Award

June 2013

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Changing Attitudes Sustainable design strategies and technologies are no longer just add-on services by Susan Pederson M any sustainable principles and technologies may seem new or high-tech to the end-user, but the methodology woven into many sustainable practices has been used for centuries throughout the world. Add the mind of an engineer or architect with a modern vision, and those tried-and-true strategies deliver big pay-offs in sustainability. Some say that sustainability requires a change of attitude rather than high-tech solutions. Meeting LEED and other green standards is a complex, stringent and some might argue, imperfect process. Luckily, those complexities aren't enough to dissuade the growing tide of a decidedly green building market. Paul Keenan, principle with HH Angus & Associates notes that 100 per cent of the company's clients are interested in sustainability. "Features we see in green buildings define some of the principles about how a building should operate. We do this by applying existing technologies in new ways," says Keenan. Examples include operable windows that allow fresh air to come in without causing dehumidification, double facades on buildings and utilizing shading on the outside of the windows. "With technology we can break the building down into zones, while giving individuals some control within their own environment," Keenan adds. Designated zones are critical in buildings such as the HH Angus' Royal Jubilee Hospital patient tower in Victoria. "Hospitals are big energy users due to the medical equipment. You build systems to take energy such as the heat generated from that equipment, and use that to heat up other areas of the building," says Keenan. David Driscoll, principle with Parkin Architects Limited, adds, "Systems are becoming very sophisticated. They can sense when the air in a space needs to be refreshed. Engineers have designed systems where air recirculation depends on the nature of the work being done within a space. For example, you can't recirculate air from labs or operating rooms into other areas of the hospital." Driscoll adds that designing buildings to maximize natural light in hospitals is a priority because "people Sustainable Design Strategies p30-33Sustainable.indd 31 say they feel better." Driscoll would also like to see more rooftops used for relaxation spaces and running tracks, for example. "Our goal is to create environments where people heal," he says. Indeed, creating a sense of wellness among building occupants is a cornerstone of sustainable building practices. Beyond the technicalities of these practices is society's desire to weave sustainable practices into every aspect of their lives. "People's desire for sustainable products and lifestyle is increasing all the time. This will lend itself to better and more esthetically pleasing products," says Mark Opresnik, president of Opresnik Engineering Consultants. Currently working on the Ontario Provincial Police Modernization Project, Opresnik says better products don't necessarily mean better end results. Kordyban Lodge, Prince George, B.C. incorporates locally-sourced wood in the design. Photos courtesy Neale Staniszkis Doll Adams Architects. Whether that means features such as hollowcore slabs to provide in-slab cooling without ductwork or water, or orienting windows to provide enough daylight to switch off interior lights, Opresnik says it's critical to understand how to use today's green products. Micheal Blackman, a project engineer and sustainable design advisor with Read Jones Christoffersen Consulting Engineers (RJC), stresses that a key factor in sustainability is allowing enough time to study the project requirements thoroughly, before any planning or design is undertaken. "We think about building projects holistically in determining the design fundamentals that make a project more sustainable, rather than just looking at the rating system. So we are already looking at aspects such as embodied energy, durability and adaptability as part of our design framework, which allows us freedom from any one rating system," he says. Blackman adds that most commercial clients no longer see sustainability as an add-on service, but often expect everyone involved in the project to have sustainability embedded in their processes. Listening to this growing trend from clients and taking that one step further in the future is part of the overall vision for sustainability at RJC. "Ultimately the goal is to have buildings that are restorative to the environment," says Blackman. Standards like Net-Zero mandate just that, and can be challenging for many to wrap their heads around. "Green Globe is like LEED-lite, and Net Zero's Living Building Challenge is like LEED on steroids," laughs Richard Bolus, senior partner at CEI Architecture. Bolus notes that terms like carbon neutral and netzero are not yet well understood. CEI Architecture places emphasis on core components such as siting, circulation and capturing, and "getting it right on the ground floor so you're not paying for mistakes later." Bolus adds, "We can get to the point of producing regenerative architecture, but it doesn't necessarily involve new design strategies or design techniques. Net Zero's Living Building Challenge requires a major shift in attitude." The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy june 2013    /31 13-05-30 2:05 PM

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