Governments Need Green Buildings

The Zuidkas is an example of a commissioned green building in the Netherlands by the Government Buildings Agency. Image Credit: Architectenbureau Paul de Ruiter.

It is pretty clear from our number of green building posts that we are a staunch advocate of the green building movement. We believe that every homeowner or building occupant deserves to have the quality of life that green buildings offer. Even government office employees benefit from more green work environments. Jerry Yudelson, a LEED Fellow, notes some interesting developments on green buildings in the US government’s perspective at a meeting with experts organized by the US National Research Council.

Buildings Need More Green

One speaker, Bill Browning of Bright Green, talked about his report entitled “Why Designing with Nature in Mind Makes Financial Sense”, which tackles the importance of putting more “green” into buildings. He cites living things such as plants and water that allow employees to be more in touch with nature as they work.

Multigenerational Responsibility

Another perspective delivered by David Batker of Earth Economics and Christopher Juniper of CORE is that the present generation needs to leave something behind for their children and their children’s children. Leaving a healthy planet and a healthy workplace is one of the ways to drive home that point.

Resiliency

There is another reason why federal green buildings are promptly needed: resiliency. As noted in the conference, a need for sustainable and resilient buildings that can withstand heat waves, flooding, warm summer seasons, and the freezing winter is required.

Taking Two Steps Forward

The conference put into perspective the impact of large buildings on urban infrastructure, including the sewerage system, stormwater management, and the water supply. This is something that the LEED rating system and green buildings can provide.

The conference provided a great avenue for healthy discussion on how governments—not just the US—can address the need for green buildings. And what is the one thing missing? Making green buildings a concrete reality.

If you are looking to erect a green building, one of our consultants at Norsteel Buildings can help you make your own green building a reality.

Greening Your Home

BCA Green Mark. Image Credit: Building and Construction Authority.

One of the major misconceptions about greening one’s building is that it requires building owners to make huge financial investments. On the contrary, there are several simple and cost-efficient green practices that homeowners can incorporate. Several studies have made it possible for homeowners to benefit from greening their home without having to spend too much.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark Scheme was launched in 2005 and strives to incorporate green practices and adoption of green building technologies. The following are suggested as eco-friendly practices  for your home:

1. Use only energy-saving lamps that emit less heat and convert consumed energy into usable light. Also avoid incandescent lamp that only convert 10% of power into usable light.

2. Buy lighting for specific purposes—such as reading lights and bedside lamps. These will conserve energy, in contrast to turning on the ceiling lights or wall lights. The latter will light up the entire room unnecessarily, when all you need is lighting for a specific area of the room.

3. Let natural lighting flow into the room by opening the curtains and blinds and reducing artificial lighting. Do not forget to turn off the lights when you’re about to leave the area.

4. Most people underestimate the power of light colors. BY using light colors like white and sky blue, daylight is diffused more evenly.

5. When turning on the air-conditioning unit, make sure that all openings such as windows and doors are tightly shut, as these will cause the AC to consumer more energy.

6. Shit from single-glazed windows to Low E double-glazed units. Another practical solution is to install external infra-red reflecting film to the outer glass of the single glazed windows to reduce the heat coming into your home.

7. Choose the cold wash setting in the washing machine, as this will conserve more electricity.

Green Globes: A Popular Certification System in the US and Canada

A Green Globe. Image Source: Public domain.

Some building owners simply do not have both the time and resources to apply for a green building certification. This should not stop them from assessing the green performance of their building. Fortunately, there is an assessment system that is simple, practical and convenient to use: the Green Globes system. By using Green Globes, building owners can obtain accurate information about their buildings at once.

The Green Globes system is an environmental design and management tool that makes use of an online assessment protocol and a unique rating system. There are currently five assessment tools in the site: Design of New Buildings or Significant Renovation, Management and Operation of Existing Buildings, Building Emergency Management, Building Intelligence, and Fit-Up. Each online auditing tool has separate criteria depending on whether the construction owner is in Canada or in the US.

