As the new Newtown Township building will be seeking LEED Silver designation it will use LEED standards to achieve accreditation, it is reasonable to assume that their building preferences will cater more toward LEED related sustainability.
The construction manager overseeing the townships project was gracious enough to give us their checklist of credits they believe they will earn and those they believe are either not possible or too costly to try and achieve. Of the 13 possible credits available for materials and resources under LEED-NC 2.2 (excluding possible ID credits M&R); the township building is only expecting to be awarded 6 credit points with 1 point in the ‘unsure’ category. While this is in part due to the construction being a new building as opposed to a renovation of an existing structure, the township is also not pursuing credits 3.1 & 3.2 materials Reuse, rapidly renewable materials, and FSC certified wood. This seems to be an unfortunate oversight on the part of the township. As a government entity that is attempting to make strides in their community for the promotion of sustainable development, Newtown Township is neglecting some key opportunities to stand out and further, not only the progressive nature of the new township building, but also to encourage local residents to follow in their stead. It is commendable in the first place to be pursuing a sustainable building, but why is only the minimum being pursued? The USGBC’s Reference Guide for New Construction states that this area of the northeast has some of the most “well-developed markets for salvaged materials”[1] in the country. Newtown is within 500 miles of Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York, Boston and others. There is enormous potential to utilize or even initiate programs that would not only benefit the community but also help Newtown Township achieve a higher LEED rating, potentially save on materials costs and be a local leader.
Reuters news agency in December of 2007 ran an article documenting the benefits to the community that the state of Pennsylvania was is receiving from its efforts to promote recycling and materials reuse programs. According to Governor Rendell, “Pennsylvania is home to more than 3,200 recycling and reuse businesses and organizations that generate more than $18 billion in gross annual sales and provide paychecks totaling $2.9 billion to more than 81,000 employees. Additionally, these businesses add more than $305 million in taxes to the state treasury.”[2] Bucks County alone accounts for nearly 85,000 dollars in grants from the state for recycling performance programs.[3] Considering the numerous materials reuse options just in Pennsylvania alone coupled with the fact that the project plans on achieving both credits 4.1, 4.2 & 5.1, 5.2, recycled content and regional materials respectively, why can’t they find a way to incorporate materials reuse into the sustainable characteristics of the building.
Newtown Township is also not planning on achieving MR Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials and credit 7 certified wood. While these are perhaps more understandable than materials reuse due to considerations of added cost they are never the less important considerations in making the building more sustainable while also contributing to LEED credits.
Other options worth considering include: installing energy star appliances where possible, grid pavers and pervious pavement and perhaps most importantly, Pennsylvania’s Renewable Energy Program Geothermal and Wind Projects Program Guidelines that was just released in January 2009. Available to municipalities as well as businesses, this new program allows for grant and loans to be awarded that contributes toward installing geothermal systems and wind turbines for energy production. While some might argue that this is something more relevant to energy instead of green materials, I would point out that there is significant material consideration with renewable energy. Additionally if a building is to be truly sustainable it needs to consider the interconnectedness and holistic building approach when addressing sustainable development.[4]
This is an Excerpt only and may not be copied or cited without permission, Please contact me directly to learn more.
http://www.twp.newtown.pa.us/bos/2008/20080317minws.htm
[1] United States Green Building Council. New Construction and Major Renovation Reference Guide Version 2.2 2nd Ed. September 2006. P 259.[2] http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS179589+06-Dec-2007+PRN20071206[3] http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS179589+06-Dec-2007+PRN20071206[4] http://www.newpa.com/find-and-apply-for-funding/funding-and-program-finder/funding-detail/index.aspx?progId=191
The construction manager overseeing the townships project was gracious enough to give us their checklist of credits they believe they will earn and those they believe are either not possible or too costly to try and achieve. Of the 13 possible credits available for materials and resources under LEED-NC 2.2 (excluding possible ID credits M&R); the township building is only expecting to be awarded 6 credit points with 1 point in the ‘unsure’ category. While this is in part due to the construction being a new building as opposed to a renovation of an existing structure, the township is also not pursuing credits 3.1 & 3.2 materials Reuse, rapidly renewable materials, and FSC certified wood. This seems to be an unfortunate oversight on the part of the township. As a government entity that is attempting to make strides in their community for the promotion of sustainable development, Newtown Township is neglecting some key opportunities to stand out and further, not only the progressive nature of the new township building, but also to encourage local residents to follow in their stead. It is commendable in the first place to be pursuing a sustainable building, but why is only the minimum being pursued? The USGBC’s Reference Guide for New Construction states that this area of the northeast has some of the most “well-developed markets for salvaged materials”[1] in the country. Newtown is within 500 miles of Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York, Boston and others. There is enormous potential to utilize or even initiate programs that would not only benefit the community but also help Newtown Township achieve a higher LEED rating, potentially save on materials costs and be a local leader.
Reuters news agency in December of 2007 ran an article documenting the benefits to the community that the state of Pennsylvania was is receiving from its efforts to promote recycling and materials reuse programs. According to Governor Rendell, “Pennsylvania is home to more than 3,200 recycling and reuse businesses and organizations that generate more than $18 billion in gross annual sales and provide paychecks totaling $2.9 billion to more than 81,000 employees. Additionally, these businesses add more than $305 million in taxes to the state treasury.”[2] Bucks County alone accounts for nearly 85,000 dollars in grants from the state for recycling performance programs.[3] Considering the numerous materials reuse options just in Pennsylvania alone coupled with the fact that the project plans on achieving both credits 4.1, 4.2 & 5.1, 5.2, recycled content and regional materials respectively, why can’t they find a way to incorporate materials reuse into the sustainable characteristics of the building.
Newtown Township is also not planning on achieving MR Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials and credit 7 certified wood. While these are perhaps more understandable than materials reuse due to considerations of added cost they are never the less important considerations in making the building more sustainable while also contributing to LEED credits.
Other options worth considering include: installing energy star appliances where possible, grid pavers and pervious pavement and perhaps most importantly, Pennsylvania’s Renewable Energy Program Geothermal and Wind Projects Program Guidelines that was just released in January 2009. Available to municipalities as well as businesses, this new program allows for grant and loans to be awarded that contributes toward installing geothermal systems and wind turbines for energy production. While some might argue that this is something more relevant to energy instead of green materials, I would point out that there is significant material consideration with renewable energy. Additionally if a building is to be truly sustainable it needs to consider the interconnectedness and holistic building approach when addressing sustainable development.[4]
This is an Excerpt only and may not be copied or cited without permission, Please contact me directly to learn more.
http://www.twp.newtown.pa.us/bos/2008/20080317minws.htm
[1] United States Green Building Council. New Construction and Major Renovation Reference Guide Version 2.2 2nd Ed. September 2006. P 259.[2] http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS179589+06-Dec-2007+PRN20071206[3] http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS179589+06-Dec-2007+PRN20071206[4] http://www.newpa.com/find-and-apply-for-funding/funding-and-program-finder/funding-detail/index.aspx?progId=191
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