORIES ADDRESSED BY THE PROGRAM? USDA currently designates 77 categories of biobased products for the federal procurement preference with new categories being added continually. The categories of concern to the green building and design industry include non-carpet flooring, adhesives, composite panels, coatings, structural members, interior paints and coatings, carpets, and wood and concrete stains and sealers, to name a few.
HOW MANY PRODUCTS ARE CURRENTLY WITHIN THE PROGRAM? Currently there are 3,049 products in the BioPreferred catalog with federal procurement preference or certified with a label. To date, about 650 products have qualified to carry the label, and roughly one-third are cleaners and personal care products. A Presidential Memorandum issued in February is expected to result in a 50 percent increase in the number of new products that are designated as biobased. WILL LEED 2012 OFFER A CREDIT FOR BIOBASED MATERIALS? There will not be a specific credit for biobased materials, but products with these attributes will be able to contribute to the achievement of Materials & Resources credit under LEED 2012. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.BIOPREFERRED.GOV.
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The Green
Practitioner
BY TOMMY LINSTROTH, LEED AP TOMMY LINSTROTH, LEED AP, IS THE PRINCIPAL OF TRIDENT SUSTAINABILITY GROUP (WWW.TRIDENTSUSTAINABILITY.COM), A CONSULTING FIRM FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDING DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. HE CAN BE REACHED AT TOMMY@TRIDENTSUSTAINABILITY.COM.
Sustainability as the New Safety A CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY EXISTS WHEN GREEN PRACTICES BECOME A HABIT. Government regulation and oversight is often looked at as cumbersome, bureaucratic and unnecessary. But it’s amazing when such oversight becomes so ingrained into business practices that it simply becomes part of the corporate culture — so much so that it’s just how businesses operate, no questions asked. I’ve been fortunate to be spending a fair amount of time lately working with a Fortune 500-type company to embed sustainability into its core culture. Greening a building is relatively straightforward, but an entire organization? That’s another story. There are plenty of great examples out there from Interface to Patagonia, but those initiatives were driven by passionate environmental visionaries rather than from the bottom or middle up. This process has been eye-opening to say the least, but in no way more so than my new perspective that for the sustainability movement to be truly successful, it needs to be 100 percent ingrained into the core corporate culture. “Of course it does,” you might say. “Thanks for pointing out the obvious.” But it’s not so simple, especially for those with a design and construction mindset. It’s relatively easy to design and con30
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struct a green building — energy and water efficient, healthy IAQ, etc. And it gets more challenging as we push the design intent to net zero and off grid, for sure. But the crux of the problem is that when you hand over the keys to the front door of your super energy-efficient building to the owners or occupants, a lot of that can go right out the window (natural ventilation, I guess). You can install the most efficient lighting system, but if the occupants don’t turn them off, there go the savings. Recycling bins at every desk and compost bins in the cafeteria are worthless if people keep throwing everything in the trash. Low-VOC interiors are great until maintenance comes back with high-VOC paints to repair the scuffs on the wall. The only way to maximize the benefit of these systems is to see a complete corporate culture shift to sustainability. Easier said than done, right? But these types of culture shifts have been done successfully in the past, even if it was kicking and screaming. My time with this particular corporate client has helped me see the type of culture that is needed for this shift, and it is the culture of safety. Highlighting safety programs is taken for granted now because it is such a standard operating
procedure. But back in 1970 when the Occupational Health and Safety Act created OSHA with the mission to “assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance,” it was a different story. I’m sure people responded the same way then as they do today when you suggest implementing a sustainability culture — oh, that won’t work, that’s not needed, etc. But what happened? When you walk through a manufacturing or assembly facility, you can’t go more than 20 feet without seeing signs for safety glasses, hard hats, stay outside the line, report accidents, ear protection required, and on and on. These same companies now have weekly safety meetings to talk about safety-related issues and make sure everyone is in compliance. Can you imagine how
much more efficient our buildings would be if there were constant reminders to turn out the lights, shut down computers, recycle your waste, turn off the water, unplug you phones, eliminate your phantom loads? Can you picture weekly meetings where everyone in the building is getting together to remind each other to eliminate unnecessary energy use, and to hold each other accountable? Well I for one can, and that type of culture is what will truly have sustainable buildings and operations. Do we need an Occupational Sustainability and Efficiency Administration, an OSEA, for the 21st century? Maybe we do, maybe we don’t — but we need the same type of attention and commitment that is embedded in the safety culture to ingrain a lasting culture of sustainability — and that’s what’s going to make the difference. edc
Flooring created for every step you take... for the facts.
When it comes to the environment, red, white, and blue are some of the greenest colors around. Making products in the US reduces energy used for transportation, supports the American workforce, and keeps dollars invested locally. When it’s time for our products to be recycled, like those we show here, they don’t have far to go to start the product life cycle all over again.
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s s #%.4)6!
centiva.com
Shown above: Centiva products on their way to be recycled. Reader Service No. 153 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
Contour Victory
CARPETS, HEALTH AND IAQ Having an effective carpet cleaning program is the first step in maintaining indoor air quality. By Robert Kravitz
There have been a number of surprising studies throughout the years regarding the amount of germs and bacteria that can be found on office desks, cell phones, and the sponges we use to wipe down counters and wash dishes. However, one study that has gotten relatively little notice relates to carpets and concerns about indoor air quality. In that study, which was conducted by the University of Arizona several years ago, researchers asked a group of people to wear brand-new shoes for two weeks. They were to wear the shoes everywhere — to school, to work, shopping, etc. After two weeks, the shoes were returned to be tested for contaminants that might have collected on the shoe bottoms. What researchers discovered surpassed their expectations. Their findings included the following: The shoes collected more than 420,000 units of bacteria, and all the shoes had varying amounts of bacteria on them. Potentially hazardous levels of E. coli were present on about one-third of the shoes. Greywater, food, drinks, grease, tar and dust were found on all of the shoes to varying degrees. These kinds of contaminants and bacteria all have the potential to negatively impact indoor air quality (IAQ) when they are walked into a facility on users’ shoes. However, in most cases, carpets act as an environmental filter,
IMAGES COURTESY OF U.S. PRODUCTS.
