14. IF YOU’VE DONE WORK INVOLVING SUSTAINABLE DESIGN OR CONSTRUCTION STRATEGIES, THINK OF THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY-SENSITIVE PROJECT YOU’VE BEEN INVOLVED IN. IN THAT PROJECT, TO WHAT EXTENT WERE THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF SUSTAINABLE CONSIDERATIONS AND STRATEGIES INCORPORATED?
a. Land Use Context (Site Selection)
b. Land Impact (Site Planning)
c. Energy and Water Use
d. Materials Selection / Solid Waste
e. Occupant Health and Well-Being
Respondents checked one of the following for each of the five categories above:
Best practices Improved practices No measures taken beyond code compliance
(Note: The terms "best practices" and "improved practices" are entirely subjective. I did not provide a list of what I consider these terms to mean for each of the five strategy areas below, so respondents’ answers may be based on differing conceptions of what constitutes "best" and "improved" practices.)
Respondents could then provide examples of the types of sustainable strategies
they incorporated in the project. They could refer to examples given the
questionnaire’s introduction. (See the following pages.)
14a. LAND USE CONTEXT (SITE SELECTION)
| 6 | 24% | Best practices |
| 9 | 36% | Improved practices |
| 8 | 32% | No measures beyond code compliance |
(2 blank/NA: 8%)
Note: Some respondents, especially those who never work on new construction or who are not involved in the early stages of projects, would not have had the opportunity to consider site selection issues.
Roughly equal proportions of respondents had incorporated either no environmental strategies for land use/siting beyond code, had incorporated improved land use practices, or had incorporated best practices.
List example(s) of land use considerations/strategies employed:
(Some examples are listed in the questionnaire’s introduction.)
Siting near existing development--i.e., near public transportation, utility
infrastructure, and/or commercial center (entertainment, jobs, shopping):
Eight (8) respondents mentioned these considerations.
Comments included: "urban/neighborhood infill," "5 minute walk from
downtown," "near subway."
Renovation/reuse of existing building:
Four (4) mentions.
Brownfield redevelopment:
Three (3) mentions.
Other: "Avoiding wetlands."
14b. LAND IMPACT (SITE PLANNING)
| 8 | 32% | Best practices |
| 9 | 36% | Improved practices |
| 5 | 20% | No measures beyond code compliance |
(3 blank/NA: 12%)
Most respondents (68%) have worked on a project that incorporated land impact minimization strategies beyond code; almost half of these respondents felt that the incorporated strategies were "best practices."
Example(s):
General land impact minimization strategies:
Comments included: site environmental condition assessment, increased density of
housing units, minimal foundation, incorporating greenspace in infill projects, habitat
preservation, grid rather than cul-de-sac roadways (more pedestrian friendly).
Soil erosion and runoff prevention (for groundwater conservation, flood prevention,
water quality protection):
Thirteen (13) mentions.
Comments included: minimizing disturbance of topsoil, less earth removal, preserved trees,
avoided use of heavy equipment to reduce removal of existing trees & shrubs,
calculated reductions in cut and fill during grading; removal of hard parking surface,
using pervious surfacing for parking areas, gravel drive.
Outdoor water conservation:
Eight (8) mentions.
Comments included: greywater garden, rainwater reclamation, storage for irrigation,
indigenous landscaping, xeriscape recommendations and ‘banking’ existing
vegetation.
Energy conservation:
Three (3) mentions.
Comments included: eliminating introduction of fossil fuel exhaust pollutants from the
site, building orientation, tree shading, earth-integrated architecture (partially
underground, on a grade). (See next question: 14c.)
14c. ENERGY AND WATER USE
| 15 | 60% | Best practices |
| 9 | 36% | Improved practices |
| 1 | 4% | No measures beyond code compliance |
All but one respondent--a contractor--(96%) said that they had been involved in a project that incorporated strategies for energy and water conservation that went beyond code requirements. Of these respondents, more than half (63%) had worked on a project that incorporated "best practices" for energy and water conservation.
Example(s):
Envelope efficiency/insulation:
Nine (9) mentions.
Comments included: high-R envelope, high performance windows, double window system, high
levels of insulation, tight building envelope, envelope sealing.
Energy efficient fixtures/equipment:
Nine (9) mentions.
Comments included: energy efficient appliances, Energy Star computers, office equipment,
low wattage bulbs, high efficiency lighting, dimming ballasts.
"Passive" solar:
Ten (10) mentions.
Comments included: natural daylighting, skylights, solar building orientation, passive
solar heating and cooling.
"Active" solar:
Eight (8) mentions.
Comments included: photovoltaics (PVs), PV cells for electricity, solar hot water panels.
Energy efficient heating, cooling, ventilation systems:
Nine (9) mentions.
Comments included: dual-fan/dual-duct HVAC, Whalen 2-pipe HVAC system, geothermal heat
pump, air flow control, right-sizing of HVAC system, integrated systems
design.
Water saving fixtures/equipment:
Seven (7) mentions.
Comments included: low flush toilets, low flow fixtures, water saving appliances.
Water conservation systems:
Five (5) mentions.
Comments included: greywater separation system, bioremedial greywater treatment, rainwater
harvesting, roof water reclamation.
Other:
DOE-2 computer energy modeling
cogeneration systems
fuel cells
post frame/straw bale infill construction
(Also see 14b.)
