WHAT IS GREEN DESIGN?

 Green design focuses on minimizing the use of resources and improving

environmental quality.

In short – conservation, comfort and health.

 

 

There are five categories for improvement:

  • Sustainable Sites: This includes protection or restoration of habitat, maximizing open space and storm water run-off management.
  • Water efficiency: Water efficient landscaping, water use reduction adaptive re-use of waste water are goals.
  • Energy and Atmosphere: Reduction of energy use, air pollution reduction, and the use of alternate energy sources are included.
  • Materials and Resources: Use of renewable material sources, local material sources and recyclable materials.
  • Indoor Environmental Quality: Limiting the use of materials that produce noxious fumes, reduction of dust and dirt entering buildings, maximizing the use of daylight, providing thermal comfort.
  • Innovation in Design: Improvements that provide exceptional or innovative performance.

The following is a partial  list of the green design actions for the proposed new Riverhill School building (shown at the left below) designed by Hill & Jangaard Architects, P.C. :

  • Implement stormwater quantity management plan
  • Treat 90% of storm water runoff to remove 80% of suspended solids
  • 50% of hardscape to have a combination of shade, and paving materials with Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) of 29 or more
  • A minimum 75% of the roof to have a minimum SRI of 78
  • Reduce potable water use for irrigation by 50% using captured rain water or recycled grey water. or use landscaping that does not require irrigation
  • Reduce potable water use for sewage conveyance by 30% using water-conserving plumbing fixtures
  • Optimize energy performance to exceed the minimum level of energy efficiency per ASREA/IESNA Standard 90.1 by 30%
  • Classroom daylighting of a minimum of 25 foot candles
  • Gym daylighting of a minimum of 25 foot candles
  • Daylighting of 75% of other rooms with a minimum of 25 foot candles
  • Use construction waste management to divert 50% of materials from landfills
  • Use 20% of building materials with recycled content
  • Use 20% of building materials from the region
  • Use 2.5% of rapidly renewable materials
  • Improved indoor air quality performance
  • Improved acoustical performance
  • Use low-emitting materials including carpets, adhesives, paints & sealants
  • Thermal comfort control for 50% of individuals or groups
  • Individual lighting control for 90% of individuals or groups
  • Views for 90% of regularly occupied spaces
  • Tornado Shelter that doubles as a student gallery