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A FACILITY WITH A MODERATE SOIL RATING SHOULD trapping soils, bacteria, and contaminants and stopping them from becoming airborne, which means healthier IAQ for everyone. But the effectiveness of carpeting as an environmental filter is dependent on maintenance. Carpets must be properly cleaned and maintained at regular intervals in order to protect IAQ. And this typically begins with the creation of an effective and sustainable carpet maintenance program.1 CREATING A CARPET MAINTENANCE PROGRAM According to Doug Heiferman, a textile specialist and trainer with The Clean Trust2 (a nonprofit organization that promotes the proper and effective cleaning, maintenance and installation of carpets), the first step toward creating an effective, sustainable carpet maintenance program should be training and certifying the technicians in charge of carpet cleaning. “Certification cannot be stressed enough,” notes Heiferman. “[Cleaners and technicians] must possess the knowledge to properly maintain carpets as a first line of defense to foster good IAQ.” Another step that must be taken before creating an effective carpet maintenance program is studying the amount of foot traffic and the number of people who generally use each carpeted area. This information will help determine the “soil rating” of the facility — that is, the measure of the intensity of the soil load that can accumulate in the carpets. These ratings are designated as light, normal or moderate, heavy, or extreme. This soil rating will help determine the frequency of such tasks as vacuuming, interim carpet cleaning and hot-water carpet extraction. For instance, a facility with a moderate soil rating should be vacuumed two to four times per week to remove dust, contaminants and particulates from carpets. Additionally: Spotting should be performed daily or as soon as spots are noticed. Heavy traffic areas should be cleaned using either interim or restorative carpet cleaning methods every six months. All carpets should be cleaned using hot-water carpet extraction at least once per year.
protect IAQ can be determined only on a case-by-case basis. “Facilities vary in traffic, soiling rates and usage,” explains Heiferman. “Additionally, climate and the desired appearance level of the carpet are considerations that must be evaluated in order to build an effective maintenance program.” CONTROLLING SOIL RATINGS While the soil ratings for a facility must be determined on an individual basis, there are steps all facilities can take to help control their soil levels — and it all actually begins outside the facility. Surrounding parking lots and walkways should be regularly cleaned and maintained to help prevent dust and contaminants from entering the facility and damaging IAQ. According to JoAnne Boston of Crown Mats and Matting, high-performance matting systems play a crucial role in keeping indoor facilities and their air healthy. Far beyond a simple welcome mat on which visitors can wipe their feet, a true matting system involves three different types of mats, all performing specific duties:
BE VACUUMED TWO TO FOUR TIMES PER WEEK TO REMOVE DUST, CONTAMINANTS AND PARTICULATES FROM CARPETS. Five feet of scraper matting placed outside the building entry. This is designed to scrape larger particulates and soils off the bottoms of shoes. Five feet of scraper/wiper matting placed directly inside the doorway. This removes remaining larger soils and collects and traps moisture from shoe bottoms. Finally, five feet of wiper matting placed in-
Unfortunately, determining the soil rating of a facility and how frequently carpet cleaning tasks should be performed to help www.edcmag.com
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IMAGE COURTESY OF U.S. PRODUCTS.
side the facility. “This is referred to as the final line of defense,” says Boston. “The wiper matting is designed to capture any remaining soil and moisture, preventing it from entering the facility.” The key benefit of an effective matting system is that it helps keep soil levels low, which can reduce the overall amount of cleaning required in a facility. Whenever less cleaning is required, it reduces the impact cleaning has on the environment, as well as providing cost savings. THE IMPORTANCE OF CARPET EXTRACTION IN PROTECTING IAQ Earlier we referenced the role
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of “interim” cleaning methods as part of an overall carpet maintenance program. Typically this refers to carpet cleaning methods that remove soils found on the top surfaces of the carpet. These include vacuuming as well as shampooing and bonnet cleaning methods. According to Mark Baxter, an engineer with U.S. Products, a leading manufacturer of professional carpet cleaning equipment, while these methods can be effective, the key thing to remember is that they are, as the name implies, only interim or short-term measures. “Interim methods can only do so much. In order for carpets to serve as a filter and protect IAQ, they must be thoroughly cleaned using restorative methods that can be accomplished only by carpet extraction.” Baxter takes this a step further, advising that carpets should be cleaned using “hotwater” carpet extractors that heat the water/cleaning solution to more than 200 F. “[Heat] improves the effectiveness of cleaning chemicals so that less chemical may be necessary. This makes the entire carpet cleaning [process] greener and more sustainable and helps protect IAQ,” says Baxter. THE MOLD ISSUE The presence of moisture in carpets can foster microbial growth such as mold and mildew, which can have a definite negative impact on IAQ. Even conditions such as high humidity and stagnant air can create a welcome environment for mold growth in carpets. Fortunately, an effective carpet maintenance program can minimize or even eliminate this problem. To help prevent the growth of mold and mildew, cleaning programs should include regular
inspections for water intrusion that can lead to mold growth. Along with hot-water extractors, “low-moisture” extractors can help prevent the growth of mold resulting from restorative carpet cleaning. Low-moisture extractors typically release less water into carpets and have more powerful vacuum systems to extract moisture. The goal of lowmoisture carpet cleaning is for the carpet to dry within approximately two hours (instead of the six or more hours it can take after using a conventional carpet extractor). This reduced drying time means that low-moisture extractor systems can significantly reduce the possibility of mold growth. Unfortunately, many facilities both large and small do not have a carpet maintenance program in place. Yet having such a program is so important that many cleaning consultants recommend this information be put in writing to formalize it and ensure that all steps are implemented as scheduled. “A program that addresses all of these cleaning and maintenance issues — beginning with the proper training of cleaning technicians — promotes sustainability and protects IAQ and the health of all building users,” says Baxter. “It also ensures that soils and contaminants are removed from carpets, which not only enhances their appearance but increases their longevity as well.” edc ROBERT KRAVITZ IS A FORMER BUILDING SERVICE CONTRACTOR, AUTHOR OF TWO BOOKS ON THE INDUSTRY, AND NOW A WRITER FOR THE PROFESSIONAL CLEANING INDUSTRY.
1
While the word “sustainable” has different meanings, for our purposes here it refers to using natural resources in a responsible manner so as to protect their use for future generations.
2
The Clean Trust was formerly known as the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC).
THE CONNECTION WATER-ENERGY
Create an energy-efficient building by reducing water use.
