Ten Tips for Designing Green Buildings:
Tip 1–Breath Easy
Use low emitting (VOC) products such as carpet, adhesives, paints, caulks, cleaning solutions, wall coverings, and furniture to improve indoor air quality.
Tip 2–Save Energy and Lower Costs
When planning a new facility, focus on building orientation, day-lighting, and the HVAC system.
Tip 3–Recycle…the Building!
Instead of constructing a brand new building, consider revamping an existing facility. Adaptive reuse extends the lifecycle of existing building stock, conserves resources, retains cultural and natural resources, and reduces waste, landfill, and environmental impact.
Tip 4–Consider Alternate Building Systems
- Pre-engineered systems have a 20+ year lifecycle.
- Precast concrete systems have a 50+ year lifecycle.
Tip 5–Define a Partnership
- Joint provision agreement: Cooperation of agencies before a facility is constructed.
- Joint-use agreement: Shared-use agreement by agencies negotiated after a facility is built.
Tip 6–Eliminate Finishes
In lieu of using a lay-in ceiling, use exposed concrete for the floor and expose the structure above.
Tip 7–Design an Open Layout
This will reduce construction cost, improve daylight/natural light, reduce duct runs, minimize material use, and ease space reconfiguration.
Tip 8–Incorporate Daylight and Views
Occupant well-being is a focus and also lowers energy cost and related carbon emissions. Since artificial lighting is a primary source of heat gain, it also contributes to substantial energy usage for cooling systems.
Tip 9–Conserve Water
Lowering volumes of potable water and supplying less water for treatment will increase energy savings and reduce carbon pollution.
Tip 10–Incorporate On-Site Renewable Energy<
Solar, wind, and geothermal energy sources provide a predictable cost for electricity over the life of the system and offer flexible expansion options if your needs change.
Final thought: In the end, we want to build healthy buildings for healthy people.
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