Rendered View of The Packard Foundation's New Home in Los Altos, California (Image courtesy EHDD Architecture)

Plug loads and process loads have been long considered outside the design team’s scope yet they can account for more than 1/3 of a building’s overall energy use. Net Zero Energy design, however, requires that all loads in a building be reduced. No client wants to increase the capacity of their costly solar PV array to cover energy usage generated by inefficient office equipment.

A rendering of the Exploratorium’s future new home at Pier 15 located between the Embarcadero and the San Francisco Bay. This Embarcadero view looks at the Exploratorium’s new main entrance facade with the new Observatory Building at the other end along the Bay waterfront and the East Bay beyond. (Image courtesy EHDD Architecture)

EHDD Architecture has completed four Net Zero buildings and currently has two in construction. In each of these projects, plug loads have proven to be a significant design consideration. As such, EHDD has conducted plug load studies of different projects to better determine the sources of these hidden loads and to develop strategies to reduce them. The studies uncovered some surprising truths about plug loads:

• The new home for San Francisco’s Exploratorium is aiming to be Net Zero Energy. Luckily for the design team, the existing exhibitions and office spaces provided an excellent opportunity to better understand the organization’s use of plug loads. The study found that a wealth of equipment, exhibits, and lighting were being left on all night, accounting for 37% of the facility’s plug load energy use. Through user education, plug load monitoring, better scheduling, and automatic timers, most of these loads will be drastically reduced or even eliminated.
• The Packard Foundation also had existing facilities that could be monitored during the design development phase of their new Net Zero Energy office building. The biggest surprise was the water coolers, which were found to account for 13% of plug load energy use. The study found that through a combination of purchasing policies, scheduling, and improved equipment efficiency, plug loads could be reduced by 58%, saving $820,000 on the cost of the PV system.  For example, by purchasing the MOST efficient monitors instead of just settling for Energy Star rated monitors, they were able to reduce annual energy use for each monitor by 59% from 134 kWh to 56kWh.
• The Net Zero Energy office building for Integrated Design Engineers and Associates found that the server and computers accounted for a whopping 88% of the facility’s plug loads. The project contains extensive monitoring that will give detailed data on plug loads and overall energy performance and help guide plug load reduction strategies.
• Scott Shell, a Principal at EHDD Architecture, also conducted an extensive plug load study of his Net Zero Electrical home in Marin. He found that one of his biggest energy hogs was from equipment and appliances left on standby mode. These ‘phantom’ loads accounted for 26% of his plug loads, the worst being a built-in stereo system that had come with the house. He was able to eliminate most of these loads with power strips and thereby saving money on his solar PV system.

The plug load studies have revealed some easy to implement energy saving tips that we now suggest to every client:

1. Establish a purchasing policy that specifies the best performing Energy Star and EPEAT certified equipment.
2. Consider replacing older equipment and appliances with newer, more efficient versions. Energy Star and other resources have calculators to determine the financial benefits of an upgrade.
3. Switch out all incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps.
4. Install occupancy sensor controlled plug load strips in each office/workstation and educate staff on proper use.
5. Install automatic timers on things such as vending machines, copiers, coffee makers, water coolers etc. to turn off unused equipment after hours.
6. Put all copiers and printers on standby modes.
7. Use PC Power Management software over the local network such as those offered by Verdiem, Faronics Technologies, or Big Fix Inc. to power down computers when they are not in use.
8. Use plug load meters to measure actual energy use of equipment and appliances. You may be surprised by what you discover!

IDeAs Z2 Design Facility/Office in San Jose, California: South Elevation with Sliding Glass Doors and Solar PV Shades. (Photo by David Wakely and photo courtesy Integrated Design Engineers and Associates)

IDeA Z2 Design Facility Office in San Jose, California Office Interior: Elements such as fluorescent light fixtures, energy efficient computer monitors, and occupancy sensor controlled plug load strips contribute to the reduction of plug loads. (Photo by David Wakely and photo courtesy Integrated Design Engineers and Associates)

Resources:

1. www.energystar.gov (for efficient appliances and equipment).  You can SORT the list of energy star products in the Excel format to find the MOST efficient appliance in each category.
2. http://www.toptenusa.org/ (a shorter list of the top 10 efficient Energy Star products in different categories)
3. Efficientproducts.org (electronics)
4. www.80plus.org (computers, servers etc)
5. www.wattstopper.com (power strips, controls, occupancy sensors etc)
6. www.verdiem.com (PC Power Management
7. www.epeat.net (environmental rating of electronics)
8. www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/how-the-companies-line-up (Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics)
9. www.p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-CE.html (Kill-A-Watt plug load meter)

Aerial View of the Beginning of Framing (Photo courtesy LDG & GCHP)

The Make It Right Foundation founded by Brad Pitt has so far built 50 of its 150 affordable, green, storm resistant single family homes in the Lower 9th Ward.  Global Green USA continues to build the Holy Cross Project , its sustainable low-income housing community consisting of 5 single-family homes, an 18-unit apartment building, and a community center/sustainable design and climate action center.

Aerial View of Construction Phase with Cool Roofs Half Way Complete (Photo courtesy LDG & GCHP)

At a larger scale, LDG Development and Gulf Coast Housing Partnership recently completed The Muses, a 263-unit apartment complex which will soon be certified as the first LEED NC-Silver multi-family development in the state of Louisiana and in the City of New Orleans.  The Muses borders two historic quarters at St. Charles Avenue and Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard.  The neighborhoods are mostly residential but have some mixed use and commercial corridors.

Aerial View of Project near Completion (Photo courtesy LDG & GCHP)

The urban infill project was built in two phases and on 4.8 acres of land which previously sat vacant for over ten years.  A welcomed addition to the neighborhoods, The Muses is a mixed income apartment complex in which low-income and market-rate units are intertwined, a concept which first met resistance and then gained approval from the financial lenders and surrounding neighbors.

