Green Building Elements

AJC Architects have thought ahead to a hotter Utah in the sensible ideas incorporated into their  Wetland Discovery Point educational building that helps educate Utah schoolchildren about nature.

These are the green ideas in order of importance to sustainable design:

1. On-site solar panels for green electricity - to make net zero energy onsite;
2. Solar thermal collectors for hot water supply and radiant floor heating;
3. Radiant cooling via infloor cold water in the same circuits in summer; (great idea!)
   
4. 10-ft high trombe wall collects passive solar heat;
5. Butterfly roof for rainwater collection;
6. Rainwater collection used for toilets/landscaping;
7. Drought tolerant, native landscaping;
8. Maximimum openings for natural ventilation;
9. Low-water use fixtures and plumbing;

In addition there are the usual elements that garner so many LEED points:

1. 95% of the construction waste is recycled.
2. Use of FSC-certified woods and low VOC products.
3. High recycled content materials used throughout.

…and indeed, this building has gained LEED Platinum certification, the third to do so in Utah.

It’s a good example of the self-sufficient new design vernacular in sustainable design - including net zero solar power and the new butterfly roofs for rainwater harvesting for a water constrained future.

Because Utah, in the American Southwest, is an arid land and will be increasingly drought-prone as our hotter future heats up the region.

Via Jetson Green

If it works for one San Fran hotel then it must work for another. No, we’re not talking about more upscale mini bar items but Greening a hotel. In this case, the Orchard Garden Hotel’s (which garnered LEED-NC certification) sister property the Orchard Hotel just nabbed LEED-EB certification.

The Orchard represents San Francisco’s only hotel to earn this honor, the Orchard Hotel is the second hotel in California and fourth hotel in the world with this certification. The inspiration from these green hotels comes from its 85-year-old owner, Mrs. S.C. Huang, who has pushed her environmental agenda and created more environmentally safe and sustainable hotels after the untimely cancer-related deaths of three family members. Read the rest of this entry »