L15: Green Buildings

Question 1

What are the broad areas focussed on by green buildings?

Answer 1

1. Sustainable site planning
2. Water efficiency
3. Energy efficiency
4. Conservation of materials
5. Indoor air quality

Question 2

What are the 7 principles of sustainable construction?

Answer 2

1. Reduce resource consumption
2. Reuse resources
3. Use recyclable resources
4. Protect nature
5. Eliminate toxins
6. Apply life-cycle costing
7. Focus on quality

Question 3

What percentage of solid waste is from construction activities?

Answer 3

30% (even though most materials are completely recyclable)

Question 4

What percentage of generated electricity is consumed by buildings?

Answer 4

70%

Question 5

How should materials be evaluated?

Answer 5

Based on their lifecycle impact (extraction, transport, manufacturing, installation, operation, disposal)

Question 6

What is the ultimate aim of a resource-conscious design?

Answer 6

Minimise natural resource consumption and impact on ecosystems

Question 7

What are the material selection objectives?

Answer 7

Closing material loops (keep in productive use rather than dispose)
Eliminating emissions

Question 8

What is sustainable land use and what is land recycling?

Answer 8

Undeveloped land considered precious resources and focus should be placed on better reuse of already developed areas (land recycling)

Question 9

What are the three kinds of land development?

Answer 9

Greenfield - little or not development
Brownfield - abandoned/underused facility where expansion/redevelopment has real or perceived environmental contamination
Grayfield - bare/developed land in economically depressed area with no real or perceived environmental damage

Question 10

What are the three general approaches to energy conservation in buildings?

Answer 10

1. Envelope resistant to heat transfer
2. Use renewable energy sources
3. Implement passive design solutions

Question 11

How does level of green impact a building?

Answer 11

Promotes green buildings
Public statement
Higher market value (lower operating costs)

Question 12

What are the 6 LEED standards?

Answer 12

NC - new construction
CS - core and shell projects (tenants do interior fitouts)
EB - existing building
CI - commercial interiors
H - homes
ND - neighbourhood development

Question 13

How many preqrequisites are there for LEED NC?

Answer 13

8

Question 14

What are the 5 sections points are awarded for in LEED?

Answer 14

Sustainable sites
Water efficiency
Energy and atmosphere
Materials and resources
Indoor environment quality

Question 15

What are the bonus points available in LEED?

Answer 15

Innovation and design process

Strategies that address regional environmental issues

Question 16

What are the LEED ratings?

Answer 16

Platinum - 80+
Gold - 60-79
Silver - 50-59
Certified 40-49
No rating - Less than 40

Question 17

What are the levels of accredited professional training for LEED?

Answer 17

Green Associate
AP with speciality
AP fellow

Question 18

How does NZ Green star work?

Answer 18

Assesses environmental impact of building over nine assessment categories with highest weighting on energy (25%) and indoor environment quality (20%)

Question 19

What are three prerequisites for NZ Green star?

Answer 19

Ventilation meets building code
Energy use max of 105kWh/m2
Land not of high ecological value

Question 20

How many points must a building have to be eligible for formal green star certification?

Answer 20

45 points (4/5/6 stars)

Question 21

What professional training is available for NZ Green Star?

Answer 21

Practitioner
Accredited professional
Residential Homestar Training

Question 22

What are the phases of a green building project?

Answer 22

1. Select project team
2. Conduct charrette
3. Design project
4. Construct building
5. Final commissioning

Question 23

What is a charrette and what are the three steps?

Answer 23

Meeting with everyone involved to set goals and design

1. Educate all participants on owner’s/green requirements
2. Review program
3. Lay out goals

Question 24

How does eco-design differ from conventional?

Answer 24

Design charrette before sketch design begins
Use of energy and daylighting models
Performance based fees

Question 25

What are energy and daylighting models

Answer 25

Used to test impacts of orientation etc. rather than using calculations

Question 26

What are performance based fees?

Answer 26

Bonuses; incentives for design professionals to achieve green goals

Question 27

What is the project delivery method for green buildings?

Answer 27

CMR

Question 28

What are green roofs (eco-roofs)

Answer 28

Conventional roof with grass area constructed on top Living roof --> growing medium --> drainage mat --> roof barrier --> waterproofing membrane --> roof deck

Question 29

How do eco roofs effect building energy costs and storm runoff?

