General Resources

2.0 General Resources

Photo of 2211 West 4th courtesy of Hotson Bakker Architects

Ecological design: what is it? The essential design challenge is to make things that fit onto a planet that has a biosphere. Nature is the standard for this: nature has been at this design problem for 3.8 billion years. Anything that did not work out well was recalled by the manufacturer. When we get it right, nature becomes the standard for houses, for towns, for farms, for industry.

--David Orr, HOPES Conference, 1999

The problems we have created cannot be solved at the level of thinking that created them.

--Albert Einstein
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2.1 Guidelines

Today, energy use in commercial buildings contributes about 64 million tonnes of GHGs. If we do nothing, this figure will rise to 86 million tonnes [over the next 30 years].

--David Suzuki Foundation, "Power Shift: Cool Solutions to Global Warming," 2000
Guidelines Program Guide to Value Analysis an the Integrated Design Process (PDF 1MB)
Description This guide provides description of the Integrated Design Process (IDP), key participants and their roles, and how to plan and execute an IDP to achieve high performance.
Guidelines Program Planning, Design and Construction Strategies (PDF 2.8MB)
Description The document briefly describes strategies for use in the various stages of designing and constructing a new building, with cross references to this resources guide also available in a PDF document (Refer to the How to Build Green menu).
Guidelines Program Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Guidelines
United States Green Building Council (USGBC)
Contact / Resource http://www.usgbc.org/
Description This rating system (free to download from the web) is a practical guide to the following areas:
  • Planning Sustainable Sites
  • Improving Energy Efficiency
  • Conserving Materials and Resources
  • Enhancing Indoor Environmental Quality
  • Safeguarding Water
  • Improving the Design/Build Process
Government Checklists Green Buildings Checklist
BC Ministry of Finance
Contact / Resource http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/capitalplanning/projectmanagement/
Description This checklist specifies Treasury Board's requirements in incorporating Green Design into provincially funded projects in the following areas:
  • Integrated Design Team
  • Energy
  • Water
  • Landscape
  • Materials
  • Waste
  • Construction
  • Indoor Environmental Quality
  • Life-Cycle Assessment
Guidelines Program Environmental Guidelines: British Columbia University, College and Institutional Facilities.
BC Ministry of Skills, Training and Labour (MSTL). 1995. Victoria: MSTL.
Contact / Resource Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology
http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/psfacilities/environmental/sec-one.htm
Description This guideline covers:
  • Energy Efficiency (identifying design strategies to reduce building operating energy use);
  • Resource Conservation (identifying strategies for land, materials and water resource conservation, construction management conservation, and human wastes conservation);
  • Occupant Health and Well-Being (identifying strategies to create good indoor environmental quality, including thermal quality, indoor air quality, lighting and acoustic quality);
  • Inter-relationships and Conflicts (identifying important areas of trade-of between the goals).
Guidelines Program High Performance Building Guidelines
New York City Department of Design and Construction
Contact / Resource http://www.nyc.gov/html/ddc/html/ddcgreen/highperf.html
Description These guidelines (free to download from the web) give practical information in two general areas: Process (City Process and Design Process) and Technical Assistance.

In the area of the technical guidelines, they give practical information for designers in the following areas:
  • Site Design And Planning
  • Building Energy Use
  • Indoor Environment
  • Material And Product Selection
  • Water Management
  • Construction Administration
  • Commissioning
  • Operations And Maintenance
Guidelines Program Green Buildings Design and Construction Guidelines
The City of Santa Monica
Contact / Resource http://greenbuildings.santa-monica.org
Book: Theaker, Ian, G., Cole, Raymond & Rousseau, David et al, (1999) City of Santa Monica Green Building Design & Construction Guidelines, Santa Monica Environmental Programs Division, Santa Monica, CA US
Description While oriented to the Mediterranean climate of southern California, much of the information is relevant to designers anywhere. Especially useful are Guidelines on efficient HVAC and lighting equipment, daylighting and natural ventilation & cooling. Many illustrations & graphs.
These guidelines (free to download from the web) give practical information for designers in the following areas:
  • Siting and Form
  • Landscape
  • Transportation
  • Envelope and Space Planning
  • Materials
  • Water Systems
  • Electrical Systems
  • HVAC Systems
  • Control Systems
  • Construction Management
  • Commissioning
Guidelines Program Building Green in Pennsylvania: Guidelines for Creating High-Performance Buildings
Contact / Resource http://www.gggc.state.pa.us
Description This site has information (free to download) on:
  • Pennsylvania's first green building (case study)
  • A high performance green building -- DEP's Ebensburg Office (case study)
  • Model Green Office leasing specifications (plus an on-line order form for Model Green Office leasing specifications)
  • High-Performance Green Buildings (plus an on-line order form for High-Performance Green Buildings)
  • These guidelines have comprehensive and practical design information for the following areas:
  • Green Design Systems
  • Green Design Process
  • Case Studies
  • References and Resources
Guidelines Program Federal Buildings Initiative
Natural Resources Canada
Contact / Resource http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca:80/fbi/home_page.cfm
Description This site contains information on:
  • Energy efficiency project sites
  • NRCan's experience project overview
  • Savings to date
  • Benefits of FBI
Guidelines Program Environment Canada
Contact / Resource http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html
Description This site contains information on the following areas:
  • Green Procurement
  • Waste Management
  • Energy Conservation
  • Fleet Management
  • Water Conservation
  • Land Use Management
  • Human Resource Management
  • Environmental Management Systems
  • Compliance Promotion and Assurance
  • Climate Change
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2.2 Whole Building Resources

