Posts Tagged ‘terms’

Reprint: Terms you should know…

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

As I continue to rebuild my data from yesterday’s horrible sputtering laptop death, I offer you a  reprint of a classic post:

There are a lot of confusing terms out there these days. If you have ever tried to have a conversation with an architect, you probably have heard them use a lot of terms that mean nothing to you. I thought I would do a series of posts that define some of the terms in the industry today. Next time someone at a party brings one of them up, rather than give them a blank stare, you can engage them without feeling self conscious. Or sprinkle them into conversation yourself, and show everyone how interested you are in the green movement.

USGBC: United States Green Building Council The U.S. Green Building Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation. They are working to help the environment by making buildings greener. They manage a membership of professionals, rate and certify projects, educate the public, and give credentials to professionals who have demonstrated a knowledge of green practices.
LEED: LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a standard used by the USGBC to rate buildings and certify them as being green. This is a multi-tiered rating system based on points that are obtained by meeting specific criteria. It is also variable based on the type and scope of the project. This rating system covers all building projects from new construction to rehab. The system sets the criteria for every level of certification. The levels are certification, silver, gold, and platinum and are achieved by a point system. LEED certification applies to buildings ONLY-not products or companies. If some one tells you their product (or company) is LEED certified, they are selling you a bottle of snake oil-and if you get that reference you know just how old I am.
LEED AP: This stands for LEED Accredited Professional. The USGBC maintains a standard by which professionals can prove their knowledge of the industry through testing and receive LEED AP status. LEED AP designation is tied to a particular individual and not the company they work for. While studying and testing for the LEED AP exam is done on a personal basis, employers may sponsor individuals to take the exam. Furthermore, companies can be members of the USGBC as well as individuals.
GREEN: This is a very ambiguous term. It can mean nearly anything, but I will try to demystify it for you. Green generally applies to products, energy and buildings that conform to certain standards and do as little harm to the environment as possible. Just like natural (and until fairly recently, organic) there is no exact definition for this term. Therefore it is used all the time, mostly as a marketing strategy. Green products are ones that minimize harm to the environment. Cars that are energy efficient are green, gas guzzlers are not. Things made from recycled materials are green, using virgin material is not. Bamboo is green, as it can be renewed quickly, while old growth American Oak is NOT green as it takes 100 years to replace. Energy is green when it comes from renewable resources like wind and the sun, not fossils fuels, which take millions of years to form. Buildings are generally considered green when they meet the LEED certification requirements. Of course, things are never that simple, and you have to watch out for greenwashing.
GREENWASHING: This is a term that is used to describe marketing techniques designed to latch onto current green trends. Because green has no legal definition, any company can use claims to make their product or company seem better than it is. Some people have tried to claim that because they use bamboo in their product it is green. However, if they use bamboo that is shipped from China, made into a veneer and applied to particle board made with toxic chemicals it is not very green. I have heard people call their company green because they recycle their office paper. Big deal-a green office is one that is energy efficient (preferable in a LEED certified building), manages its stormwater runoff, provides public transportation assistance or bike racks and showers, and turns off the lights at night.
Sustainability: The EPA defines says that sustainability means “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The general idea of sustainability is that we need to put things in place so that we are not using up our natural resources faster than they are being replaced. It means that we use wood that is harvested in a way that it is reforested as it is used. It means that we use fuels other than fossil fuels which are finite in quantity. It means reusing items rather than throwing them away.

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A New Term: Deconstruction

Friday, January 9th, 2009

Since I have been talking about terms, I thought i would bring up the most popular new term that I have heard: deconstruction. There is a reason why this term has been bandied about of late. The housing problem is big in Cleveland. While it may not be any better or worse than in other cities around the country, we do have an older housing stock. Marry that with a high foreclosure rate, poor maintenance and high amount of scavenger crime, and you have a recipe for demolition. Furthermore, no one wants to live next to a boarded up home, so many Cleveland residents are clamoring for home destruction. Enter the world of deconstruction. Now, instead of bull dozing and landfilling a property, it can be taken apart and recycled.

