Austin Energy Green Building Annual Report

8/6/2019 Austin Energy Green Building Annual Report

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AUSTIN RESIDENT » GLOBAL CITIZEN



AUSTIN RESIDENT,

GLOBAL CITIZEN

Welcome to the 2010 Austin Energy® Green

Building annual report. This year, through our

building ratings and energy code work, we saved

7,468 kilowatts o demand, 16.6 million kilowatt hours o electricity,42.6 million gallons o water and diverted 13,057 tons o construction

waste rom the landll. These accomplishments are the economic jus-

tication or our program and the way we measure our progress. But

kilowatts, kilowatt hours, gallons and tons are the means to achieving

our goal, not the goal itsel.

The buildings we celebrate in this report are not merely energy,

water or material ecient. They are workplaces, schools, homes—the

building blocks o the unique, colorul neighborhoods that make up

Austin. Our real goal is helping to ensure buildings make a positive,

durable, sustainable contribution. We want them to advance, not

degrade, Austin’s culture and its residents’ quality o lie.

Our goals go beyond the Austin Energy service territory. For

example, it is very important that buildings in Austin reduce water

use or the city and electric demand on our power plants. It is equally

important that when we choose sustainably-harvested wood or

one o our projects, we are making it possible or an Oregon orest

to maintain its unction in the water cycle. By speciying this type

o lumber in Austin, we can inuence a region’s water quality and

biodiversity thousands o miles away—thereby helping Oregonians

in their eorts to improve their lives and advance their culture.

In 2011, AEGB celebrates 20 years o green building in Austin.

That kind o continued success is only possible with the support,

participation and engagement o City Council, the mayor, the city

manager, Austin Energy’s leadership team, Austin’s green building

proessionals and an entire community o Austin residents who

understand the roles they play as global citizens.

Richard Morgan

Manager, Austin Energy Green Building

02 » FIVE-STAR HOMES, 2001–PRESENT

04 » GREEN BUILDING ACROSS AUSTIN: 2010 RATED PROJECTS

05 » SINGLE FAMILY GREEN BUILDING MARKET PARTICIPATION

06 » SITE08 » ENERGY

12 » WATER

16 » MATERIALS

18 » INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

20 » EQUITY

22 » EDUCATION

26 » INNOVATION

30 » PROJECTS TO WATCH

AUSTIN RESIDENT, GLOBAL CITIZEN » 01

TABLE OF CONTENTS



Austin Energy Green Building has been rating

homes since 1991, when we created the rst

residential green building rating tool in the

country. But it wasn’t until 2001, when Becca

Aronow and Ben Obregon built their west Austin

home, that we awarded our rst ve-star rating.

Their achievement was just the beginning. At the

end o 2010, we had rated 360 ve-star homes

and 9,247 homes overall!

As more Austin homeowners aim or ve stars,

what it means to achieve that high level o sustain-

ability has evolved and expanded. The Obregons’

straw bale house is characterized by a ocus on

sustainable materials and natural building. Homes

like Angel Bolhouse’s show that simple, aordable

design can produce ve-star results. The

Aldredges’ renovation demonstrates that shorter

commutes, adaptation o existing buildings and

preserving neighborhood culture all contribute to

sustainable living, Austin-style.

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary in 2011,

and look ahead to the next 20 years, we see

trends moving in the direction o smaller, more

urban houses and condominiums located in

mixed-use neighborhoods with shared green

space. The uture will be ultra-ecient, as well—

we have already laid out a plan or all new homes

in Austin to be net-zero energy capable by 2015.

While a green home built in 2030 may look quite

dierent rom the Obregons’ 2001 straw bale

home, the exciting thing about green building is

that the ve-star homes on these pages will still

be standing or years to come. They exempliy

the undamental principles o green building:

resource eciency, sustainable site practices, high

indoor environmental quality, comort and beauty.

That all adds up to superb durability and healthy,sustainable homes or Austin residents and global

citizens or years to come.

Nhohoo » West Austin

Achtct » Ben Obregon

Homowns » Becca Aronow & Ben, Kaleb &

Maya ObregonSqa Foota » 1,748

Growing up on a arm helped dene local

architect Ben Obregon’s concern or the environ-

ment. So when he and his wie Becca bought their

land, they set out to build a straw bale home that

would become the very rst house awarded a

ve-star AEGB rating.

Raising the walls on a straw bale house, in

addition to being aordable and energy ecient,

appealed to Ben and Becca because o its similar-

ity to old-time barn raisings.

“Barn raisings brought the community

together,” Ben said. “People would get out there

together and sweat or this common goal.”

The best part o the journey, however, has

been watching their kids grow up with a strong

sense o environmental responsibility.

“They ask questions like, ‘What green

building rating does that house have?’” Ben said.

“We’ve built something that has taught our kids

about the big picture.”

Five-Star Homes, 2001–Present

Timeline Photography by Alexa Carlson02 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING



Nhohoo » West Austin

Achtct » Barley & Peier

Homowns » Emily, Greg, Henry & Adi McKaskle

Sqa Foota » 2,456

Emily and Greg McKaskle had a ew ideas

about what they wanted in a new house: It needed

to be respectul o the land, well-crated and

unique.

“Our top priorities were sustainability and

energy eciency,” the couple said. “At the same

time, we didn’t want to sacrice a homey eeling.”

They didn’t. In addition to a light-colored

metal roo, high-eciency cooling equipment

and almost 50,000 gallons o rainwater storage,

architects Barley & Peier designed comortable

ront and back porches.

“It’s great to just hang outside and let the kids

play,” Emily said. “The connection to the outdoors

and the respect or the environment are both big

parts o local culture.”

Daughter Adi’s ront porch playhouse is even

made rom a discarded shipping crate. Like the

playhouse, the amily’s home “was designed with

sustainability in mind, but it isn’t ussy or preten-

tious,” Emily said. “It ts perectly into our unky

little Austin neighborhood.”

Nhohoo » East MLK

Achtct » Casa Verde Builders

Homown » Angel Bolhouse

Sqa Foota » 1,185

When engineering student Angel Bolhouse

started looking or a home to buy, aordability

and a good neighborhood were her top priorities.

“Energy eciency wasn’t as important as

location and price,” she said. “I really just got lucky

that this house was a ve-star home. I didn’t real-

ize all the benets until I moved in and attended

a seminar on green building.”

The home was originally a Casa Verde Build-

ers aordable home, built by participants o an

American YouthWorks green jobs service learning

program. Angel is the second owner, and she has

made the house truly her own, by building a secret

bedroom door that masquerades as a bookshel,

a swinging porch bench, a large deck and a stone-

oored outdoor shower.

Nhohoo » Mueller

Achtct » Streetman Homes

Homowns » Dennis & Carole Mick

Sqa Foota » 2,521

Dennis and Carole Mick did their homework

on energy eciency prior to their house search.

“We had talked about reducing our carbon

ootprint and living lighter,” Dennis said. “Reduced

energy use is one o the main reasons we made

the move.”

High ceilings that direct summer heat away

rom the living space, low-E windows and daylight-

ing provided by a clerestory are a ew o the

eatures that contribute to what the Micks say

is a superb quality o lie.

They’re striving to cut their energy use even

urther, as well, having volunteered or the Pecan

Street Project’s ederally-unded, energy-tracking

program.

