Designed by global architectural firm Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill and the engineering company Arup, the 330m-tall tower is built to withstand the Beijing area’s occasional earthquakes, while also incorporating numerous sustainable features into its design. Energy-efficient LED lighting on the exterior structure, and a façade covered in fritted glass and metal fins that act as vertical sunshades, reduce the need for artificial lighting while lessening the building’s heating and cooling needs.
According to the article, the building was opened on the 20th anniversary of the China World Trade Center, which opened August 30, 1990. The tower has been designed to serve as the Central Business District’s signature feature, and includes a four-story above-grade expansion connecting it to the underground China World Mall, a 1,600-seat grand ballroom and retail podium with rooftop garden, and landscaped water garden. Open courtyards surrounding the tower’s base welcome visitors to the tower while providing respite from the densely populated urban environment that surrounds the site.
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Chris Timmerman
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Each of the homes will be occupied by an elderly couple, and are to be designed to a Platinum level according to the strictures of LEED for Homes. Each home will be 880 square feet, be set 7 feet above grade for flood considerations, and will utilize Universal Design standards, all for less than $100,000.
The top four designs, representing the contributions of two students and two teams of emerging professionals, will be announced shortly. Each of the winning teams will have their designs built for local residents in need. The homes will then enter into a measurement and verification period, to determine the grand prize winner, a year after occupancy. During this measurement and verification period each home will be evaluated on energy efficiency, water use reduction, and indoor air quality.
In the article, USGBC staff member George Hayward, coordinator for the Natural Talent Design Competition national judging and implementation, spoke about the benefits of partnering with EnviRenew for the first time: "Through this competition, USGBC has encouraged students and emerging professionals to utilize and expand their knowledge of the LEED for Homes rating system while also working toward improving the lives of New Orleanians. EnviRenew's incredible efforts to rebuild the City of New Orleans will no doubt be bolstered by the submission of these designs."
For more information on the Natural Talent Design Competition in your area, contact your local USGBC Chapter and the Emerging Professional committee in particular.
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Chris Timmerman
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Green Education Services
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The video provides a step-by-step narrative of how review and certification of neighborhood developments work. Allen’s video focuses on Metro Square, an urban infill development in Sacramento by Mogavero Notestine Architects. Metro Square pre-dates the evolution of LEED-ND but it nonetheless provides valuable lessons on how the certification program plays out. Metro Square would hypothetically earn a Gold rating under the system, even if the credits applied to its certification were limited to those related to energy and carbon emissions.
A companion video, also created by Allen, explores how a municipality may use the LEED-ND certification system to assist planning and zoning. View that video here.
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Chris Timmerman
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Green Education Services
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Next door to another LEED-certified building on the Newtown Square campus, the new four-story building received the most points possible in the water efficiency and design process categories. Standout water efficiency measures undertaken in the new building include a 50,000-gallon cistern that supplies water for landscape irrigation and the flushing of toilets, as well as low-flow fixtures in the restrooms, all part of a state-of-the-art water management system.
"When we laid the foundation for the new SAP building in Pennsylvania, our goal was to create an inspirational work place for our Philadelphia-area employees and show our commitment to sustainable development and growth in North America," said Bill McDermott, co-CEO of SAP AG, in the release. "We are also a company that lives and breathes innovation for our customers - in how they run their businesses, achieve their sustainability goals, power their business networks and empower their employees. The SAP office building in Newtown Square is among the pioneers in green building design worldwide. This is one of the ways that we role model the strategies that we believe in.”
The Platinum-certified building in Newtown Square exemplifies SAP’s global efforts to lower the company’s total carbon emissions to 2000 levels by the year 2020, the release explains. To achieve this goal, energy consumption across the company must be reduced by 50% below 2007 levels. The Newtown Square facility features a sensor system that is connected to exterior shading devices, which in turn adjust the amount of natural light entering the building and help control the building’s interior temperature. A hybrid air conditioning system produces ice to cool the building during the overnight hours when energy demands and electric rates are the lowest. Floor-to-ceiling glass exteriors and a green roof, planted with native and regional vegetation, integrate the office with the surrounding natural environment, and improve the work environment for the building’s occupants.