We met with a representative of a great company and toured our building site. His name was Igor Rae and his company is Green Deconstruction Services. He was a wealth of information. What his company does is help you salvage what can be salvaged in a project. Our office buildings were built in 1885 and 1887. While the shell is brick masonry, there is still quite a bit of wood in the place. Buildings of that age typically used old growth lumber. That lumber is salvageable and reusable. Furthermore, it is typically of a higher quality than the lumber that we use in buildings today. They pull the nails and screws (which they recycle as well) and sell it to be reused. Deconstruction isn’t just about wood. Much of what is in a home can be reused or recycled. This project means extra tubs and sinks with fixtures. This company tries to find a home for these goods, by reuse, resale, donation or recycling. They salvage architectural details. This site has a lot of concrete. That means a sizable chunk of waste. We hope that it can all be reground and made onto new cement.

windowsGreen Deconstruction Services has recently acquired a new subsidiary. This other company is called Window Restorations. I had heard of this company before and was excited to speak with him about what they do. If you have old single pane windows with weights, then you know how drafty and wasteful they can be. Window Restorations comes in and removes them. But, instead of replacing them with new windows, they refurbish them. The weights are removed and recycled. then, the gap is filled and sealed. Next, they painstakingly replace or reinforce the glass to make it more thermally efficient. Then they reinstall them with a track and can even make them tilt able for easy cleaning. Rebuilding is often cheaper, and is always more environmentally friendly than replacement and throw away. Furthermore, the windows of our site are important architecturally to the front of the building. Their process can help us get historical tax credits, while still saving us money and making the building greener.

I am very excited about these guys. LEED credits are obtained by diverting materials from landfill, and this is a great start. I can’t wait to hear more about their evaluation.

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MORE Terms You Need to Know When Going Green

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

Here is part two of my posts on terms. The more that you know, the easier it is to make sense of the vast amount of information being thrown about today. Here are a few more terms that are often used, but rarely explained.

RECYCLED CONTENT: Recycled content refers to the amount of a product that has been made from recycled materials. It is often confused with recyclable content, which is the how much of the product can be recycled after you are done with it. When considering a product, it is important to consider both aspects of recycling. We all know that we should recycle whenever we can. But we also have to close the loop and make sure to buy products that use recycled content as well. No one is going to continue to make recycled plastic, if consumers don’t try and buy products that are made from that recycled material. Additionally, it makes little sense to buy a shirt made of recycled pop bottles, if we wrap it in tissue, put it in a box and put the box in a bag-all made from virgin materials. To make the most of the products that we buy, we must consider the packaging as well.

PRE-CONSUMER/POST-CONSUMER: When we do find out about recycled content, there is often a notation as to pre or post consumer. This is easily defined, but not as easily rated. Pre-consumer recycled content (sometimes called post-industrial recycled content) refers to materials that are recycled from their original manufacture, but directly from the factory or other production facility. For example, sometimes trimmed vinyl, rubber, or metal is recycled into something new. Post consumer, means the content comes from materials that were recycled by regular means and made into something new. For example, plastics that come from your recycling are recycled into lumber, fabrics or other groovy stuff. I have even seen furniture made from recycled seat belts. If the seat belts come out of old cars that are scrapped, it has a high content of post-consumer recycled content. If the seat belts are over runs or scraps from the car factory that did not make it into the car in the first place, it has a high content of pre-consumer (post industrial) content.

OFF GASSING: When new materials are made-especially vinyls and plastics-they emit odors. This is called off gassing. Ever bought a new chair, new carpet, or even a new coat and had this funky plasticy smell? That means it is off gassing. And that new car smell? Yeah that is off gassing too. Ever wonder why some strippers and paints say to use only in a well ventilated area?If it doesn’t bother you, you say so what-it goes away. That is true-it does go away, but when? Some materials can off gas by way of evaporation for years. That means you may be breathing in those chemical fumes for a long time, and they may be filled with VOCs.

VOC (VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS): Volatile Organic Compounds are chemical compounds that are emitted from solids as gasses. One of the most common compounds is formaldehyde and it can be very harmful. In fact, it has been linked to increased asthma risk in children. VOCs are hard to get away from. Vinyl tile, carpets, glues, stains, resins, even plastics and fabrics can emit fairly high VOCs. Luckily, there are plenty of natural options these days. Most manufactures offer low or no VOC paints and stains. Carpets can be made from natural materials. There are plenty of sealants and glues that reduce their VOC emissions. If you have to pay more for that natural carpet or rug, ask yourself what it means to your baby’s health that will be playing on it every day. What if you can’t get away from it? Use chemicals according to directions, and when they say use in a well ventilated are make sure you do.