The Green Globes system is an integration of the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) then published the BREEAM Canada for Exsiting Buildings. Back then, around 35 buildings participated. Among the notable participants were representatives from provincial and federal departments and the National Research Council and University of Toronto.

It wasn’t until 2000 that the Green Globes system came about and became an online assessment and rating tool. It was also able to get the support of the Canadian Department of National Defense and Public Works and Government Services.

In 2004, it was used by the Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada (BOMA). The Green Building Initiative (GBI) on the other hand acquired the rights to Green Globes in the US.

Today, the Green Globes system is one of the more popular certification systems both in the US and Canada. In the USA, it is operated by the Green Building Initiative (GBI), while in Canada, it is known under the brand name BOMA Best.

Four Myths About Green Buildings… Busted!

It is quite clear that green buildings are here to stay. Unfortunately, many construction firms still do not and will not understand the wisdom behind green buildings. Because of misinformation or lack of information, people tend to get confused as to what exactly is the real deal about green buildings. Well, here are some myths about green buildings that you have to stop believing in—from no less than one of the pioneers in green buildings, Norsteel Buildings.

Myth # 1 Green buildings are costly.

There are several high-profile and expensive green building project contractors—in the same way that there are several construction firms that charge a variety of fees for construction projects. There are plenty of firms that offer viable and inexpensive green building solutions that are right for your budget, whether you are a residential building or commercial building owner.

Myth # 2 Green building is only a matter of selecting the right materials.

Just because you reused recycled materials with low energy and no VOCs does not mean that you already own a green building. There are several considerations for a green building to be called such—from the selection of the site to waste reduction.

Myth #3 Green buildings do not save energy.

Another myth thrown around about green buildings is that they do not really save energy and water at the end of the day. Actually, the performance of green buildings will speak for itself. As much as 60% energy reduction is reported by buildings with a green design.

Myth #4: Green products have to be imported and are rare.

This is not exactly true. For example, Norsteel will be not run out of green products for your building anytime soon.. There are a growing number of sources for green products, so there is no need to worry that the construction will be stalled halfway through.

LEED Buildings Should Also Be Bird-Friendly

Robin. Image Credit: Identify Birds.

Though solar lighting is easily one of the highlights of green buildings, but they’re not doing birds any favor. In fact, solar lighting may well be the proximate cause for the second top reason for bird kill—birds running into glass windows. In fact, the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Program reports that around one billion birds die from crashing into glass windows.

Billions of birds are killed every year for the seemingly absurd reason that they run into glass windows. Birds cannot distinguish between open space and glass. Since most buildings take advantage of passive solar lighting, birds easily mistake the interior of green buildings as the extension of the open skies.

As more green buildings with solar lighting are made, birds are increasingly under the threat of running into buildings windows and getting killed. The solution of LEED to this growing problem is to give credits for bird-friendly measures to the overall LEED score of a building.

Measures that are added to building windows primarily center on adding “noise”, which allows birds to tell open space for glass windows. One example is by placing in changes in the UV protection of the glass windows. Note that this won’t only make the building bird-friendly, it will also give additional protection to the building occupants. Another way is to place different coatings on the glass windows. In any case, Norsteel has mastered the art of integrating both advanced and simple technologies not only to protect the building occupants but also birds.

Aside from these building designs, there are also simple ways to make a building bird-friendly, such as turning the lights out when not in use.

Making buildings bird-friendly might seem to be the least of your worries when applying for LEED certification, building codes and the like, but there’s a pending federal law, the Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2011, which might persuade you to think about investing in bird-friendly structures.

Green Buildings Help Employee Productivity

500 Collins Street in Melbourne, Australia. Image Source: ResourceSmart.

Is there any clear link between employee productivity and green buildings? The increasing amount of evidence suggests that, indeed, green and sustainable buildings are a major factor in employee motivation and work satisfaction.

