What is Green?

In general terms, is the ability to maintain balance of a certain process or state in any system. It is now most frequently used in connection with biological and human systems. For humans to live sustainably, the Earth's resources must be used at a rate at which they can be replenished. However, there is now clear scientific evidence that humanity is living unsustainably, and that an unprecedented collective effort is needed to return human use of natural resources to within sustainable limits.

Why not live sustainably?

Until recently it was not economically feasible to retrofit buildings with devices that provide energy savings at the high expense and the long pay back periods. There were few economic incentives in place and fossil fuel energy was reasonably priced.

Sustainability of our past

Previous forms of architecture reflected a building type that was consistent with the environment it was built on. This is a vernacular Florida building that was very innovative in its time: ·Elevated structure to dissipate humidity ·South facing covered porch to protect windows from direct sun light ·Walls made of wood planks from a near-by source ·High ceilings to dissipate hot air that rises ·Cross ventilation

Lack of sustainability
The invention of central heating and cooling allowed designers to stray from the rules of designing for the environment. The glass office building relies on massive amounts of energy to cool and heat. The windows are not operable and reflections can cost increased heat gain to neighboring buildings. The trailer is an example of the wrong answer to the modern vernacular dwelling. This structure is a metal box with poor window and door seals, inefficient cooling and heating and little volume for air circulation. It does; however have the elevated structure to dissipate humidity.

Office building energy consumption

OFFICE BUILDINGS How do they use energy and how much does it cost? Although office buildings have the second largest amount of buildings and floor space, they consume the most energy of all building types, accounting for 19 percent of all commercial energy consumption. They use a total of 1.0 quadrillion Btu of combined site electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and district steam or hot water. Electricity is the predominant energy source used in office buildings, the reasons for which are discussed in the next section, Site electricity is the amount of electricity consumed within the building; electricity use can also b expressed as primary b ildi l t i it l be d i electricity, which includes the energy consumed in generating and transmitting electricity. Office buildings used 2,039 trillion Btu of primary electricity, which brings the total energy consumption for office buildings up to 2,383 trillion Btu, or 23 percent of total primary consumption for all commercial buildings buildings. Lighting accounts for the most use, followed by space heating and office equipment. Office buildings use an average of 1.4 billion Btu per building and have an energy intensity of 97.2 thousand Btu per square foot. This intensity slightly exceeds the average for all commercial buildings (90.5 Btu per square foot). Large (over 50,000 square feet) office buildings use energy more intensively intensi el than smaller b ildings the also pa less per unit of buildings; they pay nit energy, possibly because higher consumers of energy are offered better rates by their utilities.

Going green is now more economically feasible
·Federal and state incentives for on-site renewable energy ·Tax rebates for hybrid vehicles ·Lower cost of energy efficient equipment ·IRS tax credits for building energy efficiency ·Federal Companies occupying LEED certified buildings

Business Tax Incentives
Commercial Buildings
What is the tax incentive for commercial buildings?
A tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot is available to owners or tenants (or designers, in the case of government-owned buildings) of new or existing commercial buildings that are constructed or reconstructed to save at least 50% of the heating, cooling, ventilation, water heating, and interior lighting g, , g, g g energy cost of a building that meets ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001. Only buildings covered by the scope of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001 are eligible. Partial deductions of $.60 per square foot can be taken for improvements to one of three building systems that reduce total heating, cooling, ventilation, water heating and i t i li hti energy use b a certain d interior lighting by t i percentage--the building envelope (10%), lighting (20%), or heating and cooling system (20%). An interim system-specific goal for lighting is provided directly in the legislation and is valid until the IRS issues a final regulation. The interim lighting provision allows prorated deductions from 30 cents to 60 cents per square foot for lighting systems as described below. These deductions are available for buildings or systems placed in service from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2013.

Note: buildings do not have to be LEED certified to be energy efficient

Energy efficient residential

New Florida Vernacular residence in Palm Island uses large overhangs and encourages outdoor living

Energy efficient commercial building conversion and possible LEED Silver

This existing 106,000 sf office building in Doral was evaluated for g energy efficiency and found that by tinting the windows with a high performance film, adjusting the fresh air intake to new energy code standards and changing the lights for T-5 bulbs we achieved a 29% energy efficiency. This building's average electric bill is $20,000 per month which will $20 000 reduce by $5,500 or now be $14,500. Total investment is $87,938.47 This building qualifies for the IRS tax credit of $0.60 per sf which is $63,600.00 This investment pays for itself in 4.4 months (w/ the IRS credit) and will save $66,000 per year on energy from then on.