Exterior Corner Elevation (Photo courtesy LDG & GCHP, Copyright 2010 Kim Pearson)

The Muses is the creation of a post-Katrina rebuild effort and partnership between Kentucky-based LDG Development (LDG), a developer of affordable rental and some for-sale housing, and Gulf Coast Housing Partnership (GCHP) , a local non-profit developer of affordable housing.  The partners took on equal roles throughout the development and LDG Development is the long-term owner of the property.  Per Mr. Chris Dischinger, one of the two founding partners of LDG:

“It was important for us to go for LEED certification because The Muses fits in with the long term sustainability goals of New Orleans and LDG believes that delivering quality projects is a good investment and that is our mantra for all of our properties.”

The co-designers of The Muses are Mathes Brierre Architects (architect of record) from New Orleans and the Weber Group from Louisville, Kentucky.

Exterior Corner Elevation (Photo courtesy LDG & GCHP)

At The Muses, the developers indeed invested in the quality of life of the residents, providing not only an environmentally friendly living environment, but also lifestyle amenities that are often unattainable by many affordable housing projects.  Amenities include a 24-hour business center equipped with high-speed internet, printers and scanner, a library and conference room, a clubhouse and media room, a fitness and health center which offer classes and trainers, an Internet cafe, and two playgrounds.

Fitness and Health Center (Photo courtesy LDG & GCHP)

Sustainable site and green building features at The Muses include the following:

SITE

• High density infill development bridging two existing historic neighborhoods
• Easy access to the surrounding community and its amenities
• Access to seven public transportation lines within two blocks of the property
• On-site covered bicycle storage

WATER

• Stormwater drainage design utilizes water retention areas with drought resistant plants/ landscaping and permeable pavers in the parking lots
• Drought resistant native plants and trees with no irrigation system
• Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures

ENERGY

• High efficiency, Energy Star appliances
• High efficiency HVAC with a SEER 16 rating
• Individual unit water heaters which shorten overall plumbing runs
• Third party commissioning of the building’s energy systems
• High efficiency fresh air system

MATERIAL SELECTION AND DISPOSAL

• All flat work concrete has a reflective characteristic to combat the heat island effect
• Cool roofs also used to combat the heat island effect
• Framing wood was pre-cut off site
• Low-VOC adhesives and sealants
• No-VOC paints with no added premium costs
• Linoleum and Shaw’s new 100% recyclable, PVC-free carpet by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC)
• Construction Waste Management:  15% all construction materials went off site and only 3% of that 15% went to the landfill.  The sorting of recyclables took place on site. Contractors have realized that recycling means less incurred fees for landfill disposal.

GENERAL COMFORT

• Nine foot ceilings throughout all apartments
• Residents have control over their thermal comfort
• Third party commissioning/verification of the thermal comfort systems
• 90% of the floor space in each apartment has access to daylight and views

Living Room Overall View (Photo courtesy LDG & GCHP)

Living Room with Adjacent Dining and Kitchen (Photo courtesy LDG & GCHP)

Green building measures and construction methods were utilized and implemented throughout the project.  Additionally, the project team transformed the construction site into a living classroom.  They invited non-project related subcontractors and general contractors to the jobsite throughout the construction process so that The Muses team could share with them proper techniques and lessons learned.  They covered tasks such as insulation installation, ductwork taping, pressure testing, moisture testing, and the comparison of caulking to a wood window versus an aluminum window.  That is quite an accomplishment for any jobsite that constantly faces deadlines, no less a jobsite with high green building standards.

View of the Living Room from the Dining Area (Photo courtesy LDG & GCHP)

View of the Kitchen and Dining Area (Photo courtesy LDG & GCHP)

While there is a range from green single family homes to small-scaled multi-unit projects going up in New Orleans, there is something to be said about building up density and making a larger, positive impact with large-scaled multi-unit buildings which is what the developers of The Muses have achieved.  Perhaps designing for density as part of the larger framework for sustainable urban living can help maximize the use of public transportation and shared amenities/services and consequently revitalize neighborhoods.  And perhaps rebuilding entire communities will take more than just fast, efficient roll-outs.  Smart, long-term planning needs to be considered.  When asked if the redevelopment of the hurricane-stricken neighborhoods was taking too long, per Mr. Paul Cressy, project manager for GCHP:

“The rebuilding efforts in New Orleans may be a bit behind, but perhaps the slowness has paid off because more consideration and thoughtfulness have been given to the overall city planning.”

A rendering of the Exploratorium’s future new home at Pier 15 located between the Embarcadero and the San Francisco Bay. This Embarcadero view looks at the Exploratorium’s new main entrance facade with the new Observatory Building at the other end along the Bay waterfront and the East Bay beyond. (Image courtesy EHDD Architecture)

When I was working as a construction manager, I was involved with a handful of complex historic preservation projects including the conversion of a historically significant church into affordable housing (Buena Vista Terrace) for seniors and the renovation of a small historic landmark (The Fireside) into a community center. Historic preservation often presents additional challenges not found in new constructions such as detailed exploratory analysis, careful demolition and reconstruction, and unanticipated structural conditions. During my tour of the Exploratorium’s future new home, I was very excited to see historic preservation taken to a different level in terms of its scope, scale, and complexity, and the unique challenges at the building site.  My previous Exploratorium article provided an overview of the museum’s green building features.  In this article, I will share some of the fascinating insights that I gained during my visit of the construction site.