By Klaus Reichardt
Twenty years ago, when engineers would
related energy demands and promote sustainability, architects and developers need to start putting water conservation into their building plans, ideas and designs. This is the conclusion of Hadley Arnold, co-director of the Arid Lands Institute at Woodbury University, Burbank, Calif. The organization has been pressing architects “to treat water more seriously [and make it] basic to the design process.” Architects have been taking steps for more than a decade to reduce energy consumption, such as constructing greener buildings that take advantage of natural light as well as better insulated facilities, both of which can reduce energy consumption. However, they are just starting to think of water efficiency as a way to reduce energy consumption. Additionally, reducing water needs in new facilities has been turned over to “engineers who give us better toilets and waterless urinals to solve the problem,” says Arnold. While the new generation of toilets and no-water urinal systems reduce water consumption rather dramatically in many locations, these units can only help so much. Entirely new approaches to building design are now needed to reduce facilities’ water demands and energy consumption. This is going to be one of the key challenges in sustainability in the 21st century. Making water efficiency a more critical component in future building projects and renovations will emerge as a common and practical way to save energy as well. edc
finalize plans in preparation to build a major facility such as a large office building or industrial site, water was very low on the project’s list of concerns. Now, according to Arnold Smith, vice president of technology for Fluor, an engineering, construction and management corporation, “It’s on the top of the list … [and] local governments are going to great lengths to protect their water resources.” It now appears clear that in order to stay ahead in building design and construction, today’s engineers must consider the use of vital resources, such as water and energy. Increasingly, water is in short supply in major areas of the U.S., and not necessarily just because of droughts. Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute,1 says in certain areas of the U.S., “all the water is already spoken for. This means if you have a project that needs water, you either have to find a new source or take it from someone who already has the water.” However, depending on a building’s size and needs, finding a new source of water or sharing may not be practical. In some cases, these water shortages are because inadequate supplies cannot meet growing populations and commercial/industrial demands. In other situations, traditional water supplies are simply drying up. For instance, a 2008 report in the National Geographic News indicated there is a 50 percent chance that Lake Mead, which has historically provided water to large sections of Nevada, Colorado and Arizona, will be dry in a decade. Some water experts say that percentage is much higher today, prompting engineers and architects to incorporate sustainable designs with long-term vision. But, there is another issue we must understand when it comes to water and using it more efficiently: Water and energy are interconnect-
ed. In fact, some water experts believe they should be thought of as one. Water is now integrated in every aspect of energy, from exploration and production to storage and delivery to end-users. Similarly, energy is involved in every aspect of water, from water exploration and drilling to storage and its final delivery. This means advocates promoting sustainability and sustainable building development essentially have a “two for one” when it comes to energy and water conservation — saving water means saving energy, and vice versa. While drilling and storage require large amounts of water and energy, the connection between water use and energy use becomes paramount when it comes to water delivery. Increasingly, water is now being pumped and transported from greater distances, which demands more energy. In California, for example, water is now pumped over mountains to supply the Los Angeles Basin. It is estimated that at least 20 percent of all the energy used in the state is to transport water from reservoirs and storage facilities in one area of California to homes, farms, factories, schools and office facilities in the L.A. Basin region. Gleick adds, “Most of the energy [used] in the entire Western U.S. is now used for [transporting] water.” This water-energy connection must be top of mind when building designers develop plans today and into the future. Additionally, managers and occupants must increase the use of best sustainable practices to maximize both energy and water usage.
A FREQUENT SPEAKER AND AUTHOR ON WATER CONSERVATION
PUTTING WATER HIGHER ON THE LIST Earlier, we mentioned that the use of water to actually construct facilities has moved from a minor to a major consideration. But, in order to use water more efficiently, reduce the
ISSUES, KLAUS REICHARDT IS FOUNDER AND CEO OF WATERLESS CO. INC, VISTA, CALIF. HE MAY BE REACHED AT KLAUS@WATERLESS.COM.
1
Based in Oakland, Calif., the Pacific Institute conducts research and partners with organizations to produce solutions that promote sustainability, protecting the environment and economic development.
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LEEDProfessional NAME: TIM SHEN
SPOTLIGHT
TITLE: DIRECTOR, SUSTAINABILITY ASIA COMPANY: CBRE CREDENTIAL(S): LEED AP O+M
Why did you become a LEED AP? AT THE TIME I chose to become a LEED AP it was really the only professional credential available to me in Asia that was both internationally recognized and would demonstrate to clients and colleagues that I had more than a cursory understanding of green building issues. It was an opportunity to learn more about the green building movement, which at that time was clearly gaining momentum across the region, and to help me establish a platform to engage in dialogue, contribute meaningfully to projects, and facilitate conversation with CBRE and our clients on green building trends,
How does your LEED Professional credential(s) help you in your job or career? From your experience, is the credential useful across different backgrounds or professions?
concepts and particularly ways to translate corporate responsibility goals and commitments into green building strategy in Asia.
BECOMING a LEED AP has had a significant positive impact on my personal career development. Taking the initiative to study for and achieve this credential demonstrated my personal commitment to the firm, and I believe contributed to me eventually becoming regional director of sustainability. It
How are LEED and your credential(s) relevant/valuable where you work?
has certainly helped open a lot of doors for me and allowed me
WHILE most countries in Asia have their own national green
with real estate to consider acquiring the LEED Green Associate
building rating systems which are robust and successful in their own
credential. Regardless of profession or professional background,
right, we’ve seen the market adoption of LEED across the region
if you’re involved with buildings in some way this is an excellent
accelerate, particularly since 2007. There are now LEED projects
qualification to hold. I still meet a lot of people in Asia who, even
registered in at least 19 countries across Asia from Bangladesh to
though they may have been in the business for a long time,
Vietnam, alphabetically speaking, and China and India are really
have little more than a cursory understanding of sustainability
leading the way in terms of total numbers of registered projects.
or green building issues, but increasingly want to know more as
The registration growth curve for LEED-CI has been pretty much
their companies or clients move forward with their own green
exponential since ’07, demonstrating a very strong corporate
initiatives. The LEED Green Associate qualification is a great
occupier demand for green-certified fitouts, even in markets like
credential for learning the fundamentals of green building
Hong Kong where there haven’t been LEED-certified buildings to
and LEED, and it is perfect for a broad range of professionals
move into. And apart from a drop in 2010 off the back of the GFC,
from brokers, consultants, surveyors and valuers, marketing
LEED-NC/CS registrations have largely followed the same path
professionals, and the list goes on.
to meet a very broad spectrum of green building practitioners from all over Asia and around the world, which has culminated in being involved in the formation of Platinum, a society for LEED Professionals, based in Hong Kong. I generally encourage everyone I meet who is at all involved
(there has been a strong rebound this year to date). Because I have a regional role at CBRE and many of our
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Stepping up from that, I think anyone directly involved with LEED projects should absolutely consider going forward to become a
clients are multinational, the green building conversation almost
LEED AP. As projects explore deepening levels of environmental
inevitably will involve LEED at some point, and in many cases
performance, more and more specialized professionals will be
it’s only about LEED. That makes knowledge of the system and
brought on board, and being a LEED AP will provide a great
my AP credential particularly useful when engaging in that
platform from which to get involved with projects whether you’re
dialogue, regardless of whether a client eventually opts to pursue
a building engineer or property manager, a landscape architect,
certification using LEED or another rating system.
a project manager or a site ecologist.
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How are you maintaining your credential(s)? What activities are you doing?