Studies have long identified the factors that drive employee productivity, such as management issues, relational factors with colleagues, salary, individual recognition, feedback, incentives, bonuses and a lot of other factors. Surprisingly, green buildings do play a role in boosting employee morale.

According to a study by Ernst & Young, among the factors that drain or reduce employee productivity are lack of innovation (15%), obsolete technology (8%), organizational structure (23%), and management problems (54%). Undeniably, the lack of natural ventilation and access to natural light are two important qualities of green buildings that are intricately linked with lack of innovation and obsolete technology, ultimately resulting in an unhappy workplace.

This has been confirmed by a number of studies done in the past. One is a 2006 study of a retrofit of the 500 Collins Street in Melbourne, Australia. With the retrofit, the buildings were provided with better ventilation and natural lighting systems. The result is a whopping 44% reduction of the monthly sick leave average of employees. Also, the secretaries posed a 9% improvement in their average typing speed.

Generally, well-lit and ventilated areas will decrease headaches, as well as sore eyes, fatigue, concentration, colds and flus. Employees tend to be happier and more productive when there is more natural light and views to the outside.

Increased productivity is just a great side effect for green building. While there are obvious benefits to building more environmentally sustainable buildings, the externalities they create such as happier, healthier and more productive employees should offset initial investments.

Eight Fast Facts about Steel

Steel recycling bales. Image Credit: blahedo via Wikipedia.

1. Steel is a “green” building material, mostly because it is highly recyclable.  According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, more than 80 million tons of steel are recycled each year in North America …
2. … which saves enough energy to power approximately 18 million homes across North America every single year!
3. While we are on the topic of green building, did you know that steel can actually be more environmentally friendly than wood? It’s true! It takes almost 40 trees to make a 2000 sq. ft. house, whereas a house of the same size can be constructed using steel from only four recycled cars. Furthermore, a steel house can easily be recycled into something else.  Wood is usually only good for one build.
4. It takes A LOT of steel to engineer a building.  Did you know that it took 83000 tons of steel to build the Golden Gate Bridge?
5. Steel is one of the most widely-used (and most heavily recycled) materials on the planet.
6. According to the Canadian Steel Producers Association, the construction of Canadian steel takes on two forms: 1) the Integrated (BOF) process, which relies on high quality iron ore, coal and limestone to produce molten iron in a blast furnace, which combines molten iron and scrap steel to create a liquid Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) which is then cast into slabs, and 2) the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) process, which primarily uses reheated recycled scrap steel which has been purified and recast as new steel from an electric arc furnace.
7. Steel is one of the strongest and most durable resilient materials out there.  In addition to its ability to withstand harsh weather conditions, steel is fire and weather resistant.
8. Steel is easy to work with.  Pieces can come pre molded and are easy to assemble, meaning that a steel building is normally put together faster than that of a building constructed using other materials, lessening production costs.

Steel is a Cost Effective Building Material

Money Falling. Image Source: Public Domain Image.

Data shows that an increasing number of contractors, architects and builders are using steel in their buildings – and for a variety of reasons.  In addition to its strength, steel is a versatile and incredibly dependable material with an extremely high tolerance.  It’s also a very cost-effective material to use.  Here are a few reasons why steel is an economical building material.

Quick Construction Time

The construction time for a steel building is normally faster than that of a building constructed using other materials, lessening production costs.  In some cases, steel parts can come pre-cut to the exact specifications of the building, making them far easier, and faster to assemble.  This helps to decrease labour costs, keeping costs down.

Long-Term Investment

Steel is an incredibly durable material which is resistant to harsh weather conditions.  Unlike other building products, steel will not collect mould or rot.  The initial costs of purchasing steel material may cost more, but steel makes an excellent (and economic) long-term investment.

Efficiency

Another way steel helps to keep costs down is through energy efficiency.  Steel is excellent at insulating, meaning it will help keep a building cool in the summer and warm in the winter, at a fraction of the cost of other buildings.  For this reason, steel is often used in energy-efficient and LEED certified buildings.