Urban designers and planners, architects, the makers of building materials--indeed, anyone associated with creating the built environment--have a major but as yet unrealized role to play in enhancing the sustainability of our cities in the 21st Century.

--William Rees, Green Building Challenge, 1998

Whole systems design analyzes every building system and integrates them so that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

--William Reed, The Hillier Group, 1997
Kalke Village shopping complex green roof, Vienna

Kalke Village shopping complex green roof, Vienna

Web Resource Advanced Buildings, Technologies and Practices
Contact / Resource http://www.advancedbuildings.org/
This site is put together by Natural Resources Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada, CMHC, Gas Technology Canada, and Enermodal Engineering.
Description This site is self-described as a building professional's guide to more than 90 environmentally appropriate technologies and practices. Architects, engineers and buildings managers can improve the energy and resource efficiency of commercial, industrial and multi-unit residential buildings through the use of the technologies and practices described in this web site. The following design and construction issues are covered:
  • indoor air quality
  • water conservation
  • waste management
  • electricity production
  • non-toxic materials
  • recycled materials
  • daylighting
  • energy efficiency
It also includes nine comprehensive case studies of Canadian buildings.
Web Resource Green Building Information Council (GBIC)
Contact / Resource http://greenbuilding.ca/
Description This Canadian site has information on:
  • Green Buildings Conferences (including case studies of green buildings)
  • CANMET
  • The C-2000 Program
  • Green Building News & Events
  • Energy and Environment Organizations
  • Energy and Environment Information & Tools
  • Advanced Technologies Guide
  • Advanced Buildings Newsletter
Web Resource Office of Energy Efficiency
Natural Resources Canada
Contact / Resource http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/english/
Description
  • Energy Efficiency and Related Links Page
  • This web page has many useful and constantly updated links
Web Resource Environmentally Responsible Design
AIBC Resources
Contact / Resource http://www.aibc.ca/pub_resources/aibc_outreach/enviro_resources.html
Compiled by the AIBC Energy and Environment Committee
Description This sites offers resources in the following areas:
  • General
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Reuse / Recycling
  • Indoor Air Quality
  • Case Studies
  • Computer Resources and Electronic Databases
Publication BC Green Buildings Directory
Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise
Contact / Resource newbuildingsprogram@greenbuildingsbc.com
Description This Directory is an introduction into companies within BC that are involved in the green building industry. It includes listings in the following industries:
  • Architecture
  • Community and Urban Planning
  • Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • mechanical Engineering
  • Environmental Consulting
  • General Contracting
  • Indoor Air Quality Contracting
  • Interior Design
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Property Development
  • Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Web Resource Procurement of Sustainable Facilities and Infrastructure Through Architect-Engineer (A-E) and Related Contracts
Environmental Building News NAVFAC Planning and Design Policy Statement 98-03
Contact / Resource http://www.buildinggreen.com/news/navypolicy1.html
Description The Naval Facilities Engineering Command has, since 1998, suggested evaluation factors for determining Architect-Engineer (A-E) knowledge and experience in sustainable design. These policies show how the Navy has been able to ensure that its facilities are built to better environmental standards.
Web Resource Canadian Business for Social Responsibility
Contact / Resource http://www.cbsr.bc.ca/
Description CBSR is a membership organization of Canadian businesses committed to developing and sharing expertise in socially responsible business practices. This resource outlines steps you can take to reduce a company or organization's impact on the environment. Over 75 business and non-profit resources have been listed to help you implement waste reducing ideas. Topics that have been covered are:
  • Paper,
  • Office Equipment and Furniture,
  • Energy,
  • Food/Water,
  • Pollution,
  • Alternative Transportation
  • Green Building
Web Resources Environmental Building News
Contact / Resource http://www.buildinggreen.com/

