Work Smart with the SCA McGraw-Hill Supplement - 33

A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO NEW YORK CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES FOR BUILDING GREEN SUSTAINABLE SITES (category weight = 18%) Sustainable site selection seeks to reduce environmental impact on any given school site. Factors include channeling development to urban areas, protecting green" elds and preserving habitat and natural resources. This sector takes into consideration such elements as construction activity pollution prevention and building layout, with an emphasis on maximizing open space and protecting or restoring the surrounding habitat to conserve existing natural areas and promote biodiversity. Because schools are encouraged to seek a high level of parent and community involvement, there is also a focus on joint use of facilities and community access. Points are also awarded for reduction of light pollution and for brown" eld redevelopment to rehabilitate damaged sites and reduce pressure on undeveloped land. WATER EFFICIENCY (category weight = 9%) Under the umbrella of water ef" ciency, the Guide looks for landscaping plans that reduce water consumption by 50% through limiting or eliminating the use of potable water for irrigation and focusing on using captured rainwater, recycled wastewater or recycled graywater. Attention is also given to water use reduction, through the use of low-" ow and low-" ush " xtures, which maximize water ef" ciency, thereby reducing the burden on the municipal water supply. MATERIALS (category weight = 14%) During the building process, many elements are taken into consideration to encourage the conservation of material resources and reduction of waste as related to material manufacturing and transport. This includes a focus on the collection and storage of recyclable materials during the construction process, thus reducing the amount of land" ll waste, as well as building reuse (in building conversion projects) of existing walls, " oors and roofs to extend the lives of existing structures. Designers and contractors are required (by following the SCA standard speci" cations) to incorporate mold-resistant wallboard and roofdeck products. The Guidelines also encourage the use of recycled-content building products and materials that are extracted and manufactured in the region, which reduces the negative environmental impact of transportation and supports indigenous resources. The Green Schools Guide and Rating System includes six sustainable categories, mirroring those in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Within the categories are credits, some with points and some without, again based primarily on LEED, but also on CHPS (Collaborative for High Performing Schools ) credits and SCA experience. INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (category weight = 32%) As the largest section, great emphasis is placed on indoor environmental quality, including increased ventilation and the creation of air " ow stations to insure indoor air quality (IAQ), as well as the reduction of IAQ problems resulting from the construction process. Contractors are encouraged to use lowemitting materials, adhesives, sealants, paints, carpet systems, composite wood and agri" ber products, and to work toward reducing exposure to potentially hazardous particulates through indoor chemical and pollutant source control. Points are awarded for providing a connection with outdoor spaces and providing daylight in 75-90% of regularly occupied areas, as natural lighting improves the visual environment for students and teachers to read, write and interact. On a related note, controllability of lighting and thermal comfort systems in multi-occupant spaces (i.e., classrooms, cafeterias, auditoriums, gymnasiums and multipurpose rooms) is encouraged. There is also a focus on limiting background sound levels for instructional spaces, reducing noise transfer from adjacent rooms and controlling objectionable exterior transportation noise via acoustic windows. ENERGY (category weight = 5%) Energy is a small but important part of the rating system. In addition to energy cost reduction, it includes enhanced commissioning to ensure that all building systems are designed, installed, calibrated, functionally tested and capable of being operated and maintained to perform within project requirements. Other elements include measurement and veri" cation of building energy consumption, refrigerant management to reduce ozone depletion, energy management system controls for HVAC and hot water and achieving a minimum established threshold for energy performance. ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS (category weight = 22%) Optional considerations outside of the " ve previous categories include supporting and encouraging the design integration of a LEED-accredited professional. Under such tutelage, the design team may be encouraged to consider onsite renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines, increase their demand for additional sustainable building materials, reduce the heat island potential of roofs, make ample use of natural daylight, implement stormwater design quality control and optimize energy performance through alternative energy systems.
Work Smart with the SCA McGraw-Hill Supplement

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