“Typically, you have no idea how much

energy you actually use, but this will let us see it,”

Dennis said. “We drive dierently now as a result

o our hybrid vehicle eedback, so we know this

kind o thing works.”

Nhohoo » Bouldin

Achtct » Stuart Sampley

Homowns » Horatio, Tenley, Phinney &

Quin AldredgeSqa Foota » 2,206

When Horatio and Tenley Aldredge set out

to renovate, there was no question that they would

choose green design.

“We lived or so long in an inecient house;

the windows rattled,” Tenley said. “We’re religious

about water conservation and recycling and shut-

ting o the lights. It was about putting your money

where your mouth is.”

In the renovated home, the rattling windows

were replaced with high-eciency ones that, along

with total-ll insulation, a sealed attic and a metal

roo, contribute to a durable, ecient envelope

that keeps the Aldredges comortable and their

utility bills low.

Renovating rather than buying a new home

allowed them to stay in the central Bouldin neigh-

borhood, so Horatio and Tenley, both attorneys,

can limit their commutes to about two miles.

“We like urban living,” Tenley said. “In 20 or

30 years, I can see us maybe living in one o the

downtown high-rises.”

AUSTIN RESIDENT, GLOBAL CITIZEN »03



Commca Pojcts

1. 2e Alot Austin at The Domain

2. 2e Anderson High School Addition–AISD

3. 2eWebb Middle School Fine Arts Building–AISD

4. 1e Post West Austin

5. Mueller South Regional Retail

3e EyeMasters

3e Dental Smiles 3e Central Texas Pediatric Dentistry

3e The Children’s Place

3e Famous Footwear

3e Yo So Cool

6. 3e Mosaic at Mueller

7. 3e Austin Children’s Shelter

8. 3e Turner-Roberts Recreation Center

9. 3e Norman Elementary School Addition–AISD

10. 2e Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary Anderson House

11. 1e The Quarters Garage and Retail

12. 3e Austin Community College Rio Grande Campus Parking Garage

13. 4e The Austonian

14. 1e Gables Pressler

15. 3e Palisades West

16. 3e Gorzycki Middle School–AISD

17. 3e HelioVolt

Mtamy Pojcts

1 3e Midtown Commons

2 4e Franklin Gardens

3 3e East Village Lots

4 5e The South 5th

5 3e Longhorn Village6 2e Fox Hill Apartments

04 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING

78732

78730

78750

78759

78758

78757

78731

78754

7875278756

78751

78703

78746

78702

7870478741

78742

78745

78744

78617

78747

78723

Sn Famy Homs y Zp Co

151 – 30051 – 15026 – 5011 – 251 – 10

Green Building Across Austin: 2010 Rated Projects



SINGLE FAMILY GREEN BUILDING

MARKET PARTICIPATION

2004 760 22%

2005 1087 25%

2006 1049 21%

2007 981 19%

2008 1021 35%

2009 712 41%

2010 722 38%

ONe MeASure OF greeN buildiNg SuCCeSS in Austin is the number o Austin Energy

Green Building rated homes completed each year. Despite the decline in the overall

number o homes built in Austin in recent years, the percentage o AEGB-rated homes

has stayed high. O the 1,909 single amily homes completed in 2010, AEGB rated 722,or 38 percent. This represents broad adoption o green building among Austin home

builders. The chart to the right shows the market participation rate o AEGB-rated single

amily homes rom 2004-2010.

year AEGB-rated homes participation rate

Austin Energy Green Building Rated P rojects

— 2010 —

market participation rate

0–25% 26–50% 51–75% 76-100%




06 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING • SITE

SuStainable Site Selection begins with under-

standing a building’s place within Austin’s system o watersheds.*

Developing in urban watershed zones, or example, allows us to

preserve rural, agricultural and drinking water protected zones—

the habitats or native and endangered species such as the Golden-

cheeked Warbler. Urban site selection also plugs new buildings

into existing inrastructure and locates building occupants closer

to the amenities they need, allowing them to rely less on single-

occupancy vehicles.

* A watershed is “that ar ea o land, a bounded

hydrologic system, within which all living things

are inextricably linked by their common watercourse and where, as humans settled, simple logic

demanded that they become par t o a community.”

— John Wesley Powell

Explorer o the Colorado River

But while location is perhaps the single most important actor in

determining a building’s environmental impact, designers are aced

with a myriad o other critical site choices, such as those concerning

light pollution, urban heat island eect and pest management.

Site choices aect quality o lie, too: Useul outdoor spaces, such

as balconies, gardens and trails, create opportunities or exercise,

interaction and leisure.

The Austin metro area population has doubled over the past two

decades and is predicted to double again by 2030. As local residents,

we know sustainable site practices will help us provide or new

residents, all while allowing us to enjoy the benets o a growing

economy. As global citizens, we want to preserve the natural

resources, unique neighborhoods and sense o community that

make Austin a place we love to live.



AUSTIN RESIDENT, GLOBAL CITIZEN • SITE » 07

Project:

eAST VillAge lOFTS

Occupants o this condominium and retail development

enjoy East 11th Street nightlie, galleries and restaurants

on oot, thanks to car share and transit access. Native

and adapted landscaping and integrated pest manage-

ment reduce the need or chemicals to maintain the site.

Team:

dvop » Esperanza Development

Achtct » Bercy Chen Studio

enns » Martinez Wright & Mendez (civil);

MGB & Associates (MEP); Structures (structural)

AEGB Rating:

Project:

ArbOreTuM PArK

Just a short commute rom high tech jobs in northwest

Austin, young proessionals enjoy combined residential

and commercial development on a heavily-treed inll

site. Shared parking reduces impervious cover and

shielded outdoor lighting mitigates light pollution.

Team:

Achtct » Kipp Flores Architects

b » Ash Creek Homes

enn » Garrett-Ihnen Civil Engineers

lanscap Achtct » Lee & Associates

AEGB Rating:

Project:

THe MOSAiC AT Mueller

Located on a ormer browneld, this mixed-use com-

munity oers young amilies and empty nesters access

to the outdoors through balconies and shaded seating

areas, transit options and connectivity with retail and

services. Multi-level structured parking and cool roos

mitigate urban heat island eect.

Team:

Own » Simmons Vedder Partners

Achtct » Steinberg Design Collaborative

gna Contacto » Rampart Construction

enn » Bury + Partners (civil)

lanscap Achtct » MESA Design Group

Commssonn » EEA Consulting Engineers

AEGB Rating:

© 2 0 1 0 A n d y H e a t w o l e

© 2 0 1 0 A n n i i W i s o c k i D e s i g n s



08 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING • ENERGY

our ability to uSe

energy in buildingS—

whether in the orm o electricity or

natural gas—aords better health, longer

lives, comort, dignity and the leisure

to create, innovate and evolve. But

unsustainable consumption o energy

is associated with serious regional,

national and global problems, such as

unhealthy outdoor air, climate-changing

greenhouse gas emissions, energy

scarcity and national security threats.

There are two major approaches to

making energy consumption in buildings

more sustainable: energy eciency and

the use o cleaner, renewable energy

sources. Energy-eciency strategies

range rom smart building orientation

and passive design to more involved

approaches, such as sophisticated

energy management systems. Renewable

energy, such as rootop solar, is oten a

cost-eective option or well-designed,

energy-ecient buildings. Signing up

or GreenChoice®, Austin Energy’s

renewable energy subscription program,

is another great way to support the

growth o renewables.