Checklist for Environmentally Responsible Design and Construction
http://www.buildinggreen.com/ebn/checklist.html

Feature Article - Building Green on a Budget
http://www.buildinggreen.com/features/lc/low_cost.html
Description The Environmental Building News home page is an excellent source of information and resources. It includes:
  • GreenSpec: information on how to order this comprehensive guide of over 1200 green building products and materials.
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Product reviews
  • E Build Library 3.0
  • Green Building Resource Guide: over 200 books, periodicals, and other resources on green building and related topics organized into six topic areas.
  • The EBN newsletter current and issues
Web / E-mail Resources GreenClips Newsletter
Contact / Resource http://www.greenclips.com/
Description This free, electronic newsletter published by Chris Hammer / Sustainable Design Resources gives clips from popular media regarding developments in green design.
Web Resource Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development--Green Buildings
United States Department of Energy
Contact / Resource http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/
Description This is an excellent source of general information on the following areas:
  • Building Principals
  • Building Programs
  • Rating Systems
  • US Building Efforts
  • Affordable Housing
  • Success Stories
  • Codes / Ordinances
  • Articles / Publications
  • Educational Materials
  • Other Resources
Web Resource Buildings For the 21st Century Program
US Department of Energy, Office of Building Technology, State and Community Program
Contact / Resource http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
Description This American program has goals that include reducing current energy consumption in buildings by 20 percent, and reducing the energy consumption of new buildings by 50 percent compared to current building practices.

To this end, this program's "Commercial Building Owners and Operators" component offers practical information on the following areas:
  • Commissioning for Energy Efficiency
  • Saving Energy Through Operation and Maintenance
  • Using Solar Energy
  • Saving Water and Heating It Efficiently
  • Purchasing for Energy Efficiency (HVAC; Lighting; Windows; Building Equipment)
Web Resource Committee on Environment
American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Contact / Resource http://www.aia.org/cote_default
Description This site is an excellent overall source of information in the following areas:
  • Professional issues
  • Publications for sale (they offer a wide range of useful publications)
  • Sustainable design information (including information on how to order the AIA Environmental Resource Guide)
  • Healthy building information
  • Green building case studies available on the web (see case study section, below, for a list of buildings)
  • Upcoming conferences, workshops and major events
Web Resource Natural Resource Defense Council
Contact / Resource http://www.nrdc.org/
Description Sustainable building information can be found under the topic areas:
  • Air/Energy
  • Urban
Web Resource Vital Signs Project
Berkeley Architecture
Contact / Resource http://arch.ced.berkeley.edu/
Description The following Berkeley site gives a lot of great resource information. It also gives detailed case studies of resource-efficient buildings (see case study section for list). Each of the below titles is an educational resource that can be downloaded free:
  • Building Balance Point
  • Whole Building Energy Use: Simulation and Prediction for Retrofits
  • HVAC Components and Systems
  • Thermal Mass in Passive Solar and Energy Conserving Buildings
  • Observing Air Flow in Buildings
  • The Dynamic Pattern of Shading and Solar Heat Gain Through Windows
  • Health in the Built Environment: Indoor Air Quality
  • Taking a Building's Temperature:
  • Measurement and Display of Thermal Performance of Buildings
  • Interior Illuminance, Daylight Controls and Occupant Response
  • Glazing Performance
Web Resource Greenbiz
Berkeley Architecture
Contact / Resource http://www.greenbiz.com/
Description This site has regularly updated information on green building issues, as well as green business issues. For example, this site has reports on:
  • Healthy Hospitals: Environmental Improvements through Environmental Accounting (Source: U.S. EPA)
  • Guidebook of Part Cleaning Alternatives
  • Greening Hotel Operations (Green Seal)
Web Resource Sustainable Architecture Compendium
University of Michigan's National Pollution Prevention Center for Higher Education
Contact / Resource http://www.umich.edu/%7Enppcpub/resources/compendia/architecture.html
ph: 734/764-1412, fax: 734/647-5841, or send e-mail nppc@umich.edu
Description This site contains great educational information available for free download. There will eventually be five educational modules available, now there are four:
  • Introductory Module
  • Sustainable Design Module
  • Sustainable Building Materials Module
  • Recycling and Reuse Module
  • Case Studies Module (not yet online)
Web Resource The Center for Livable Communities
Contact / Resource http://www.lgc.org/freepub/land_use/index.html
Description The Center has a new series of four-page, illustrated fact sheets on:
  • Designing Safe Streets and Neighborhoods
  • The Economic Benefits of Walkable Communities
  • Land Use Planning for Safe, Crime-Free Neighborhoods
  • Why People Don't Walk & What City Planners Can Do About It
Web Resource A Strategic Concept Plan for A Model Sustainable Community in South-East False Creek
Community Economic Development Centre, SFU
Contact / Resource http://www.sfu.ca/cedc/
http://www.sfu.ca/cedc/students/geogclass/
Description This site includes information on the concepts being used for:
  • Land Use, Transportation, and Air Quality
  • Housing & Community Development
  • Greening
  • Water and Waste
  • Recycling and Waste
  • Energy
  • Community Economic Development
  • Map of Proposed Site Layout
Web Resource Business Information Site
CTN - Canadian Environmental Technology Advancement Corporation - West
Contact / Resource http://strategis.ic.gc.ca
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/engdoc/main.html
Description This site contains information on green building technologies and products.