AN EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY FOR LEED PROFESSIONALS By Arnold Kee LEED professionals who want their knowledge to evolve with LEED should pursue a set of activities each year that is timely and diverse in both subject matter and delivery methods. Timely activities are those that focus on green building topics found in current versions of LEED or
ATTENDING Greenbuild for the first
in other complementary building standards. Diversifying the subject
time in 2011 was clearly a big help to
matter of activities can increase one’s ability to integrate knowledge
maintaining my credential, but I don’t
with a LEED project team. Relevant subjects are those that are derived
anticipate achieving even the prescriptive
from concepts reflecting LEED credit categories and how they have
CMP requirements as being particularly
been applied. “LEED specific” activities are those which explicitly help
challenging as an active participant in
participants apply concepts to identified credits or processes in LEED
the green building movement in Asia —
rating systems. “General green building” activities may refer to LEED,
hopefully I won’t come to regret that
but leave it to participants to make those same connections. Whether
prediction! I accrue some Continuing
one develops an expertise in or a general understanding of those
Education hours from being directly
concepts, both can enhance project success.
involved in LEED projects. In addition,
Diverse delivery methods can be based on education or
with the work we’re doing with Platinum,
experience. Examples include: conferences, courses (either online
we’re going to be putting together a
or in person), LEED project participation, presentations, articles and
robust education platform that all LEED
volunteer efforts. Varying these methods can ensure that one gains both
professionals in Hong Kong and elsewhere
theoretical and practical knowledge.
can sign up for. This will include ERB-
LEED professionals are “knowledge consumers.” As such, they should
approved education sessions, webinars and
be savvy when making education purchases. Options range in price from
presentations; having Platinum members
free short articles to higher-priced comprehensive CMP packages. And
write and present their own sessions —
like any free market, it is up to the educators to present their value and
particularly related to sharing knowledge
for the consumers in turn to make decisions driven by their standards.
about specific technical aspects and how
Some consumers may favor convenience and expedience over
to successfully apply LEED to projects in
content, relevance, quality or job applicability, but education providers
Asia; we’re also going to be looking at
should offer enough information for consumers to make those
setting up a Platinum newsletter with a
choices accordingly. Concurrently, GBCI will monitor course quality and
technical editorial board that members
relevance to encourage us all to keep raising our standards.
can then contribute articles to for peer
Successful LEED projects integrate knowledge, professional
review before being published to facilitate
disciplines and values. Thus, we believe that as LEED professionals
maintenance through authorship.
pursue the best education available, the evidence of what they
LEED APs should be industry experts. And with all things, it takes constant training to
have learned will be reflected in their job performance, building performance and, ultimately, the built environment. edc
stay on top of your game. Ultimately, I hope we can create a platform that will make
Arnold Kee is the director of continuing education at the Green Building
credential maintenance an enjoyable learning
Certification Institute. He has worked for 15 years at various nonprofits
and sharing experience for everyone, rather
identifying the intersections of employment, education and opportunity in
than being viewed as a chore to be ticked off.
emerging job markets. He is a graduate of Tufts University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and is currently studying epistemology.
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BY MICHAEL J. BERNING, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C
BURNING questions BERNING answers
MICHAEL BERNING IS THE DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FOR HEAPY ENGINEERING, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN PROVIDING INNOVATIVE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN, COMMISSIONING, LEED AND ENERGY-RELATED SERVICES. HE CAN BE REACHED AT MJBERNING@HEAPY.COM OR 937-224-0861.
Green Medicine IS SUSTAINABILITY IN HEALTHCARE A NEW CONCEPT OF ‘GREEN MEDICINE,’ OR JUST GOOD MEDICINE? It was great timing to have attended two healthcare-focused sustainability conferences this past month, the Symposium on Sustainability in Health Care (SSHC-12) and CleanMed. The lessons learned at these conferences clearly provide excellent support of the need for and the positive impact of (via actual data) the recently launched LEED for Healthcare rating system. With total spending on healthcare now more than 17 percent of our GDP in the U.S., this is not a market sector to ignore; unfortunately, sustainability in this market has not been as central a focus as it has in higher education and other markets. Fortunately, though, as these two conferences have shown, there are many healthcare sustainability leaders willing and enthusiastic to share their successes — and challenges. As in all market types, sustainability relative to healthcare is about the person (primarily the patient in this case), and not necessarily just the building. Plus, sustainability and the impact our buildings have on the person, central to green building design, certainly works well in supporting the mission to deliver quality healthcare. 34
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Consider this: In the U.S., healthcare buildings are second only to manufacturing facilities in energy intensity. The healthcare market spends more than $8 billion annually on energy, and the energy utilization index for hospitals is nearly twice as much as the typical commercial office. Perhaps focusing (initially) on the sustainability sector of energy efficiency should be basic for this market. (Hospital CFOs certainly know the value of shaving a single dollar off the bottom line, as it would take generating $20 in new revenue to essentially equal that same outcome.) Water scarcity is becoming an ever-increasing focus in many areas of the U.S., let alone the world, and the healthcare market is a major contributor to our overall water consumption. The typical 200-bed hospital uses the same amount of water annually as nearly 300 households, which is approximately equal to filling 1 million bathtubs with water. Water reduction savings of well beyond 20 percent were reported by many healthcare providers after they implemented sustainable water strategies. These efforts not only conserve a limited resource, but perhaps more important to the bottom line, they also produce tens of
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The LEED Gold Diley Ridge Medical Center in Central Ohio was a design
collaboration of DesignGroup Architects and Heapy Engineering. It features a full-service, 24-hour ER, clinical laboratory, state-of-the-art imaging center and women’s health services. PHOTO COURTESY OF JE EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY.
thousands of dollars in annual and ongoing cost savings. Energy and water conservation strategies should be the next revenue source for this already financially stressed market. Was ever the focus on reducing your healthcare organization’s carbon footprint a means to directly provide more resources (dollars) for patient care? Next, think about sustainable materials. How do the materials used in the construction of healthcare facilities correlate to the 2004 Red Cross study that found and identified more than 280 chemicals in umbilical cord blood? (Of these, some 180 are known carcinogens and 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system.) Many of these chemicals are found
in the paints, coverings and other materials commonly used in our buildings today. Again, implementing sustainable solutions to provide healthcare that does no harm is fundamental to healthcare sustainability. (Refer to www. noharm.org for more information.) This only touches the surface of the findings reported at these conferences. So, as one person commented, “Do we invent a new concept of ‘green medicine’ or really, is it just good medicine?” Isn’t this what we should expect from our healthcare industry? edc IN FUTURE ISSUES OF EDC, THIS AUTHOR WILL ADDRESS SPECIFIC TOPICS REGARDING SUSTAINABILITY IN NEW CONSTRUCTION AS WELL AS RELATED TOPICS FOR EXISTING FACILITIES.
By Barbara Horwitz-Bennett
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Sustainability Floors the Industry WITH TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVES, NEWER STANDARDS AND INCREASING QUANTITIES OF RECYCLED AND RECYCLABLE CONTENT, THE COMMERCIAL FLOORING INDUSTRY IS EMBRACING SUSTAINABILITY MORE THAN EVER.