Austin Energy Green Building partici-

pants make important contributions to

their community by using less and

cleaner energy. They help delay the

construction and nancing o costly

new power plants, which keeps electric

rates lower or all o Austin Energy’s

customers. When they support

renewables, AEGB participants also help

the community meet Austin Energy’s

goal o generating 35 percent o its

power rom renewable sources by 2020.

In addition, one o the most important—

and least known—contributions

o building green in Austin is the

advancement o the energy code.

When buildings earn an AEGB rating,

they essentially pilot advanced energy-

eciency and renewable energy

standards or potential integration into

the City o Austin energy code. Thanks

to this system, Austin’s energy code is

widely recognized as one o the most

progressive in the country.



AUSTIN RESIDENT, GLOBAL CITIZEN • ENERGY » 09

Project:

FrANKliN gArdeNS

Franklin Gardens oers green, aordable housing to the Chestnut neighborhood and east

Austin seniors, allowing them to stay in their neighborhoods ater transitioning out o single

amily homes. The project scored high or energy eciency and the project team planned or

the uture with solar-ready design. While there was not enough money in the budget or solar

panels, the team designed and installed conduit or a 17 kW photovoltaic system.

Another great energy-conserving decision was to purchase submetering sotware that will

make it possible or the property managers to provide residents with detailed inormation

about their individual electric usage, down to the hour. This eedback will give residents the

tools they need to understand and reduce their energy consumption.

Team:

Own » Chestnut Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation

Achtct » hatch + ulland owen architects

gna Contacto » Bailey Elliott Construction

enn » Jose I. Guerra (MEP)

lanscap Achtct » Winterowd Associates

Soa-ray dsn » Meridian Solar

© 2 0 1 0 A l e x a C a r l s o n

AEGB Rating: Project:

THe SOuTH 5TH

Residents o this high-perorming condominium complex

enjoy homey-and-hip south Austin with its quirky shops,

a serious ood trailer scene and sae pedestrian and

bicycle routes. The building eatures insulated concrete

walls, a cool roo and 3 kW solar arrays or each unit.

Team:

Achtct » Acero Construction

enns » EN, Incorporated (MEP);

Texas Design Interests (structural)

AEGB Rating:

© 2 0 1 0 P a t r i c k W o n g



10 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING • ENERGY

Project:

HeliOVOlT

Once this solar manuacturing acility begins production, HelioVolt will play a key role in

Austin’s alternative energy market, producing thin-lm solar photovoltaic modules or a

wide range o uses, rom utility-scale installations to building-integrated applications.

The HelioVolt acility was a nish-out o an existing building with preabricated tilt-up walls,

so opportunities or envelope insulation were limited. Despite this, the project achieved

energy savings 39 percent above the City o Austin energy code. To reach this level o

eciency, the team chose a chilled water HVAC system, allowing more versatile tempera-

ture control in dierent spaces. The acility eatures high-eciency lamps and compact

uorescent down lamps, resulting in lighting energy savings o 59 percent above the energy

code. The acility al so eatures roo space or up to 10 kW o PV capacity, used to test dier-

ent systems and installations.

Team:

Achtct » TAG International

enns » Bury + Partners (civil); EEA Consulting Engineers (MEP);

Texas Design Interests (structural)

gna Contacto » Harvey-Cleary Builders

Sstanaty Constant » Lee Gros Architect and Artisan

Commssonn » EEA Consulting Engineers

© 2 0 1 0 T h o m a s M c C o n n e l l

AEGB Rating:

auStin energy’S diStributed

energy ServiceS Staff works hard

every day building what we ree r to as Austin’s

“negawatt” or “conservation” power plant—that is,

the sum total o all the electric generation capacity

we’ve been able to avoid building through ourenergy-eciency programs. There are a number o

approaches to utility-scale conservation: We shit

load, coax eciencies out o existing buildings,

implement a strict energy code and encourage

conservation in new construction beyond the

requirements o the energy code through AEGB

ratings. We completed our rst 700 MW negawatt

plant in 2007, and we’re working to achieve an

additional 800 MW o energy eciency by 2020.

In 2010, AEGB helped Austin buildings avoid 7.5

MW o electric demand, bringing AEGB’s lietime

contribution to the ne gawatt plan to 137 MW.

The chart to the right puts energy eciency in

the context o Austin Energy’s natural gas, coal,

nuclear and renewable generation capacity. You

can see how much additional capacity AE would

have had to build or buy without our eciency

programs. The chart also shows the progress

we’ve made on the goals o our Resource,

Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2020.

Under the plan, Austin Energy aims to meet the

electric demand o Austin’s growing population

by increasing generation rom renewable power

resources and natural gas and achieving even more

energy eciency in buildings—without increasing

nuclear and coal resources.



2020 Efciency Goal =1,500 MW

2020 Wind Goal = 1,001 MW

2020 Gas Goal = 1,744 MW

COMMerCiAl eNergY

eFFiCieNCY ANdMANAgeMeNT =

321 MW

WiNd = 439 MWreSideNTiAl eNergY eFFiCieNCY

ANd MANAgeMeNT = 471 MW

SOlAr = 6.4 MWCOAl = 610 MW

NuCleAr = 420 MW2020 Solar Goal =

201 MW

2020 Biomass Goal = 162 MW

greeN buildiNg = 137 MW

renewablestraditional generation uels efciency

AUSTIN RESIDENT, GLOBAL CITIZEN • ENERGY » 11

AUSTIN ENERGY’S 2010 GENERATION RESOURCES AND 2020 GOALS

biOMASS =

12 MW

gAS = 1,544 MW



12 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING • WATER

the water conServation Strategy with thehighest potential or water savings in most buildings is minimizing

the use o potable water or landscape irrigation. Choosing native and

adapted drought-resistant plants or landscaping and avoiding lawns

is a good start. Rainwater, stormwater and condensate collection

systems coupled with high-eciency irrigation can result

in additional reductions.

Indoors, water conservation begins with high-eciency xtures

and appliances, such as low-ow and dual-ush toilets, waterless

urinals, low-ow aucets, ecient dishwashers and laundry machines.

Rainwater and air conditioning condensate can be used or ushing

toilets in lieu o potable water, which is energy-intensive and

becoming more expensive to treat and distribute.

When rainall is adequate, Austin is a Texas oasis, with its proximity

to the Edwards Aquier, the Lower Colorado River Basin and the lakes

and swimming holes that provide reuge on hot summer days. But

with its burgeoning population, the likely changes to the water supply

due to climate change and the uncertain politics o water rights, * it

is critical or Austin to reduce consumption. At present, the current

ve-year rolling average or water consumption in Austin is 163

gallons per capita, per day. The Water Conservation Task Force plan,

adopted by City Council in 2007, should pare average consumption to

150 gallons per capita, per day by 2020. In 2010, Austin Water Utility

proposed an action plan to urther reduce consumption to 140 gallons

per capita, per day. The plan is under consideration by City Council.

* The City o Austin is not the only major consumer

along the Colorado River: Indeed, the biggest water

users are downstream rice armers who regularly

use more than three times as much water a nnually

as does the city (including water used by Austin

Energy to generate power), making conservation

eorts ever more important.