From the Main Menu, select Business Information by Sector. From there select Canadian Environmental Solutions to find information on green building products and industries.

For example, if you enter solar aquatics into the search engine, information explaining the product and the companies that produce it will come up.
Web Resource Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement
Contact / Resource http://www.oceta.on.ca/
Description This site features environmental technology profiles in the following areas:
  • Soil / Sediment Remediation
  • Groundwater Remediation
  • Water / Wastewater Treatment
  • Liquid Waste Treatment / Reclamation
  • Air Pollution Control
  • Solid Waste Handling & Treatment
  • Instrumentation & Monitoring
  • Energy Efficiency / Conservation
  • Recycling / Waste Management
  • Habitat Rehabilitation
  • Software and Modelling
  • Containment Technologies
Web Resource EPA Green Rider
Contact / Resource http://www.epa.gov/Region7/p2/green.htm
Description The PDF available at this site lists all of the US Environmental Protection Agency's programs that in some way encourage more environmentally sensitive building design. This is a program that helps designers navigate the concepts involved in green building:
  • Environmentally Preferred Products
  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis via BEES
  • Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines
  • Energy Conservation
  • Water Conservation
  • Natural Landscaping
  • Solar Applications - President's Million Solar Roofs Initiative
  • Construction Debris Recycling
  • Indoor Air Quality
Design Tool BRE: ENVEST
Contact / Resource http://www.bre.co.uk/service.jsp?id=52
Description BRE: ENVEST is a design tool for sustainable buildings that can be used right from the beginning of the design process

BRE has launched the first UK software for assessing life cycle environmental impacts of buildings from the early design stage. "

