Building “Green”

Building green or being green is a buzzword these days. What this means for the PQ Outreach Coalition projects is much more quantifiable. We are going to construct buildings that operate efficiently, consume as few natural resources as possible, and use recycled materials wherever we can in the building process.

The architects for the projects are LEED certified and we are going to get all of our buildings LEED silver certified. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. We are also going to strive to possibly get a bronze LEED certification for some of the projects.

The basic construction technology under consideration is Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction. This type of construction uses an inner and outer layer of structural Styrofoam insulation with concrete and rebar in between. Both the interior walls (generally drywall) and the outer walls (in our situation) stucco are attached directly to that layer of insulation. While this type of construction can be about four to seven per cent higher than other types of construction, the cost is nearly offset by the lower cost of smaller heating and cooling equipment and the lower operating costs with the high insulation values of this construction.

The electrical load will be reduced by using solar photovoltaic panels on the hillside, on the play area cover at the school, on the roof of each building and anywhere else they can be architecturally integrated into the buildings. The local power company has also given preliminary approved to have solar panels covering the parking in the easement area.The parking lot will feature non-glare lighting, open grid paving and a bio-swale system to capture run-off and prevent ocean pollution through the storm drain system. Other solar applications such as solar water heating and passive solar design will also be considered for the projects.

In the desert, water use is a critical resource to utilize as effectively as possible. The PQOC architects are considering xeroscape plantings, water resource friendly irrigation systems, and dual waste water systems to reclaim and treat water for use in irrigation. The building design will also collect rainwater for storage in large underground storage tanks for irrigation. Water conservation will also be a consideration in the selection of toilets, faucets, and all water distribution appliances.

An innovative way of getting daylight into the interiors of buildings is solar tubes. These devices bring diffuse outside light to rooms that have no windows or outside access. This cuts down on the use of artificial lighting and brings the benefits of sunlight inside.

In order be considered for higher LEED certifications, recycled materials must be used in some parts of the construction or furnishing of the buildings. These items may be included in floor coverings, furnishings, or many others. These products are multiplying daily as ecological concerns push us to use and reuse more of our “waste products” instead of putting them in landfills.

To follow the use of these technologies, please subscribe to the PQ Outreach Coalition eNewsletter by entering your information below and clicking on Submit.