Project:

PAliSAdeS WeST

The Palisades West oce complex team reduced indoor

water consumption by 45 percent by installing dual-ush

toilets, pint urinals and low-ow xtures. Outdoors, the team

reduced potable water use or irrigation by 81 percent by

landscaping with native and adapted plants and distribut-

ing collected rainwater using a drip irrigation system. The

project’s most impressive design element is the green roo

covering the parking garage, eaturing a garden, seating,

paths and space or group exercise.

Team:

Own » Cousins Properties Incorporated

Achtct » Kendall/Heaton Associates

enn » Michael E. James & Associates (MEP)

gna Contacto » Austin Commercial

lanscap Achtct » SWA Group

Commssonn » The Delphi Groupe

Project:

1613 NOrTHuMberlANd rOAd

This 3,240-square-oot renovation eatures a 7,900-gallon

rainwater collection system. A natural swimming pond lets

homeowners cool o in hot weather and provides rainwater

storage or irrigation o a yard with minimal tur area and

native plants. Low-ow xtures reduce indoor water use.

There’s more: Energy-ecient design, solar thermal water

heating, a 6 kW solar array with battery backup and an

energy management system make this home nearly

net-zero energy.

Team:

Owns » Craig & Patsy Overmiller

Achtct » Craig M. Overmiller Architects

b » Patsy Overmiller

Mchanca Contacto » Epic Mechanical Contractors

AEGB Rating: AEGB Rating:

© 2 0 0 9 P a t r i c k W o n g

© 2 0 1 0 P a t r i c k W o n g

AUSTIN RESIDENT, GLOBAL CITIZEN • WATER » 13



Project:

lAS CASAS VerdeS: 8306 lONgVieW rOAd

This home is the rst in a new community o water-conserving homes in south Austin.

A 2,000-gallon rainwater storage tank provides water or irrigation and ecient dual-ush

toilets. Landscape design uses exclusively native and adapted plants rom the City o Austin

Grow Green list. Rock excavated rom the site and a raingarden (under construction) con-

tribute to eective storm water management. In the uture, residents will enjoy a shared

vegetable garden with three additional rainwater storage tanks or irrigation. The project

also scored high in energy eciency with walls and roos using structural insulated panels,

solar thermal water heating and a 3 kW photovoltaic system.

Team:

Own » David Martin

Achtct » Martin Associates Architects

lanscap & ranwat Constn » Dick Peterson

Mchanca Contacto » Stan’s Heating and Air Conditioning

© 2 0 1 0 G r e g C o l e m a n

AEGB Rating:

14 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING • WATER

auStin energy green building

rated projectS saved an estimatedtotal o 42.6 million gallons o irrigation and

indoor water this year. While this is an important

achievement on its own, the chart on the ollowing

page tells the other hal o the sustainability story:

When you save water, you also save energy an d

avoid direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions

associated with water treatment, distribution

and return.

The City o Austin draws up to 250,000 acre-

eet o water annually rom the Colorado River.

Its treatment works like this: Water rom the

river is drawn and passed through screens to

remove large debris. From there, it is treated

with chemicals and minerals, then pumped to

occulation basins to be stirred by large paddles,

sedimentation basins or detention and then

ltered again beore going to underground storage

tanks to be distributed via underground pipes.

Ater we ush or drain water, treating it or return

to the river is even more energy-intensive than the

rst process. What’s more, wastewater treatment

emits greenhouse gases directly in the orm o

unared methane rom digesters and nitrous oxide

generated by efuent.

With all these processes, it’s easy to see how

Austin Water Utility uses hal o all electricity

consumed by Austin’s municipal government—and

how water, energy conservation and greenhouse

gas emissions are inextricably linked.



AUSTIN RESIDENT, GLOBAL CITIZEN • WATER » 15

WATER SAVED FROM 2010 AEGB-RATED PROJECTS

(1,000s of Gallons)

ENERGY (MWh)**Energy saved rom avoided water and wastewater treatme nt

GREENHOUSE GASES (MTCO 2e)*

*Direct and indirect associated emissions avoided rom water andwastewater treatment, in metric tons o carbon dioxide equivalent

0

0

50403O2050,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000

20 40 60 80 100

10

WATER SAVINGS = ENERGY SAVINGS + AVOIDED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

Indoor Water

Irrigation Water



16 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING • MATERIALS

material efficiency beginS during the design phase.

Smaller buildings with well-designed, multi-purpose spaces, built

using material-ecient construction techniques, require less material

overall. The materials themselves matter, too: When designers speciy

salvaged materials and materials with recycled and locally-sourced

content, they reduce impacts rom resource extraction and transport

and extend the lie o the landll. More importantly, choosing these

materials creates market demand or more sustainable products.

During the construction phase, managing waste is critical. InTexas, a quarter o all waste going to the landll is construction

and demolition waste. Throughout the operations phase, acilities

managers and occupants can pare down waste by reducing the

use o disposables, recycling and composting ood waste.

An important principle to keep in mind: Well-designed buildings

made o natural, beautiul materials have long lives. People value

and care or them, adapt them to changing needs, develop them into

cultural landmarks—and, in the end, are less likely to trade them or

new buildings.



AUSTIN RESIDENT, GLOBAL CITIZEN • MATERIALS » 17

Project:

AuSTiN’S CHildreN’S SHelTer CAMPuS AT rATHgeber VillAge

Sae materials and practices were top priority or this eight-building campus, since it will be

housing up to 78 neglected and abused children. All paints, coatings, sealants, adhesives,

carpets, composite wood and insulation are low-emitting materials. A green housekeeping

plan will minimize indoor air pollution.

The team also reduced impacts through sustainable materials choices: 81 percent (by cost) o

the materials used or the children’s cottages are so urced in Texas and 43 percent (by cost) o

the materials used in the Educational and Program Services Buildings is recycled content. O

all the project construction waste, 77 percent (188 tons) was diverted rom the landll.

Visitors and sta o the shelter will enjoy ample open space and pedestrian pathways connect-

ing buildings to each other and the campus to the nearby Mueller development.

Team:

Achtcts » Kipp Flores Architects, LZT Architects

enns » Alpaca Energy Solutions (MEP); ATS Engineers (MEP); Hanrahan-Pritchard

Engineering (civil); Koenig Consulting Engineers (structural)

gna Contacto » Flynn Construction

lanscap Achtct » TBG Partners

Commssonn » The Delphi Groupe



702-b WeST CreSTlANd driVe

This 803-square-oot second dwelling unit, just a mile

rom the original Threadgill’s, makes excellent use o

durable, reclaimed, renewable and recycled materials.

Ecient raming practices reduced waste and interior

wood walls were reclaimed rom Janis Joplin’s old house.

Team:

Own » Valerie Kanak

Achtct » Craig Nasso Architecture

b » Eli Mosley

Mchanca » Acme Air Conditioning & Heating

AEGB Rating:

© 2 0 1 0 P a t r i c k W o n g



18 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING • IEQ

deSigning for goodindoor environmental

quality means ensuring our habitats

are sae, comortable and promote good

physical and psychological well-being.

Indoor air quality is a major component

o the indoor environment. Improving

indoor air quality begins with careully

considering what items to introduce

to your well-sealed building envelope.

Sources o pollutants, such as copy

rooms and laboratories, should be

identied, isolated and ventilated.

Designers should speciy low- or zero-

emitting paints, coatings, adhesives,

insulation, composite wood and nishing

materials to reduce emissions o toxic

chemicals in the indoor environment.