Designing environmentally friendly buildings is a very complex task," says Nigel Howard, Director of BRE's Centre for Sustainable Construction.
Web Resource Sustainable Design Resource Guide
Contact / Resource http://www.aiacolorado.org/SDRG/index.html
Description This site, created by the American Institute of Architects, Colorado and Western Mountain Region, contains the latest edition of The Sustainable Design Resource Guide, which presents the principles of "Green Architecture."
Publication Architectural Resource Guide
ADPSR West Coast. (1998)
Contact / Resource ADPSR West Coast, P.O. Box 9126, Berkeley CA, (510) 273-2428
Description
  • Resources and information on green and healthy buildings.
  • Many US West Coast sources.
Publication Environmental Resource Guide
J. A. Demkin Ed. (1998); John Wiley and Sons, Washington, DC
Contact / Resource American Institute of Architects (AIA)
http://www.aia.org
Description
  • The reference work for architects and building specifiers on green products by generic type.
  • Dense, but information packed; covers life-cycle environmental impacts of many building materials.
  • Purchasing information on the web.
Publication Design Smart: Energy Efficient Architectural Design Strategies
Kasian Kennedy Design Partnership (KKDP). (1995).
Contact / Resource BC Hydro: Vancouver
Description This publication is an excellent handbook for resource-efficient design, with practical tips for energy efficiency, daylighting, massing, and much more.
Publication Sustainable Building Technical Manual: Green Building Design, Construction, and Operations
United States Green Building Council / United States Department of Energy / United States Environmental Protection Agency (USGBC / USDOE / USEPA), (1996).
Contact / Resource http://freshstart.ncat.org/articles/ptipub.htm
New York: Public Technology
Description Free to download from the United States Department of Energy's Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development:
  • This is an excellent, general resource with over 300 pages of information to help architects, developers, building owners, government officials, and others implement sustainable development practices.
  • It covers the following topics: Economics and Environment; Pre-Design Issues Site Issues (Sustainable Site Design; Water Issues; Site Materials and Equipment); Building Design (Passive Solar Design; Daylighting; Building Envelope; Renewable Energy; Building Systems and Indoor Environmental Quality; HVAC; Electrical Systems; Plumbing Systems; Indoor Air Quality; Acoustics; Building Commissioning; Materials and Specifications; Materials; Specifications); The Construction Process; and Operations and Maintenance.
Magazine Building For a Future
Ed. Keith Hall, London, UK.
Contact / Resource Association for Environment-Conscious Building
Description
  • This is a magazine that focuses on sustainable design in Great Britain.
  • Can be understood by architects, engineers, or lay people.
Book A Green Vitruvius: Principles and Practice of Sustainable Architectural Design
O'Cofaigh, Eoin, and Eileen Fitzgerald, (1999);
Contact / Resource New York, James and James Science Publishers.
Description
  • This is an excellent general resource on sustainable design.
  • It discusses design process, strategies, building elements, and building evaluation.
  • It was first published in Europe, which makes some of the units unusual to the North American reader.
  • It can be ordered from the American Book Center, at 1-800-556-9419.
Book Ecological Design
Van der Ryn, Sim, and Stuart Cowan, (1993)
Contact / Resource Washington, Island Press.
Description This book is an informative, if slightly academic and philosophical, exploration of the principles of ecological design. It can be ordered from the American Book Center, at 1-800-556-9419.
Book Architecture and the Environment: Bioclimatic Building Design
Lloyd Jones, David, (1998)
Contact / Resource New York, Peter Mayer Publishers.
Description This book provides an extensive selection of international case studies.
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2.2.1 Whole Building Case Studies

This section is intended for case studies that examine many aspects of a building's performance. Case studies that examine one aspect of a building's performance (like solar energy or use of recycled materials) can be found in that sub-area.
 

If one word could summarize the approach used on Audubon House, it would be optimization. If one word could summarize the lost opportunities in how we typically build, it would be compliance.

--Randolph R. Croxton, FAIA, Audubon House, 1999

Sustainable urban development is ultimately a cultural statement about ourselves, how we want to live, and our ability to manage out needs, desires, and dreams in ways that are effective and caring.

--P. Jacobs, "Sustainable Urban Development," Architecture in the Year 2000: RAIC Conference, 1992

http://www.aiaonline.com
http://www.e-architect.com/http://www.aia.org/cote_default
Green Buildings BC Resource British Columbia Green Building Case Study Series
Contact / Resource http://www.greenbuildingsbc.com/Home/NewBuildings/WhatisaGreenBuilding/BCCaseStudies.aspx
Description The following case studies are available:
  • Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies
  • Burnaby Mountain Secondary School
  • CK Choi BuildingHeritage Woods Secondary School
  • North Cariboo Community College
  • The Liu Centre for Study of Global Issues
  • 2211 West 4th Avenue
  • Beausoleil Solar Aquatics
  • BC Cancer Research Centre
  • Crestwood Corporate Centre Building 2
  • Materials Testing Facility
  • Revenue Canada Building
  • Richmond City Hall
  • The Semiahmoo Library & RCMP Centre
  • Telus Office Building
  • Vancouver Island Technology Centre
  • White Rock Operations Centre
Web Resources Green Building Information Centre (GBIC)
Contact / Resource http://greenbuilding.ca/GBIC.htm
Green Building Challenge 2000, Green Building Challenge '98 Conference Retrospectives
Description Selected case studies can be previewed on the website; others are available only if you buy the conference CD. The case studies include issues like:
  • Ecosystem Protection,
  • Energy and Water Conservation
  • Pollution Prevention
  • Indoor Environmental Quality.
Those that are available freely on the web include:
  • ANGUS Technopole, Montreal, Quebec
  • TELUS William Farrell Building Upgrade, Vancouver, B.C.
  • York University Computing Science Building, Toronto, Ontario
  • Condominium at 77 Governors Rd , Dundas, Ontario
And from 1998:
  • Conservation Coop, Ottawa, Canada
  • PRISMA Mixed Use Building, Germany
  • Klosterenga Residence, Norway
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Facility
  • Ridgehaven Green Demonstration Building, USA
  • Thoreau Centre for Sustainability, USA
  • Cambridge CoHousing, USA
Web Resource Advanced Buildings, Technologies and Practices
Contact / Resource http://www.advancedbuildings.org/
Green Building Challenge 2000, Green Building Challenge '98 Conference Retrospectives
Description This site is self-described as a building professional's guide to more than 90 environmentally appropriate technologies and practices. This site has case studies of the following Canadian buildings:
  • Green on the Grand Office Building
  • Mountain Equipment Co-Op
  • Surrey Tax Centre
  • The Conservation Co-operative Apartments
  • Condominium at 77 Governors Road
  • YMCA Environmental Learning Centre
  • Paterson Walk
  • BC Telus Building
  • Niigon: A Sustainable First Nation Community
Publication Visions, Tools and Targets: Environmentally Sustainable Development Guidelines for Southeast False Creek
The Sheltair Group, (1998)
Contact / Resource City of Vancouver Print Shop
Contact Mark Holland at the City of Vancouver (604) 873-7727
Description This is an excellent overall resource on urban sustainability. It has a great deal of detailed information about green buildings throughout the whole book.

