GREEN BUILDING METHODS

EXTERIOR SOLUTIONS

 Bird Friendly Design

Cool Roofs
Green Roofs
Energy Efficient Windows
Landscaping for Parking Lot Runoff

Bird friendly design

 Windows and other glass components are the building features most dangerous to birds,
which have poor depth perception and can’t notice architectural context clues that humans
use to avoid such collisions.  Depending on the location, lighting, and time of day, glass can
appear highly reflective or completely transparent, both qualities that can be dangerous to
birds.  Reflections on glass can make a building or window appear similar to nearby
vegetation or the rest of the sky, causing birds think there is a safe place to fly.  When glass
looks transparent, birds may want to fly to whatever is behind it, particularly if there is indoor
foliage.  In addition, glass often appears transparent when it is used for railings, skywalks, or
on both sides of the corner of a building.  The lower levels of a building (the first 40 feet)
and levels next to a green roof are places where bird-friendly design is most critical.
 Another common danger to birds is nighttime lighting in and around buildings.  Birds are
attracted to light and can become caught in beams of light.  Light pollution also confuses
birds’ natural migratory patterns.  If a bird is attracted to city lights at night, in the morning it
will find itself in an urban setting where it has less access to food and shelter and where the
previously mentioned risks of building collisions are higher.
 How These Strategies Work
 Bird-friendly strategies for windows deter birds by making glass more visible, making it appear
as if spaces are too small to fly through, and/or by reducing reflections.
 Wildlife biologists test bird-deterring windows using a dark tunnel with a window at one end. 
Half of the window is a pane of the glass being tested and next to it is a regular pane of clear
glass.  A bird placed in the tunnel will fly towards the window to try to escape and is stopped
with netting before reaching the window—but allowing researchers to see which side it
favors.  A significant preference for clear glass indicates that birds perceive the other pane of
glass as an obstacle, which is exactly what is needed for bird-friendly design.
 From this sort of study, biologists have determined that most birds will only fly through
horizontal spaces two inches or higher and vertical spaces four inches or wider; therefore,
window patterns should have empty spaces no larger than 2” x 4” as an effective deterrent.
 Types/Materials
 Especially for retrofits, the easiest way to make windows bird-friendly is to add designs or
decals to window pane surfaces.   These additions must be dense enough so that birds do
not think they can fly through or around them.  While a few loosely placed decals may slightly
 decrease bird collisions, they alone do not constitute bird-friendly design.  Vertical stripes
are the simplest pattern able to deter the large majority of birds, while covering the
smallest window surface.


 Colored glass (flickr: opencontent)

 Another method of reducing bird collisions is to choose windows other than typical clear
panes.  Colored, frosted, glass-block, or stained-glass windows are more noticeable to birds. 
Also, a fairly new type of glass made with a UV coating or pattern that is almost invisible to
humans can deter birds since they can see light in the ultraviolet range.

Cool roofs
Over the past few decades, rooftops have become a large contributor to excessive heat issues. roofs poorly

designed and built with dark, non-reflective, heat-absorbing materials. Increases rooftop temperatures up to

90 degrees above the prevailing air temperature. One area where this situation is commonly seen is in dense,

populated areas such as cities, which have adopted the term “heat islands” due to their drastic temperature

increases

Benefits of cool roofs

 Lower Temperatures:  During hot months, internal building temperatures are much lower
than those in buildings that use traditional cooling techniques.
 Reduced Maintenance Costs:  Many cool roofing types require little to no maintenance.
Also, cool roofs typically have a longer lifespan than conventional roofing systems, lowering overall
maintenance costs and extending roof life.
 Reduced Energy Use and Cost:  Since less air conditioning is needed during hot summer
months, energy bills are lowered.  One study estimates that buildings with cool roofs use up to 40%
less cooling energy than buildings with dark-colored roofs.
 Mitigated Heat Island Index:  Less heat will be maintained during the day in dense urban
areas. Not only will the overall building temperature be lower, but the surrounding ambient
temperature within the urban area will decrease as well.
 Reduced Air Pollutant Emissions:  Since air conditioning units will be used less frequently,
the subsequent decrease in energy demand will result in reduced burning of fossil fuels and,
therefore, reduced emissions (including NOx) and greenhouse gases (such as CO2).
 Improved Air Quality:  Reduced emissions and improved air quality go hand-in-hand.  With
fewer pollutants being emitted into the atmosphere, overall air quality will improve.  Smog, which is
 produced by ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide, can be
significantly lowered in urban areas and provide healthier breathing conditions for the population.
 Utility Rebates:  There are multiple incentives for sustainable efforts and many pertain solely
to cool roofing strategies.  Please refer to GBA’s Financial Incentives packet to learn about these
opportunities!