Just as mechanical and electrical building equipment continues to make advancements in sustainability, interiors are no exception, particularly flooring systems. In fact, between newer environmentally focused standards, transparency initiatives and increasing levels of recycled and recyclable content in flooring products, it seems that flooring materials are as green as ever. For example, NSF/ANSI 332 “Sustainability Assessment Standard for Resilient Floor Coverings” identifies environmental performance and sustainability attributes of products and provides a method of tracking sustainable product improvement over time. And FloorScore — developed by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute and Scientific Certification Systems — certifies hard-surface flooring and flooring adhesive products for compliance with strict indoor air quality (IAQ) emissions requirements. Green Squared is the flooring industry’s first sustainability standard for tile and tile installation materials. Developed by the Tile Council
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EDC is a registered provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. To earn 1.0 AIA-HSW-SD learning unit, attendees must read this article in its entirety and take the 10-question quiz at the end of the article or online at http://cecampus.bnpmedia.com and pass with a score of 80 percent or better. EDC is also a USGBC Education Provider; this course is approved by USGBC for 1 GBCI CE Hour toward LEED Professional credentialing maintenance. LEED Professionals may submit their hours to Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) under the “Professional Development/Continuing Education” activity type in “My credentials” at www.gbci.org. For those who pass the quiz with a score of 80 percent, a certificate of completion will be available for immediate download.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES After reading this article, you should be able to: Identify specific sustainability advances within the commercial flooring industry. Understand the main sustainability considerations to take into account when evaluating different flooring systems. Gain insight into common flooring applications for different building types and why specific materials work well for a particular market. Understand which flooring system sustainability attributes that the LEED rating system recognizes and doesn’t recognize with its current rating system. Understand the issue of moisture accumulation between concrete floor slabs and low permeability flooring finishes, and how to combat it.
of North America (TCNA) under the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) process, this sustainability standard recognizes manufacturers for their environmental leadership and corporate social responsibility across a broad range of indicators. Scientific Certification Systems, UL Environment and NSF are among the first third-party certifiers accredited by TCNA to conduct evaluations under this standard. Perhaps even more significant, six major flooring manufacturers recently kicked off a pilot program, Health Product Declaration (www.hpdworkinggroup.org), with the goal of creating a universal format for disclosing product ingredients with associated health information, which Peter Syrett, AIA, LEED AP, associate principal, Perkins+Will, New York, credits as “one of the strongest efforts towards transparency in the building products marketplace.” Explaining the importance of transparency, Syrett relates, “transparency is the concept that when consumers have access to unfiltered, detailed and meaningful information about products, they can make informed choices about their purchases. Foremost for building products, transparency is about peeling back the layers of opaqueness about material composition, and letting consumers know what a given product is made out of.”
The Big Apple designer also gives a nod to InterfaceFLOR for its new Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) process which provides end-users with a detailed environmental footprint of its products. Offering some perspective, Dominic Rice, vice president, sales and marketing, Armstrong Commercial Flooring, Lancaster, Pa., whose company was involved with the development of NSF/ANSI 332, only sees this trend continuing. “We’ve heard from designers and architects that sustainability will be more, not less, significant as a decision-making factor, and they expect to see greater regulation and wider mandates in this area.” MARKET CHECK Taking a quick look at the overall commercial flooring market, the Reading, Penn.-based market research firm, Market Insights/Torcivia, in its most recent U.S. FLOOReport, found that carpet continues to account for the lion’s share of the commercial marketplace at 70 percent, with ceramic tile at 13 percent, resilient flooring products at 11.2 percent, hardwood flooring accounting for 3.8 percent of the market and laminates at 1.9 percent. Within the carpet industry, the popularity of carpet tiles continues to overshadow broadloom, while stone, marble and tile seem to be
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gaining traction with hard surfaces, according to Ralph O. Godfrey, R. Godfrey Consulting, Wildomar, Calif. “While there’s still a good amount of wood flooring, we’re seeing people move away from it because it takes a lot to maintain. Instead, they’re going to flooring laminates as an alternative,” observes Godfrey, an industry veteran who offers consultation, certified inspections and expert testimony on all things flooring. As for resilient flooring, the West Coast consultant is seeing more products that look like wood or stone, and for restaurants and chain stores, polished and finished concrete is frequently the flooring of choice. Another trend, notes Angie Clarkson, LEED AP BD+C, registered interior designer, LWPB Architecture, Oklahoma City, is the growing popularity of solid and luxury vinyl flooring, as well as sheet vinyl and vinyl tile products which don’t require wax or stripping chemicals. SIZING UP THE OPTIONS When evaluating how different materials and products compare, sustainability-wise, it’s important to take a holistic view and consider a number of key variables such as life-cycle cost and maintenance in addition to recycling. “Ideally, a sustainable material analysis should look at the entire life cycle of a product
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from extraction to disposal, and also critically examine a broad spectrum of factors such as embodied energy and material health,” states Syrett. “For example, for wood flooring, where and how it is harvested is an important consideration; for a synthetic material such as a commercial carpet tile, the composition can be very different depending on the manufacturer; and the transportation of a heavy material like concrete is energy intensive, so where it is being manufactured in relationship to the jobsite is a key environmental concern.” To get started, the following is an abbreviated look at the sustainable pros and cons of different flooring materials. Wood. While the use of salvaged or reclaimed wood, certified wood or bamboo, all contribute to the perception that wood is a sustainable material, it’s somewhat more complex than that. For example, even though bamboo is desirable as a rapidly renewable material, it’s almost exclusively grown in China and must be shipped overseas. Even if the wood is sustainably harvested or reclaimed, manufacturers usually add laminating adhesives and other chemicals, which are essential for durability and performance but can negatively affect indoor air quality. Still, wood does have a number of green attributes to its credit, as the National Wood
Flooring Association, citing a number of credible sources, lists the following (www.woodfloors.org/Green.aspx): Wood floors use less water and energy to produce than other flooring options. Wood is a carbon-neutral product that produces oxygen during its growth cycle and stores carbon during its service life. A good quality, well-installed hardwood floor offers a long service life. Vinyl, Vinyl Composition Tile, Luxury Vinyl Tile. To its credit, VCT is considered to offer the lowest first cost and is therefore an excellent value, according to Clarkson. And while maintenance protocols for VCT and sheet vinyl typically require strong chemicals and strippers, manufacturers have recently been able to reduce the material’s flooring maintenance requirements. At the same time, most vinyl flooring contains polyvinyl chlorides, i.e., PVC, although the material is free of heavy metals and other plasticizers and, in many cases, still meets LEED requirements. Carpet, Carpet Tiles. While carpet used to have a reputation of claiming huge areas of landfill space, this is slowly, but surely, changing. “Much commercial carpet today can be completely recycled, including the backing systems,” states Godfrey. And thanks to the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) — a joint industry-government initiative — reclamation and landfill diversion numbers are significantly increasing. According to CARE statistics, the recycling volume of carpeting increased by 10 percent from 2009 to 2010, with 60 percent going into engineered resins and plastic parts, 31 percent being reused in carpet, and 5 percent finding new life in carpet cushion. Concrete. When evaluating concrete solely based on recyclability, Godfrey claims that it’s probably one of the most recyclable materials around. And with more manufacturers substituting energy-intensive Portland cement with fly ash and other supplementary cementitious materials, concrete is becoming more sustainable. Fly ash is a particulate matter that is a waste product of burning coal and collected from the smokestacks of coal-burning power plants. While the finished concrete product typically doesn’t pose a risk, fly ash does contain heavy metals and workers are exposed to these chemicals during fabrication.
