JL Architects

Sustainability

Greater West Chester Area Moves Ahead with Renewable Energy Plans

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The West Chester Area Council of Governments (WCACOG) consists of elected officials from 7 municipalities: East Bradford, East Goshen, Thornbury, West Chester, West Goshen, West Whiteland, and Westtown which make up a total population of about 100,000. These Southeastern PA municipalities have adopted the goals of achieving 100% renewable energy electricity by 2035 and 100% renewable energy for all uses, including heat, transportation, and powerplants, by 2050.  The WCACOG has hired Cadmus, a Boston-based consulting firm specializing in regional energy planning, to provide a customized Energy Transition Plan that includes an understanding of the context and conditions in southeastern Pennsylvania.

WCACOG recently held its first public meeting to create the path forward in achieving their municipalities’ energy goals.  Attendees met with representatives from Cadmus to ask questions and provide the local input needed to envision success, set priorities, and anticipate obstacles as the region transitions to clean, renewable energy.

Consideration of the economic, political, and social context of the region will create an equitable and inclusive energy transition plan.  Preferences and common barriers shared by the seven communities are being identified. In addition, each municipality will have the opportunity to work individually with Cadmus to convey their specific goals such as reducing energy costs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthening local economic development.

JL Architects is excited to be based in one of the 7 WCACOG communities that is moving towards 100% sustainable energy.  As an architecture firm and community member, we are committed to clean, renewable energy and have worked on many sustainable projects.  Our firm’s principal, John Lister, is a member of Green Building Initiative’s  Board of Directors and project manager, Kipp Happ, sits on the East Goshen Township Sustainability Advisory Committee.  If you need help designing your sustainable project, call the experts at JLA.

 

Photo Credit: Smart Energy

Kipp Happ, Green Globes Professional

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JL Architects is proud to congratulate Kipp Happ, in earning his Green Globes Professional certificate, and in his appointment to the East Goshen Township Sustainability Advisory Committee.

Kipp Happ

Green Globes is an environmental assessment and certification program for commercial buildings. Made up of an online and on-site program; it is the flexible and affordable building rating system for all commercial properties.

Kipp was also appointed to the East Goshen Township Sustainability Advisory Committee.  The committee’s mission is to develop, in partnership with the Board of Supervisors, residents, and businesses, a culture of (environmental, economic, & social) sustainability in East Goshen Township by utilizing innovation, education, communication, and comprehensive and strategic planning.

We are grateful for Kipp’s drive to foster growth, improvement, and excellence while servicing his JLA clients, and his community.

-Alex Schleicher

What is Sustainable Architecture?

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Sustainable architects design buildings to limit negative environmental impact through efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and space while considering the ecosystem at large. It is considered a conscious approach to energy and ecological conservation in the design of the built environment.

There are a few fundamental elements to sustainable architecture: site & building orientation, shading and sunlight due to pre-existing elements, natural ventilation opportunities, renewable energy systems, heating ventilation and cooling system efficiency, and sustainable building materials.

Energy efficiency is one of the most critical goals to sustainable design. The orientation of the building, the number of windows (openings) and good insulation are the key elements to ensuring energy efficiency.  Roof top solar panels, solar water heaters, heat pumps, and small-scale wind turbines can also be used as alternate solutions to traditional methods of heating and cooling.

When it comes to building materials, the building should be constructed with materials that can be easily available, reused, and disposed of. When older buildings are demolished, all wood, doors, windows, mantels and hardware can be reclaimed and renewed, allowing the materials to be retrofit with a new purpose.

Waste management is also an important component of sustainable architecture. Recycling as much as possible is critical. This will ensure less waste going to the landfill and protect the health of those on site from the harmful and possibly toxic effects of waste.

-Nital Churi, Architectural Designer

Vegan Design Products on the Rise

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Many people choose to follow a vegan diet for an assortment of reasons.  Vegans refrain from consuming animal products in any form.  Not only do they refrain from eating meat, but also eggs, dairy products and other animal-derived substances such as honey.  People who follow the vegan lifestyle believe consuming animal products is cruel and inhumane.  Instead, they get all their nutrients from plants. Some research has even linked vegan diets with lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer making this type of diet healthy and beneficial for everyone.

There are also major environmental benefits of veganism.  According to The Vegan Society, the production of meat and other animal products places a heavy burden on the environment from crops and water required to feed the animals, to the use of agricultural land, to the transport and other processes involved from farm to table. The vast amount of grain feed required for meat production is a significant contributor to deforestation, habitat loss and species extinction.  A June 2018 study published in Science Magazine asserted that the adoption of plant-based diets in the United States alone could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 61% to 73%, and the global adoption of a vegan diet would reduce the use of agricultural land by 75%, which would significantly combat climate change.