Measure of Coolness of Roof

The “coolness” of a roof can be determined by comparing two factors: solar reflectance and thermal
emittance.

Solar reflectivity, or albedo, measures a roof’s ability to reflect sunlight and heat away from a building.
It is rated on a scale from 0 to 1 (or 0%-100%), with higher values representing a cooler roof.  The
most efficient cool roof reflects more than 65% of solar energy away from the building, only absorbing
a small percentage into the structure’s interior. Meanwhile, conventional roofing materials only reflect
a mere 5% to 15% of this energy.

Thermal emittance refers to a roof’s ability to release absorbed heat.  A high thermal emittance is
preferable in warmer areas so that the heat is not held within the roof and, therefore, the building.
Thermal emittance is also rated on a scale from 0 to 1 or 0%-100%.

Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) is a value that incorporates the two radiative properties above, with a
single value produced to represent a material’s temperature in the sun.  SRI is measured on a scale
from 0-100 or 0%-100%, with a higher value representing a cooler roof.  Zero refers to a temperature
as hot as a black surface, while 100 refers to a temperature as cool as a white surface.  SRI is very
important in determining how well a material and its color will work on a roof.

Types of Cool Roofs

When considering the residential, industrial, and commercial sectors, no two buildings are the same.
As a result, there are multiple types of cool roofs designed to suit various building designs and
structural components.  Different techniques are used for low-sloped and steep-sloped roofs.
Low-Sloped Roofs have an extremely flat roof line with a slight incline for draining needs.  These
types are typically found associated with industrial, institutional, and commercial buildings and are
great candidates for cool roofs because of their usual large roof surface areas.  Since the roof is the
main source of heat entry into a building, a cool one can significantly help lower heat gain and energy
costs.  For low-sloped roofs, cool roof techniques generally include, but are not limited to, built-up
roofing, coatings, and single-ply membranes (as described below).
 Coated Roofs are literally coated with a paint-like finish to help enhance a roof’s adhesion,
durability, and longevity while simultaneously reducing bacterial growth.  Cool coatings are best for
low-sloped roofs on existing buildings and can be added to a multitude of surfaces, including asphalt
cap sheet, gravel, metal, and other single-ply materials.  They are not simply white paint, but can be
pigmented in a variety of colors to implement different cooling technologies.  Most coatings are also
ENERGY STAR-rated.
 Foam Roofs are roofs topped with a foam-like material for insulation purposes.  Used for
over 45 years, foam roofing has been recognized as a dependable, long-lasting, and affordable cool
roofing technique.  The foam is generally made from two liquid chemicals that combine to form a solid,
flexible, and lightweight material that attaches seamlessly and has proven itself to be sustainable by
requiring minimal  maintenance and creating minimal waste.
 Built-Up Roofing Systems, or BUR systems, are roofs made up of multiple layers of
various materials and minerals.  These various plies, when put together, help prevent solar heat from
entering the building. Common BUR layers include: a base sheet, fabric reinforcement layers, and a
protective surface layer.  Cooling strategies for built-up roofs can vary by building type.  One method
embeds reflective materials into asphalt or coal tar to reflect the sun’s light.  Another technique is to
top the built-up roof with mineral-surfaced sheets consisting of reflective mineral granules or applied
coatings.
 Modified Bitumen, widely known as “Mod-Bit,” is an asphalt-based roofing system similar to
BUR systems.  It is designed to accommodate both cold and warm temperatures and it is more elastic
than BUR systems. It is installed in four main ways:  torch-applied, hot-mopped, cold-applied, or with
self-adhesives.
 Single-Ply Membranes are used for low-sloped roofs that require more extensive repair. 
They are prefabricated sheets that are individually applied to a rooftop.  The two main types are
single-ply EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) and single-ply thermoplastics, both of which
are further discussed in the “Cool Roofing Materials” section below.
Steep-Sloped Roofs have an inclined roof line and are generally seen in residential settings.
Materials for steep-sloped cool roofs include asphalt shingles, metal roofing, tiles, and shakes.