At the Exploratorium’s construction site: the intersection where the new Observatory Building meets the existing Pier 15 building. (Photo by Oliver Shay)

The requirement to simultaneously upgrade an existing building to current building codes and preserve its historic features often presents many design challenges to architects and engineers.  It takes a lot of creativity and perseverance from every involved party to make it happen and come together smoothly.  The renovation of the historic Pier 15 building into the new Exploratorium is no exception.  EHDD Architecture and the rest of the project team turn an exercise in historic preservation into an opportunity to create a high quality, sustainably designed, and energy efficient building.   Here are some interesting facts and challenges about the project.

At the Exploratorium’s construction site: existing steel framed window frames located mostly along the east and west facades of the Pier 15 building will need to be upgraded to meet energy efficiency requirements. (Photo by Oliver Shay)

At the Exploratorium’s construction site: existing clerestorey windows on the north and south sides will need to be upgraded to meet energy efficiency requirements. The inside face of the exterior walls will be refreshed but without insulation. (Photo by Oliver Shay)

Historic Preservation and Energy Design

Historic preservation requirements brought about challenges in the design of the building envelope and energy systems.  The exterior and interior facades of the Pier 15 building were deemed by the historical preservation authorities as historical fabric, and thus could not be covered up.  Meaning, internal and external wall insulation could not be installed on either side of the building shell.  With approximately 190,000 square feet of space, how did they solve the insulation problem and still exceed Title 24 by at least 40%?  The roof and floor received super efficient insulation and the windows and clerestories received super efficient glazing.  The mechanical system utilizes a radiant cooling and heating floor and does not rely on evaporative cooling towers.  The lighting design consists of high efficacy lighting and energy saving controls which are complemented by appropriate interior paint colors.

At the Exploratorium’s construction site: reinforcement for the new 8 feet-deep concrete pile caps located at the south side of the Pier 15 building. (Photo by Oliver Shay)

Historic Preservation and Structural Work

As part of the historic preservation and seismic code-compliance efforts at Piers 15 and 17, the design team also had to repair and upgrade the piers’ existing support structure—the pier deck and 5143 fir pilings which extend 160 feet deep into the sea floor of the San Francisco Bay.  The underwater pilings, which date back to 1915 and support 3.2 acres of floor space, had to be cleaned prior to receiving new reinforcement.  The underside of the pier deck was also cleaned, repaired, and upgraded.  New steel pipe piles were driven into the sea floor to add lateral strength and stiffness to the pier deck; the largest pile being six foot in diameter!  Four new 8 feet-deep concrete pile caps were installed on pilings and connected at the pier deck underside to provide seismic reinforcement to the Exploratorium in the Pier 15 building.

At the Exploratorium’s construction site: the existing pier deck between Pier 15 and 17 was evaluated, repaired, and upgraded as part of the structural scope of work. (Photo by Oliver Shay)

At the Exploratorium’s construction site: a drill rig sits on a barge and drives piles into the sea floor of the San Francisco Bay. (Photo by Oliver Shay)

Historic Preservation and Construction Process

The reality of preserving historic buildings and piers brings a whole new meaning to the construction process.  I observed some construction activities that cannot be found at your typical job-site on land.

• Two marine contractors carried out all the underwater work involving the deck underside and pilings.
• Barges were used to carry various equipments such as the pile driver and small boats with a glass bottom were created for inspection purposes.
• The structural engineers developed a special underwater camera contraption to inspect the condition of the existing pilings.
• Workers had to observe the tide changes every day in order to plan out their work schedules involving underwater tasks.
• Divers carried out the task of cleaning pilings and adding reinforcement to them.
• Over 50,000 square feet of existing paved decking and railroad tracks were removed to make way for public plazas and foot bridges and expose the Bay water to public enjoyment.

At the Exploratorium’s construction site: divers tailor their work schedule around tide changes every day and dry their wetsuits when not in use. (Photo by Oliver Shay)

At the Exploratorium’s construction site: customized boats with glass bottoms were made for the purpose of inspecting underwater work. (Photo by Oliver Shay)

Despite the tedious and challenging work that comes with the historic preservation process, I believe that historic preservation is a form of sustainable design.  By selecting to preserve and upgrade a sound and historic building and its pier, the Exploratorium and its development team achieved the first of many sustainability goals.  The Exploratorium will have a long-term, positive impact on the urban landscape by revitalizing the waterfront and opening up what used to be closed to the public.  At the same time, its existence as an educational facility will have a meaningful impact on the community at a large scale, showcasing all its attributes which make it a sustainable project.  Let’s thank the Exploratorium for pushing the envelope in non-reliance on fossil fuels, commitment to renewable energy, and the use of environmentally friendly building materials and energy efficient technologies.

It has been a long time since we have seen any technological changes in the design of toilets.  We have come a long way since the 18th century when the first flush toilet was invented.  The most recent major breakthrough in toilet technology is the dual-flush toilet which was created thirty years ago by Australian Bruce Thompson as a water saving measure.  Despite all this, two thirds of the world still does not have access to some form of toilet and safe sanitation.  To help revolutionize global access to safe and clean sanitation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently selected 8 universities worldwide as recipients of its $3 million grant to “reinvent the toilet.”  Bravo!

The goal is to design a stand-alone unit without piped-in water, a sewer connection, or outside electricity—all for less than 5 cents a day.  How can we as design and building professionals help address this basic, human need as we endeavor to create sustainable communities?

KIGALI, Rwanda — The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced the launch of a strategy to help bring safe, clean sanitation services to millions of poor people in the developing world.
In a keynote address at the 2011 AfricaSan Conference in Kigali, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of the foundation’s Global Development Program, called on donors, governments, the private sector, and NGOs to address the urgent challenge, which affects nearly 40 percent of the world’s population. Flush toilets are unavailable to the vast majority in the developing world, and billions of people lack a safe, reliable toilet or latrine. More than a billion people defecate in the open.
“No innovation in the past 200 years has done more to save lives and improve health than the sanitation revolution triggered by invention of the toilet,” Burwell said in her speech at AfricaSan, the third African Conference on Sanitation and Hygiene, organized by the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW). “But it did not go far enough. It only reached one-third of the world. What we need are new approaches. New ideas. In short, we need to reinvent the toilet.”