As the vegan diet continues to gain popularity because of its many health and environmental benefits, vegan design products are also on the rise.  Consumer demand is pushing designers to make cruelty-free products more mainstream.  The rise in demand for vegan products is slow, but steady as society continues to become more and more aware of the benefits of a sustainable environment.  Deborah DiMare founded VeganDesign.org with the mission to show others through demonstration and education that beautiful, less toxic design can be achieved without the suffering of living species or the destruction of our planet.

The Hilton London Bankside Hotel recently opened the world’s first vegan suite designed by Bompas and Parr.  The design team omitted the use of leather, wool and feathers throughout its interiors.  The suite features several plant-based materials including Piñatex, a leather-alternative made from the cellulose fibers in pineapple leaves.  The headboard of the bed is made from Piñatex and the pillows are organic buckwheat, millet seeds, and bamboo fibers.  The flooring was made with 100% renewable and sustainable bamboo and the carpet, organic cotton.  Even the stationary and toiletries are eco-friendly.

As the world continues to strive for sustainability, the demand for eco-friendly and renewable products will continue to rise.  It is our responsibility as a society to reduce the carbon footprint and combat climate change.  From our diets, to fashion, to design products, every positive change we can make will help to create a planet that will continue to flourish and thrive for many, many generations to come.  Contact us at JL Architects and we can help you design a sustainable building that meets your needs.

-Amy Estrella

*Photo Credit: Hilton London Bankside Hotel

GBI's New Board of Directors Announcement

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John Lister of JL Architects Joins Green Building Initiative’s 2019 Board of Directors

Stimson Lumber, Ewing Irrigation & Landscape, JLL, JL Architects, and Mitsubishi Electric take on new GBI Board roles

Portland, Ore. – The Green Building Initiative (GBI) is pleased to announce the election of its 2019 Board of Directors. Outgoing GBI Chair Rich Mitchell—managing principal architect of Mackenzie, a Portland, Ore., based architecture and engineering firm—has passed the gavel after a two-year term to Tim Atkinson, vice president of sales for Stimson Lumber Company of Portland, Ore., who also serves as president of the Pacific Northwest Association of Rail Shippers.

Atkinson takes the reins following the largest two-year growth period in GBI’s history, during which the organization supported more than 465 building projects that earned third-party assessment and certification through its Green Globes® and federal Guiding Principles Compliance® (GPC) programs. Atkinson has served on the GBI Board of Directors since 2013 and served as Treasurer from 2017 to 2018.

GBI 2017 to 2018 Accomplishments

In the last two years, GBI completed major steps toward its goals of increasing its impact in the market and promoting new levels of transparency. Accomplishments include:

  • Acquiring the global rights for Green Globes and advancing the revision of Green Globes for New Construction, its flagship rating system, through a multi-year American National Standards Institute consensus process.
  • Supporting building owners and their practitioners and consultants through the assessment and certification process of 462 Green Globes building certifications. GBI has certified a total of 1699 buildings using Green Globes and GPC since 2004.
  • Increasing understanding of sustainability issues in a building’s life cycle through education and professional credentialing programs that include instruction on New Construction, Core and Shell, Existing Buildings, and Sustainable Interiors (tenant improvements). More than 800 certified Green Globes Professionals (GGPs) and Guiding Principle Compliance Professionals (GPCPs) are supporting building projects throughout the world.
  • Launching a revised membership program that provides access to GBI’s member benefits to organizations for as little as $500. Additionally, new bylaws were approved that encourage involvement of the organization’s growing membership in all levels of governance.

“GBI has carved out a unique niche in the market,” stated Atkinson. “Over the last two years, we’ve seen GBI increase education and promotion of Green Globes and develop customized tools to support private and public sector owners, practitioners, and contractors with understanding that sustainability can be incorporated into every building type – no matter the size, budget, or unique function. With GBI’s Green Globes and GPC programs, the market is remembering that third-party certification can apply to all buildings and be both comprehensive and flexible.”

 

GBI 2019 Initiatives

The new GBI Board will oversee execution of an aggressive education and promotion plan for 2019. It will include:

  • Launching a brand-new user-friendly Green Globes software platform to include portfolio management support;
  • Releasing a bimonthly thought leadership webinar series to include case studies from portfolio owners, lessons learned from Three and Four Green Globes certified projects, and education and support for pilots of the new versions of Green Globes New Construction and Existing Buildings certification programs, that will pilot in 2019;
  • Growing membership involvement in GBI’s performance and tool development, government engagement, and education and promotion committees; and
  • Increasing awareness of GBI’s unique GPCP credentialing program to support federal government practitioners and their contractors on Guiding Principles and UFC compliance requirements. GBI has overseen third-party Guiding Principles Compliance assessment of 269 federal buildings and certified an additional 338 federal buildings through Green Globes.