Learn more about the building and SAP’s efforts to green its facilities, here.
]]>The project involved the construction of two new 100,000 square foot office buildings, and a parking structure located in the heart of the studio’s historic lot in Culver City. Designed by Gensler with developer Georgetown Company and general contractor CW Driver, the buildings were recognized for environmental features including the use of local and recycled building materials as well as diversion of 93 percent of construction waste from landfills; the integration of an onsite filtration system for storm water runoff and low-flow toilets and urinals; use of low-emitting carpeting, paint, sealants, adhesives , and wall-coverings; installation of motion detector lights and energy-efficient light bulbs; implementation of “Green Housekeeping” building maintenance standards; and availability of preferred parking spots for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles, as well as car pools and van pools.
"We are proud to receive this designation for our newest buildings on the lot," said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures, in a release about the project. "It's our belief that we have a responsibility to help create a greener world for our community and future generations, and this project is an important part of our overall sustainability efforts."
The buildings’ construction coincides with other measures Sony is taking onsite to reduce the company’s environmental footprint. These include a commitment to “zero waste” on the studio’s main lot. For more information on the media giant’s green efforts, check out their website.
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Chris Timmerman
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Green Education Services
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The new neighborhood is one of the first developments in the country to earn the designation, which promotes sustainability for whole neighborhoods and larger mixed-use projects. Mueller is at least twice the size of most other pilot projects to be certified under the new designation, according to the article.
Mueller, a master-planned community located on 700 acres of land formerly occupied by Austin’s old airport, is a joint public-private project created by the city of Austin and developer Catellus, and shaped by community input over the course of nearly two decades.
"Mueller's strength as a green community begins with its central location, which helps increase urban density, slow Central Texas sprawl, and, ultimately, reduce commute times and auto emissions," said Gail Vittori, a nationally recognized expert and co-director of the Austin-based Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, a non-profit education, research, and demonstration organization specializing in life-cycle planning and design."Yet Mueller has also achieved many sustainable milestones along the way in terms of its land use, building design, construction efforts, and property owner commitments. All of these endeavors have resulted in a comprehensive approach to sustainability."
When complete, Mueller will include nearly 4,600 homes, a town center district, four million square feet of commercial space, 650,000 square feet of retail space, and 140 acres of parks and open space. Plans for rail transit in the neighborhood remain a possibility as well, the article notes.
Learn more about Mueller, on the development’s website.
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Chris Timmerman
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Green Education Services
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The building, which provides 9,090 square meters (roughly 97,000 square feet) of classroom and office space for students and faculty in the departments of geography, political science, mathematics, and statistics, becomes the third building on the British Columbia university campus to be certified.
The facility includes four tiered classrooms for general campus use; four lecture theaters; faculty, graduate, and staff offices; research labs, meeting rooms, and classrooms, and a variety of student service and student organization spaces.
The building’s design combines passive energy-saving measures with high-tech green attributes, ranging from occupancy sensors in classrooms to low-flow toilets and sensor faucets in the building’s restrooms. The design provides a high-efficiency building envelope, external overhangs on south-facing windows, trickle vents and operable windows.
Other sustainability-enhancing features include extensive natural ventilation; energy-efficient lighting; green power investments to offset building energy consumption; use of treated wastewater for toilets and urinals; on-site bike parking; proximity to transit; the incorporation of locally sourced building materials including on-site clay, and pine-beetle-damaged wood; the integration of native plant landscaping; topsoil salvage for use in other campus projects; permeable paving on walkways and driveways abutting the building; central recycling stations; and the use of biodegradable, phosphate-free cleaners and microfiber cleaning systems, part of the Campus Green Cleaning system.
