CMGT

Class 1 -380 – Green

Green Building
Building Principles
Basics and LEED Certification
- Notes
Department of Construction Management Ƈ California State University, Chico

Discussion #2 – Green Building

green building encompasses planning, design, construction, operations, and ultimately end-of-life recycling
or renewal of structures. Green building pursues solutions that represent a healthy and dynamic balance
between environmental, social, and economic benefits.

sustainability meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs. (Brundtland Commission)

Green Building
Planning
Design Lower Impact
Construction More Sustainable
Operational Practices
End-of-Life Recycling or Renewal of Structures

Is Green Building Important? In the U.S. Buildings Account for:

Impacts of the Built Environment:
x Land Use
x Habitat
x Natural Resource Consumption
x Pollution
x Energy Use
x Water Use
x Waste Generation
x Vehicle Use

Dynamic Balance between Environmental, Social, and Economic benefits.

Triple Bottom Line

People (social capital). All the costs and benefits to the

people who design, construct, live in, work in, and constitute
the local community and are influenced, directly or indirectly,
by a project

Planet (natural capital). All the costs and benefits of a project

on the natural environment, locally and globally

Profit (economic capital). All the economic costs and benefits

of a project for all the stakeholders (not just the project
owner)

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 passive design planning with the intent of capturing sunlight, wind or other natural forces for light, heating,
and cooling.

Passive Solar Design

Also called climatic design, a design approach
that uses structural elements of a building to
heat and cool a building without the use of
mechanical equipment. Passive solar design
calls for careful consideration of factors such
as local climate and solar energy resources,
building orientation, and landscape features.

The principal elements of passive solar design

include proper building orientation, proper
window sizing and placement and design of
roof overhangs to reduce summer heat gain
and ensure winter heat gain, and proper sizing
of thermal energy storage mass (for example,
masonry tiles). The heat is distributed primarily
by natural convection and radiation, though
fans can also be used to circulate room air or ensure proper ventilation.

Unlike active solar heating systems, a passive design does not involve the use of mechanical and electrical
devices, such as pumps, fans, or electrical controls, to circulate the solar heat. Buildings designed for passive
solar incorporate large south-facing windows and construction materials that absorb and slowly release the
sun's heat. The longest walls run from east to west. In most climates, passive solar designs also must block
intense summer solar heat. They typically incorporate natural ventilation and roof overhangs to block the sun's
strongest rays during that season.

Daylighting takes advantage of natural sunlight, through well-placed windows and specialized floor plans, to
brighten up a building's interior.

Passive solar design can be used in most parts of the world. If designed by an experienced passive solar
architect, buildings using passive solar design principles need not cost more up front than conventionally
designed buildings. And when they do, the savings in energy bills quickly pay for themselves.

daylighting the controlled admission of natural light into a space, used to reduce or eliminate electric
lighting.

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USGBC's Mission
To transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally
and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.

x LEED® Green Building Rating System™

x Education and Research
x Greenbuild International Conference & Expo
x Advocacy
x Chapter Programs

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System

LEED Rating Systems

Green Building Design and Construction (BD+C)
Green Interior Design and Construction (ID+C)
Green Building Operations & Maintenance (O&M)
LEED for Homes (HOMES)
LEED for Healthcare (HEALTHCARE)
LEED for Schools (SCHOOLS)
LEED for Retail (RETAIL)
LEED for Core and Shell (CS)
LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND)

Five Environmental Categories LEED BD+C Rating System (Example of SS Credits)

LEED Certification Levels

Certified 40 – 49 points
Silver 50 – 59 Points
Gold 60 – 69 points
Platinum 80 points or more

Prerequisites and Credits

Prerequisites Credits
Required Optional

LEED BD+C Bonus Categories:

Innovation in Design (ID)
Regional Priority (RP)

LEED for Homes includes two additional

Categories:
Location and Linkages
Awareness and Education

LEED for Neighborhood Development:

Smart Location and Linkage
Neighborhood Pattern and Design
Green Infrastructure and Buildings

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LEED applies to a wide range of commercial building types as well as residential structures. It addresses the
complete building life cycle. from design and construction to operations and maintenance. tenant fitout. and
significant retrofit. LEED for Neighborhood Development extends the benefits of green building beyond the
footprint of a structure and into the broader community it serves.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/index.html

“Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are often called greenhouse gases. This section of the EPA Climate
Change Site provides information and data on emissions of greenhouse gases to Earth’s atmosphere, and also
the removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. For more information on the science of climate change,
please visit EPA's climate change science home page.”

carbon footprint a measure of greenhouse gas emissions associated with an activity. A comprehensive
carbon footprint includes building construction, operation, energy use, building-related transportation, and
the embodied energy of water, solid waste, and construction materials.

carbon neutrality projects that emit no more carbon emissions than they can either sequester or offset.

The built environment, including buildings and transportation systems, accounts for more than two-thirds of all
greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenhouse gas emissions come from many components of the built environment, including building systems
and energy use, transportation, water use and treatment, land-cover change, materials, and construction.

By improving the efficiency of buildings and communities, we can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon emissions provide a useful metric for many aspects of green buildings and communities, including
energy, water, solid waste, materials, and transportation, but green building involves more than reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.

It is important to set goals for other issues as well, such as indoor air quality, healthy communities, and habitat
protection. This comprehensive goal-setting process encourages programs and policies that will lead to
sustainable communities.

Climate Change
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/index.html

“Climate change is a problem that is affecting people and the environment. Greater energy efficiency and new
technologies hold promise for reducing greenhouse gases and solving this global challenge. EPA's website
provides information on climate change for communities, individuals, businesses, states, localities and
governments.”