First LEED Gold Building in Miami
Staples retail store 2121 Biscayne Boulevard

The following slides will provide an idea of g some of the credits assigned to a new building based on the (USGBC) United States Green Building Council.

SUSTAINABLE SITES
·SS C4.2 Alternative Transportation: Bicycle Storage & Ch Bi l St Changing Rooms i R

Bicycle Storage for 5% of building users

Employee Showers for 0.5% of Full time employees

SUSTAINABLE SITES
·SS C5.2 Site Development: Maximize O M i i Open Space S

Maximize Open Space- Open space exceeds zoning requirements b 25% d i i t by

SUSTAINABLE SITES
·SS C6.1 Storm Water Design: Quantity Control Q tit C t l

Storm Water Overrun Collected by French Drain System which recharges the aquifer

SUSTAINABLE SITES
·SS C6.1 Storm Water Design: Quantity Control Q tit C t l

Storm Water Overrun Collected by Trench Drain and routed to the French Drain for slow recharging of the Aquifer

SUSTAINABLE SITES
·SS C7.2 Heat Island Effect: Roof

Low-Sloped roof require an SRI index of 78 for 75% of the overall roof surface. 100% of roof provided with white single-ply roof membrane. This will reflect potential heat gain.

WATER EFFICIENCY
·WE C 1.1 Water Efficient Landscaping: Reduce by 50% L d i R d b

Native & Adaptive Vegetation After first year of stabilization requires no irrigation.

WATER EFFICIENCY
·WE C 1.2 Water Efficient Landscaping: No Potable Water Use L d i N P t bl W t U or No Irrigation

1200 G ll Ci t Gallon Cistern f R i W t for Rain Water Harvesting from Roof. Water used for first year of irrigation only and flushing toilets.

WATER EFFICIENCY
·WE C 2 Innovative Waste Water Technologies T h l i

Reduce potable water use for sewer conveyance by 50% Captured water includes condensate from air handlers which will provide a minimum of 100 gallons of water per day.

WATER EFFICIENCY
·WE C 3.1 Water Use Reduction: 20% reduction d ti ·WE C 3.2 Water Use Reduction: 30% reduction

Dual flush toilets

Waterless Urinal W t l Ui l

ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE
·EA C 1 Optimize Energy Performance

A whole building energy simulation was used. This computer model calculated the building as designed with all energy cost saving measures in place: · 4 bulb light fixtures changed to (2) and (1) · Roof top air conditioning working with CO2 sensors to reduce quantity of out side air exchanges. ·Window tinting and shade control for extreme solar exposure.

Materials & Resources
·MR Prerequisite 1 Storage & Collection f Recyclables C ll ti of R l bl ·MR C 1.1 Building Reuse:

Maintain 75% of Existing Walls, Floors and Roof ·MR C 1.2 Building Reuse:

Maintain 95% of Existing Walls, Floors and Roof ·MR C 1.2 Building Reuse:

Maintain 50% of Interior Non-Structural Elements ·MR C 2.1 Construction Waste Management: Divert 50% from Disposal p ·MR C 2.2 Construction Waste Management: Divert 75% from Disposal ·MR C 3.1 ·MR C 3.2 Material Reuse: 5% Material Reuse: 10%

Recycled content was used throughout the building for items such as: ·Window frames ·Steel Joist & Girders

·MR C 4.1 Recycled Content: 10% (Post-consumer + Pre-consumer) ·MR C 4.1 Recycled Content: 20% (Post-consumer + Pre-consumer) ·MR C 5.1 Regional materials: 10% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured

Indoor Environmental Quality
·EQ C 1 Monitoring M it i Outdoor Air Delivery

Outdoor Air Monitoring System ·Monitor carbon dioxide concentrations within all y p p densely occupied spaces ·CO2 monitors are directly linked to roof top units

Innovation & Design
·Green Cleaning Program ·LEED AP on team

Green cleaning