Different cool roofing techniques are used for steep-sloped roofs because of their different structure
and materials.  Applying coatings over existing shingles can prevent them from drying, causing water
damage.  Also, since steep-sloped roofs generally account for 40% of the exterior visual appearance
of a home or building, more aesthetically pleasing techniques (such as shingling and tiling) are
therefore used to cool them.
Cool Roofing Materials
 Asphalt Shingles are composed of asphalt mats made from organic felts or fiberglass.  Their
SRI is relatively low, as white shingles are only about 30% reflective and other color tiles even less
so.  They are widely used in the residential sector because they are low in cost and simple to install.
 Metal roofs, one of the most popular roofing materials used today, can achieve a solar
reflectance of over 70%, allowing buildings to remain much cooler and lowering their energy costs.
Metal is also extremely durable and weather-resistant, lightweight, and 100% recyclable at the end of
its useful life.
Cool Roof Reflective Coatings
 White roof coatings are opaque and reflective, consisting of polymeric materials and some
types of white pigment.  They normally reflect 70% to 80% of the sun’s energy and, the thicker the
layers of coating, the more reflective they are.  They keep surface temperatures very close to ambient
temperatures.
 Pigmented coatings are less efficient than white coatings.  Darker shades such as red,
green, and blue reflect only 20% or less of the sun’s solar rays. This technique is commonly seen in
the residential sector, however, with colors being used to create a more aesthetically pleasing home
or building.
 Aluminum roof coatings often consist of an asphalt-like resin containing aluminum leafing
flakes.  This coating provides a visual of an aluminum sheet and gives no indication of the asphalt
layer underneath.  Most aluminum coatings offer at least 50% solar reflectance and can exceed 70%
with certain brands.  It has also been found that indoor temperatures can be reduced by as much as
15°-20°F with their use.
 Roofing Membranes are made from felt, fiberglass, or polyester that is attached with flexible
polymeric materials such as asphalt, synthetic rubber, or synthetic polymers such as polyvinyl
chloride.  All membranes are constructed to be strong, flexible, and waterproof.  The top layer can be
covered with either pigments that increase solar reflectance or with roofing gravel.  The two main
types of single-ply membranes are:Single-Ply EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) alone
 accounts for 40% of the commercial low-sloped roofing market today.  Its popularity comes from its
flexibility among multiple climates. EPDM membranes are black or white in color and allow for easy
repair.
 Single-Ply Thermoplastic membranes are flexible sheets made of plastic polymers.  When
heat is applied to this material, thermoplastics mold together and become seamless.  Common
examples include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO).  Both PVC and TPO
are among the fastest-growing roofing systems today.  These thermoplastic single-ply membranes
combine both the durability of EPDM membranes and the performance of a welded roofing system to
provide a high-quality cool roof.  Although they are commonly white in color, pigments can be added
to accommodate the manufacturer’s color interest.
 Tiles are commonly seen in warmer climates because of their high solar reflectivity.  Clay tiles
are a popular cool roofing material, with an SRI of over 50% and a thermal emittance of up to 86%.
They are known to be extremely durable and 100% recyclable at their end-of-life use.  Colors vary as
well to provide a great number of options to consumers.  Highly durable concrete tiles are also
popular and offered in a wide variety of colors, with the ability to perform in extreme weather
conditions.

A green roof is a vegetative layer grown on a rooftop of a building. Also known

as roof gardens, these green roofs serve as a large contributor to energy
efficiency of buildings.

Green roof (flickr: Arlington County)

Green roofs reduce the temperature of the building and the surrounding air in multiple ways:

1.
1. Shading: They provide shade to the top of a building
2. Evapotranspiration: the plants in a green roof absorb water through their roots, and
then use surrounding heat from the air to evaporate the water
While some roofs can reach temperatures of up to 90°F in the summertime, these two features can
allow green roofs to actually be cooler than the surrounding air temperature! This in turn mitigates the
urban heat island effect.
 The Green Features of a Green Roof