Additionally, the installation and polishing process can be rather labor intensive and when done improperly, concrete is vulnerable to cracking, says Kelli Griffith, LEED AP, NCIDQ, marketing director for the Debary, Fla.-based wholesale distributor, Commercial Flooring Distributors. Laminates. According to the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA), laminates are mostly recyclable and free from air-damaging chemicals. However, the adhesives can sometimes contain urea-formaldehyde. NALFA counters that any formaldehyde emissions fall below California Air Resources Board regulations, and therefore are not harmful. Furthermore, because most products attach to a floating floor, as opposed to the subfloor, this eliminates the need for glues and adhesives during installation. NALFA also points out that laminates can also take on the appearance of wood or stone, thereby sparing the use of these natural resources. Linoleum. While linoleum often comes with a higher first cost, some view it as an alternative to VCT since it contains no PVC and doesn’t require harsh strippers or cleaning chemicals, so in the long run, lower maintenance counterbalances the higher first cost.
Additionally, linoleum products — made from linseed oil, mineral oils and wood flour — are considered by many as sustainable and recyclable. Rubber. While rubber is a very resilient, stain-resistant product suitable for many different applications, more individual research into a specific manufacturer is necessary before making a selection as its composition varies significantly between manufacturers. For example, some products are made using recycled tires or contain larger quantities of natural rubber, as compared to plasticizers and binders, and can be PVC-free. But other products are made from higher percentages of synthetic rubber and chemical additives, resulting in VOCs. Porcelain, Ceramic Tiles. Based on their longer product life, porcelain and ceramic tiles are considered sustainable, however, they do require an energy- and water-intensive manufacturing process, which is sometimes exacerbated by the incorporation of recycled content, says Clarkson. “These materials do have the advantage of being mostly composed of abundant natural resources, but the additional weight of the products increases their transportation footprint,” adds Vernon.
GREEN GROUTS AND MORTARS A key aspect of flooring systems, manufacturers are making big strides in improving the quality and performance of grouts and mortars, in addition to boosting their eco-friendly attributes. For example, InterfaceFLOR has a Tactile line which enables glueless installation, in addition to other zeroVOC options. “There are no longer VOC issues. And while mortars may still give off odors, it doesn’t mean they’re harmful,” explains Ralph O. Godfrey, R. Godfrey Consulting, Wildomar, Calif. At the same time, Angie Clarkson, LEED AP BD+C, registered interior designer, LWPB Architecture, Oklahoma City, recommends looking carefully at a product’s technical data because sometimes waterborne or low-VOC products don’t offer the same holding power. “Similarly, an epoxy product may or may not meet the VOC limits referenced in the LEED system,” she adds. Peter Syrett, AIA, LEED AP, associate principal, Perkins+Will, New York, also points out that epoxy grouts, which are quite common, often contain Bispehnol A (BPA), an endocrine disrupting chemical.
A MORE THOROUGH ANALYSIS As noted, a true sustainable profile requires much more then a few casual observations about a material’s recycling properties and durability. For example, according to Godfrey, if one is evaluating a flooring material based on life
cycle, concrete is the best. But from a wearability and performance standpoint, carpet tile stands out as one of the best investments, he says. Essentially, Clarkson points out that there is no perfect product. While on the one hand, VCT is one of the least expensive materials
PREVIOUS PAGE A common choice for healthcare and educational facilities, rubber flooring offers great resilience and low maintenance upkeep. PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY/LWPB ARCHITECTURE. LEFT Considered to be a sustainable, recyclable flooring material, linoleum — as pictured here at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas — contains no PVCs and requires minimal maintenance. PHOTO COURTESY OF ARMSTRONG.
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COMBATING MOISTURE Perhaps the most significant factor driving the commercial flooring market is overcoming long-term performance issues when the floor finishes are placed on typical concrete floor slabs with elevated moisture levels, according to Emily Hopps, PE, senior staff II, flooring practice group leader, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Boston. For instance, carpet tile and vinyl composition tile (VCT) have a relatively low permeability. This means that the moisture inherent to the concrete cannot dry into the ambient air and will tend to collect between the floor finish and the concrete. “Depending on the moisture levels in the concrete, significant amounts of moisture can accumulate at this interface and cause failures like delamination, buckling and blistering,” cautions Hopps. Similarly, some wood and cork floors are prone to curling or buckling when exposed to moisture in concrete floors. Meanwhile, the low permeability of linoleum and rubber also creates a risk of debonding and blistering as a result of moisture accumulation. “Because of these changes to the formulation of the floor finish materials and the concrete substrates, the moisture content of the concrete must be accurately measured prior to installation of floor finishes. In some cases, additional measures to mitigate high concrete moisture levels must be implemented before moisture-sensitive floor finishes can be installed,” recommends Hopps. In addition, the engineer advises specifiers to select floor finishes that have the greatest chance of providing long-term performance, namely products offering higher permeability. “Some more permeable alternative commercial floor finishes include ceramic tile; open-backed carpet; polished or stained concrete, and semi-permeable cementitious urethane coatings,” she says. “These finishes can typically be applied directly to the surface of a concrete slab with high moisture content without fear of long-term moisture- or alkalinity-related problems.” When such materials are not an option, then the application of a moisture-mitigation coating on the surface of the concrete slab prior to installation may be a way to ensure proper long-term performance, according to Hopps. Explaining how it works, moisture mitigation coatings form a vapor retarder on the surface of the concrete to prevent slab moisture from contacting the floor finishes and withstand the high moisture and alkalinity levels in the concrete. “The moisture mitigation products with the best and longest track records are usually volatile organic compound-compliant, epoxy-based products applied as a coating to the surface of the concrete.” If a typical water-based adhesive is used to install the floor finish, then a cementitious underlayment may be required between the moisture mitigation coating and the floor finish to level the floor and absorb the water in the adhesive and promote proper cure.
