Making the Case for Building “Green” Health Care Facilities

1. Making the Case for Building “Green” Health Care Facilities Sponsored by the Business & Industry Resource Venture O’Brien & Company

3. Sustainability: • Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. “…We are all here together, at once, at the service and mercy of nature and each other.” Paul Hawken, Ecology of Commerce O’Brien & Company

4. What is Sustainable Building? • A philosophy that integrates environmental quality, economic vitality, and social benefit/equity through the design, construction, and operation of the built environment. O’Brien & Company

5. What is a Green Building? “...buildings designed, constructed, and operated to be very energy efficient; use construction materials wisely, including recycled, renewable, and reused resources to the maximum extent practical; are healthy for their occupants; and typically have lower operation and maintenance costs.” - City of Seattle, 2/12/01 O’Brien & Company

6. Modern Buildings Spend Natural Capital... O’Brien & Company

7. …With Significant Consequences • Use of Virgin Materials • Landscape destruction • Toxic runoff from mines • Deforestation • Air and Water Pollution O’Brien & Company

8. …With Significant Consequences • Use of Energy Resources • Local air pollution • Damming of rivers • Global warming and climate change O’Brien & Company

9. …With Significant Consequences • Production of waste • Landfill problems • Leaching of heavy metals • Water pollution • Unhealthy indoor air • Illness, Health complaints • Reduced productivity absenteeism O’Brien & Company

10. …So Who Will Pay the Price of Spending our Natural Capital? • Higher energy costs • Higher water rates • Higher costs for raw materials • Higher costs for environmental “fixes” • Higher costs for labor • Higher costs to maintain an un-sustainable quality of life O’Brien & Company

11. Environmental Objectives • Indoor Environmental Quality • Lighting • Ergonomics • IAQ • Acoustical and Thermal Comfort • Resource Conservation • Energy, Water, Materials • Ecosystem Protection • Site-Based • Region • Beyond O’Brien & Company

12. Benefits of Achieving Objectives • Indoor Environmental Quality • Improved health and productivity of building users • Resource Conservation • Reduced operating costs for energy and water using equipment • Reduced materials waste • Ecosystem Protection • Reduced cost for stormwater protection • Protected water resources O’Brien & Company

13. Key Areas of Potential for Green Health Care Facilities • Productivity and Health for Patients and Employees • Indoor Environmental Quality • Reducing Demand for Resources • Energy Efficiency • Water Conservation • Material Efficiency O’Brien & Company

14. Key Areas of Concern for Green Health Care Facilities • Cost • Minimize by integrated design, identify trade-offs • LCA to identify offsets through operational savings • Low technology approaches • Full commissioning/Training • Integrate incentives in planning (see handout) O’Brien & Company

15. Key Areas of Concern for Green Health Care Facilities • Risk • Rely on tested technologies and products (eco-labels, reliable directories) O’Brien & Company

16. Key Areas of Concern for Green Health Care Facilities • Risk (continued) • Focus on big bang items • Start from where you are • Work out the bugs • Rely on professionals with “green” experience O’Brien & Company

17. Key Areas of Concern for Green Health Care Facilities • Risk (continued) • Integrate local resources in • planning process (see handout) • Use a systematic approach O’Brien & Company

18. US Green Building Council • Formed in 1993 to “accelerate the adoption of green building practices, technologies, policies, and standards.” • Council membership-more than 275 organizations including: • product manufacturers • environmental leaders • building and design professionals • retailers and building owners

19. Overview of LEED™ • Encourages integrated approach • Focuses on five environmental disciplines • Self-assessing system requiring documentation • Offers four levels of certification • Intended for the U. S. Market

20. LEED ™ Development to Date • LEED Commercial V.2.0, March 2000 - rates new and existing commercial, institutional and high-rise residential bldgs. • LEED Interiors, 2001, (Draft under review) rates tenant improvements. • LEED Residential, 2001, (In committee, under development)

21. LEED™ Environmental Disciplines • Sustainable Sites (8 credits/14 points) • Water Efficiency (3 credits/5 points) • Energy and Atmosphere (6 credits/17 points) • Materials Efficiency (7 credits/13 points) • Indoor Environmental Quality (8 credits/15 points) • Innovation Credits (4 credits/4 points)

22. LEED™ Certification Levels • LEED Certified 26-32 points (40-50%) • Silver Level 33-38 points (51-60%) • Gold Level 39-51 points (61-80%) • Platinum Level 52 + points (81% +)

23. Why Adopt LEED for Your Projects? • “Green” design has growing market value. • Provides an opportunity for leadership and legacy. • Public policies are promoting green building - a national trend. • Provides you with a clear benchmark for what’s being recognized as “green.” • Documentation requirements lend credibility to claims to “green” design.

24. City of Seattle Sustainable Building Policy Today • It shall be the policy of the City of Seattle to finance, plan, design, construct, manage, renovate, maintain, and decommission its facilities and buildings to be sustainable. The US Green Building Council’s LEED rating system shall be used as a design and measurement tool to determine what constitutes sustainable building by national standards. All new and remodeled facilities and buildings over 5,000 gross square feet of occupied space shall meet a minimum LEED Silver rating.

25. City of Seattle Sustainable Building Policy - Future 2/12/01 City Ordinance: Studies to • Development of City Wide Green Building Program. • Accelerate Incentives and/or Requirements for Commercial and Residential (non-city funded). • Amend Seattle Energy Code to 20% beyond current baselines. • Enhance Code Enforcement procedures. • Accelerate Greening of City Facilities

26. Recommended Strategies for Implementation of LEED • Sustainable design charrette early in schematic design • Use whole system thinking to explore design relationships • Emphasize a multi-disciplinary, team design approach • Consider adding a sustainable design specialist to project team

27. Planning Sustainable Sites • Location of the building • Protecting natural and agricultural areas • Infill and brownfield development • Reducing need for automobile use • Protection and restoration of the site • Innovative stormwater management • Light pollution reduction

28. Safeguarding Water • Reduce the quantity of water needed for the building and its occupants • Limit use of potable water use for irrigation • Use innovative wastewater technologies • Safeguard the quality of drinking water and water in our rivers, streams, and lakes

29. Improving Atmosphere and Energy Efficiency • Improve energy efficiency and reduce energy use • Use renewable and alternative energy sources • Provide building commissioning • Eliminate CFC’s, HCFC’s, Halons (ozone depletion)

30. Conserving Materials and Resources • Reuse an existing building • Reduce the amount of materials needed • Use local, regional, and renewable materials • Choose materials with less environmental impact • Use certified sustainably harvested wood • Reduce and manage waste

31. Enhancing Indoor Environmental Quality • Eliminate or reduce the sources of indoor pollutants • Ventilate and manage pollutants • Ensure thermal comfort • Monitor air quality • Provide daylight and views

32. LEED Certification Process • Project Registration • Technical Support • Certification Application • Application form and LEED Scorecard • Completed documentation required for credits

33. LEED Design Resources • Supplements to LEED (locally driven) • http://www.usgbc.org • LEED V.2, Training and LEED Reference Guide