oof

 Vegetation: The top layer of a green roof consists of vegetation. Chosen plants should be
based on the type of roof, surrounding climate, and condition of the building. For flatter roofs and
stronger buildings, taller and heavier vegetation can be used. Lighter and shorter vegetation is
recommended for slanted roofs.
 Growing Medium: The growing medium is the foundation for all the vegetation on the top
later. The medium type, mixture and depth area all depend on the plants chosen for the green roof. A
wind erosion layer, commonly made of burlap jute blankets, can also be installed to prevent wind from
blowing top soil off the roof.
 Root Barrier: Root barriers are associated with deep-rooted plants such as trees and shrubs.
A root barrier prevents roots from reaching the membrane on the bottom layer, which when
punctured, could potentially cause roof leaks and decay. Common materials used for this layer are foil
or plastic.
 Drainage: A drainage layer is installed to adequately remove excess water from a green
roof. Green Roof Solutions states that drainage systems are designed to ensure storm water can be
used by the top plants for extended periods of time without oversaturation of the entire green roof
system. Note that this layer can also be found above the root barrier layer as well.
 Insulation: The insulation layer is the protector of the membrane layer below. The insulation
prevents the weight of the green roof from crushing the insulation and impairing the membrane. A light
weight extensive green roof can include insulation below the membrane.
 Membrane Protection: The roof’s membrane needs protection to prevent deterioration.  The
protective layer can be a slab of lightweight concrete, insulation, thick plastic, copper foil or any
combination of these.
 Membrane:  A membrane is the bottommost layer of a green roof, and is the main separation
between the green roof above and the structural supports below. Due to the excessive water amounts
associated with green roofs, the membrane must be strong enough to support this water weight and
to not let it seep through.
Types of Green Roofs
There are generally two types of green roofs that differ by cost, depth of growing medium, plant
types and the potential for accessibility or use. Extensive green roofs are simpler, lighter weight
systems commonly seen on residential buildings. The concept of extensive green roofs is to
design a rugged, durable roof that requires little maintenance and no human interaction. Used
vegetation consists of hardy, weather-resistant plants that can adapt to extreme climates.
Intensive green roofs, on the other hand, more so resemble a traditional roof. There is almost no
limit to the plants that can be used on these roofs, or the weight. Intensive roofs are commonly
used for public areas, where people can walk and enjoy the area.
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 Green Roofs
A green roof is a vegetative layer grown on a rooftop of a building. Also known
as roof gardens, these green roofs serve as a large contributor to energy
efficiency of buildings.

Green roof (flickr: Arlington County)

Green roofs reduce the temperature of the building and the surrounding air in multiple ways:

1.
1. Shading: They provide shade to the top of a building
2. Evapotranspiration: the plants in a green roof absorb water through their roots, and then
use surrounding heat from the air to evaporate the water
While some roofs can reach temperatures of up to 90°F in the summertime, these two features can
allow green roofs to actually be cooler than the surrounding air temperature! This in turn mitigates the
urban heat island effect.
Green Roofs Today
Green roof production has grown significantly over the past decade; with a 115% increase in green
roof production recorded from 2010 to 2011 alone. In 2012, the North American Green Roof Industry
recorded 982 green roof projects, which was a 24% increase from 2011. Washington D.C. installed
the most green roofs in North America this past year with 1,326,872 square feet. Succeeding
Washington D.C. were Chicago, New York City, Toronto, Philadelphia and Cincinnati. Be sure to
check out GRHC’s (Green Roofs for Healthier Cities) Annual Green Roof Industry Survey for 2016 for
more current green roof statistics!
The Green Features of a Green Roof

Multiple layers work together to produce a green roof’s high efficiency and quality:

 
 Vegetation: The top layer of a green roof consists of vegetation. Chosen plants should be based on
the type of roof, surrounding climate, and condition of the building. For flatter roofs and stronger buildings,
taller and heavier vegetation can be used. Lighter and shorter vegetation is recommended for slanted roofs.
 Growing Medium: The growing medium is the foundation for all the vegetation on the top later. The
medium type, mixture and depth area all depend on the plants chosen for the green roof. A wind erosion
layer, commonly made of burlap jute blankets, can also be installed to prevent wind from blowing top soil off
the roof.
 Root Barrier: Root barriers are associated with deep-rooted plants such as trees and shrubs. A root
barrier prevents roots from reaching the membrane on the bottom layer, which when punctured, could
potentially cause roof leaks and decay. Common materials used for this layer are foil or plastic.
 Drainage: A drainage layer is installed to adequately remove excess water from a green roof. Green
Roof Solutions states that drainage systems are designed to ensure storm water can be used by the top plants
for extended periods of time without oversaturation of the entire green roof system. Note that this layer can
also be found above the root barrier layer as well.
 Insulation: The insulation layer is the protector of the membrane layer below. The insulation prevents
the weight of the green roof from crushing the insulation and impairing the membrane. A light weight
extensive green roof can include insulation below the membrane.
 Membrane Protection: The roof’s membrane needs protection to prevent deterioration.  The
protective layer can be a slab of lightweight concrete, insulation, thick plastic, copper foil or any combination
of these.
 Membrane:  A membrane is the bottommost layer of a green roof, and is the main separation
between the green roof above and the structural supports below. Due to the excessive water amounts
associated with green roofs, the membrane must be strong enough to support this water weight and to not let
it seep through.
Types of Green Roofs

