Page 223 - Green Building Through Integrated Design

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY QUESTIONS 199

field station. Photovoltaic panels and a wind turbine generate more than 20 percent
of the buildings’ electrical needs. A solar thermal system supplies hot water for the
occupants. Ground-source heat pumps reduce energy use by more than 60 percent
compared to standard practices. Renewable and recycled products were used
throughout the project. An underground cistern collects rainwater, which is filtered
and pumped into the buildings for use in the laundry and for toilet flushing.*

Materials and Resource Questions

Efficient use of materials can be a consideration even in the early design stages.
Building designers are increasingly asking for information on the life-cycle embodied
energy and other environmental effects of structural materials choices.

1 Have we considered life-cycle assessment tools for analyzing key choices in terms
of materials and energy/water systems for this building? Is anyone on the design
team experienced in using these assessments, such as Athena or BEES?
2 If there is an existing concrete structure, what are the opportunities for recycling
concrete from this site or nearby deconstruction sites? Can recycled concrete be
used for aggregate or fill?
3 Are there regional sources for fly ash for use in the concrete mixture? Have we con-
sulted with the structural engineers about using fly ash in concrete?
4 If this is a steel structure, does all the steel have documented high-recycled content?
5 Have the structural systems been assessed with regard to sustainability? Are we
using lightweight concrete or less steel than normal?

Indoor Environmental Quality Questions

Since the major “business case” benefits of green buildings derive from gains in pro-
ductivity and health, it’s vital to start considering these issues early in the design effort.

1 If the building must have a large floorplate, can we design an atrium that will
enhance daylight penetration and natural ventilation into all occupied areas of the
structure?
2 Will the massing and orientation of the building support passive solar design
and/or natural ventilation and daylighting strategies (Fig. 10.3)?
3 Do we have the consultants on our team who can model the effect of natural ven-
tilation strategies? Are we committed to such formal modeling?

*Morrison Kattman Menze [online], http://www.mkmdesign.com/projects/sustainabledesign/h_1.htm, accessed
April 2008.