The foundation also announced $42 million in new sanitation grants that aim to spur innovations in the capture and storage of waste, as well as its processing into reusable energy, fertilizer, and fresh water. In addition, the foundation will support work with local communities to end open defecation and increase access to affordable, long-term sanitation solutions that people will want to use.

Improved sanitation can have a significant impact on the lives of millions of people worldwide. Reducing by half the number of people who don’t have access to basic sanitation is a key target of the United Nations’ 2015 Millennium Development Goals. Access to safe sanitation reduces child diarrhea by 30 percent and significantly increases school attendance.
Unsafe methods to capture and store waste lead to serious health problems and death. About 1.5 million children die each year from diarrheal disease, and most of these deaths could be prevented with the introduction of proper sanitation, along with safe drinking water and improved hygiene.

But Burwell emphasized that there are no silver bullets in reinventing the toilet. Addressing the needs of the 2.6 billion people who don’t have access to safe sanitation requires hygienic, affordable, and sustainable ways to capture, treat, and recycle human waste. Most importantly, it requires close collaboration with local communities to develop lasting sanitation solutions that meet their needs.

The foundation and its partners are working to develop new tools and technologies that address every aspect of sanitation—from the development of waterless, hygienic toilets that do not rely on sewer connections to pit emptying to waste processing and recycling. Many of the solutions being developed involve cutting-edge technology that could turn human waste into fuel to power local communities, fertilizer to improve crops, or even safe drinking water.
One of the foundation’s partners is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which is launching WASH for Life through its Development Innovation Ventures program to fund projects that identify, test, and help scale up evidence-based approaches to delivering water, sanitation, and hygiene services to the poor. Both organizations will contribute $8.5 million to the four-year venture.

The foundation and its partners are focusing on affordable solutions. Sanitation services must cost no more than 5 cents per person per day and be easy to install, use, and maintain. The foundation’s strategy involves gathering evidence to determine what people want and measuring what really works. It includes stimulating demand for improved sanitation in both rural and urban communities through education and raising awareness. It also involves advocacy efforts to engage governments and other public and private partners to prioritize sanitation policies that address this urgent issue.

“Across Africa, improved sanitation is an essential human need that we must take action to address,” said Mamadou Dia, President of the African Water Association. “We welcome efforts to focus new attention, ideas and resources on this important issue.”

Sanitation brings substantial economic benefits. According to the World Health Organization, improved sanitation can produce up to $9 for every $1 invested by increasing productivity, reducing health care costs, and preventing illness, disability, and early death. People with access to clean and convenient sanitation services also experience greater dignity, privacy, and security. This is especially true of women and girls, who often miss work or school when they are menstruating and risk sexual assault when they are forced to defecate in the open or use public restrooms.

“Disease caused by unsafe sanitation accounts for roughly half of all hospitalizations in the developing world,” said Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, chair of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation. “This statistic is unacceptable, as is the fact that many decision makers remain reluctant to talk about sanitation, further stigmatizing the topic, and perpetuating a crisis whose solutions are within our reach.”

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene is part of the foundation’s Global Development Program, which addresses issues such as agricultural development and financial services—problems that affect the world’s poorest people but do not receive adequate attention. With these new grants, the foundation’s commitment to Water, Sanitation & Hygiene efforts total more than $265 million. While the foundation has been making grants in the sector for five years, the new strategy represents a shift to an increased focus on sanitation.

New investments announced today include:

Reinventing the Toilet Challenge
Totaling $3 million, this grant supports eight universities across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America in the challenge to reinvent the toilet as a stand-alone unit without piped-in water, a sewer connection, or outside electricity—all for less than 5 cents a day. Grantees include California Institute of Technology; Delft University of Technology; Eidgenössische Anstalt für Wasserversorgung, Abwasserreinigung und Gewässerschutz (EAWAG); National University of Singapore; University of KwaZulu-Natal; University of Toronto; WEDC at Loughborough University; and Stanford University for a Hertz Fellows Multi-University Research Collaboration. Contact: Amandine de Coster / +32.479.811.866

WASH for Life
A collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) totaling $17 million, of which USAID and the foundation are each providing $8.5 million, to use USAID’s Development Innovation Ventures program to identify, test, and help scale evidence-based approaches to delivering water, sanitation, and hygiene services to the poor. For more information, go to www.usaid.gov/div/washforlife.

African Development Bank, African Water Facility
The foundation will provide $12 million in funding for the development of sanitation pilot projects that may include fecal sludge management services in sub-Saharan Africa. The goal is to serve up to 1.5 million urban poor who now lack access to sanitation services. Contact: Katia Theriault / +216.71.10.12.79

Water Services Trust Fund and German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)
In a project co-funded by the German and Kenyan governments, the foundation is providing $10 million to support efforts to scale up sustainable sanitation services for up to 800,000 people and water services for up to 200,000 residents in low-income urban areas in Kenya. Contact: Felgona A. Ochieng, WSTF / +254.20.272.0696; Roland Werchota, GIZ / +254.20.2719987; Dr. Charis Pöthig, KfW / +49.69.7431.4683

UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
This $8 million grant supports efforts to transform the postgraduate water and sanitation education system through an increased focus on solutions that work for the poor and a robust online curriculum to reduce costs and increase accessibility to higher education. Contact: Alida Pham / +31.15.2151722

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Phone: +1.206.709.3400
Email: media@gatesfoundation.org

Leaving dirt and debris outside the home helps keep the interiors clean. Housekeeping tips: place a floor mat outside the front door and any exterior door so that people can wipe their shoes off; place a chair/stool by the door so that shoe removal is comfortable and easy. (Photo by Mignon O'Young)

Having been raised in an Asian household, I was trained to remove my shoes upon entering a home so that I wouldn’t track in any dirt and debris.  I have maintained this ritual throughout my life and most recently learned that many Canadian and Swiss households do the same thing.  Less debris equals less floor cleaning!