Answer 29

Reduces by 10% | Reduces by 90%

Question 30

What are the two types of eco-roofs?

Answer 30

Extensive - low maintenance, can be placed on roofs with up to 40% slope Intensive - elaborate, more complex, higher initial cost and maintenance

Question 31

What is an urban heat island?

Answer 31

Caused by replacing vegetation with paving and buildings causing temperatures in central cities to rise by 1-5 degrees C

Question 32

How can the effects of heat islands be mitigated?

Answer 32

Highly reflective and emissive roofs | Plant shade trees near buildings

Question 33

How is alternative transportation achieved

Answer 33

Public transport access Bicycle storage and changing rooms (for at least 5% of occupants) Recharge points Reduce parking capacity

Question 34

How should building envelopes be developed?

Answer 34

Minimised U-value to resist heat transfer Locate insulation closer to outside to minimise thermal loads entering building Glass - double glazing with low-e coatings to balance visible light and heat Roof - light colour

Question 35

Why is the limitation of glass areas on facade necessary in green buildings?

Answer 35

Because windows have high u-values

Question 36

What percentage of building energy is consumed by chillers?

Answer 36

23%

Question 37

How should HVAC systems operate?

Answer 37

Use power at off peak times to make ice; store and use to cool during peak hours

Question 38

What are innovative energy optimisations?

Answer 38

Radiant cooling - circulate water instead of air (saves 25% lifecycle cost and only requires 5% energy of air) Chilled beam - passive air-water systems similar to fan coil units and often integrated with light Ground coupling - using stable ground to heat/cool; pipe inserted and water exchanges heat with ground

Question 39

What renewable energy sources can be used?

Answer 39

Building integrated photovoltaics - semiconductor cells that convert sunlight into electricity and are integrated directly into building materials Wind energy - vertical or horizontal

Question 40

What are water supply strategies?

Answer 40

Low-flow fixtures Rainwater harvesting Graywater systems

Question 41

What is rainwater harvesting?

Answer 41

Catchment area --> roof wash system (removes pollutants) --> pre storage filtration (keeps large particles out) --> rainwater conveyance (gutters to cistern - storage tank which keeps light out) --> water treatment (potable water filtered and treated)

Question 42

What is graywater?

Answer 42

Wastewater from bath sinks, showers etc. reused for flushing toilets and irrigation

Question 43

What is blackwater?

Answer 43

Water from toilets, kitchen sinks etc.

Question 44

What is a wastewater strategy?

Answer 44

Constructed (manmade) wetlands - using nature to perform water treatment

Question 45

What is building commissioning?

Answer 45

To provide documented confirmation that building systems comply (prerequisite for LEED)

Question 46

What are the 5 steps of commissioning?

Answer 46

``` Predesign Design Construction Acceptance Post-acceptance (maintenance) ```

Question 47

What is a CA?

Answer 47

Commissioning Authority - third party advisor to owner

Question 48

What does commissioning typically focus on?

Answer 48

HVAC

Question 49

What are the benefits of commissioning?

Answer 49

``` Energy efficient - 5-10% reduced operating costs Increased productivity (IAQ) Better CDs Fewer failures Complete documentation ```

Question 50

What are the costs of commissioning?

Answer 50

Depends on size, complexity, scope | Innovative buildings typically more complex

Question 51

What are economic effects of going green?

Answer 51

Mostly intangible benefits; productivity and image | But also have higher rents and occupancy rate

Question 52

What did the NABERS Australia rent premiums study find?

Answer 52

Energy efficiency does not impact rent but it increases investment

Question 53

What did studies find was the perceived costs premium for green buildings compared to conventional buildings?

Answer 53

Respondents generally thought green buildings would cost more (Reality does not match perception)

Question 54

What did the study on actual cost premiums find in the comparison between buildings with 4, 5, and 6 stars?

Answer 54

No statistical difference

Question 55

How should economic analysis be conducted?

Answer 55

Life-cycle cost - will typically have higher initial cost but will have direct/indirect benefits over time Do NOT include abstract benefits

Question 56

What is the simple payback periods for added systems?

Answer 56

How long it takes in savings to get back initial investment; typically 0.8 to 8.8 years

Question 57

How should it be economically decided whether to have a green building?

Answer 57

Through NPV of additional costs and life cycle savings | consider green costs for enhancements, reduced OPEX, rent/occupancy rate, value at sale