Urban Site Selection
Building on an urban site allows access to the existing infrastructure in a community. It also protects greenfields and preserves habitats and natural resources by building on previously developed land.  Proximity to basic services and public transport facilitates pedestrian activity and reduces individual vehicular activity, helping to minimize pollution and environmental effects from oil extraction and refinement.

Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms
By providing bicycle storage and changing rooms on-site the building helps to reduce pollution and land development from automobile use by encouraging the use of bicycles for transportation.

Reduced Parking
The project will reduce the number of existing on-site parking spaces and share adjacent parking facilities with the intention of encouraging carpooling and the use of public transportation. This in turn reduces pollution and land development from single occupancy vehicle use.

Preferred Parking for Fuel Efficient/Low Emitting Vehicles
The project hopes to reduce pollution and land development from automobile use by encouraging the use of fuel-efficient and low-emitting vehicles by providing preferred parking spaces for these vehicles.

Maximize Outdoor Space and Native/Adaptive Vegetation Restoration
The project restores damaged areas to provide habitat and promote biodiversity. The use of native and adaptive vegetation helps to eliminate the need for irrigation.

Stormwater (Rainwater) Design
The project reduces existing impervious surfaces and collects rainwater to reduce the effect on existing city infrastructure, particularly during heavy storms. The water is captured for later release or re-use for toilet flushing.  On-site retention and treatment through ground vegetation and green roofs before the water is released into the public storm sewer helps reduce water pollution. Re-use of rainwater for toilet flushing minimizes the use of treated potable water for this purpose, helping to conserve resources and energy.

Minimize Heat Island Effect
Through the installation of a highly reflective roof covering, green roofs, vegetation at grade and reflective paving, the project reduces heat islands (thermal gradient differences between developed and undeveloped areas) to minimize the building’s impact on the microclimate and human and wildlife habitats.

High Efficiency Plumbing Fixtures
Highly efficient plumbing fixtures reduce the burden on the municipal water supply and wastewater systems.

Commissioning of Building Systems
Commissioning will verify that the building’s energy-related systems are installed, calibrated and perform according to the owner’s requirements, based on design and construction documents.  The benefits of commissioning include reduced energy usage, lower operating costs, reduced contractor callbacks, better building documentation, improved occupant productivity and verification that the systems perform in accordance with the owner’s expectations.

Solar Orientation / Glazing (Glass) Locations
The building is positioned so that the longitudinal façade is facing directly south to maximize passive solar heating and minimize the need for mechanical heating.  The maximum amount of glazing (windows and glass) is located on the south façade minimizing the amounts on the east and west where solar gain is less desirable unless controlled.  Glazing is limited on the north side where heat loss is a concern and there is no direct solar gain.

Solar Shading Elements
Solar shading elements will be located on the south and west façades to help control heat gain and limit it to the most effective times of the day.  Shading devices on the south side provide a dual function as they contain photovoltaic panels, providing an alternative energy source and reducing the use of fossil fuels.

Future Photovoltaic Roof Panels
Roofing materials and electrical connections are set up to most efficiently accommodate photovoltaic panels (a cleaner on-site renewable energy source) as the panels become more affordable.

Solar Hot Water
The use of solar hot-water panels for domestic hot water reduces the use of polluting fossil fuels through the use of solar, which is a cleaner on-site renewable energy source.

Geothermal Wells for Radiant Heating and Cooling
Geothermal wells are used to move heat from the indoors to the ground in the summer and in the winter the heat is moved back from the ground and pumped indoors.  Geo-exchange heat pumps provide the heat exchange from the wells to the radiant heating and cooling using water running in tubes in the floor.  Geo-exchange heat pumps are the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available.  The radiant system is an efficient, very comfortable way to heat and cool.  Both the geo-exchange and radiant systems reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with energy use.

High Efficiency Lighting w/Daylight and Occupancy Sensors
By maximizing the use of daylighting and using highly efficient light fixtures with occupancy sensors, the building reduces energy usage and heat gain.

Super Insulated Building Envelope
By minimizing thermal breaks (which can lead to drafts), using dual-glazed fiberglass windows and high R-value spray-in insulation, the building design reduces demand on mechanical heating and cooling, thereby saving energy.

Green Power
The building will use a renewable energy source (purchased wind power) to create a net-zero pollution off-set. 

Construction Waste Management
The construction process will divert 75% of construction, demolition and land-clearing debris from disposal in landfills and incineration.  Recyclable and reusable resources will be redirected back to manufacturing and other appropriate sites to reduce the total amount of waste that is generated.

Recycled Content
The construction will rely on the use of building products that incorporate recycled content materials (post-consumer and pre-consumer), thereby reducing the environmental impact from extraction and processing of virgin materials.  This includes the use of slag, a mixture of nonmetallic minerals created in the reduction of iron ore to iron, in place of Portland cement in concrete, which helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions (which contribute to global warming).

Regional Materials
The construction will rely on the use of building materials and products that are extracted and manufactured within the region, supporting the use of indigenous resources and reducing the environmental impact resulting from transportation.

FSC Certified Wood
Certification is a “seal of approval” established by the internationally recognized Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and awarded to forest managers who adopt environmentally and socially responsible forest management practices and to companies that manufacture and sell products made from certified wood.  Use of certified wood encourages environmentally responsible forest management.

Operable Windows
Use of operable windows provides additional outdoor air ventilation and individual occupant control to improve indoor air quality for improved occupant comfort, well-being and production.  Natural ventilation also helps reduce cooling loads.

Low-Emitting Materials
The use of low-emitting materials reduces the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers and occupants. These contaminants include adhesives, sealants, carpets, paints, coatings, composite wood and agrifiber products.

Daylighting and Outdoor Connection
The building will provide access to views of the outdoors, enabling building occupants to maintain a visual connection to the surrounding environment, which contributes to occupant well-being and production.  Daylighting also reduces the need for electric lighting of building interiors, resulting in decreased energy usage.

Green Housekeeping
Use of non-toxic, low-emitting cleaning supplies reduces the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating or harmful to the comfort and well-being of cleaners and occupants.

Click on a link below to learn more:

A Permanent Place
A Good Location
One Building: Three Unique Spaces
A Living Building
Frequently Asked Questions
The Design Team
What Makes it "Green"?
What Can I Do At Home?