Unfortunately, it is a bit difficult to implement this tradition of shoe removal in work environments.  However, the concept of using floor mats to minimize the spread of contaminants from the bottom of our shoes at a building entrance has recently gained attention in the last ten years.  Stopping contaminants such as dust and dirt particles right at the building entry and preventing their spread into the building can help with the maintenance of cleanliness and good indoor air quality.  Green building certification programs such as LEED and GreenPoint Rated recognize the positive effects of this concept and award points for permanent floor mats built into a finished floor.

Indoor EcoClassic EcoPath mat in San Jacinto Center in Austin, TX. The EcoClassic matting polishes away fine articles and moisture. This custom mat contributes to LEED points and includes EnviroCel™ and BioGrip™ which is made with rubber and recycled plastic bottles. (Photo courtesy of EcoPath)

Temporary floor mats serve the same purpose when built-in floor mats are not an option, especially in existing and older buildings.  Yet the idea of using floor mats to prevent the spread of contaminants has not been aptly recognized because they are viewed as temporary and often times unsightly.  In practice, most floor mats are only rolled out during the rainy season to prevent the spread of rainwater and consequently help minimize the chances of slippage within the building.

That is all good, but how can we help facility management teams see beyond that, recognize that floor mats laid out permanently can serve dual purposes, and place value in the specification of quality floor mats?  Perhaps Ecopath’s line of products can jumpstart the dialogue.  While EcoPath is among the many manufacturers of floor mats, it sets itself apart by producing durable, environmentally friendly floor mats.

EcoMax: Indoor EcoMax EcoPath mat in the Terminus building in Atlanta, GA. EcoMax includes a rough texture that aggressively traps water and larger debris. This custom mat contributes to LEED points and includes EnviroCel™ and BioGrip™ which is made with rubber and recycled plastic bottles. (Photo courtesy of EcoPath)

The What:  The EcoPath line consists of three types of 100% recyclable entryway floor mats containing recycled and renewable ingredients:  EcoMax, EcoRib, and EcoClassic.  All floor mats consist of an upper layer carpet and a backing made with EnviroCel, a polyurethane backing system designed for commercial carpets and manufactured by Universal Textile Technologies.

EnviroCel features three main components.  As a whole, EnviroCel aims to replace traditional petroleum-based backing ingredients with bio-based polymers derived from soybean plants grown in the United States.  This soy-based polymer helps lock carpet fibers into place.  EnviroCel also contains Celceram, a recovered pre-consumer recycled mineral compound which is a by-product of coal combustion in electrical utility power plants.  The third component is the BioGrip fleece layer which provides a slip resistance factor and consists of 70% natural rubber and 30% post-consumer recycled material made from 100% recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate).  In April of 2011, Universal Textile Technologies committed to Yellowstone National Park to purchase all of the park’s recycled plastic bottles each year and convert them into a non-woven, fleece material that is used to manufacture its BioCel and EnviroCel high-performance backing products for carpet and synthetic turf.

An assembler at EcoPath’s manufacturing facility sets picks in place, allowing the mat’s graphics to lock in place with the soy-based backing while adhesive dries. (Photo courtesy of EcoPath)

EcoPath’s green attributes are third-party certified for its recycled and renewable ingredients.  The products can contribute to a variety of LEED credits such as Recycled Content and Rapidly Renewable Materials and categories such as Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation & Design Process.

EcoPath floor mats are anti-static, ADA compliant, and chemically resistant while they hold moisture well.  Manufactured in the U.S. with a 5-year warranty, the floor mats can be customized to any size, out-fitted with any logo or decorative motifs, and ordered directly from the manufacturer.  Maintenance wise, daily vacuuming can easily keep the floor mats clean.  Periodic deep cleaning using hot water extraction is recommended at least twice a year and more frequently for applications with heavy soil tracking.  At the end of its useful life, the floor mats can be given back to EcoPath for recycling at its Dalton, Georgia facility and then integrated into turf products such as AstroTurf.

EcoPath sustainable entryway mats created for Cricket Communications stores. Picks hold the mats in place to allow drying time for adhesives to lock into the soy-based backing. (Photo courtesy of EcoPath)

The selection of EcoMax, EcoRib, or EcoClassic should be based on how much foot traffic and daily wear are anticipated in its application.  The three products differ from each other by the degree of how much particulates and water they can trap and by the texture of the carpet (tufted versus needle-punched).  The carpet consists of UV resistant, solution-dyed fibers which come in a variety of colors, with EcoClassic having the widest range of colors.

EcoPath sustainable entryway mats created for Cricket Communications stores wait to set at EcoPath’s manufacturing facility in Dalton, GA. Picks hold the mats in place to allow drying time for adhesives to lock into the soy-based backing. (Photo courtesy of EcoPath)

Having been in and out of many buildings, I have walked on a lot of nice looking floor mats as well as ragged, cheap looking floor mats.  I have also seen a lot of them peeking out of dumpsters as their final resting ground.  Is it possible to change the attitude of treating floor mats as easily disposable commodities?  EcoPath has made a good start by making it easier for us to specify good quality floor mats which can be responsibly recycled at the end of their lifecycle.