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Chris Timmerman
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Green Education Services
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The new building, which cost $18 million to construct, includes an energy-efficient roof, a photovoltaic solar array that will help produce nine percent of the facility’s energy needs, regionally-sourced products, and water saving features that will reduce the facility’s use by 40 percent, compared with a conventionally constructed building.
“The design of the structure was recognized by the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment with a Merit Award for Concept Design,” said Brian Allen, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron mechanical engineer and project manager, in an article about the facility. “The facility will account for $45,000 in annual energy cost savings, compared to a similar sized building without the same energy saving features.”
The “Fit to Fight” fitness center features two basketball courts, racquetball courts, male and female locker rooms, a massage therapy room, a parent-child area, and a Health and Wellness Center, which will provide personal counseling on healthy eating habits, quitting tobacco use, and healthy lifestyle advice supporting the Air Force’s focus on Airmen being “fit to fight.” The facility will be staffed by 15 personnel and is expected to serve more than 900 people per day, according to the article.
The building is also built to withstand Category 3 hurricane winds—an important design consideration in Florida’s Panhandle, where the base is located.
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Chris Timmerman
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Green Education Services
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“We are very proud of the fact that Progressive Processing is LEED Gold certified, which sets a new standard for the food industry,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. “When we decided to open Progressive Processing, we saw an opportunity to build a state-of-the-art sustainable facility that aligns with our strong commitment to corporate responsibility.”
The facility will use at least 25 percent less energy and water than a conventionally designed and built plant, according to the article. The facility was also built using materials that had more than 36 percent recycled content. Other green features of the facility include a sustainable site, with non-irrigated landscaping, planted with native, low-maintenance vegetation; lighting controls that monitor the amount of light needed based on daylight, occupancy, and time schedule; skylights in nonrefrigerated areas of the plant, which work together with multilevel lighting to provide light to the building’s interior; and heat and water recovery mechanisms, that recover heat and water from the boiler, which is then reused for flushing the building’s toilets.
Progressive Processing’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer and founding chair at U.S. Green Building Council, in the article.“Buildings are a prime example of how human systems integrate with natural systems. The Progressive Processing project efficiently uses our natural resources and makes an immediate, positive impact on our planet, which will tremendously benefit future generations to come.”
The 348,000 square foot facility opened in late January, 2010, and its cost will total $89 million when complete. It currently produces microwave meals and prepared chicken for Hormel.
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Chris Timmerman
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In addition to the USGBC, Gottfried has founded the World Green Building Council (WGBC), a union of national green building councils whose mission it is to accelerate the transformation of the global built environment, reorienting it toward sustainability. He is also the chief executive officer of Regenerative Ventures, a consultancy that partners with entrepreneurs and corporate management teams, assisting them to establish and achieve their goals in creating structures that use less energy, water, and other resources.
Learn more about Gottfried, his influential work in the global movement toward sustainability, and his California home, here.
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Chris Timmerman
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Designed by architects AC Martin, the building stands out for its striking exterior, with an illuminated façade, made up of translucent curtain wall panels, that presents the station as approachable and positive. At the same time, the façade is also bulletproof, a requirement of many modern public buildings, especially law enforcement facilities.
The 173,000 square foot facility, located in the Boyle Heights section of the city, is much more than just a police station. It also houses a four-story parking structure and a one-story maintenance facility and car wash facility, in addition to a two-story, ultra-modern police station. The Hollenbeck Community Police Station achieved its Gold rating by using efficient equipment and lighting throughout the building, as well as a light-colored roof membrane. In addition, compliance with LEED waste management diversion during the building’s construction prevented roughly 81% of inert material and 79% diversion of all other on-site materials from going to the landfill.
Particular attention to indoor air quality and water reduction was also paid, according to the article. Low VOC adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, and carpeting materials were used in accordance with Indoor Environmental Quality specifications.
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Chris Timmerman
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"The greening of the Governor's Residence underscores our commitment to make state-owned buildings as energy-efficient as possible," said DGS Secretary James P. Creedon, who also serves as co-chairperson of the Governor's Green Government Council. "By using fewer resources, we are saving taxpayers' money while reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to a healthier environment."