“I look forward to helping GBI continue to increase its positive impact by expanding knowledge of GBI’s collaborative, high-value approach to third-party certification,” stated Atkinson.

GBI President & CEO Vicki Worden added, “We welcome three new Board members to help GBI accomplish its goals in 2019. Our Board members bring tremendous knowledge and dedication to advancing sustainability in the built environment, and we are grateful for their willingness to serve.”

Worden noted appreciation for the dedication and leadership of Rich Mitchell, outgoing Chair, and the contributions of Mary Ann Dickinson of the Alliance of Water Efficiency, whose Board term ended in 2018.

 

2019 Board Members and Officers

New GBI Board Members

  • John Lister, Principal, JL Architects, West Chester, PA – term 2021
  • Jenna Rowe, Sr. Vice President, Sustainability, JLL, Indianapolis, IN – term 2021
  • Doug Tucker, Director, Industry and Government Relations, Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., Suwannee, GA – term 2021

2019 Officers

  • Tim Atkinson, GBI Chair, VP of Sales, Stimson Lumber Company, Portland, OR – term 2021
  • Warren Gorowitz, GBI Treasurer, VP of Sustainability, Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply, Phoenix, AZ – term 2021
  • Vicki Worden, GBI President & CEO, Camden, ME
  • Shaina Weinstein, GBI Secretary and VP of Engagement, Portland, OR

Additional 2019 Board Members

Cristian Barcan, Executive Director, Vinyl Sustainability Council, Washington, DC – term 2019

Stephen Del Percio, VP and Assistant General Counsel, AECOM, New York, NY – term 2020

Ralph Egues, Jr., Executive Director, National Hispanic Landscape Alliance, Miami, FL – term 2021

William Freeman, Consultant, Resilient Floor Covering Institute, Rockport, ME – term 2019

Gordon Gill, Partner, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, Chicago, IL – term 2019

Charles Kibert, Ph.D., Professor, University of Florida, Gainsville, FL – term 2020

Sydney Lindquist, Global Sustainability Leader, Hexion, Columbus, OH – term 2021

Kerry Little, Business Sustainability Manager, Arauco North America, St. Stephen, NB – term 2021

Kathy Loftus, Global Sustainability Leader Whole Foods, Austin, TX – term 2019

Donald Martin, Principal, Marston Design Studio, Ball Ground, GA – term 2020

Rich Mitchell, GBI Immediate Past Chair, Managing Principal, Mackenzie, Portland, OR – term 2020

Amlan Mukherjee, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Michigan Technical University, Houghton, MI – term 2020

Richard Schroeder, President & CEO, Cresline Pipe & Fitting Co., and PPFA representative, Evansville, IN – term 2019

Tim Thiel, Polyurethanes Industrial Marketing, Covestro, Pittsburgh, PA – term 2020

Jay Thomas, GBI Past Chair, Principal, Decision Driven Marketing, Duxbury, MA – term 2020

Ray Tonjes, Founding Chair, Ray Tonjes Builder, Austin, TX – term 2020

About GBI

GBI is a nonprofit organization and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards Developer dedicated to accelerating the adoption of green building best practices. Founded in 2004, the organization is the global provider of the Green Globes® and federal Guiding Principles Compliance building certification programs. To learn more about opportunities to become involved with GBI, contact info@thegbi.org or visit the GBI website at www.thegbi.org

January 10, 2019

MEDIA CONTACT

Vicki Worden, GBI President & CEO, 202.841.2999, vicki@thegbi.org

What is a Green Globes Assessment?

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As Director of Sustainability for JL Architects, I am active as both a Green Globes Professional and Green Globes Assessor for the Green Building Initiative (GBI).

Green Globes is a well-established green building guidance and assessment program that offers a practical and affordable way to advance the environmental performance and sustainability of a wide variety of building types.

I currently had the pleasure of completing the Green Globes for New Construction (Green Globes NC) Stage II Verification for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s E.105th-Quincy station platform located in Cleveland, Ohio, and proudly share that the project has the potential to successfully achieve 2 Green Globes!

It is a policy of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority to incorporate sustainable and green building principles throughout their facilities.  An Eco-Charrette was conducted at the on-set of the project to determine what certification type would be best suited for the project.

The project team found that LEED has a mandatory minimum square footage requirement. The minimum requirement for New Construction is 1,000 sf. The station building is only 355 sf and does not meet the minimum program requirement for LEED Certification. Green Globes was found to be an attainable and practical approach for this project.