A rendering of the Exploratorium’s future new home at Pier 15 located between the Embarcadero and the San Francisco Bay. This waterfront view looks at the new Observatory Building adjacent to the renovated Pier 15 building with the San Francisco skyline in the background. (Image courtesy EHDD Architecture)

Salty air breezes off of the Bay.  Seagulls are flying about.  A six foot diameter concrete pile gets driven into the sea floor.  An energizing hum of activity reverberates throughout a waterfront construction site–the future new home of San Francisco’s Exploratorium.

In October of 2010, the Exploratorium–the Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception, broke ground on its new location at Piers 15 and 17, occupying prime real estate along the Embarcadero with breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay and its environs.  The existing warehouse building at Pier 15 will be converted into a world-class museum which smartly balances sustainable design and historic preservation.  The Exploratorium is aiming for  a LEED Gold certification and becoming the largest Net-Zero energy museum in the United States.1   No small feat taken on by the museum, the architect–EHDD Architecture , the contractor—Nibbi Brothers General Contractors , and many other crucial team members.

The site and ground floor plan of the Exploratorium’s future new home at Pier 15, San Francisco, CA. (Image courtesy EHDD Architecture)

I recently had the opportunity to tour the jobsite with EHDD Architecture’s Project Manager Richard Feldman who has been involved with the project for a little more than ten years.  (Imagine the elation that Richard had when he realized that he could finally bring the project to completion by year 2013!)  We started our tour at Pier 17 along the waterfront as Richard introduced the project starting with the museum’s exterior features.

EHDD Architecture’s Project Manager Richard Feldman gives Mignon O’Young a tour of the Exploratorium’s future new home at Pier 15, San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Oliver Shay)

A key exterior feature is the approach to the museum—how can one arrive at the building?  One of the important sustainable design goals for the Exploratorium was to make it very accessible and inviting to its visitors.  The first step was locating its new home at the Piers which are easily accessible by pedestrians, bicyclists, private vehicles, and public transport systems.  The design team then took it from there and created a solution that would enable visitors to enjoy the Exploratorium from the outside as well as the inside.

A rendering of the Exploratorium’s future new home at Pier 15 located between the Embarcadero and the San Francisco Bay. This Embarcadero view looks at the Exploratorium’s new main entrance facade with the new Observatory Building at the other end along the Bay waterfront and the East Bay beyond. (Image courtesy EHDD Architecture)

The museum’s exterior spaces will consist of new public plazas with interactive exhibits, footpaths, and bicycle parking, wrapping around the museum to rejuvenate the waterfront by enabling people to get up close and personal with the Bay as well as the museum buildings.  At the end of Pier 15, a new two storey Observatory Building, which includes a restaurant and event/exhibit spaces, will allow for yet another level of enjoyment on the public waterfront.  EHDD Architecture’s simple yet elegant steel and glass design for the new building breaks down the barrier between the indoors and outdoors and quietly complements the solidity of the adjacent historic Pier 15 building.

The Exploratorium’s Observatory Building is in the phase of constructing the steel structure. (Photo by Oliver Shay)

The bulk of the new Exploratorium will be housed within the building shell of Pier 15 and include exhibit spaces, cafes, retail stores, offices, classrooms, and a 200-seat multi-purpose theater.  Future expansion will take place in the Pier 17 building.  The historic building facades will remain essentially the same but will be architecturally refreshed.  EHDD Architecture has designed the museum to be as green as possible so that it can achieve high indoor environmental quality and significantly minimize the amount of water and energy resources that would be required to operate the museum.

An interior view of the Pier 15 undergoing major renovation and a conversion process into the new Exploratorium. (Photo by Mignon O'Young)

While designing the Exploratorium’s new home at Pier 15, a historically significant building, the architects had to answer to not only their client but also to multiple entities which included the National Park Service, State Historic Preservation Office, Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Port of San Francisco and neighborhood associations.  One of the architects’ most challenging tasks was to make sure that the museum’s design adhered to federal level- historic building preservation standards and at the same time, renovate the building to the highest green and energy efficient building standards while satisfying all of the museum’s needs.

San Francisco Pier 15 prior to the construction of the Exploratorium's new home. (Photo by Wally Gobetz via Flickr)

Here is a rundown on the Exploratorium’s green building features that address the following topics:

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Better indoor air quality will be achieved by ventilating with 100% outside air and not using any re-circulated air.
• Environmentally friendly interior building materials include low-emitting finishes, materials with recycled content, and certified wood.
• Advanced lighting controls will be installed to help limit energy use.
• Galleries and interior clusters have been designed to take advantage of natural daylight, maximize views, and minimize the need for electrical lighting.

Energy

• The building fabric, lighting, and mechanical systems have been designed to exceed California Title 24 by at least 40%.
• The building roof will have a 1.4 megawatts solar PV system with 100,000 square feet of PV panels which should satisfy 100% of the anticipated electrical needs.
• The systems mentioned above should allow the museum to achieve net-zero energy operation.
• The estimated energy to be supplied through the solar PV system: 11.26 kWh/sq. ft/year.
• The estimated savings in annual energy costs:  $160,000.2
• The estimated use of energy: 47 kBtu/sq. ft./yr or 57% less energy than a comparable ASHRAE 90.1 baseline building.

