Page 243 - Green Building Through Integrated Design

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CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS PHASE

During the construction documents phase, it’s time to provide the final details of design
at a level that enables contractors to bid and build the project. During this phase, product
and design specifications become “locked in” and are not easily altered. Therefore, deci-
sions during this phase are important in determining whether we can reach the project’s
sustainability goals, especially if we’re committed to using new methods or systems with
which a local code official or contractor may not be familiar.
In this phase, we’ll have a more intense focus on materials and resources. We’ll con-
sider using salvaged or reclaimed materials, perhaps from nearby demolition sites;
recycled-content materials, such as fly ash in concrete or countertops made from recy-
cled newsprint; locally sourced materials (instead of, for example, marble quarried in
Italy, shipped to India for finishing, then shipped to the United States); bio-based
materials such as bamboo, cork, linoleum, wheatboard cabinets, and natural fiber car-
pets; and sustainably harvested wood.

Energy-Using Systems

We also have to get very specific about the energy-using and energy-supply systems
for the project. This activity is especially important as projects move toward “zero net
energy” goals. A good example is an enthalpy wheel (Fig. 12.1) designed by Alfa Tech
Cambridge Group of San Francisco, for the Ohlone College Newark Center for
Sciences and Technology in Newark, California. Principal in charge Michael Lucas
spoke about how this design element evolved.*

We presented a number of mechanical concepts. One, of course, was photovoltaic panels
to offset some of the electricity consumption in the building. We also presented three or
four mechanical system options. The two that turned out to be most the energy efficient
and the ones that the client liked the most were the geothermal system and the enthalpy
wheel energy recovery system. (We also evaluated thermal storage and ice storage.)

*Interview with Michael Lucas, Alfa Tech Cambridge Group, March 2008.
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