There are 25 in-depth case studies in the back of the book that discuss "Useful Lessons and Insights," What it Didn't Do," "Status," and "Costs / Financing" for the following buildings:
  • 2211 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, Canada
  • CK Choi Institute of Asian Research, UBC, Vancouver, Canada
  • University of Victoria Engineering Wing, Victoria, Canada
  • Crestwood, Richmond, Canada
  • ING Bank, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Mariendalsvej Seniors Housing Project, Netherlands
  • Ecolonia, Alpheen, Netherlands
  • Ecover, Oostmalle, Belgium
  • Valdemarsgade, Slagelse, Denmark
  • Playa Vista, Los Angeles, USA
  • Pilson East, Chicago, USA
  • Stapleton Redevelopment, Denver, USA
  • Village Homes, Davis California, USA
  • Seventh Generation System Center, Friday Harbour, San Juan Is., USA
  • Benedict Commons, Aspen, Colorado, USA
  • Centre For Regenerative Studies, California State University, Pomona, USA
  • Real Goods Solar Living Center, Hopland, California, USA
  • Civano, Tuscon, Arizona, USA
  • Los Angeles EcoVillage, USA
  • Bronx Community Paper Company, New York, USA
  • Patagonia, Reno, Nevada, USA
  • Pine Street Cohousing, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
  • Cape Charles Eco Industrial Park, Northampton, Virginia, USA
  • Boeing Longacres Park, Seattle, USA
  • Haymount, Virginia, USA
  • Sydney 2000 Olympic Village, Australia
Web Resources Committee on the Environment (COTE)
American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Contact / Resource
Description Although only American buildings are covered, this is an excellent resource. These case studies are freely available on the web, and they provide pictures and detailed practical information. The following buildings are studied:
  • Body Shop U.S. Headquarters, Wake Forest, NC
  • Way Station, Frederick, MD
  • Women's Humane Society Animal Shelter, Bensalem, PA
  • National Public Radio Headquarters, Washington, DC
  • New Canaan Nature Center Solar Greenhouse, New Canaan, CN
  • Prince Street Technologies, Atlanta, GA
  • Durant Middle School, Wake County, NC
  • Miller SQA Building, Holland, MI
  • Center for Regenerative Studies, Pomona,CA
  • Natural Resource Defense Council Headquarters
  • New York City
  • CCI Center, Pittsburgh
  • Denver Dry Building, Denver
  • Duracell Headquarters, Bethel, Connecticut
  • Georgia Tech Aquatic Center (Olympic Natatorium), Atlanta
  • Kansas City Zoo Deramus Education Pavilion, Kansas City, Missouri
  • McKinney ISD Sustainable Elementary School (completion date: July 2000)
  • Missouri Historical Society Museum, St. Louis
  • New York Life Building, Kansas City, Missouri
  • Real Goods Solar Living Center, Hopland, California
  • REI Seattle Flagship Store, Seattle; Washington
  • The Greening of the White House
Web Resource Success Stories
Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development
Contact / Resource http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/
Description This US Department of Energy site is an exhaustive resource for green building case studies from all over the world, including from the following countries:
  • Canada
  • United States
  • Germany
  • United Kingdom
  • The Netherlands
  • Australia
Web Resources Environmentally Preferable Purchasing: Federal Pilot Projects
US Environmental Protection Agency
Contact / Resource http://www.epa.gov/oppt/
Description To view the extensive list of federal green building pilot projects, choose to look at pilot projects organized by the products, and then select "Building Materials and Services." The following case studies are listed:
  • Bachelor Enlisted Quarters, US Navy
  • New Headquarters, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Research Triangle Park, EPA
  • Regional Building and Laboratory, EPA and General Services Administration (GSA)
  • 8th Avenue Station, Texas, US Postal Service
  • Weather Station, National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration
  • Office Renovations, Department of Defense (DOD) and Pentagon
  • Office Renovations, EPA
  • Parking Lot, Department of Defense (DOD) and Pentagon
Web Resources Research Triangle Park Case Study and Specs
US Environmental Protection Agency
Contact / Resource http://www.epa.gov/rtp/new-bldg/
http://www.epa.gov/rtp/new-bldg/environmental/specs.htm
Description This case study reveals a building that has extensive environmental features. Also on the site are the following specifications that were created specifically for this project:
