"Green Building" Features

Fitly Framed Together Topic Index *************** Click Subject to view page ***************
Introduction
Overview
Green Features
"Before"
Floor Plans
Cloister
School Entrance
Exterior
Ground Floor
First Floor
Second Floor
Top Floor
*Windows*
Green Links
*Organ Renovation*
*Nave & Undercroft Improvements*
*Misc*
*Capital Campaign*
*The Future*
Photography by Ted Webber and McKissick Assocs

From "Talk" to "Action"

How St Stephen's brought the "Green Buildings" principles into the real world.

Here are the details of the ways St Stephen's applied its mission of Environmental Stewardship:

The Setting

	Our *urban redevelopment* project minimizes suburban sprawl and the associated impacts.
	With available *public transportation*, we enable reduced environmental impact of commuting.
	We also provide *bicycle* racks for healthy commuters.
	Public parking capacity is readily available so we are not paving over more earth for parking needs.
	Our *storm water management* includes capture and use to water our landscape plantings, which also reduces the impacts of storm water discharges.
	We use carefully designed exterior lighting that does not spread out so as to *minimize light pollution*.
	We replaced the roof with a *white membrane (TPO) roof to reduce the urban “heat island effect”* by reflecting the sun’s heat. This will help make city life more comfortable by helping to reduce smog caused by atmospheric heating, besides keeping the building cooler in the summer.

Water, Energy and the Atmosphere

Landscaping is designed to be water efficient.

Plumbing fixtures are designed for water use reduction. This includes toilets that use less water with each flush and sinks that reduce flow.

The building systems are being “commissioned;” that is, all features are being installed to run efficiently as an integrated system.

The heating and cooling systems meet a specified minimum energy performance.

We have optimized energy use through super-insulation, triple-glazed windows, and a heat pump system that minimizes the need for outside fuel (in our case utility steam). Features include:

	Triple-glazed windows; two layers of clear glass with outer pane of Low E glazing on the #2 side along with aluminum clad wood frames for maximum durability and thermal isolation. (used in the School portion of the project)
	Double-glazed curtainwall with an R=3.5 and R=5+ for the skylight in the Cloister. Particular glass by PPG, Solarban 60; with high ratio of visible light transmittance to highest thermal performance characteristics currently available.
	Thick exterior walls that are filled with cellulose insulation made from recycled newspapers.
	Roof insulation of 7 inches of CFC-free and HCFC-free polyisocyanurate with an aged R value= 40 on the main roof, R-value of 30 roof assembly on the small school entrance.
	22 heat pumps located throughout the buildings linked together to share energy and controlled by a computer.

All heating and air conditioning systems, as well as drinking fountains, are designed without CFC refrigerants (Freon-type substances) to reduce ozone depletion.

Interior lighting is controlled with motion sensors so lights are on only when rooms are occupied to reduce electric power use.

Recycling

We have a recycling program and store materials for recycling.

The garage building was “recycled” by reusing not only the exterior but also the flooring. Features include:

	Maintaining existing window openings
	Locating elevator and utilities in original car elevator shaft.
	Use of strong concrete floors, which can be seen in ceilings of classrooms.
	Use of original wood-domed roof in the Upper Room on the third floor.

Resources were reused including managing construction waste. Features included:

	Recycling old concrete and brick by crushing for reuse as building stone.
	Separating all types of construction debris for recycling.
	Reuse of old cast iron radiators for steam condensers in the new heating system.

Many materials were specified to be locally manufactured (within 500 miles) to reduce transportation energy cost.

Recycled content materials were used through out the project:

	The tack boards under the fabric walls in each classroom are made from recycled cellulose.
	The third floor tile is recycled rubber.
	The ceiling tiles are recycled cellulose.
	The ceramic tile has recycled glass content.

Rapidly renewable materials were used instead of nonrenewable and harder to replace natural resources that require longer time periods to regenerate.

	*Wheatboard* lockers used for student’s storage are made from wheat straw and a non-toxic binder, not from wood. This recycled material saves both wood and energy, while also being a food by-product.
	“Wood” flooring is *laminated bamboo*, which has an oak-look.
	“*Linoleum flooring” (primarily consisting of pine resin, clay, and linseed oil*) was used instead of vinyl composition tile or sheet vinyl that off-gas contaminants, require more maintenance, and are produced from non-renewable petroleum based chemicals.

Certified Wood came from forests managed responsibly under the international Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) guidelines: selective cutting while maintaining natural biodiversity to assure future harvesting capabilities for generations to come.

Indoor Environmental Quality

The building uses the basic Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) guidelines, such as prohibiting tobacco smoke.

Enhanced IAQ during construction included special cleaning and controls so when heating systems started up, the building had no contaminants that could affect the occupants.

Special indoor chemical and pollutant source controls were used during construction.

Low-emitting materials were used for a healthier indoor atmosphere:

	Adhesives and sealants
	Paints were water based with low VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
	Carpet was low VOC emitting.
	Composite woods (such as the wheat board and bamboo laminates) used adhesive that was low in VOCs

Thermal comfort is controlled by a permanent monitoring system. It is includes the ability to read HVAC system statistics through a computer system and have the ability to fine tune settings for maximum efficiency and comfort.

Natural daylight is used for all areas. Natural daylight provides superior illumination for students as for any worker. In our building the classrooms are designed to maximize the benefits of natural daylight, a concept called “daylighting.”

	Even the interior “activity areas” benefit from the daylight coming through the interior windowed walls.
	Light sensors turn down the classroom and office lights when sufficient sunlight is available, so electric energy is saved as well as providing a uniform light level for good learning.

Take a Tour

We welcome visitors to tour our Green Building to learn more about providing healthy buildings while being good stewards of God’s creation.

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Last modified: October 05, 2003

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