There are generally two types of green roofs that differ by cost, depth of growing medium, plant types
and the potential for accessibility or use. Extensive green roofs are simpler, lighter weight systems
commonly seen on residential buildings. The concept of extensive green roofs is to design a rugged,
durable roof that requires little maintenance and no human interaction. Used vegetation consists of
hardy, weather-resistant plants that can adapt to extreme climates. Intensive green roofs, on the other
hand, more so resemble a traditional roof. There is almost no limit to the plants that can be used on
these roofs, or the weight. Intensive roofs are commonly used for public areas, where people can walk
and enjoy the area. Common differences between the two roof types are listed below:
  

Extensive Green Roofs Intensive Green Roods

Common Roof Type

Residential, Slanted Roof Commercial, Flat Roof

Planting Medium
1.6-6 in. 6+ in.

Manageable Weight 10-35 lb / ft2 150 lb / ft2

Used Vegetation
Drought-tolerant succulents, Plants, Shrubs,
Grasses Gardens, Trees

Base Cost $10 / ft2 $25 / ft2

Amount of Required
Maintenance Low High

Benefits of Green Roofs

 Aesthetic Improvement: Aside from their sustainable aspects, green roofs can be a beautiful
addition to any building, and can be designed to become a public area for building occupants and
guests. Greenroofs.com states that these public areas can increase a sense of community and overall
public safety!
 Energy Reduction: The needs for heating and cooling a structure reduce drastically due to
the thermal efficiency of green roofs.  Acting as natural shade and a heat-absorber for a building, a
green roof can significantly reduce cooling costs by as much as 25%.
 Increased Market Value: Installation of a green roof has been shown to increase the
marketability of a building and add a value of 6%-15%. Significant aesthetic effects accrue to the
owner, occupants and the surrounding community.
 LEED Certification Points: A green roof has the potential of earning up to 34 points for a
building.
 Moderate the Urban Heat Island Effect: The urban heat island effect is caused by specific
areas (usually urban areas or cities) being hotter than nearby rural areas. This heat primarily comes
from rooftops in urban areas since they are commonly painted black or other dark colors. Therefore,
the installation of green roofs can lower the surrounding air temperature and help moderate the urban
heat island effect.
 Reduced Air Pollution: The reduced energy demand from green roofs reduces air pollution
and greenhouse gas emissions related to energy production. Plants also remove air pollutants and
greenhouse gas emissions through two processes: dry deposition and carbon sequestration and
storage. Lastly, green roofs help slow the rate of ozone formation by reducing overall air
temperatures.
 Saved costs: Although installation costs are higher than traditional roofs, the lifespan and
low-maintenance of a green roof can result in vast cost savings.
 Stormwater Management: Green roofs- depending on size, density, and type- can capture
stormwater and return it to the atmosphere through transpiration and evaporation. According to
greenroofs.org, 70-90% of precipitation can be retained in the summer time, and 25-40% in the winter
time. Green roofs can also reduce stormwater runoff by holding water within the substrate and
therefore delaying the runoff time. By having a green roof, buildings could also eliminate roof drains
and other stormwater management infrastructure.
 Urban Food Production: Green roofs provide the possibility of growing edible gardens on
top of buildings!  Local and convenient, green roofs can source food just above occupants’ heads.
Urban food production reduces the woes of long-distance food supply.  They also contribute to
community nutrition and social interaction.

Energy-Efficient Windows
Energy loss happens through conduction, radiation, convection currents, and air leakage, but energy-
efficient windows are an effective way to combat these processes and cut back on energy use. The
success of energy-efficient features varies based on climate, window direction, and how a window fits
into overall home design, so homeowners should carefully consider which types of windows best fit
their needs. 

Energy-efficient windows minimize the need for heating, cooling, and artificial lighting by using some
combination of window glazes, multiple panes, tightly-sealed edges, insulated frames, and gas fills. 