on the market, it has a comparatively high longterm cost, whereas rubber, while expensive to purchase, offers a low long-term cost. Meanwhile, linoleum, carpet tile and no-wax luxury vinyl tiles fall somewhere in between. “The challenge is comparing across product types,” explains Armstrong’s Rice. “That’s why establishing an independent standard is key.” Consequently, NSF/ANSI 332, FloorScore, Green Squared and EPDs are all steps in the
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right direction. In addition, ISO 14044 Life Cycle Assessment considers the environmental impacts of a product from raw material extraction, manufacturing, transport, use and end-oflife disposition for a more holistic evaluation. New tools are helping specifiers and building owners evaluate green features. For instance, ecoScorecard (www.ecoscorecard.com) is a platform to help specifiers search for green products and document a product’s environ-
mental attributes according to assorted rating programs including LEED, Green Guide for Healthcare, Collaborative for High Performance Schools and Labs21. Emily Hopps, PE, senior staff II, flooring practice group leader, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Boston, recommends the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Environmental and Economic Stability application (www.nist. gov/el/economics/BEESSoftware.cfm), which calculates the environmental performance of differing commercial floor finishes. Overall, there has been a lack of standards and rigorous life-cycle studies across multiple flooring materials. According to veteran flooring consultant, Lewis G. Migliore, LGM and Associates, Dalton, Ga., nothing has been developed to calculate recycled content or its effect on life expectancy, nor the recyclability of a product relative to life-cycle costing. He says, “If the product can be recycled, the loop never ceases. The question then becomes how many times can a product be recycled and maintain its integrity: a question with no answer at this point in time.” Though there have been reports and additional assessment programs worth examining. For example, Dovetail Partners published “Life Cycle Assessment of Flooring Materials: A Guide to Intelligent Selection” that looks at ceramic tile, vinyl, linoleum, bamboo, hardwood, carpet made of natural or a variety of synthetic fibers, and more (www.dovetailinc.org). There’s also the Cradle to Cradle Certified program (www.c2ccertified.org) that reports to be a multi-attribute quality mark that assesses a product’s safety to humans and the environment, and design for future life cycles. Consequently, designers must work with the available resources and be sure to ask good questions when analyzing different product choices. To help see a product through multiple sustainability “lenses,” Syrett offers the following list of questions: What are the environmental impacts of daily, weekly and long-term cleaning? How will indoor air quality be impacted by cleaning or not cleaning this flooring system? Are there hidden long-term costs associated with the maintenance of this flooring system? What is the recycled content and where does it come from? How does the recycled content change the embodied energy profile of the product?
Are there known or suspected health issues associated with the recycled content? Specifiers must then factor in initial cost, the estimated life cycle of the facility and the floor, and options for end-of-life recycling. Overall, Syrett recommends a comprehensive comparison between products, which will require a lot of research and effort. But with experience, it becomes an easier process to navigate. Sustainability issues aside, Godfrey points out that the sheer proliferation of product choices in recent years has made it very challenging to know if a specific product is appropriate for a particular application. “It’s amazing how much inappropriate product gets installed,” observes Godfrey. “Twenty years ago, there were fewer products to deal with, so it was possible to do a lot of research. But now it’s very difficult to keep up with the new products. Still, if a designer specifies a product, he or she has to do some checking.” Sharing a recent disaster story, Godfrey was called in to evaluate a failing tile installation. It turned out that a compressible, sound-retardant material had been installed under VCT flooring in a healthcare facility, ultimately requiring the replacement of 100,000 square feet of flooring material. If those involved had been aware that the underlayment was compressible, a more suitable product could have been specified and the whole problem avoided. COMMERCIAL FLOORING AND LEED Another significant factor influencing the commercial flooring market is how different products and installation types rank when it comes to obtaining LEED points. To that end, it’s important to understand which LEED credits can be achieved through flooring. Some easier targets, says Clarkson, are indoor air quality points for materials and adhesives, recycled content and regional materials. Other categories include renewable materials and construction waste management, although Syrett points out that the number of credits a given product can contribute to vary greatly. To give specifiers a basic idea, Syrett shares the following LEED credits listing for flooring systems, applicable to LEED for New Construction (LEED-NC), LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEEDCI) and LEED for Schools: Materials and Resources MRc3 – Materials Reuse MRc4 - Recycled Content MRc5 - Regional Materials MRc6 - Rapidly Renewable Materials MRc7 - Certified Wood Indoor Environmental Quality IEQp1 - Minimum IAQ Performance IEQc4.1 - Low-Emitting Materials—Adhesives and Sealants IEQc4.2 - Low-Emitting Materials—Paints and Coatings IEQc4.3 - Low-Emitting Materials—Flooring Systems IEQc4.4 - Low-Emitting Materials—Composite Wood and Agrifiber Products IEQc5 - Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control
From classy to modern, subtle to splashy, carpet tile comes in all sorts of designs and patterns, with increasing percentages of recycled and recyclable content.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF INTERFACEFLOR.
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may qualify for LEED points, contractors can easily fall into the trap of not considering how those products will perform within the greater context of the building. For example, while bamboo is very eco-friendly, it’s also extremely sensitive to environmental conditions. Similarly, carpet can start to expand once the switch to the HVAC system is flipped.
This biobased tile product is made from 85 percent recycled limestone and contains no PVCs.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF ARMSTRONG.
Pilot Credits Pilot c1 - Life Cycle Assessment of Building Assemblies and Materials Pilot c2 - PBT Source Reduction: Dioxins and Halogenated Organic Compounds Pilot c11 - Chemical Avoidance in Building Materials Pilot c43 - MR - Certified Products Pilot c44- Transparency At the moment, LEED generally doesn’t award points for performance and durability, manufacturing efficiencies and corporate commitment to sustainability relevant to supply chain and operations; although a few pilot credits are beginning to address some of the following issues.
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For example, while a project can earn a LEED credit if the flooring product uses 10 percent recycled content, this is not necessarily a true assessment of that product’s environmental impact. However, the next version of LEED is expected to address a more holistic, life-cycle based approach to sustainability and emphasize performance. A key issue Godfrey brings up is the importance of getting the mechanical systems up and running before installing the flooring systems because different products are very sensitive to temperature and humidity conditions. “Most general contractors do not understand that you can’t build a building like you used to build it if you’re going for LEED certification,” he observes. With such a focus on specifying and installing products that
MARKET APPLICATIONS While specifiers have many choices when it comes to flooring systems, some materials are better suited for different building types than others. “Every building type has unique code, maintenance and performance requirements that must be considered when selecting a flooring product,” confirms Syrett. Healthcare. One big trend Godfrey is observing in the healthcare market is the application of vinyl plank flooring, which lends an appearance of wood and offers a relatively easy install. Clarkson also identifies rubber, linoleum and carpet as common materials since they’re durable and don’t require waxing or stripping. Education. The same materials also offer appeal to the education market for the same reasons. Still, many schools are sticking with VCT, and to a certain extent carpet tiles or broadloom. “VCT is a traditional choice for schools because of its very low initial cost, ease of installation and broad color selection,” notes Clarkson’s LWPB colleague Lisa M. Chronister, AIA, LEED AP, principal. While rubber is often more expensive, it offers better durability, sound attenuation and is easy to clean, she adds. Corporate. As for office buildings, Godfrey remarks, “Corporate is all over the map, depending on how high-end a building owner wants to be. It depends on aesthetics, desire and budget.”