Exposure to indoor pollutants, such as

radon, mold, volatile organic compounds

and ozone, can cause, at the very least,

short-term discomort or occupants.

Long-term exposure has been linked to

heart and respiratory illnesses, which

are o particular concern or certain

vulnerable populations, such as theyoung, elderly or ill.

High indoor environmental qualityhas to do not only with indoor air

quality concerns, but also with

occupant comort. Individual thermal

controls, daylighting systems, views

to the outdoors and high acoustical

quality make building occupants

more comortable and productive,

which results in a myriad o cascading

benets. Healthy indoor air combined

with a comortable, beautiul indoor

environment promotes better occupant

health and wellness, leading to lower

health care expenditures, ewer sick

days, better productivity and employee

retention. These benets help increase

the value o the building and encourage

companies to sign longer leases. In

schools with good indoor environmental

quality, students earn better grades

and have ewer health problems. In

a residential context, good indoor

environmental quality helps ensure

a comortable, dignied, non-toxic

environment in which to sleep, eat,

relax and raise a amily.



AUSTIN RESIDENT, GLOBAL CITIZEN • IEQ » 19

Project:

gOrZYCKi Middle SCHOOl

By prioritizing indoor environmental quality, the Gorzycki Middle School project team

created a healthy, productive learning environment or southwest Austin students and teach-

ers. A construction phase indoor air quality plan kept workers saer and prevented damage

and contamination o building materials that could have long-term impacts on building air

quality. Non-emitting materials were important, as well: The project team selected composite

wood products without added urea ormaldehyde.

Rooms such as science laboratories and janitorial closets have hard-lid ceilings, ully

constructed partitions and dedicated exhaust systems. The AISD-wide integrated pest

management policy protects building occupants, school buildings and grounds rom damage

caused by pests and pesticides. Now that the school is open, building occupants can count on

CO2 and thermal comort monitors to keep them sae and comortable.

Team:

Own » Austin Independent School District

Achtct » GSC Architects

enn » HMG & Associates (MEP)

gna Contacto » Bartlett Cocke General Contractors

lanscap Achtct » Coleman & Associates

Sstanaty Constant » AISD Energy, Water and Sustainability Team



607 deeP eddY AVeNue

For this renovation o a 1917 house near the iconic

Deep Eddy Pool, the project team aimed to minimize

o-gassing o harmul chemicals. They sealed wood

suraces with water-based products and tung oil and

used zero-VOC interior paints. An open oor plan allows

cross-and-stack ventilation, improving the indoor envi-

ronment with passive cooling and plenty o resh air.

Team:

Own » Joseph and Amber Bennett

Achtct » Joseph M. Bennett Architects

Mchanca » Phillips’ Maintenance Service

Soa Photovotac » Meridian Solar

AEGB Rating:

© 2 0 1 0 P a t r i c k W o n g



20 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING • EQUITY

green building iS more than saving water, conserving energy,

reducing material waste and doing it all

aordably. Environmental preservation

and economic viability are just two parts

o the sustainability story. The last critical

piece has to do with working toward

greater social equity.

In practical terms, social equity should

be considered at every phase o the

building lie cycle. It begins with site

selection: Will residents and workers

have access to sae, aordable transit

choices? Is the building located in

a desired development corridor, to

protect drinking water and rural lands

or uture generations? Will it provide

services or employment to neighbor-

hood residents, contribute diversity

and preserve local character? In the

design phase, it’s important to minimize

negative impacts to neighbors. Does the

building increase light or noise pollution,

storm water runo, urban heat island

eects or trac? Choice o materials isimportant too: They may seem to be just

the stu buildings are made o, but the

story behind them should be one o air

working conditions and sustainably-man-

aged resources. During the construction

phase, it’s important to consider how

equitably workers are being treated.Are they sae and airly-paid with

adequate breaks and water? Poorly-

managed construction pollution—or

example, dust and exhaust—can cause

health problems or local residents.

During the occupancy phase, every

acet o a building impacts social equity.

Durable, water- and energy-ecient

buildings reduce maintenance costs and

help keep utilities aordable or everyone

in the community. This is particularly

important or low-income residents.

Improved indoor air quality protects

people rom being exposed to pollutants

that can cause chronic illnesses. A

pleasant indoor environment, one with

daylight and well-organized space,

contributes to a sense o community

well-being and pride.

These considerations are all ways o

getting at the greater goal: to advance

human culture. Ater all, as local residents

and global citizens, we want to makethe world a place where 7 or 9 billion

present and uture human beings can

eat, breathe, sleep, dance, raise amilies,

make art and coexist harmoniously

alongside the countless other organisms

we share the planet with.

© 2010 Joy Hoton



AUSTIN RESIDENT, GLOBAL CITIZEN • EQUITY » 21

Project:

918 eAST 53rd STreeT

This 1,368-square-oot home in north central Austin eatures

universal design that accommodates the homeowners’

changing mobility. The home is barrier-ree in accordance

with standards dened by the Americans with Disabilities Act

and eatures roll-in showers, installed grab bars and an ADA-

compliant toilet.

The home, a second dwelling on a large lot, locates homeown-

ers within a quarter mile o public transit. Two installed rain

barrels provide water or landscape irrigation and solar-ready

design allows the uture option o a PV array.

Team:

Own » Richard Kallus and Pamela Romero

Achtct » Richard Hughes Design

b » ILCOR

AEGB Rating:

© 2 0 1 0 P a t r i c k W o n g

BEYOND LOW UTILITY BILLS:

EqUITY IN AUSTIN’S MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS

Austin Energy Green Building’s mission is to lead the transormation o the building

industry to a sustainable uture—and that means an equitable uture. While equity

has always been a part o our vision, AEGB introduced equity as a ormal category o

its multiamily rating system in 2010. The new rating tool awards points or providing

aordable housing in order to encourage green housing development or amilies at

80 percent o, or below, Austin’s median amily income. The tool also highlights the rolethat transportation plays in housing aordability: Housing and transportation together

account or 40-70 percent o the average low-income amily’s household expenses.

Locating housing in dense, transit-accessible neighborhoods reduces dependency on

expensive-to-own-and-maintain vehicles. Finally, the rating encourages projects to

provide a computer lab to residents, or whom personal computers and Internet service

might be a substantial expense. With ree, reliable Internet access, residents can apply

or jobs, pay bills and, in the uture, manage their home energy use.

COLLABORATING FOR BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS

AEGB is partnering with the local non-prot Workers Deense Project to increase

equity in Austin’s construction industry. The organization has helped raise community

awareness o local industry injustices, such as wage thet, unsae working conditions

and inadequate medical insurance and workers’ compensation. Building Austin, Building

Injustice, a report produced in collaboration with the University o Texas, has been an

especially eective tool in bringing attention to poor working conditions in Austin’s

construction industry.

AEGB participants can earn a point toward a green building rating by adhering to the

Workers Deense Project Premier Community Builder Agreement, a legal contract that

provides a ramework or making ast-growing Austin a better place o employment or

construction workers, one contractor at a time.



22 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING • EDUCATION

one of the moSt powerful benefitSo a green

building is its potential to transorm the building industry. The Austin

Energy Green Building rating is a distinguishing label designed to

help consumers make educated choices about the kinds o buildings

they want to live in, work at, rent or own. We promote outstanding

green building projects in town through our numerous education and

outreach activities and by publishing case studies like those eatured

in this report and on our website.

