5 Keys to Green Your Building During Tough Economic Times
(With permission from author Robert Stanley.)
It is possible to make your building more sustainable, even in difficult economic times. Going green does not always mean you have to invest large sums of money. Below are suggestions in 5 key areas showing cost-effective ways to increase the sustainability of your building.
Energy Management and Reduction
- Establish baseline for existing energy performance of building systems
- Examine preventative maintenance programs for system optimization
- Examine “low cost” opportunities like thermostat placement, programmable thermostats, thermostat settings, and after-hours HVAC and electricity conservation programs, installation of window shades and/or glazing
- Consider implementation of occupancy and CO2 sensors for lighting and HVAC
- Replace bulbs as they burn out with more energy efficient T8 and compact fluorescent bulbs; consider converting exit signs lights to LED
Water Conservation
- Reduce water consumption with flow rate restrictors and low-flow fixtures
- Lower water temperature on hot water supply
- Reduce heat loss on hot water supply by insulating pipes and water heaters
- Consider installing automatic flush systems on toilets and urinals and automatic shut off valves on sinks
- Consider retrofitting urinals with waterless urinals
Indoor Air Quality and Environment
- Utilize low-emission products, including paints, stains, adhesives, carpets and cleaning products
- Reduce or eliminate ozone-depleting gases form HVAC, refrigeration and fire suppression systems
- Look for opportunities to enhance infiltration of natural light into building
- Utilize entryway systems (grills, mats, grates, etc) to reduce particulate matter tracked into the Building
- Install live plants that are adept at filtering pollutants
- Enhance frequency of filter changes in HVAC systems; noose high-efficiency filters
Site Sustainability and Landscaping
- Examine use of exterior lighting to avoid or limit light pollution and wasted lighting
- Implement landscape programs designed to reduce erosion, utilize run-off and collect rainwater for irrigation purposes
- Evaluate irrigation system to eliminate wasted or misdirected water; evaluate schedule to minimize water consumption
- Replace annual landscaping with perennial plantings and focus on native vegetation choices, including drought tolerant plantings
- Trees, plants and bushes near entrances should be varieties that do not yield berries, flowers or leaves that could be tracked into the building
- Coordinate transportation alternatives and promote carpooling programs for building tenants
- Provide preferred parking for carpools or hybrid car parking
- Require vendors to employ sustainable practices which are documented
- Install bike racks and changing facilities in building, space permitting
- Establish a building wide recycling program (beyond white office paper)
- Educate and engage tenants in recycling programs; make it convenient
- Contact 1 800 RID OF IT Junk Removal to create a regular pick up program for electronics, office equipment and other items that do fit in the regular waste stream
- Require sorting and recycling of construction debris from construction in the building
- Require use of environmentally friendly cleaning products and procedures
- Require use of environmentally friendly construction materials and procedures
- Utilize Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices vs. chemical programs
- Select products with less packaging, resulting in less waste, including purchases of concentrated materials.