Improvements in the Residence’s energy efficiency were achieved through the installation of an automated energy management system, a geothermal ground-source heat pump system, a humidification system, and high-efficiency motors for ventilation fans and water pumps. In addition, insulation was added to the Residence’s attic, and incandescent lights were replaced with fluorescent lighting.
Overall the Governor’s Residence earned 51 credits, making it the most credits garnered by any of the LEED-EB-certified Governor’s Residences in the country.
Originally constructed in 1968, the three-story structure comprises 28,500 square feet of space and 34 rooms. It includes three distinct zones: a public area, which takes up approximately half of the facility’s space; and office area; and a private living area. It has been home to every Pennsylvania governor since it was constructed.
The improvements made on the Residence are part of a statewide initiative that uses utility savings to pay for energy-efficiency upgrades, without any additional cost to taxpayers. This “budget-neutral” initiative is part of a Guaranteed Energy-Saving Act, or GESA. Under GESA, 44 of Pennsylvania’s state-owned buildings have been enhanced with energy-saving improvements, with another 24 projects in the pipeline.
The renovations to the Governor’s Residence were combined with similar measures taken at the Rachel Carson Building, located elsewhere in Harrisburg. Both projects will save approximately $10.4 million over the next 15 years in utility and operational savings, and will offset $8.1 million to improve both facilities, according to the article.
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Chris Timmerman
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The report includes a ranking of the 25 Most Polluted Cities, with regards to ozone, year-round particle pollution, and short-term particle pollution, respectively.While some cities have high levels of certain pollutants, they don’t show up on other lists. The cities listed are ranked by the air quality of the most polluted counties in the metropolitan area.
California’s cities fare poorly in the ratings. In terms of ozone pollution, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, California leads the pack, followed by five other metro areas in California. In fact, 12 of the 25 metro areas with the worst ozone pollution are in California; the other 13 include cities from Houston (#7) to Cincinnati (#18) and Las Vegas (#21).
The year-round particle pollution list is headed by Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona, followed by Bakersfield, California, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside. Meanwhile, Bakersfield earns the dubious distinction of being in the top spot for worst short-term particle pollution, followed by its Central Valley cousin, Fresno. Former industrial powerhouse Pittsburgh takes the third spot in the short-term list, followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside in 4th, and Birmingham, Alabama in 5th.
The cleanest cities in the country are a very different list: geographically disparate, and predominantly made up of some of the country’s smaller metropolitan areas. Bismarck, North Dakota takes top billing in terms of the least ozone pollution, while Cheyenne, Wyoming has the least year-round particle pollution in the rankings, and Alexandria, Louisiana has the least short-term particle pollution.
Check out the American Lung Association’s State of the Air full report, which includes rankings by county, here.
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Chris Timmerman
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The building excelled for its passive solar design principles, its geothermal heating and cooling system, its high-efficiency baseboard heaters, and its compact fluorescent light bulbs, according to the article.
"You basically get a plaque and you get to say that you've actually achieved what you said you were doing," said Ted Battiston, strategic energy emissions manager for the Resort Municipality of Whistler.
The certification comes one year after it was reported that Whistler’s new library were actually 35 percent higher than library administrators and project managers had been hoping for. The higher energy costs were due in part to a malfunctioning geothermal heating and cooling system, the article said.
Regardless of the energy expenses, Battiston believes that the project still would have received a Gold certification, even if they hadn’t been undertaken.
“Not all the points from a LEED certification come from energy,” Battiston said. “Energy’s a big part of it, but it’s by no means the only point.”
The library is currently using 40 percent less energy than average as tested by the Model National Energy Code for Buildings, which provides a national model benchmark for all Canadian buildings to compare to.
The library opened in January 2008, and also won the 2010 WoodWorks British Columbia Wood Design Architect Award, the article noted.
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Chris Timmerman
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