It’s even more eective when AEGB participants speak rom

rsthand experience, getting the word out about the benets o

owning, operating, living in and working at green buildings. There

are a number o ways to reach out. In commercial buildings, project

teams can create permanent education installations in their buildings

using signs and displays, inviting visitors to check out ecient

mechanical systems, view real-time energy consumption or learn to

use dual-ush toilets. On the residential side, instructional manuals,

brochures and web eatures can teach residents about green living.

As tech-savvy Austinites rely more and more on the Internet and

social media marketing, pertinent online content and smart phone

applications are indispensable tools.

Our message is this: Using your building to educate building proes-

sionals and the public about sustainability* has a multiplier eect.

Save a gallon o water in your building—and tell other building owners

exactly how you did it—and you have the potential to save that gallonin dozens o other buildings, in Austin and around the world.

* Sustainability means nding a balance among

three sets o goals: 1) prosperity and jobs 2) con-

servation and the environment and 3) community

health, equity and cultural vita lity. It means taking

positive, proactive steps to protect quality o lie

now and or uture generations.

— City o Austin, Ofce o Sustainability



AUSTIN RESIDENT, GLOBAL CITIZEN • EDUCATION » 23

Project:

AuSTONiAN

At 683 eet, 56 stories tall, the Austonian is the most prominent building

in Austin—and its our-star AEGB rating makes it a veritable green building

landmark.

Low-ow xtures, ENERGY STAR® washers and dishwashers and 1.8

gallon-per-minute showerheads contribute to indoor water savings o28 percent and a connection to the Austin Energy District Cooling

Downtown Plant helps with energy savings. On the materials side, the

team diverted 83 percent (2,170 tons) o its construction waste rom the

landll, used materials with recycled content and chose low-emitting

nishing materials to minimize the release o pollutants into the indoor

environment. The tenth-oor urban garden, irrigated by air conditioning

condensate, creates an outdoor reuge or downtown-dwelling residents.

But what demonstrated true leadership was the owners’ enthusiasm or

educating residents, sta, occupants and the community about sustainable

design and cultural preservation. The team went to great lengths to pre-

serve the historic Dumas Blacksmith Shop brick açade in the very public

2nd Street District, demonstrating their commitment to material reuse and

Austin’s cultural heritage. By providing inormation about green eatures

and recommendations or green living on their website, in the lobby and in

homeowners’ guides, the Austonian is encouraging market transormation

in Austin and beyond.

Team:

Owns » Benchmark Development, Grupo Villar Mir, Momark Development

Achtct » Ziegler Cooper Architects

enns » CBM Engineers (structural); CHP and Associates Consulting

Engineers (MEP)

gna Contacto » Balour Beatty Construction

Hstoc Psvaton » Emily Little

AEGB Rating:




JUNE 06

Coo Hos To

At the 14th annual tour,

co-hosted by the Texas

Solar Energy Society,

Austinites toured a net-zero

energy aordable housing

development, a house that

generates enough solar energy

to power an electric car, a

quirky remodeled 1917 cottage

and a sleek live/work rural lot.

—

JUNE 25e

bn Conto Systms

» David Dixon, Hill Country

Ecopower

» Albert Elbaz, Johnson Controls

» Kathy Gossett, GreenSwitch

Team

—

MAY 22

gn by dsn

—

MAY 28e

Aegb’s Nw Onn ratn Too

» Je Wacker, Austin Energy

Green Building

—

FEBRUARY 01e

loca, Natona an

intnatona eny Pocy

» Doug Lewin, Good Company

Associates

» Karl R. Rábago, Austin Energy

—

FEBRUARY 27

gn by dsn

For more than a decade,

AEGB has oered quarterly

sustainable design workshops

on single amily residential

green building in the hot,

humid central Texas climate.

—

MARCH 05e

inoo A Qaty

» Kerry A. Kinney, The University

o Texas at Austin

» Brent Stephens, The University

o Texas at Austin

—

MARCH 26e

ecnt HVAC Systms

» Dick Grant, Trane San Antonio

» John Umphress, Austin Energy

Green Building

—

APRIL 19 – 24

ACi Hom Pomanc

Connc

AEGB hosted this national

conerence which, thanks to

a booming home perormance

and energy eciency industry,

attracted a record 1,800

attendees.

—

APRIL 30e

gnn exstn bns

» Tim Kisner, Austin Energy

» Stuart Sampley, Architect

» David Thomas, Austin

Convention Center

—

calendar of

e SEMINAR SERIES

auStin energy green building’S e ducation programS

reach out to the entire Austin green building community—rom the casually interested

to top-notch designers and engineers. Our monthly proessional development seminars

let building proessionals keep up with the latest in the eld while earning continuing

education credits. Green Boots is our education series or residential builders and trade

contractors. And or homeowners and other novices, we oer a quarterly day-long

workshop known as Green By Design. In addition to these regular activities, AEGB

sta support, organize, are invited to speak at Central Texas sustainability events,

and participate in airs, trade shows and conerences throughout the year.

EVENTS + SEMINARS

24 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING • EDUCATION



JULY 23e

Soca eqty

» Sarah Dooling, The University

o Texas at Austin

» Karl R. Rábago, Austin Energy

—

JULY 27

gn boots gaaton

Thirty building proessionals

earned their Green Boots by

completing our 12-course

residential construction series,

which includes modules on all

acets o green design, rom

smart site selection to interior

nishes.

—

AUGUST 27e

Th Hows an Whys o Smat

Wat us

» Drema Gross, Austin Water

Utility

» Danny Lytle, Austin Water

Utility

» Joel Klumpp, Texas Commission

on Environmental Quality

—

AUGUST 28

gn by dsn

—

SEPTEMBER 17e

eny Mon

» Michael Gatto, Austin

Community Design and

Development Center

» Kapil Upadhyaya, Kirksey

EcoServices

—

SEPTEMBER 24 – 26

rnwa eny ronp

an gn lvn Fa

Central Texans headed to

Fredericksburg or this annual

sustainability event to catch up

with the latest in renewables

and technology, as well as learn

rom and network with local

green celebrities.

—

OCTOBER 21

Ntwokn evnt

At our annual Zilker Clubhouse

event, the green building

community networked and

celebrated green building

successes.

—

NOVEMBER 06

gn by dsn

—

NOVEMBER 12 e

gn bn Cas Sts

» Stuart Hersh, The Willows

» Wayne Jeansonne, Solluna

Builders

» Dylan Siegler, Center or

Maximum Potential Building

Systems

—

DECEMBER 10e

Sstana bhavo

» Amanda Berens, Foundation

Communities

» Gürcan Gülen, The University

o Texas at Austin

—

AUSTIN RESIDENT, GLOBAL CITIZEN • EDUCATION » 25



26 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING • INNOVATION

auStin energy green building has been leading the

way since we rst collaborated with the Center or Maximum Potential

Building Systems to develop the rst residential rating tool in 1991.

Over the years, we have introduced the commercial and multiamily

rating tools, created dependable education and networking oppor-

tunities or the building community, won awards, hosted conerences

and shepherded outstanding projects—such as the Ben White branch

o the University Federal Credit Union—to ve-star ratings.