14d. MATERIALS SELECTION / SOLID WASTE
| 9 | 36% | Best practices |
| 12 | 48% | Improved practices |
| 4 | 16% | No measures beyond code compliance |
Most respondents (84%) have worked on a project that incorporated solid waste reduction and sustainable materials selection strategies beyond code; of those respondents, more than half felt that the incorporated strategies were simply "improved practices" while less than half felt that they had incorporated "best practices."
Example(s):
Construction and demolition debris (site waste) recycling:
Fourteen (14) mentions.
Comments included: sorted recyclable debris from waste on site, required subcontractors to
recycle and to report amount of recycled materials, 66% of construction material recycled,
"zero dumpster policy."
Specification of materials with recycled content:
Nine (9) mentions.
Comments included: use of recycled and recyclable materials, materials with high recycled
content, engineered wood products.
Materials reuse:
Seven (7) mentions.
Comments included: reuse of existing structural members; reclaimed, reused buildings;
incorporated reclaimed materials from off- and on-site; use of recovered materials,
salvaged materials, reuse of certain cut-offs.
Materials specification based on lifecycle impacts:
Six (6) mentions.
Comments included: life cycle analysis (cradle to cradle) of materials used, use of
materials with low embodied energy, use of locally grown materials, regionally-derived
materials.
Materials use reduction:
Three (3) mentions.
Comments included: minimal amount of materials, reviewed plans to reduce framing lumber,
reduced use of steel.
Specification of low- or non-toxic materials:
See next question: 14e.
Other (use, life span, and disassembly considerations):
recycling chutes
high durability construction
modular, prefabricated design
Commentary:
14e. OCCUPANT HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
| 9 | 36% | Best practices |
| 15 | 60% | Improved practices |
| 1 | 4% | No measures beyond code compliance |
All but one respondent--a developer--(96%) had been involved in a project that incorporated strategies to protect occupant health and well-being that went beyond requirements. Of these strategies, most (63%) were simply improvements on required practice, while the other 38% were considered "best practice" in this area.
Example(s):
Low- or non-toxic interior finishes (Indoor Air Quality):
Fourteen (14) mentions.
Comments included: reduced-emission materials, reduction of offgassing materials,
plastered walls with no paint, zero VOC paints and adhesives, allergy free non-toxic
design, low VOC paints, non-toxic paints (milk paint with earth pigments and AFM Safecoat
paint) and wood finishes (linseed oil base with earth pigments) on all interior surfaces,
avoided use of interior plywood and particle board, used dry-packaged wall joint
compounds, replacement of pervious internal finishes with inert materials (e.g.,
carpet with ceramic tile), tenant guidelines for selection of finishes and furniture with
low VOCs.
Ventilation (Indoor Air Quality):
Thirteen (13) mentions.
Comments included: 100% outside air system, natural ventilation, optimized
mechanical/ventilation systems, commissioned HVAC system to ensure outside air quantities,
25 cfm fresh air, 85% high efficiency filters, flush out, ventilating skylights.
Daylighting:
Five (5) mentions.
Comments included: enhanced daylighting with higher ceilings and windows, skylights.
Other well-being enhancers:
Comments included: individual thermal comfort control, indirect lighting, emphasized
relationship with natural surroundings, roof terraces, outdoor spaces.
SUMMARY OF #14
Respondents reported the extent to which they incorporated different types of sustainable considerations and strategies--beyond code--in the most environmentally-sensitive building project each has been involved in. Their response was as follows:
(Ranked in order, with #1 being the most prevalently-incorporated area of sustainable strategies/practices.)
| Sustainable Considerations/Strategies | Measures taken beyond code (Best + Improved) |
Best Practices | Improved Practices |
| 1. Energy and Water Conservation (14c) | 96% |
60% | 36% |
| 2. Occupant Health & Well-Being Protection (e) | 96% |
36% | 60% |
| 3. Materials Selection / Solid Waste Minimization (d) |
84% |
36% | 48% |
| 4. Site Planning: Land Impact Minimization (b) | 68% |
32% | 36% |
| 5. Site Selection: Sensitivity to Land Use Context (a) | 60% |
24% | 36% |
While all five sustainable strategy areas were marked by the majority of respondents, some strategies are clearly more commonly practiced than others, and the different types of strategies are carried out to varying degrees of improvement.
Energy and water conservation strategies were by far the most prevalent and most advanced of the sustainable measures respondents have incorporated into their projects; all but one respondent said that they had incorporated energy and water conservation strategies that went beyond code requirements, and the majority of respondents reported "best" practices. This was the only category for which more respondents reported "best" practices than simply "improved" practices. Respondents also say they commonly incorporate measures to protect occupant health and well-being, but the majority do not believe that these measures have risen to the level of "best" practice, though they are improvements over code requirements.
Materials selection and solid waste minimization strategies were the third most commonly incorporated practices reported by respondents. Site planning for land impact minimization ranked as the fourth most common strategy area. And site selection with sensitivity to the land use context came in fifth, as the least incorporated strategy type of the five.
Note: Many site selection and some site planning considerations cannot be factored in to renovation project decisions like they can in new construction projects and are not within the scope of work for those building professionals who are not involved in these early stages of a project. This explains, in part, why respondents would report less involvement in these areas.