Water

• The building will be heated and cooled with a radiant floor system.  Water from the San Francisco Bay, which fluctuates between 50°F–55°F, will be piped to and pumped through a heat exchanger and then circulated through the radiant floor heating and cooling system.
• High efficiency instantaneous electric water heaters will provide for domestic hot water.
• The building will have a water harvesting system that will feed the toilet tanks.  Water captured from the roof will be stored in cisterns with a storage capacity of 338,000 gallons and unused water runoff will be filtered before it gets returned to the Bay.
• The estimated savings in annual domestic water usage:  50-60%, or roughly one million gallons.3
• Two million gallons of water will be saved annually by avoiding the use of evaporative cooling towers for heat rejection.4

A view of the heat exchanger piping through which water from the Bay will be circulated. (Photo by Oliver Shay)

While some of the green building features such as environmentally friendly finishes were easy to incorporate into the building, design matters that crossed an intersection of historic preservation and building energy design required creativity and finesse to which EHDD Architecture is no stranger.  A future article will discuss some of the historic preservation challenges related to the energy systems design, construction process, and structural work.

I can’t wait to walk through the Exploratorium when it is completed.  The easy accessibility of its new location will give San Franciscans and tourists another reason to enjoy the San Francisco Bay waterfront.  The Exploratorium’s world-class facility will be a living showcase of science, green building, and energy efficient technologies, and make a huge educational impact on the community for years to come.

Notes:

1. Compared against all projects listed in the U.S. Department of Energy’s High Performance Buildings Database (http://eere.buildinggreen.com/).
2. Energy cost savings are calculated assuming average combined consumption/demand rates of $0.764/therm for gas and $0.095/kWh for electricity.  Does not include additional cost savings possible with rooftop solar PV system.
3. Based on 300 FTE and 4000 visitors per day and LEED 2009 baseline.
4. Based on ASHRAE 90.1 baseline building heat rejection requirements.

Mr. Joe Sugg, Assistant Vice President of University Operations of Santa Clara University, stands amongst the newly inaugurated solar collectors (Chromasun Micro-Concentrator (MCT)) which are part of the 120- kW concentrating solar thermal system located on Santa Clara University’s various building rooftops. (Photo courtesy Santa Clara University)

Few universities can claim to have a 1-megawatt solar PV system, a wind turbine, a 60-collector solar thermal system, and a smart microgrid system that monitors and regulates the campus energy sources.  Santa Clara University isn’t afraid of experimenting with renewable, clean technology that will help it work towards achieving reduced energy consumption and climate neutrality.

Based in Santa Clara, California, Santa Clara University (SCU) is on its way to become the first university in the San Francisco Bay Area and the first Jesuit university in the United States to implement a smart microgrid system that will manage and optimize the production, storage, and consumption of its campus energy.

Mr. Joe Sugg, Assistant Vice President of University Operations of Santa Clara University, reads the newly installed electrical meter tied to the 1-megawatt solar PV system. (Photo courtesy Santa Clara University)

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Joe Sugg, the forward-thinking instigator of this project and the Assistant Vice President of University Operations.  In 2006, the school performed a 20-year energy strategy study that looked at energy needs, reliability, sustainability, and the economics.  Mr. Sugg and his team evaluated various energy opportunities with green and economic feasibility in mind.  With top-down support from the university, the team concluded that the installation of a variety of infrastructure ultimately tied to a smart microgrid system would give them the best return on investment for its 106-acre campus in Silicon Valley.

A sea of solar PV panels located on the rooftop of the facilities building of Santa Clara University. (Photo courtesy Santa Clara University)

In the last five years, several infrastructural applications have come online to help SCU generate its own electricity and reduce its energy consumption through energy efficient building strategies.

• In October of 2010, SCU activated its 1-megawatt solar PV system which is currently the 13th largest solar installation among colleges and universities in the U.S.  The solar panels are located on the roofs of the recreation center and parking structures.  The system is estimated to annually produce 1.42 million-kW hours and provide about 9% of total campus electricity.
• Around the same time, a wind turbine was installed on the campus facilities building.  The generated energy gets captured in a battery bank and used for charging the campus electrical vehicles.  The wind turbine’s effectiveness and energy production are being carefully measured and monitored.
• In April of 2011, SCU turned on its 120- kW, 6,727- therms concentrating solar thermal system on its rooftops, the largest installation built in California.  The system heats water to 200 degrees F for Benson Memorial Center’s dining services and will reduce its water-heating bills by as much as 70%.  Chromasun Micro-Concentrator (MCT) solar collectors are used and were manufactured at a Chromasun facility in San Jose, California. The workforce at this facility includes former New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) autoworkers that were re-trained as solar manufacturing experts after the NUMMI facility closed.
• Energy efficient building strategies have been implemented throughout campus buildings.  Upgrading to energy efficient mechanical systems help save energy.  Occupancy sensors turn off light fixtures when people are no longer using the interior spaces.  Air conditioning economizers draw fresh air from the outside rather than rely on energy intensive chillers.  Buildings have been re-roofed to accommodate increased insulation.  Excess energy is funneled to the parking lot lights.

The wind turbine installed on top of SCU’s facilities building is being monitored for its effectiveness and energy production output. Mr. Joe Sugg, Assistant Vice President of University Operations of Santa Clara University, gives scale to the size of the wind turbine. (Photo courtesy Santa Clara University)

All of these strategies have resulted in huge, positive impacts, enabling SCU to reduce energy usage and costs, and at the same time grow its campus size by 30%.  Each system has recently been integrated with new sub-electrical meters installed within the campus’ fourteen buildings.  The next step is the final implementation of connecting all the systems to the smart microgrid system and is expected to be completed at the end of this year.

Santa Clara University has started monitoring their power infrastructure via Serious Energy’s intelligent energy management system. Shown here is a snap shot of the desktop dashboard that allows one to view real-time data, control, monitor, and measure energy consumption, production, etc. (Photo courtesy Santa Clara University)

The beauty of a microgrid system is that its intelligent energy management system can actively monitor every single hook up and provide online, real-time feedback.  It can increase or decrease the supply load of energy based on demand and it also has a prioritization system of load shutting.  SCU worked with Serious Energy, founded by a SCU alumnus, to develop a software/hardware package that can monitor the microgrid.

