SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

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SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

• A New Approach to Building
• CAUBO 2006

John Metras, P.Eng. University of British Columbia
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Overview

• What is a sustainable or green building?
• What is LEED?
• Why build green?
• How much does it cost?
• Case Study UBC Life Sciences Centre
• Challenges
• Keys to Success

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What is a sustainable building?

• Uses key resources more efficiently energy,
  water, materials and land
• Reduces ecological loading greenhouse gases,
  ozone-depleting substances, wastes
• Creates healthier environments for people to
  live, work and learn
• Has lower overall lifecycle costs

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What is LEED?

• Leadership in Energy Environmental Design
• Rating system for developing high performance,
  sustainable buildings
• Voluntary, consensus-based, well recognized
• Developed by US Green Building Council
• Adapted by the Canada Green Bldg Council

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LEED Point System
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LEED Rating Levels
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Applications for LEED
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Why use LEED?

• Provides a common and consistent framework for
  defining a green building
• Is relatively simple to implement
• Is not overly prescriptive
• Can be adapted for local climates and standards
• Provides legitimacy of 3rd party certification
• Is gaining momentum as the accepted rating system

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LEED Projects in Canada
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Positioning of LEED in the Market
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Green Building Benefits

• 25-60 energy savings
• 30-50 water savings
• CBIP financial incentive
• Improved worker productivity due to improved
  lighting and thermal comfort
• Reduced sick time from allergies, asthma
  respiratory illness
• Lower life-cycle costs

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Financial Benefits
Source The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green
Buildings A Report to Californias Sustainable
Building Task Force October 2003
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Financial Benefit Breakdown
Source The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green
Buildings A Report to Californias Sustainable
Building Task Force October 2003
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Capital Cost Premium
Source The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green
Buildings A Report to Californias Sustainable
Building Task Force October 2003
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Case StudyUBC Life Sciences Centre
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UBC Life Sciences Centre

• Architects Bunting Coady/Diamond Schmitt
• Construction Manager Ledcor
• Area 52,000m2 / 560,000ft2
• Cost 110 million
• Occupants 2,654 staff, researchers, students
• Energy 28 less than standard building
• Water 50 less than standard building
• LEED Rating Gold

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UBC Life Sciences Centre

• Sustainable Site
• Brownfield site
• Bicycle storage changing facilities
• No new parking spaces
• Re-vegetated 87.5 of landscape with native and
  adapted plants
• Erosion sediment control during construction

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UBC Life Sciences Centre

• Water Efficiency
• Dual-flush toilets
• Waterless urinals
• Sensor-controlled faucets
• 87.5 of irrigation system to be de-commissioned
  after 1 year plant establishment period

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UBC Life Sciences Centre

• Energy Efficiency
• 28 better than ASHRAE 90.1 standard
• Annual energy savings of 6.4MWh, equal to
  180,000
• Heat recovery systems
• Demand ventilation
• Maximum natural lighting
• Motion sensor lighting controls

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UBC Life Sciences Centre

• Materials Resources
• Local building materials, 10 recycled content
• 80 of construction waste recycled or salvaged
• Green housekeeping practices
• Comprehensive recycling and composting program

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UBC Life Sciences Centre

• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Low-emitting materials
• CO2 monitoring
• BMS for environmental control and monitoring
• Displacement ventilation
• Maximum natural lighting
• Green housekeeping program

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Other Green Buildings at UBC

• CK Choi Building (1994)
• Liu Centre (1999)
• Technology Enterprise Facility III (2003)
• - LEED Silver Certified
• ICICS Building (2005)
• Frederick Kaiser Building (2005)
• Aquatic Ecosystems Research Lab (2005)
• - LEED Silver Certified
• Buchanan D Block Renewal (2006)
• - LEED Silver (planned)

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Challenges

• High expectations of building performance
• Acoustics
• Waterless urinals dual-flush toilets
• Motion sensor activated lighting
• Operating systems at optimal level

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Keys to Success

• Incorporate green principles at the beginning of
  the design process
• Involve operations staff early in the design
  process
• Avoid unmanageable complexity in building systems
• Undertake a thorough commissioning process
• Ensure staff are properly trained in building
  system operation

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Summary

• Why Build Green?
• Proven environmental health benefits
• Minimal initial cost premium
• Life-cycle cost savings

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Further Information

• Canada Green Building Council http//www.cagbc.org
  /
• US Green Building Council http//www.usgbc.org/
• UBC Campus Sustainability Office
• http//www.sustain.ubc.ca/