Small Firms Ideas Exchange

This is Part Two of last week's blog:  http://blog.aia.org/smallfirms/2009/04/leed_vs_sustainable.html

While visiting the school where I’m on the Board (yes, my kids go to that school so I’m there a lot), I had a discussion with the business manager. He told me the local power company  asked if they could come to the campus and do an “audit” of the energy consumption at the new 17,000 SF buildings.  The power company reps came out, walked the campus, looked at the buildings, looked at the MDP in the original main building, looked at the electrical and mechanical rooms in the new buildings, made a few notes, and left.

Hmmm… The next week (as I understand the story) the business manager got back in contact with the power company to get a read on their findings. Here’s where the story gets good. Apparently, the power consumption for the entire campus has gone down since the 17,000 SF buildings began occupancy in September 2008.  Mind you, the new buildings (all 17,000 SF of them) replaced 4 modular units (YeeHaa -3 double wides, 1 triple wide, totaling 7,240 SF).  The campus has a net gain of 9,760 square feet and the power consumption has gone down by some 35-40% (at least that’s with 7 months history… we’ll see what the Georgia summer does).

Analysis:  White TPO roof, R25+/- roof insulation, icynene insulation at 6” metal stud exterior walls, fritt and insulated glazing in thermal break storefront windows as punched openings, CIP foundation walls (lower level of building half recessed into hillside), ground-source heat pumps providing 40 tons of cooling to FCUs with ionic/UV air scrubbers on return air. It's pretty awesome that the building is performing this well. We’ll see what the summer does but we all have high hopes.

Would I make the same recommendation again? Absolutely! For this private school, it would have been nice to have bragging rights to LEED certification but it is my hope that, based on the excellent building performance, the schedule for subsequent buildings on the master plan can be accelerated, based on the realized operational cost savings now.

—Lisa Stacholy, AIA

A little background:  Ok, so I’m a recently accredited LEED professional (yes, prior to March 31, 2009– big whoop). Some colleagues/teammates whom I work with asked me to help out with “that LEED stuff for a proposal.” Oh joy! 

First, I need to rant a bit. I found studying for the LEED exam extremely tedious; with no real “resolution” or “outcome” other than passing the test. I admit frustration with how the LEED study guides were written. It’s not really how I’ve practiced architecture for the last 14 years. Realistically I think that all good architects think inherently in the whole building approach. We know the “gives and takes” of building orientation, mechanical system trade-offs. The LEED exam was more about recalling facts by rote but felt a little isolated and not cohesive; maybe that’s a side effect of the nature of computerized testing. (Yes, I’m a product of Old School. I took the architecture exam over a 3-day period when it was all by pencil; it felt a little more “real,” like the practice of architecture, but I digress).

So, trying to explain the “what” of the MR credits to my colleague was the “easy” part… not having a clear answer to the “why” he asked, “but why are the percentages set at these levels; they seem arbitrary." My only response was “Perhaps they are, but USGBC is relying on project data since 1998 and these criteria apparently work best towards attaining the goal of sustainable construction."

Back to the main topic:  So I was an owner's rep. on a project which started out with the Board’s lofty goals of “constructing a LEED certified classroom building.” So I said, “Excuse me guys, I think you’ll find that you’ll get more bang for the buck if we use LEED concepts and sustainable products/techniques and forego the project registration”; that was in 2003.  Fast forward to 2007 when the Board hired an architect and a LEED consultant for the project and, surprise, preliminary budget numbers showed a $65,000-$85,000 premium to construct 17,000 SF of classroom building and attain LEED certification. Ultimately the Board elected to build sustainable, save the cost of enhanced commissioning, energy modeling, etc. and install ground source heat pumps as a part of the HVAC system. The final GMP cost showed the cost “savings” of not LEED certifying the project more than covered the cost of the geothermal system and related specialty HVAC equipment. If I hadn’t been so involved, I never would have believed it.

If the choice is a) building what the owner wants, b) building within the owner’s budget c) advising the owner what’s the best way to get from point A to point B (so far I’d suggest don’t be blinded by a plaque on the wall), continue to use your architect’s best judgment and design with all the tools you have available (LEED is another tool, not the end-all to end all).  In addition to the good design, there are tons of great “tag line,” “one-liners,” and lessons that are easily accessible for discussion among the school kids, the parents, and professionals like us.

http://www.wsbtv.com/video/16161467/index.html

—Lisa Stacholy, AIA

LEED is approaching “mainstream discussions” these days.  Are you a LEED AP?  Why did you pursue that?  How does it affect how you practice?  Does it offer value and benefits to your clients beyond?  Does LEED certification for a building make it “better”?  What are your thoughts?

—Lisa Stacholy, AIA

When Apple Inc. announced its enterprise upgrades to the iPhone and the accompanying software development kit, the company also announced a $100-million venture capital fund for software development. What would this look like in architecture for small firms? Imagine if a consortium of energy firms and construction materials suppliers announced the establishment of a $500-million venture capital development fund to specifically fund sustainable community projects being managed and developed by innovative small architecture firms. The fund requires the firm size be under 15 people and that the project size be under $20 million. What innovative project would you propose that would profitably change the nature of sustainable community development? How would this change the way your firm operates? How would it change your goals and methods? Please do not reveal any actual projects or project locations as they may preclude actually carrying out your vision if such a fund should ever be developed.

—Louis B. Smith Jr., AIA, NOMA

According to AIA Small Project Practitioners’ National Issues Convocation, which took place at the 2007 AIA national convention, affordable green design ranks as one of the top issues confronting small firms. What are some strategies or methodologies that you use to incorporate sustainability at a low cost?  How can the AIA better serve your needs in this area?