  • 01100 Environmental Requirements
  • 01120 Environmental Impact of Materials
  • 01445 Testing for Indoor Air Quality, Baseline IAQ, and Materials
  • 01450 Sequence of Finishes Installation
  • 01690 Waste Materials Management and Recycling
These specs have many features, however, that can be used on a wide variety of sites.
Web Resource Seattle City Light Case Studies
Contact / Resource http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/light/conserve/sustainability/
Description The case studies focus on the increased comfort, market value, retail sales, and productivity seen at many green building case studies, including:
  • Office tower Atlanta
  • ING Bank, Amsterdam
  • Miller SQA Building
  • West Bend Mutual Insurance Headquarters
  • Verifone
  • Planmatics Inc., Montreal, Quebec
  • San Diego Federal Building and Courthouse
  • Pennsylvania Power and Light
  • Reno Post Office
  • Wal-Mart Eco-Mart
  • Target
  • Larry's Markets, Seattle, WA
  • Staples Incorporated, Seattle, Washington
  • Vic's Market, Sacramento, California
Web Resource GSA Real Property Sustainable Development Guide
US General Services Administration, Office of Real Property
Contact / Resource http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/home.do?tabId=0
Description GSA's Public Buildings Service (PBS) has committed to using the LEED rating system for all future construction projects, and they are working on revising their leases to included requirements that the spaces leased for customers be green. The GSA builds and leases buildings for the US government. Case studies include:
  • The Commonwealth of Australia's Department of Finance & Administration (DOFA)
  • Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Aberdeen, MD
  • Inglewood Center, Largo, MD
  • 901 Cherry, Offices for Gap Inc., Sunnyvale, CA
  • City of San Diego Department of Environmental Services, San Diego, CA
  • Barney Memorial Hall, Denison University, Granville, OH
  • Building 33 Complex, Washington Navy Yard, Washington DC
  • Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN
  • SC Johnson Facility, Racine, WI
Web Resource Vital Signs Project
Berkeley Architecture
Contact / Resource http://arch.ced.berkeley.edu/
Description The following Berkeley site provides comprehensive case studies that focus on various resource issues, including: Energy Use; HVAC Systems; Passive Solar and Energy Conserving Buildings; Indoor Air Quality; Glazing Performance. The following buildings are studied:
  • Museum of Anthropology - Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • Phoenix Central Library - Phoenix, AZ
  • The Audubon House - New York, NY
  • Fitness Center at the University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA
  • Architecture School at the University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA
  • Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Cleveland, OH
  • Gund-Ream Sod Roofed Ranch House - Moscow, ID
  • A Tale of Two Houses - Cairo, Egypt
  • Waverly Mansion - West Point, MS
  • Siegel House - Davis, CA
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium - Monterey, CA
  • Dog Trot: A Vernacular Response - French Camp, MS
  • Ojai Section: Daylighting in Maynard Lyndon Schools - Ojai, CA
  • REI Flagship Store Daylighting Study - Seattle, WA
  • First Jacobs House - Madison, WI
  • Mt. Angel Library - St. Benedict, OR
  • Water Pollution Control Laboratory - Portland, OR
  • Real Goods Solar Living Center - Hopland, CA
Find out more about the Vital Signs site in the above "Whole Building Resources" section.
Web Resources and Publications Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs
US Department of Energy
Contact / Resource http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/highperformance/gbc2002.html
Description This site contains case studies of buildings that were entered into the Green Building Challenge in 1998, 2000 and 2002. Five Innovative Buildings Selected for GBC 2000:
  • Cambria Office
  • Southcentral Regional Office
  • Adam Joseph Lewis Center, Oberlin College
  • Thoreau Center for Sustainability
  • Zion Visitor Center and Comfort Station
Five Innovative Buildings Selected for GBC '98
  • Cambridge Cohousing
  • Durant Road Middle School
  • Ridgehaven Green Demonstration Building
  • Thoreau Center for Sustainability