IAQ (INDOOR AIR QUALITY): Since we are talking about breathing in chemicals, it seems natural to mention IAQ-Indoor Air Quality. When buildings are built well, they maintain a thermal envelope. Sealed buildings keep the warm or cool air inside making them more efficient. The problem with that is that buildings are often full of humans. Humans take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. Additionally, we paint and use markers. We glue stuff together and burn natural gas or other fuels. We use refrigeration. All of these things can contribute to what is in the air that we breathe. Indoor Air Quality refers to the amount of pollution inside a building. In order to have good IAQ, fresh air needs to be brought in from the outside. It may need to be filtered. Reducing the pollution inside is just as important, if not more important to our health, than reducing it outside. There are plenty of ways to measure your indoor air quality, but one important first step is to use a carbon monoxide detector. Clean your air ducts. Change your air filters on your furnace. Test for Radon.

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The Terms You Need to Know When Going Green

Sunday, January 4th, 2009

There are a lot of confusing terms out there these days. If you have ever tried to have a conversation with an architect, you probably have heard them use a lot of terms that mean nothing to you. I thought I would do a series of posts that define some of the terms in the industry today. Next time someone at a party brings one of them up, rather than give them a blank stare, you can engage them without feeling self conscious. Or sprinkle them into conversation yourself, and show everyone how interested you are in the green movement.

USGBC: United States Green Building Council The U.S. Green Building Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation. They are working to help the environment by making buildings greener. They manage a membership of professionals, rate and certify projects, educate the public, and give credentials to professionals who have demonstrated a knowledge of green practices.
LEED: LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a standard used by the USGBC to rate buildings and certify them as being green. This is a multi-tiered rating system based on points that are obtained by meeting specific criteria. It is also variable based on the type and scope of the project. This rating system covers all building projects from new construction to rehab. The system sets the criteria for every level of certification. The levels are certification, silver, gold, and platinum and are achieved by a point system. LEED certification applies to buildings ONLY-not products or companies. If some one tells you their product (or company) is LEED certified, they are selling you a bottle of snake oil-and if you get that reference you know just how old I am.
LEED AP: This stands for LEED Accredited Professional. The USGBC maintains a standard by which professionals can prove their knowledge of the industry through testing and receive LEED AP status. LEED AP designation is tied to a particular individual and not the company they work for. While studying and testing for the LEED AP exam is done on a personal basis, employers may sponsor individuals to take the exam. Furthermore, companies can be members of the USGBC as well as individuals.
GREEN: This is a very ambiguous term. It can mean nearly anything, but I will try to demystify it for you. Green generally applies to products, energy and buildings that conform to certain standards and do as little harm to the environment as possible. Just like natural (and until fairly recently, organic) there is no exact definition for this term. Therefore it is used all the time, mostly as a marketing strategy. Green products are ones that minimize harm to the environment. Cars that are energy efficient are green, gas guzzlers are not. Things made from recycled materials are green, using virgin material is not. Bamboo is green, as it can be renewed quickly, while old growth American Oak is NOT green as it takes 100 years to replace. Energy is green when it comes from renewable resources like wind and the sun, not fossils fuels, which take millions of years to form. Buildings are generally considered green when they meet the LEED certification requirements. Of course, things are never that simple, and you have to watch out for greenwashing.
GREENWASHING: This is a term that is used to describe marketing techniques designed to latch onto current green trends. Because green has no legal definition, any company can use claims to make their product or company seem better than it is. Some people have tried to claim that because they use bamboo in their product it is green. However, if they use bamboo that is shipped from China, made into a veneer and applied to particle board made with toxic chemicals it is not very green. I have heard people call their company green because they recycle their office paper. Big deal-a green office is one that is energy efficient (preferable in a LEED certified building), manages its stormwater runoff, provides public transportation assistance or bike racks and showers, and turns off the lights at night.
Sustainability: The EPA defines says that sustainability means “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The general idea of sustainability is that we need to put things in place so that we are not using up our natural resources faster than they are being replaced. It means that we use wood that is harvested in a way that it is reforested as it is used. It means that we use fuels other than fossil fuels which are finite in quantity. It means reusing items rather than throwing them away.

These are just a few of the terms being bandied about today. Over the next few posts on this topic, I will tell you about Energy Star, pre and post consumer recycled content, light pollution, brownfield, and more. Let me know if there is something you want to know more about.

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