The infrastructure of the solar PV system does double duty by acting as sun shades on parking structure roof tops at SCU. (Photo courtesy Santa Clara University)

At the end of the day, the microgrid system should help Santa Clara University reduce energy consumption by 50% and save about 20% in operating costs.   As with any type of project, the key is to monitor and measure results post-completion.

Mr. Sugg said that one of SCU’s sustainability goals is to “graduate students with awareness.”  Bravo.  Colleges and universities operate like small towns and have the capacity to influence and educate people.  Think about the power of ten and what the impacts would be if all schools lead the way in developing awareness, self sufficiency, and sustainability.

San Francisco, CA – West Coast Green, the world’s leading interactive conference on green innovation, has partnered with Pacific Coast Building Conference (PCBC), the region’s largest building conference. The two will converge this week, June 22nd-24th, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. With the collaboration of PCBC, a fellow leader in the conference industry, this joint event represents the largest annual conference of West Coast builders and developers.

“This partnership was created to bridge the divide between green building and conventional building professionals, integrating collective knowledge to optimize how we build smart and sustainable communities of the future,” said Christi Graham, founder of West Coast Green. “Green building is the most effective way to create jobs, spur investments, and drive sustainable economic growth that promotes clean energy and healthy communities.”

There will be a series of events at the conference this week, including:

• The West Coast Green Salon Series: An interactive hub where some of the world’s leading experts on green building and sustainability will share best practices, case studies and market strategies for shifting the way we build. This is a rare opportunity to engage one-on-one with some of the top thought leaders such as Hunter Lovins of Natural Capital Solutions, Dan Geiger of US Green Building Council NCC,  Kevin Surace of Serious Materials, and many others who lead the way in building smart communities of the future.
• The West Coast Green Renewable Energy Pavilion: A timely look at alternative ways to produce, store, monitor and use non-traditional energy sources. The PCBC audience will have access to the Renewable Energy Pavilion seminars ranging from the policy and financial aspects of renewable energy including Federal Tax credits and incentives, and California’s zero-net energy homes goal; to the technical considerations, including building codes and HOA responses to solar photovoltaic, solar water and space heating, wind energy and fuel cell applications in single and multifamily housing.

The conference schedule and complete list of speakers are available from the conference web site at http://www.pcbc.com/theshow/Attending/WCGSalon.html.

To register for the conference, please visit http://pcbc.com/theshow/register.html.

About West Coast Green:

Since founding in 2005, West Coast Green has accelerated the movement for building smarter, healthier communities. With over 9,000 annual attendees, West Coast Green is the platform for collective intelligence – assembling visionary thinkers, business leaders, products, and technologies to revolutionize the way we live and work. We support the thought leaders in the green sector by accelerating the pace at which game-changing environmental solutions move to market.

About PCBC:

PCBC is a community of builders and manufacturers, building scientists and architects, environmental engineers and landscape companies, working together to advance the art and science of community building. Started in 1959 as the Pacific Coast Builders Conference, PCBC brings together people creating better communities, imagining and building the places where we love to live. PCBC The Show is held each summer in San Francisco’s Moscone Center. Featuring hundreds of exhibiting companies displaying the latest product and service innovations and three days of executive conferences, forums, workshops, and speakers, PCBC The Show is the ideal marketplace for leading residential builders, developers, architects, investors, product manufacturers, and advisors in the industry. For more information, visit www.pcbc.com.

The creative design of the “wood wave” panel ceiling uses ordinary 2 x 4s to span the 6-acre roof of the Richmond Olympic Oval located in Richmond, B.C., Canada. Design/Build by StructureCraft Builders, Inc. (Photo courtesy StructureCraft Builders, Inc.)

Boosting that understanding is the goal of StructureOregon 2011: Utilizing Local Wood Products in Sustainable Designs. The one-day conference – the first of its kind in Oregon – will help architects, engineers, designers, specifiers and other building-industry professionals learn more about how to innovate with locally sourced wood products. The conference takes place June 1 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.

Oregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler is scheduled to open the event which is being supported with a grant from Governor Kitzhaber’s Strategic Training Funds. Registration costs $150 and includes conference materials, continental breakfast, lunch, morning and afternoon workshops, and access to the exhibit hall. Forest product companies will have booth displays of their products available to sustainable-design professionals.

The Bridge of Dreams spans the Tulameen River in Princeton, B.C., Canada. The wooden foot-bridge deck is suspended by steel rods from glulam arches and is covered by an undulating steel roof deck built on sawn timber purlins. Design/Build by StructureCraft Builders, Inc. (Photo courtesy StructureCraft Builders, Inc.)

Keynote speaker Michael Marshall, General Manager of StructureCraft Builders, Inc., will discuss the benefits and challenges of using locally sourced wood materials in the design and construction of highly visual and complex buildings. Marshall’s British Columbia structural engineering firm designed, built and installed the six-acre “wood wave” roof for the Richmond Olympic Oval Arena for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Cheryl Ciecko, AIA, ALA, LEED AP, and a technical director for WoodWorks, will discuss architectural, engineering, and building-code issues for wood in non-residential buildings.

Other building and wood products experts from Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, and architectural and engineering firms will present on topics including applications for wood, Oregon wood species, high-efficiency buildings, sustainable design, engineered wood products, and biomass heating.

StructureOregon 2011 is sponsored by the Oregon Wood Innovation Center, Oregon State University, Business Oregon, Umpqua Training & Employment, the Oregon Consortium & Oregon Workforce Alliance, and Worksource Oregon.

For more information or for registration, visit http://www.structureoregon2011.com/.