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Research Facility
Web Resource VBig Green Building Database
Contact / Resource http://www.biggreen.org/
Description The Big Green Database is an online database of building projects that feature "green" or "sustainable" elements including energy efficiency, innovative stormwater management and construction waste management. The site also contains case studies of the following buildings:
  • Navy Federal Credit Union Headquarters Renovation
  • Hennepin County Public Works Facility
  • Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies
  • Gateway Center at The Disney Wilderness Preserve
  • Sustainable Engineering Building
  • BC Gas Operations Centre
  • PA DEP Southcentral Regional Office
  • PA DEP Ebensburg Office
  • Inn of the Anasazi
  • Dewees Island
  • Boeing Longacre Park
  • Capital Circle Office Center
  • Continental Office Plaza
  • Duracell
  • Rocky Mountain Institute
  • Veazey Parrott & Shoulders Offices
  • Banana Republic
  • Felissimo
  • Wal-Mart Eco-Mart
  • North Cascades Environmental Learning Center
Web Resources and Publication Sydney Olympic Village
Contact / Resource http://www.greenpeace.org/
Description Each of the 650 homes in Sydney Olympic Village has:
Energy reduced 50% from standard practice
  • solar power cells, which turn the house into a mini-power station and feed power into the grid
  • solar water heaters
  • passive solar design
  • location near public transit and amenities
Water: reduced by 30% from standard practice
  • water-saving faucets and fixtures
  • a dual water system allows recycled water use for toilets and gardens
Landscape: native plants used
Materials: an up to 80% reduction in the use of the toxic plastic PVC for plumbing, cabling and other
  • vinyl / PVC flooring was avoided
  • Australian plantation timber and Forest Stewardship Council certified "sustainable" timber
Waste: approximately 92% of construction waste was redirected from the landfill
Web Resources and Publication Building Green in Pennsylvania
Contact / Resource http://www.gggc.state.pa.us
Description These Pennsylvanian case studies focus on high performance features in the areas of energy, air quality, and water use. The buildings covered include:
  • DEP Southcentral Regional Headquarters
  • The CCI Center
  • Audubon at Beechwood
  • The Burke Building
  • Women's Humane Society
  • Lovell Place
  • Saint Francis College
  • PCTA Headquarters
  • Penn Center West
  • Buchart Horn
  • The Intelligent Workplace
  • David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Web Resource Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Guidelines
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC)
Contact / Resource http://www.usgbc.org/
Description This site has the following case studies:
  • Energy Resource Centre
  • Miller SQA Building
  • Ridgehaven
Web Resource European Academy of the Urban Environment
Contact / Resource http://www.eaue.de/winuwd/default.htm
Description Search cases by topics to get European green building case studies case studies. Search by using the topics: "architecture and construction," "building materials," and the "built environment."
Web Resource Energy Star Buildings and Green Lights Partnership
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Contact / Resource http://www.energystar.gov/
Description This site has detailed case studies of success stories in the following building types:
  • Retail
  • Healthcare
  • Office and Service Buildings
  • Industrial and Manufacturing
  • Hospitality and Entertainment
  • K-12 Education
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Local, State, and Federal Government

This is an American program, but the case study information can be used by anyone on the web. The program, as of September 30, 1999 has encouraged over 3,037 organizations to reduce energy use through energy-efficiency upgrades.
This has meant a cumulative savings of over $1.4 billion in energy bills.
Book Green Architecture: A Guide to Sustainable Design
Crosbie, Michael J, (1994)
Contact / Resource New York, Rockport
Description This book provides many case studies of green buildings.
Book Green Development: Integrating Ecology and Real Estate
Rocky Mountain Institute, (1998)
Contact / Resource Toronto, John Wiley & Sons.
Description This is an excellent overall guide to more sustainable building, and provides many in-depth case studies.
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