U-factor: measures how much heat is conducted through a window. This rating may apply to the
whole window fixture (glass, frame, spacers, etc.) or only to the glass itself. A low U-factor signifies
that a window is well-insulated and therefore more energy-efficient. A rating of 0.30 or below is
considered very good.

Solar heat-gain coefficient (SHGC): the fraction of solar heat energy that passes through a window.
SHGC can improve indoor climate control through the installation of high-SHGC (>0.55) windows in
cold climates and low-SHGC (<0.40) windows in warm climates. Medium- to high-SHGC windows are
most suitable for Pennsylvania homes.

Visible transmittance (VT): the amount of visible light that can pass through a window. VT is
measured on a scale of 0 to 1, where 0 signifies no light transmittance and 1 is complete light
transmittance. High VT can reduce the need for artificial lighting inside a home. Coatings, glazes, and
tints can reduce VT—unless they are spectrally selective (meaning they screen out certain
wavelengths of solar radiation, mainly infrared, while allowing most visible light to pass through).

Light-to-solar gain (LSG): ratio of VT to SHGC. A high LSG rating is given to a window that lets
through a lot of light relative to the amount of heat.

Low-emissivity (low-e) glazes: transparent metal-oxide insulators that block longer wavelengths of
energy while still allowing visible light (shorter wavelengths) to pass through. Low-e windows work
well for keeping heat either inside or outside of a building, depending on climate. In fact, adding a low-
e coating to a window adds as much extra insulation as an extra pane of glass! Glazes may also help
avoid condensation on the inside of windows, as well as fading of fabric, paper, or wood furnishings.
They are added to one of the two inter-pane surfaces, depending on climate and manufacturer.

Air leakage: low air leakage is always good. Windows should have a leakage rating of less than 0.30
cubic feet per minute per square foot of window and should be properly installed to avoid leaks
around the edges. Windows that open outward, like awnings or casements, close more tightly than
sliding windows.

Gas fills: some double-paned windows are made with an inert gas such as argon or krypton in the
inter-pane space because they are better insulators than air. Manufacturers may use a mix of gases,
as argon is cheaper but krypton is more effective.

External factors: window efficiency considerations are not limited to window specifications alone.
Shading of windows by overhangs or plants can help keep a house cool in the summer when the sun
is high in the sky. Curtains or shutters can also help keep out light or heat as desired. If possible,
window direction should be incorporated into home design. For example, in colder climates, high-
SHGC windows should predominantly face south to capture the most heat when the sun is low in the
sky during winter. North-facing windows, on the other hand, tend to provide more light than heat.
Tubular daylighting devices, which channel sunlight through a reflective tube, may be a good way to
add natural light to rooms where traditional windows or skylights are not feasible.

Runoff Landscaping for Parking Lots

The most important function of parking lot landscaping is to provide natural drainage, a water
collection network, and stormwater filtration. Landscaping can enhance the aesthetic quality of the
space and help reduce temperatures in the summer by providing shade. It’s necessary to be mindful
of the type of tree to use in a parking lot, as it should not drip sap on cars or have fruit that is too big
or heavy.

There are many advantages of introducing smart landscaping into a parking lot, including minimizing
flooding, maintaining cleanliness, and creating green space. Smart landscaping means creatively and
effectively implementing a landscape project that meets the needs of a parking lot while incorporating
environmental efficiencies.

Bioretention is an efficient technique to catch and treat parking lot runoff. Landscape islands are best
when installed below the parking lot level so they can collect water as it runs down and off.

Usually, bioretention landscape elements are filled with a sandy, compost-rich soil mix, topped with a
layer of mulch and a dense vegetative cover. That way, stormwater is absorbed into the soil, where it
gets filtered and absorbed into the groundwater.  The water is cleaned by the soil’s microbial action.
 To avoid flooding during heavy storms, bioretention areas incorporate a ‘pond’ about 6 to 8 inches
deep with an overflow outlet to drain the water. For a bioretention area to be effective, it should cover
5% of the entire paved surface.

Energy Solutions

Solar Power
Wind Power
Geothermal Energy
Thermal Storage

Solar Power

Solar energy is one of cleanest, renewable energy sources available, and is the largest current energy
source for the globe. Solar power can be used for multiple applications, which can be characterized
as either active solar applications or passive solar applications:

Active solar technologies are used to directly convert solar energy into another form of useful energy,
such as electricity or heat conversion. Three popular, yet very different technologies are described
below.