Durability

Steel is one of the strongest, most resilient materials available on the market today.  In addition to its ability to withstand harsh weather conditions, it is also fire resistant and some studies have demonstrated that steel buildings are more resistant to earthquakes than other buildings.

Flexibility

Steel is an incredibly flexible material that can accommodate a variety of different settings.  From offices to storage sheds to homes, steel can do it all.  Thanks to steel, a corporate head office can be housed in the same building as a factory.  Keeping all business faucets in one area can greatly reduce shipping and administrative costs.

Staying Safe on a Summer Construction Site

Morning Sun. Image Source: Public Domain.

Most employers take great pains to ensure worker safety in the office and on site, and you can count Norsteel among them. Working outdoors can be dangerous any time of year, but there are particular safety precautions that should be met when working in a construction zone during the summer months.

Here are a few things to consider.

First and foremost, it is important that workers avoid excessive heat exposure which can result in sun stroke, rashes, headaches and fatigue.  Common symptoms include confusion, an inability to concentrate and excessive sweating.

According to the United States Department of Occupational Health and Safety Administration, one way to get workers ready for the hot summer months is to acclimatize them by having small teams work in hot environments from progressively longer periods.  This however, may not always be practical, so there are other precautions that should be considered.

It is important that workers have a designated “cooling area” to relax and rehydrate with a cold glass of water.  It is a foreman’s job to monitor his or her workers during the hot summer months and ensure that workers are taking their scheduled breaks.  Workers who are wearing dark, heavy clothing or working at a high energy level in excessive heat should be paid close attention.

Workers should try to remain hydrated by taking small sips every fifteen minutes or so.  While water is best, most cool liquids will do, with the exception of alcoholic or caffeinated beverages, both of which are dehydrating.

Jobs that physically demanding – such as heavy lifting or operating large objects – should be saved for early morning or late evening, when the temperature is cooler.

Workers should always dress to accommodate the heat by wearing light-coloured, breathable clothing, hats and sunglasses (when hard hats and safety goggles are not required) and ample amounts of sunscreen, which should be re-applied frequently throughout the workday.

Innovative Design Using Steel Shipping Containers

Steel is an incredibly versatile material, and we’re continually inspired by innovate ways to incorporate it into design.  A great article that recently appeared in the Vancouver Sun profiles builder Bernard Morin, an entrepreneur who creates environmentally-friendly homes by thinking “outside of the box.”

Motivated by his desire to build residential homes in a more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally-conscious manner, Morin and his business partner Jocelyne Labelle create homes out of recycled maritime shipping containers.  Operating under the name Idekit Homes, the Ste-Adele, Quebec company focuses on creating weather-resistant, well-lit homes.

Not only are these homes quick to assemble (Morin compares the building process to putting LEGO blocks together) the homes are also aesthetically pleasing.  Morin says there’s no shortage of building material, either.  According to the article, there are millions of decommissioned shipping containers sitting in dumps around the world.

A 1,200 square foot model home was featured at the Ottawa Home & Garden Show this past weekend.  It was shipped from Ste-Adele by truck and was easily assembled by Morin and an assistant in 10 hours.  All Idekit homes can be easily shipped – which means that these homes can move with you to a new location.

The total cost of the home, which includes delivery and set up (but not the cost of an electrician, plumber or property) checks in at a mere $99,000 CAD.

Idekit has sold 20 homes to date and is looking into developing condos as well.  All structures are waterproof, air-tight and energy efficient, and are eligible for LEED certification.

Creating homes out of recycled materials is a fast-rising trend that is picking up speed around the globe.  In Amsterdam, a youth hostel was constructed out of shipping containers and in Jamaica, families grown partial to the durability of shipping containers since they are able withstand hurricanes better than some traditionally-built homes.

Click here to read more about Idekit homes and click here to read more about the benefits of steel buildings for commercial, industrial and agricultural uses.