Sustainability

The following measures will be considered for implementation in the project design. Refer to the SEED Analysis and LEED Scorecard sections of the report for additional information.

  • Hydronic radiant heating and cooling reduces air handling unit fan power.
  • Demand controlled, minimum ventilation reduces air handling unit fan power and heating / cooling required for outdoor air.
  • Fan wall air handling unit technology reduces fan energy and provides more efficient coil heat transfer and extends life of air filters.
  • Air to air plate heat exchangers in new air handling equipment will extract energy from exhaust air streams to heat or cool outdoor air.
  • Solar heating (alternate) for food services domestic hot water reduces gas and electric water heating requirements.
  • Rainwater harvesting (alternate) for use in irrigation and flushing toilettes will reduce water consumption and provide a sustainable services demonstration forum.
  • Electrical system will be compatible with a Photovoltaic system.
  • If a future PV array is installed it will reduce overall electrical consumption.
  • Heat recovery from steam tunnels (alternate) can provide domestic hot water preheating.
  • Food service refrigeration heat recovery (alternate) can provide domestic water preheating and make-up air preheating.
  • Craft center exhaust heat recovery (alternate) can reduce energy for heating make-up air.

Sustainability Plan

The Oregon Model for Sustainable Development (OMSD) was adopted in July of 2011. Although not mandated for the EMU project, the User Group and Design Team adopted as project aspirational goals, the Oregon Model’s priority on Energy, Water and People. The Oregon Model for Sustainable Development establishes three main goals. In relation to the EMU expansion and renovation project, they are:

Energy: The EMU project includes a systematic approach to energy use that can contribute to the OMSD’s goal of a net zero increase in campus energy from new development.
Water: The EMU project will focus on improving the region’s waterways by improving the quality of campus stormwater with a focus on areas that contribute most to the degradation of water quality.
People: The EMU project will ensure sustained energy conservation habits through education and training opportunities with a goal of shifting occupant behavior.

Sustainability Goals

The goal of achieving a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating of Gold is also being pursued by the Design Team. The project is registered for LEED NC v2009 and is currently tracking a score of 70 points, midway in the LEED Gold point category.

In addition to the goals of the Oregon Model for Sustainable Development, the EMU Design Team also looked to achieve the specific goals and metrics of Architecture 2030 for reducing energy use compared to a baseline building. The focus on energy use did not end with operational energy. The Design Team also looked at ways to minimize the building’s embodied energy by reusing existing materials from the demolished portions of the building and by selecting new materials with low embodied energy. Following the Precautionary Principle (which states that if an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing harm to the public or the environment, the burden of proof that it is not harmful falls on those taking the action), the Design Team used a materials selection process for the project that focused first on the elimination of toxic materials. The Design Team also focused on sourcing products locally wherever possible and looking for products with high recycled content.

Finally, the Design Team also used the principles of the Natural Step, developed by Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert, and the Cascadia Green Building Council’s Guiding Signal Issues to help frame the project priorities and goals when discussing sustainability.