At the same time, Clarkson sees carpet as a popular option based on acoustics, IAQ and flexibility. If high-end is the goal, combining carpet with wood, LVT or stone can lend a refreshing, upscale look, which can be a good strategy for sprucing up a corporate space, says Migliore. Retail. Perhaps the biggest trend in the retail market is stained and polished concrete. But retailers are also choosing synthetic vinyl planking and wood, as well as stone, marble and ceramic tile, says Godfrey. Meanwhile, Clarkson is also seeing carpet tile, linoleum and porcelain tile in these settings. In summary, all flooring experts agree that while sustainability is a very desirable attribute, it cannot be prioritized at the expense of the product’s proper application and ultimate performance. “If the wrong product is used, if the installation is compromised, or if it will cause replacement or failure, then all ‘green’ bets are off,” says Migliore. “The mantra must be ‘Get it in the door and keep it on the floor.’” Essentially, the key is collecting as much data as possible to be able to make the most informed decision. As Syrett states, “the old cliché of ‘the devil is in the details’ is particularly true for evaluating the sustainable performance of materials. The more information one has, the better the evaluation will be.” Consequently, the industry’s move toward transparency is very significant and bodes well for endusers moving forward. When consumers have access to unfiltered, detailed and meaningful information about products, they can make informed choices about their purchases. Foremost for building products, transparency is about peeling back the layers of opaqueness about material composition and letting consumers know what a given product is made out of,” explains Rice. edc
Which of the following initiatives or standards are not targeted at promoting transparency within the commercial flooring market?
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A. NSF/ANSI 332 “Sustainability Assessment Standard for Resilient Floor Coverings” B. FloorScore C. Health Product Declaration D. ReEntry
CORRECT ANSWERS AND FAX OR MAIL IT TO THE
1
ADDRESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS FORM.
Which flooring material is currently being used in the vast majority of commercial flooring applications, according to a recent report?
Which of the following statements is false?
True or False. Linoleum offers a low first cost, but is very expensive to maintain.
A. Wood floors use less water and energy to produce. B. The majority of current commercial carpet systems can be recycled. C. Vinyl composition tile comes with a very high first cost. D. All of the above are true.
A. Wood B. Carpet C. Ceramic tile D. Resilient flooring
A. An online tool which ranks flooring systems based upon recyclable content. B. A standard which evaluates a flooring product’s environmental impacts based upon raw material extraction, manufacturing, transport, use and end-of-life disposition. C. A standard which certifies flooring products based upon their levels of volatile organic compounds. D. None of the above.
Because of a joint industry-government initiative as well as manufacturers’ own closed-loop systems, reclamation and landfill diversion numbers increased by 10% from 2009 to 2010 for this product: A. Carpet and carpet tiles B. Laminates C. Vinyl composition tile D. Epoxy grouts
True or False. All epoxy grouts pose environmental or health concerns. True. False.
A. Hardwood B. Laminates C. Vinyl composition tile D. Porcelain tile
Which current LEED category is least applicable to flooring products? A. Construction Waste Management B. Recycled Content C. Regional Materials D. Renewable Energy
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Which flooring finish is most commonly found in schools because of its low initial cost, ease of installation and broad color selection?
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2 What is ISO 14044 Life Cycle Assessment?
True. False.
8 PROGRAM TITLE: SUSTAINABILITY FLOORS THE INDUSTRY EDC, June 2012 • Online: http://cecampus.bnpmedia.com (free)
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Which of the following is a recommended solution for dealing with moisture retention issues in concrete slabs? A. Choosing products with higher permeability levels. B. Applying a moisture-mitigation coating on the surface of the concrete slab prior to installation. C. Installing a cementitious underlayment between the moisture mitigation coating and floor finish. D. All of the above.
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EFCO Corporation
Kawneer Company, Inc.
Sloan Valve Company
www.antron.net PAGE 5 RSN. 39
www.efcocorp.com PAGE 9 RSN. 6
www.kawneer.com PAGE 19 RSN. 40
www.sloanvalve.com PAGE 11 RSN. 70
Big Ass Fans
Excel Dryer, Inc.
Lafarge North America
Syntheon Inc.
www.bigassfans.com/edc PAGE 4 RSN. 138
www.exceldryer.com PAGE 13 RSN. 72
www.lafarge-na.com/visitwithme PAGE 12 RSN. 71
www.syntheoninc.com PAGE 21 RSN. 74
Centiva
Flexco Corporation
nora systems, Inc.
U.S. Green Building Council
www.centiva.com PAGE 31 RSN. 153
www.flexcofloors.com PAGE 43 RSN. 14
www.nora.com/us/sentica-launch5 PAGE 3 RSN. 26
www.greenbuildexpo.org PAGE 44 RSN. 65
Construct Show
Forbo Industries, Inc
PPG Architectural Coatings
www.constructshow.com PAGE 42
www.forboflooringna.com PAGE 29 RSN. 16
www.ppgpro.com PAGE 23 RSN. 67
Construction Specialties
Green Building Certification Institute
Prosoco
www.c-sgroup.com/sun PAGE 15 RSN. 43
www.gbci.org/todd PAGE 2 RSN. 107
www.prosoco.com PAGE 14 RSN. 73
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION Volume 15, Issue 6 (ISSN 1095-8932) is published 12 times annually, monthly, by BNP Media II, L.L.C., 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084-3333. Telephone: (248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317. No charge for subscriptions to qualified individuals. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in the U.S.A.: $115.00 USD. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in Canada: $153.00 USD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $170.00 (int’l mail) payable in U.S. funds. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2012, by BNP Media II, L.L.C. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations. Periodicals Postage Paid at Troy, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION, P.O. Box 2148, Skokie, IL 60076. Change of address: Send old address label along with new address to ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION, P.O. Box 2148, Skokie, IL 60076. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. GST account: 131263923. Send returns (Canada) to Pitney Bowes, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. For single copies or back issues: contact Ann Kalb at (248) 244-6499 or KalbR@bnpmedia.com.
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edc
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R U B B E R
& V I N Y L F L O O R I N G S T A I R T R E A D S
A N D
resilient partner
Healthcare. Education. Retail. Sports. Build everything, including a lasting relationship.
[ Visit us: NeoCon – Booth 8-1082 ] Learn more about rubber and vinyl flooring at www.flexcofloors.com 1.800.633.3151 | www.flexcofloors.com Reader Service No. 14 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
Greywater storage 87% capacity.
Reader Service No. 65 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
Rotate light shelves.
Energy usage audit in progress.