Fab Tree Hab

Sidwell Friends Middle School (Washington, DC)

architect: Kieran Timberlake Associates

• the greenest school in the U.S., the first to earn a platinum LEED rating
• if initial cost of going green is high- savings can be even greater:
  the energy bill for primary and secondary schools in the U.S. is $6 billion--and that's per year (more than spent annually on computers and books combined)

Features:

• constructed wetland (first in Washington, DC), treats building waste water on site - part of a closed system that recycles water back to the building and lavatories
• Green roof vegetation holds and filters rainwater; gutters and downspouts direct rainwater to a biology pond, which supports native habitat. Herbs grown by students on the green roof are supplied to the cafeteria
• Building orientation
• passive and mechanically assisted ventilation
• solar chimneys
• solar panels
  5% of the building’s total electrical load is generated on the roof
  
• double-glazed windows
• Window placement, skylights and reflective panels maximize use of natural light so energy for lighting in this building is 10 – 15% of that of a comparable code compliant building
• Recycled, rapidly renewable and locally produced materials such as cork, gypsum, linoleum, bamboo and wheatboard substrate
  Exterior cladding is western red cedar (reclaimed from wine casks)
• Paints, carpets and adhesives were selected for low emission of volatile organic compounds
• carbon dioxide sensors in the classrooms automatically adjust temperature by detecting how many people are inside

Source: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1663859,00.html

321 North (Plantation, FL)

one of the country's first green communities will rise:

• 33-acre development has an environmental focus
• $350 million project is still under review
• could begin as soon as 2008
• 600 residential units, along with office and a revamped shopping mall, all within walking distance to help cut back on car use
• Eco-friendly materials will be used throughout the project
• green screens where plants can grow on some outside walls and rooftops
• tinted glass that will allow for the shading
• sustainable woods like bamboo and palm and products made of recycled material like the carpets and countertops
• maximizes the amount of natural light that gets indoors
• paints, adhesives and other materials will also have a low chemical content
• part of a nationwide pilot program to expand LEED for Neighborhood Development
  (LEED certified building ends up with 35 percent cost reduction in energy consumption and 40 percent in reduction of water consumption than a non-LEED building)
• economic data supports the decision to green your facilities

Source: http://www.nbc6.net/news/14151987/detail.html

World's Greenest Museum - California Academy of Sciences

"We wanted our building to really reflect our institutional commitment to the environment and its sustainability," said Frank Almeda, senior curator of the academy's botany department.

When completed (2008), it's expected to be the first museum to earn the U.S. Green Building Council's "platinum" certification (LEED) —the highest rating for environmentally sustainable construction, academy officials said. Design by Italian architect Renzo Piano.

The museum will feature... energy-saving technologies... roof will be bordered with solar panels that will provide a portion of its electricity needs... lights will automatically dim and brighten in response to daylight... rooftop skylights and side windows will open and close automatically to heat and cool the building."

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_6095255

University of Waterloo Sustainability Project

"...a service run by student volunteers from various disciplines. The primary purpose of UWSP is to improve the state of sustainability on campus as well as raise environmental awareness among students, faculty, and staff. UWSP is comprised of different working groups each targeting specific aspects of sustainability."

Working Groups

• Clearing a Path
  (trying to have University of Waterloo commit to Talloirses Declaration)
• Green Roofs Over Waterloo (GROW)
• Naturalistic Landscaping Team (NLT)
• Sustainable Technology Education Project (STEP)
• Waste Management
• FootSteps to Conservation
• Zimride
• Campus Sustainability Assessment Framework (UW CSAF Project)

Source: http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1475&Itemid=59&issuedate=2007-06-01

Rubloff Hall - Saint Xavier University's (Chicago, IL)

by: Kelly Hladek

• $9 million, 37,000-sq-ft Rubloff Hall, opened fall 2006
• LEED Silver certified
• high-efficiency lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, insulation systems, green and reflective roofing, building computer system (BCS)
• 90 % lighting comes from natural sources
• heating units are 90 %more efficient and 50 % smaller than more traditional units
• 100 % of building's required power purchases are generated from "green sources"
• construction materials- adhesives, sealants, paints and carpets all required the "green" stamp of approval
• construction crews recycled over 80 % of scrap materials
• if constructed in traditional manner, energy costs - $90,000 annually
  New hall will cost - $60,000 annually

Ontario Gov't - LEED for New Buildings and Green Roof Pilot

June 1, 2007
"LEED certified buildings have energy consumption 25 to 60 % less than ones built to the Canada’s Model National Energy Building Code standard.

The province will also be piloting a green roof project to cut costs for heating and cooling, reduce the heat island effect of cities in summer time, help clean the air and prevent rain water runoff. This will help reduce the government’s carbon footprint."

Green Roof Design 101 - Toronto June 4, 2007

Green Roof Design 101 Introductory Course (2nd Ed.)
In this revised introductory course you will learn about the components and benefits of green roofs, how to design a project for maximum benefits, how to cost estimate for different types of projects and much more. The new course includes the most up-to-date green roof research and design practices as well, as new case studies from this rapidly expanding industry. Tuition: $395

Check their site for other dates in other cities: http://www.greenroofs.net/index.php

Foster + Partners Winery - Ribera del Duero, Spain

"The building is partially buried in the landscape, hiding itself around the natural topography of the site. That design choice allows, for instance, for the grapes to be poured straight down into the beginning of the wine production process. The different volumes of the building relate to the specific stages of wine making, with the areas that are sunken into the ground providing the best conditions for the fermentation process.

...diminish the impact on the environment... partial burial of the building thermal combined with a green roof on top to control the temperature, and photovoltaics on the roof seal the deal."

Source: http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/05/29/foster-partners-spanish-winery/