GCRTA Platform On-site Assessment Highlights

The project includes a 355 square foot building consisting of an elevator, machine room and electrical room situated on a 3,758 square foot platform. The station services commuters arriving to and departing from E 105th and Quincy Streets in Cleveland Ohio.

During the onsite assessment the following was completed: interviews with members of the design and construction team responsible for the management of the project, a review of product submittals and documentation, a tour and physical review of the completed renovated space. This allowed for me as the Green Globes Assessor to verify the targeted achievement defined by the project team, and as confirmed in the Construction Documents.

Discussions focused on substantiating the points from the online self-evaluation referring to construction documents, records of the design and construction processes, specification sheets, shop drawings, logs, meeting minutes, reports, computational models, and other relevant information.  The facility was toured to verify installation and implementation of the features.  Following the tour, a closure meeting was conducted to review the tentative results of the assessment and identify additional information required to complete the Stage II verification process which will be provided by the project team.

The methodology used to derive the final score was to assess the criteria within each of the highlighted following criteria:

Project Management

Meeting minutes were provided to reflect initial and final performance goals. Qualitative values and metrics were provided in the Construction Documents to demonstrate green design, as well as performance goals for energy, water and indoor air quality. Qualitative values and metrics were provided in the energy model summary data that demonstrate performance goals for electricity.

Platform 2

The Integrated Design Process was employed, which included a minimum of five of the key design disciplines involved in the project.

Site

Heat Island Effect – In addition to the roof plan and specifications included in the construction documents, the technical information was provided for the R-Mer metal roof system such as solar Reflectance at .84, Light-colored concrete was specified and installed for paved surfaces which provides high SRI. Due to the orientation of the building and platform, between 25-49% of paved surfaces beyond the building footprint will be shaded by structure above.

Platform 3

Shaded Surfaces Year-Round

Platform 4

Public Multi-User Bike Path

Energy Efficient Transportation – According to Neighborhoodscout.com – more people ride the bus in this neighborhood each day to get to work than 95.4% of U.S. neighborhoods. The site is located within 0.25 mi of the bus line 318 providing public transportation and the site is located within access of a public bike path.

Energy

An energy model has been performed using Trane Trace 700. ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010 Appendix G has been used as a reference to complete the energy model. Based on the Trane Trace 700 energy model, the proposed building has an economic cost improvement over the baseline building of 30.68%.

Water

Green Globes Water Calculator results project >39% reduction of water use compared with Baseline water use. If fact, there is no water used on the site.

 Materials and Resources

Environmental Product Declarations for the applicable core and shell materials: Concrete and steel make up the largest percentage of materials selected for the building core and shell. Industry wide EDP’s are commonly available for at least 10-24%.

Construction Waste – Reports will be provided to verify over 75% of construction wasted was diverted from the landfill.

Operational Waste – the on-site Assessment confirmed the storage areas for points of waste handling, service and pick up areas.

Platform 5

Storage Area at Point of Service for Recyclables

Platform 6

Materials Allow Modular Sizing of Openings in Walls

Emissions

Ozone-depleting Potential – R-410A (which contains only fluorine) does not contribute to ozone depletion.Global Warming Potential – However, R-410 has a high GWP (1700 times the effect of carbon dioxide), like that of R-22.

Indoor Environment

Volatile Organic Compounds – Interior and exterior latex as well as Concrete & Masonry Primer paint contains low VOC. Moisture and Vapor Control Methods – Humidity and moisture control are accomplished using the split system heat pumps and the split system air conditioners. The split system design is used to maintain humidity at an acceptable level.

Pest and Contamination Control – Outdoor air inlets have bird & insect screens as part of standard construction of louvers.

Other Indoor Pollutants – Signage is provided to indicate No Smoking on the premises.

Daylighting – The elevator is the occupied space and receives between 50-74% of the floor area occupied for critical visual tasks achieve a minimum daylight factor. Between 31-59% of task areas have views to the exterior.

Verification resulted in a final score of 383.5 out of 690.5 applicable points, which equates to 55.5% and a Two Green Globe rating for the GCRTA Platform station, in Cleveland, Ohio. This level of sustainability is a notable accomplishment!

Ready to talk about your next Green Building Certification? Want to know more about the common-sense approach to achieving a green building certification?

We have prepared a registered AIA presentation to introduce you to JLA and the Green Globes building certification process.

I have completed green building certifications for universities, K-12, healthcare, transportation, distribution centers, offices, multi-family properties, retail, and restaurants.

 

Barbara Clarke, AIA, LEED AP, GGP, GGA

Director of Sustainability

JL Architects