As we look to the uture, we see an Austin with net-zero energy

buildings, high-density mixed-use communities, green inrastruc-

ture and low-carbon transportation options—where healthy indoor

environments are the standard, not a novelty. To move us along this

path, we partner with other city departments, local organizations

and building proessionals to develop new services that encourage

higher levels o perormance in the construction industry. Some o

these initiatives are described in the pages to come, but rst, we oer

a bit o insight rom Karl R. Rábago, vice president o Austin Energy

Distributed Energy Services, about how all these advances t into a

vision or the electric utility o the uture.

In the end, we provide services and support that aim to reward

industry innovation. Our project teams are the true innovators.

When they nd a n ew, better way to improve site or resource

eciency or indoor environmental quality, they are charting a

course to more sustainable development or all o Central Texas.



AUSTIN RESIDENT, GLOBAL CITIZEN • INNOVATION » 27

The electric utility industry, at least or the 20

years that I have been working in it, has been

poised or a undamental transition to what many

call the “utility o the uture.” Traditionally, the

business model—sometimes called the “spin

the meter” model—has been about volume o

sales. More sales pay or more investments, more

investments pay or more prots, and, once upon a

time, more investments meant lower costs per unit

o electricity.

But in the ace o technological, market and

policy development, as well as environmental

impacts rom electric consumption, this model

simply must change. Utilities have recognized

that demand or electric service is dierent rom

demand or kilowatt hours—and that customers

ultimately want the ormer. Regulators and

markets constantly put pressure on utilities to ndbetter, less costly ways o delivering that service.

As the business shits, utilities are increasingly

looking to the distributed end o the system or

opportunities to increase value to customers.

Smart grid, distributed generation, electric

vehicles, advanced energy eciency, demand

response, direct load control and, o course, green

building are all high on the list o strategies that

utilities are careully examining and, at Austin

Energy, aggressively deploying.

Austin Energy Green Building already models some

o the major trends that signal the emergence o

the utility o the uture. For years, their approach

to energy, water and material eciency has shown

that integration yields multiple, oten serendipitous

benets. Right-sizing mechanical equipment, or

example, reduces electric demand, consumption,

initial costs and operational costs—and can also

improve equipment durability and reduce indoor

humidity, resulting in increased occupant comort.

As the program responsible or updating the City

o Austin energy code, AEGB is also leading the

shit in our building codes rom prescriptive to

perormance-based. They have as a 2015 goal

a Zero Energy Capable Homes standard, under

which every new home will be capable o being

a zero energy home over the course o a year

with the addition o a small solar photovoltaicsystem. We are also envisioning perormance-

based standards—such as “kWh per square oot,

per year”—that could implicitly recognize the

dierences among building types, age and usage.

Standards like these help create the market and

regulatory conditions or private sector innovation.

In collaboration with many other groups at Austin

Energy, AEGB will also play a key role in guiding

the transormation o the built environment toward

higher and higher levels o interactivity. The smart

grid—a term used to describe a wide range o

technological transormation aoot in the distribu-

tion end o the electric utility system today—could

ultimately place every system and subsystem o a

building under the control o an intelligent, exible,

highly-automated building management system.

This is much more than setting the thermostat

rom a smart phone, though that will be un. It is

about a constant ux o system conditions and

transactions that result in buildings having conver-

sations like this:

— I ordered some electricity that I don’t need.

What can you oer me?

— Yes, I can oer some ramp control or your

micro-turbine. Now? On a regular basis?

— I can curtail. What duration and magnitude?

— Can you send a service proessional?

These trends—integration, perormance standards

and automated building management systems—

are just a ew o the road signs that point toward

the utility o the uture. All this change will

not happen overnight, nor will it necessarily

be dramatic. Much o it will appear as more

controllable, more eciently priced-and-delivered

electric service. Smart meters look a lot like old

meters; electric vehicles get charged with plugs

that look a lot like gas pump nozzles; interruptible

thermostats look like regular thermostats.

But dramatic or not, we are talking about a trans-

ormative change to one o the most important

service sectors in our society—with buildings

taking center stage. Buildings are where our

electric service happens. Whether as homes, the

sites or our economic activities or, increasingly,

as the sites or our power generation and energy

management systems, our buildings are where the

utility o the uture will emerge. And when building

proessionals participate in charrettes, perorm

parametric analysis on an energy model, install

windows or blow insulation, they are a part—a

major part—o this transormation.

Karl R. Rábago

Vice President, Distributed Energy Services

“ We’re living in the future. I’ll tell you how I know.

I read it in the paper. Fifteen years ago.”

— John Prine, “Living in the Future”

utility of the future

NEW CODES NEW RATINGS NEW WEB APPLICATION



28 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING • INNOVATION

While Austin’s new construction market has been

quieter than in pre-recession years, Austin Energy

Green Building has been busy updating the energy

code, our rating tools and launching a new online

rating system.

The new residential and commercial energy codes,

which AEGB is responsible or developing, raise

eciency standards or every new building in

Austin. The residential code helps Austin progress

toward the goals o the Zero Energy Capable

Homes Plan. Under the plan, all new homes will be

capable o being net-zero energy over the course

o a year, with the addition o a cost-eective solar

array. The new code brings Austin homes about

halway to meeting this ambitious objective.

The new commercial code eatures major advances

or the building envelope, complemented by an

Austin-specic requirement or basic mechanical

commissioning, which can result in up to 15 percent

more energy eciency. These measures prepare

Austin’s commercial construction industry to meet

the progressive IECC 2012 standards, expected

to be adopted in 2013, which are anticipated to

improve the way we design mechanical systems.

The new AEGB rating tools, whose release

coincided with the roll-out o the new energy

code on Oct. 1, 2010, continue to encourage a shit

toward perormance-based energy standards.

Historically, energy standards have been pre-

scriptive—that is, they speciy levels o eciency

or individual building components, such as

HVAC systems or windows. Perormance-based

standards set an energy use goal rather than

speciying components, allowing project teams

to choose the best way to achieve the goal.

AEGB also introduced a new web application

that allows the green building rating process

to be tracked and viewed in real time and

streamlines communication between sta

members and project teams. The new system

is a single online platorm or all project docu-

mentation, including construction drawings,

specications, other submittals and the rating

calculations. With this tool, team members can

correspond, get status updates and receive

reerence materials in real time.

NEW CODES, NEW RATINGS, NEW WEB APPLICATION

+ New in the 2010 AEGB Ratings

SingleFamily

» Improved HVAC eciency (minimum 550

square eet per ton o cooling)

» Builders must provide a Texas Climate Vision

score (code compliance calculator developed

by Texas A&M) to demonstrate energy

savings above energy code

» Two-star homes (and higher) must divert at

least 50 percent o construction waste rom

the landll or submit an approved waste

management plan

multiFamily

» Social equity category with points or housing

aordability, Internet and computer acces-

sibility and transportation options

» Points available or electric vehicle charging

stations and PVC- and phthalate-ree building

materials

CommerCial

» Integrated design point requires two o

these analyses: a) energy use b) daylight

availability c) water balancing d) water

quality and conservation, wildlie habitat

or building massing

» Points available or green housekeeping,

electric vehicle charging stations, PVC- andphthalate-ree building materials and access to

local and regional ood production

» Light pollution reduction standards include

new Backlight, Uplight and Glare (BUG)

ratings or luminaires developed by IESNA

ENERGY MODELING INCENTIVES PLUG IN ELECTRIC VEHICLESGREEN ROOF ADVISORY GROUP



AUSTIN RESIDENT, GLOBAL CITIZEN • INNOVATION » 29

ENERGY MODELING INCENTIVES

As Austin’s codes and standards advance, and

project teams build better buildings, it gets harder

to achieve additional energy eciency using a

systems-and-components approach. To move new

construction toward whole-building design and

help building proessionals continue to improve

energy perormance, Austin Energy’s Energy

Eciency Services and AEGB have partnered

to oer an incentive or energy modeling to the

Austin community. Under the program, expected

to be available in late 2011, Austin Energy will

provide a rebate or qualied energy modeling

services based on building size, cost o services

and calculated energy demand savings.

