G|PRO

Fundamentals of Building Green

Green Professional Building Skills Training

REVIEW

G|PRO1 WHY GREEN BUILDING?

Page 5

What is the definition of sustainability?

A way of living that meets the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own

needs.

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Why is the design and operation of buildings so important in relation to sustainability?

Existing buildings use almost 40% of the energy in the U.S. and by tuning and

optimizing our existing buildings we can go a long way toward cutting down fossil fuel emissions and reducing America’s energy

use.

1 WHY GREEN BUILDING?

Page 5

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What is a green job? Where are the opportunities for these jobs in

the building industry?

Green jobs are jobs that help to protect and restore ecosystems, reduce energy consumption, and minimize waste and pollution. Opportunities for green jobs can be found in new construction, retrofitting, and improved operations of existing

buildings and renewable technologies.

1 WHY GREEN BUILDING?

Page 6

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What job-site health hazards does green building address?

• Dust (particulate matter) that can be harmful to lungs • Carbon Monoxide that can cause illness or even death • VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that can be very hazardous to health

1 WHY GREEN BUILDING?

Page 9

G|PRO2 CLIMATE CHANGE: CAUSES AND IMPACTS

Pages 11 & 12

What is global climate change, and how do greenhouse gases

affect it?Global climate change is the process that has

caused the Earth’s surface to steadily warm since about 1750 (the start of the industrial revolution). Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane gas trap the earth’s heat and

reflect it back to the surface, causing warming of the Earth and associated climate disruptions.

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What is embodied energy?

The amount of energy required to bring a product to market. This

includes extraction, manufacture, transportation, use, and disposal.

2 THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY: THE FOUR R’s

Page 30

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What is a carbon footprint?

The amount of greenhouse gases that a process or activity releases throughout its lifecycle.

2 CLIMATE CHANGE: CAUSES AND IMPACTS

Page 14

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How does the burning of fossil fuels affect global warming?

Every pound of fossil fuel that we burn contributes to the atmospheric

concentration of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), water

vapor, and methane gas, that trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere.

2 CLIMATE CHANGE: CAUSES AND IMPACTS

Page 12

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What are the expectedimpacts of climate change

on the environment?

• Melting glaciers and rising sea level• Extreme weather (storms, heat

waves)• Shifts in plant and wildlife cycles

2 CLIMATE CHANGE: CAUSES AND IMPACTS

Pages 14 & 15

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Which issues does greenbuilding address in relationto our use of fresh water?

• Diminishing supply of water

• Water pollution from buildings

• Stormwater runoff

3 OUR NATURAL RESOURCES: SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGESPage 19

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Why are forests so important to maintaining life on

Earth? • Forests create the oxygen we breathe and

filter pollutants from the air• They help stabilize the Earth’s climate by

absorbing carbon dioxide• Prevent floods and provide us with natural

resources

3 OUR NATURAL RESOURCES: SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGESPage 21

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How do we know that climate change is happening?

• Global surface temperatures have increased 0.5 ºF every 10 years since the 1970s

• 9 of the 10 warmest years on record were between 1995 and 2006

2 CLIMATE CHANGE: CAUSES AND IMPACTS

Page 11

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What is sprawl, and howdoes it affect farmland?

Sprawl is when a city grows outwards, creating suburbs that replace farms.

Suburban populations depend on automobiles for travel, which requires

the paving over of farmland for highways and other roads.

3 OUR NATURAL RESOURCES: SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES

Page 23

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What does the history of environmental laws tell us

about the cost of cleaning up our emissions?

It’s a lot less expensive than industry lobbyists would have us

believe.

4 THE HISTORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Page 28

G|PRO5 THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY: THE FOUR R’s

Page 30

U.S. consumption of which world resources has

increased?While Americans make up only 4.5% of the

world’s population, we account for nearly a quarter of the world’s energy

consumption. This includes growing use of fossil fuels, wood, and other natural

resources.

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What materials are mosteffectively recycled and what

are the environmentalbenefits of doing so?

Paper, metal (aluminum, steel), and cement. We use many fewer natural

resources by recycling existing materials.

5 THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY: THE FOUR R’s Page 33

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In what ways are renewable technologies a better source of energy than fossil fuels?

Renewable technologies use pollution-free energy sources, like

the sun and wind.

5 THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY: THE FOUR R’s

Page 34

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What is the least expensive yet most effective strategy

for protecting the environment?

Reduce consumption.

5 THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY: THE FOUR R’s

Page 31

G|PRO6 HOW DO WE KNOW IT’S GREEN?

Pages 39 & 40

What is the definition and what are the goals of green building?

A green building is designed and built to reduce environmental impacts and energy consumption while contributing to the health and productivity of its occupants.

Goals of green building:

•Highly efficient use of energy, water, and other resources

•Improved health and comfort for the construction team and building occupants

•Reduced waste and pollution

•Increased building system durability and performance

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How is an integrated design process different from a typical design process?

• Integrated design encourages building professionals in different trades to collaborate to produce a building whose component parts operate well together.

• Contractors and builders are often involved much earlier in the process to provide scheduling and pricing advice.

6 HOW DO WE KNOW IT’S GREEN?

Page 40

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Does a green building costmore than a conventionally

built building?High performing buildings can be built cost-

effectively and can cost much less to operate. Factors such as the grades of finishes and the equipment used during construction affect building costs more

than whether or not the building is green.

6 HOW DO WE KNOW IT’S GREEN?

Pages 42 & 43

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What are some of thefinancial benefits of green

building?Lower fuel and operations costs over

short periods, as well as higher occupancy rates, higher sale

prices, and premium rental rates.

6 HOW DO WE KNOW IT’S GREEN?

Page 43

G|PRO7 CODES AND STANDARDS: ENSURING PERFORMANCE

Page 44

How do energy codes relate to green building performance?

Energy codes have broad impact and ensure that projects achieve

the minimum available standards.

G|PRO7 CODES AND STANDARDS: ENSURING PERFORMANCE

Page 45

What organizations develop the primary building codes?

• The International Code Council (ICC) prepares model building and construction codes for adoption by states and municipalities.

• ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) generates standards used throughout the industry which are sometimes adopted in local codes.

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What are the more common greenproduct rating systems and what

elements of a building do they cover?

• Energy Star: Energy- and water- efficient building products and appliances

• WaterSense: Water efficient products

• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): Sustainably produced wood and woodwork

• GreenSeal: Labeling for low VOC products

7 CODES AND STANDARDS: ENSURING PERFORMANCE

Pages 45-48

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What are the six LEED credit categories?

• Sustainable Sites

• Water Efficiency

• Energy & Atmosphere

• Materials & Resources

• Indoor Environmental Quality

• Innovation and Design

8 APPLYING SUSTAINABILITY: USING LEED CREDITS

Page 49-63

G|PRO8 APPLYING SUSTAINABILITY: USING LEED CREDITS

Pages 49-63

What are the goals of each LEED credit category?

• Sustainable Sites – Reduce environmental impact of buildings on local ecosystems.

• Water Efficiency – Protect and conserve natural water sources by reducing water use for building operation and site maintenance.

• Energy & Atmosphere – Minimize the effects of atmospheric pollution associated with energy generation by reducing the amount of energy required for building operation.

• Materials & Resources – Protect and conserve natural resources and habitat by reducing waste and the need for environmentally damaging processes related to the extraction, processing, and transportation of materials and products.

• Indoor Environmental Quality – Provide healthy indoor environments for occupants and construction workers.

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How can the effects of heat islands be mitigated with green

building design?

• Shading built surfaces with trees

• Using highly reflective materials for paving and roofs

• Replacing paved surfaces such as parking lots, roads and roofs with vegetated surfaces or open-grid paving products

8 APPLYING SUSTAINABILITY: USING LEED CREDITS

Pages 51 & 52

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What is the value of Measurement and Verification

(M&V) for a new building?

It determines how well the building's energy use agrees with

pre-construction predictions.

8 APPLYING SUSTAINABILITY: USING LEED CREDITS

Page 58

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Why is building reuse often a more sustainable approach

than new construction?

Reusing existing building components requires the least amount of embodied

energy and reduces waste.

8 APPLYING SUSTAINABILITY: USING LEED CREDITS

Page 59

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Why are low-emittingmaterials important to

workers and occupants?

VOC’s are hazardous to the health of workers and building occupants.

8 APPLYING SUSTAINABILITY: USING LEED CREDITS

Page 62

G|PRO9 CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY POLLUTION

PREVENTION

Pages 67 & 68

Why is CAPP an important part ofthe green building construction

process?

A CAPP (Construction Activity Pollution Prevention) Plan reduces:

• Stormwater runoff

• Soil erosion

• Air pollution (by dust and exhaust fumes)

• Fines for violation of local, state, and federal regulations

G|PRO10 CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT

Page 72

How do the Three R's relate to CWM (Construction Waste Management)

on a green job?

• Reduce demolition to the extent possible by repurposing existing building components.

• Reuse building components and equipment on-site.

• Recycle material that must be removed from the site to the greatest extent possible.

G|PRO11 CONSTRUCTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Page 76

What are some of the commonjob site pollutants and where

do they come from?

• Particulates: From cutting wood, sanding plaster

• Formaldehyde: Emitted from particleboard, plywood, OSB, glues

• Mold: From damp environments

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What is the value of aCIAQ Plan?

A CIAQ (Construction Indoor Air Quality) Plan reduces indoor air quality problems

that result from construction or renovation. It protects the comfort and well-being of

construction workers and building occupants.

11 CONSTRUCTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Page 75

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What are some sample measures that will ensure a good CIAQ outcome?

• Ventilation: Adequate fresh air supply must be maintained at the worksite at all times.

• HVAC system protection: Ensure that HVAC system is not full of dust and pollutants.

• Source Control: Minimize the source of pollutants.

• Pathway Interruption: Keep pollutants from circulating.

• Housekeeping: Clean up as you go.

• Protecting moisture-sensitive materials: Cover equipment and materials.

• Building Flush-Out: Purge pollutants.

11 CONSTRUCTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Pages 76-78

G|PRO12 COMMISSIONING

Page 81

Why is it so important tocommission a building?

• Ensures that the building performs as designed

• Ensures that building systems work together

• Ensures substantial monetary and energy savings

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How does the commissioning process help trades, building

operators, and occupants?

• Reduces claims of defective workmanship.• Trains building operators so they can

diagnose operational problems and lower energy consumption.

• Improves occupant comfort and productivity.

12 COMMISSIONINGPage 81