INTERNATIONAL GREEN

CONSTRUCTION CODE

For years, AEGB has been using its green building

rating system as a testing ground or the City o

Austin energy code. This experience as a leader in

code development and compliance is now serving

a global audience: Since 2009, AEGB sta has

been collaborating to write the rst International

Green Construction Code in the role o energy

committee chair. The IGCC aims to change

policymakers’ view o sustainability by introducing

green standards into the same amily as lie/saety

building codes.

A public drat was nalized during meetingsin Austin in January 2010. Final action will take

place in November 2011 in Phoenix. I approved,

the code will be available or widespread adoption

in early 2012.

PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Since the 2007 launch o Austin Energy’s Plug-In

Partners campaign, led by ormer General Manager

Roger Duncan, plug-in electric vehicles have been

identied as an important opportunity to reduce

greenhouse gas emissions rom vehicles, expand

its revenue base and begin to test new energy

management strategies and a service-based

business model. As part o the electric vehicle

ramp-up eort, AEGB sta have been working

with electricians, electrical inspectors, car dealers

and manuacturers to make recommendations or

building code changes to accommodate charging

stations and propose an expedited process or

charging station installations and inspections.

AEGB is also working to expand t he scope o

green building to better encompass transporta-

tion. With the addition o a point or charging

stations in our 2010 ratings, electric vehicles join

the portolio o recognized green transportation

options, including public transit, bicycle routes,

pedestrian access and car share programs. Making

charging accessible at home and at work will make

it easier or Austinites to make the switch rom

gas-powered vehicles and help alleviate electric

vehicle “range anxiety.”

Switching to electric vehicles won’t solve all o

Austin’s transportation problems. An electric car

still contributes to trac jams, or example, and all

cars require a lot o resources to manuacture. But

electric vehicles will help Austin make importantenvironmental gains, including reductions in smog

and greenhouse gas emissions.

GREEN ROOF ADVISORY GROUP

Use o green inrastructure to help mitigate the environmental impacts o the built

environment has become increasingly important as our world continues to urbanize.

Rootops are one o the ew available areas in the “concrete jungle” to reintroduce

vegetation, providing oases and recreation space or urban residents, gardens or

local ood production and habitats or wildlie. The benets don’t stop there: Green

roos clean and cool the air, play a role in stormwater management and reduce energy

demand by keeping buildings cool. Since they requently last longer than conventional

roos, less waste is sent to the landll.

AEGB sta have been key players in the City o Austin’s eort to create policies and

programs to acilitate the installation o green roos in Austin as part o the Green Roo

Advisory Group. The group, made up o city employees rom several departments and

green roo and sustainability technical experts, developed a ve-year plan to system-

atically support uptake o green roos in Austin. With their hard work, the support o

Council and Austin’s citizens, green roos like the one at the Austonian (p. 23) and City

Hall (below) are becoming a part o Austin’s urban landscape.

© 2 0 1 1 P a t r i c k W o n g

Projects to Watch: 2011 and Beyond



N O R T H E A S T D R

E 51ST ST

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R E S E A R C H

CA P I TA L O F

T E XA S

1. WHOle FOOdS MArKeT // Solar-tracking skylights and lighting

sensors improve indoor light. Customers can enjoy eating outdoors

under trees preserved on site.

2. AiSd MCCAlluM HigH SCHOOl eXPANSiON // The expansion

boasts an excellent indoor environment (thanks to a daylighting

study), very high water savings and an outdoor art patio classroom.

3. bell STudiO // This combination carport-studio located near the

University o Texas uses a structurally-insulated panel roo or excel-

lent thermal perormance.

Projects to Watch: 2011 and Beyond

Achtct: Fost Sto

Achtct: SHW gop

Achtct: Nsn Patns

30 » AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING

NORTH AUSTIN




4. WildFlOWer TerrACe // This senior housing development

oers a vanpool, art studio, library and activity centers, providing

community living in a resource-ecient package.

7. Mueller HOuSe CONdOMiNiuMS // This new housing product

increases density by disguising our units as one large house, located

near transit and greenways at Mueller.

10. SPAWglASS OFFiCe // A site characteristic study inormed the

choice o stormwater management strategies (including raingardens)

to reduce impacts to nearby Carson Creek.

5. greeNWAY lOFTS // This condominium complex eatures shared

parking, ecient unit planning, shaded hardscapes and irrigation with

non-potable water.

8. M STATiON // Located in the MLK Transit-Oriented Development,

M Station oers aordable housing and amily-oriented amenities to

low-income residents.

11. AiSd eArlY CHildHOOd CeNTer // The center achieves excel-

lent indoor environmental quality with pollutant isolation, limited

VOCs and individual controls or thermal comort.

6. Mueller SiMMONS Vedder 2 // Educational outreach eorts are

planned to help residents o this 301-unit condominium complex live

green in their Mueller homes.

9. guAdAluPe-SAldAÑA NeT-ZerO SubdiViSiON // All 60 units

o aordable housing at this browneld redevelopment are net-zero

energy, relying on solar thermal and photovoltaic generation.

12. reTreAT AT NOrTH bluFF // This apartment building is located

on a rehabilitated browneld, oering proximity to transit and com-

munal gathering areas.

Achtct: Nsn Patns b: Stana Pacfc Achtct: bans gomatzky, Kosak Achtcts

Achtct: bans gomatzky, Kosak AchtctsAchtct: Aan Ntt Achtct dvop: Fonaton Commnts

Achtct: loony rcks Kss Pojct Mana: ACddC Achtct: Th Sa Patns



1. Katherine Murray

2. Heidi Kasper

3. Patricia House

4. Sophie Roark

5. Sarah Talkington

6. Mary McLeod

7. Je Wacker

8. John Umphress

9. Teresa Dixon

10. Maureen Scanlon

11. Bryan Bomer

12. Tina Woodings

13. Jessica Galloway

14. Susan Peterson

15. Shelly Comer-Murray

16. Michael Husted

17. Richard Morgan

18. Lisa Nutt

19. Miki Cook

20. Liana Kallivoka

AEGB STAFF

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2018

© 2 0 1 1 J o d y H o r t o n



CONTACT US

In Person » 811 Barton Springs Road, Suite 300 // Austin, TX 78704

Mail » 721 Barton Springs Road // Austin, TX 78704

Phone » 512.482.5300

E-mail » [email protected]

Web » greenbuilding.austinenergy.com

Facebook » facebook.com/aegreenbuilding

Twitter » twitter.com/aegreenbuilding

For an electronic version of this publication,

write to [email protected]

JA_1050

Austin Energy Green Building Annual Report

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