Solar CSP (flickr: Masdar Official)

 Concentrating solar power (CSP) consists of mirrors and lenses used to concentrate the
sun’s light. This concentrated light creates temperatures which drive steam turbines or engines, which
ultimately produce electricity. Since this technology is most cost-effective when used on a larger
scale, CSP plants are commonly seen as energy suppliers to utilities
 Solar heating and cooling produce heat from the sun’s thermal energy to provide hot water,
heating and cooling, and pool heating.
 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy directly converts the sun’s light into energy by solar PV
panels. This system is used in a variety of applications today. Smaller-scale PV systems are
commonly seen on rooftops or buildings, while larger-scale solar PV systems are associated with
photovoltaic power stations, or solar parks.

Passive solar technologies take advantage of the sun’s light and heat without the use of any
mechanical or electrical devices. Also termed ‘daylighting,’ this method allows for the walls, windows
 and floors of buildings to collect the sun’s energy during winter months, and reject it during the
summer months.

Key aspects of passive solar design include window placement, the use of thermal mass, and
appropriate solar orientation.

 Large, south-facing windows allow for maximum sun exposure

 Open interior spaces allow sunlight to travel within an interior
 Correct building orientation as well as window placement and summer rooftop shading can
allow for more or less sunlight to enter into a space depending on the specific season
 A trombe wall, which is a sun-facing wall, will absorb solar energy and release it to the interior
over time.
 Thermal mass is a solid or liquid material that will store warmth and coolness until it is needed
within a space. Thermal masses include water, brick, tile, concrete, clay and adobe.

processes

Commissioning
Integrated Design
Energy Audits
Green Leasing
Specialty Waste Disposal
Remediation

Commissioning
Energy commissioning is a quality-based process that documents the efficiency of a facility and all of
its systems and processes When a commissioning agent is immediately brought on to a project, all
processes can be initially reviewed, including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services (MEP),
and operations and maintenance (O&M).  
Systems Tested During Commissioning

During energy commissioning, the selected systems that are tested are dependent on the type as well
as function of the building.  Below is a list of common tests that are performed:

 Building Automation
 Building Envelope & Partitioning Systems
 Electrical and Power Systems
 Energy Management Systems
 Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems
 Heating, Ventilation, and Air Condition (HVAC) Units
 Industrial Process Systems
 Information Technology Systems
 Mechanical Systems
 Plumbing Systems

Integrated Design

Many factors are considered when designing a building: mechanical and electrical systems, building
occupants, sustainability efforts, overall climate, cost, and much more.  With the use of an integrative
design process, all factors are combined into four main areas:  climate, use, building design, and
systems.  These areas are then analyzed by all team members to find synergies and similarities
between them.  By doing this, different strategies can be utilized to design a more healthy and energy-
efficient facility.
 Energy Audits

An energy audit is a comprehensive evaluation and analysis of a building’s current energy

use.Results from energy audits provide insight for building owners and also identify the most
economical and energy-saving opportunities.

Energy Audit Process

The energy auditing process can be separated into two main steps, shown below:

1. Walk-Through Analysis:  Energy Auditor Inspection and Interview

The auditor will perform multiple tests throughout the building, take measurements, interview building
owners and occupants, and locate energy-saving opportunities.  In total, this process usually takes
between two to four hours to complete.
2. Energy Survey and Analysis:  Report and Implementation
Following the initial appointment, the auditor will provide a full description of problematic energy areas
and then offer recommendations for energy systems partially based off of occupant tendencies.

Auditing Tests and Techniques 

A professional auditor uses a variety of techniques and equipment to determine the energy efficiency
of a structure.  A few of the most popular tests are:

 Blower Door Test:   Measures a building’s airtightness, or the amount of air leaks and hot
spots in the building envelope.
 Infrared Scan or Thermographic Inspection:  Special cameras and videos measure and
display surface temperatures, which reveal problematic areas of air infiltration and missing insulation.
 Duct Blaster/Air Distribution System Test:  Locates leaks within ducts that could cause
inefficiencies during forced air heating and cooling.  Duct leakage in homes typically wastes 20% to
40% of heating and/or cooling energy.
 Heating System Inspection:  Checks and tests efficiency of systems to reduce energy costs
and improve safety and performance.
 House Ventilation Inspection:  Checks indoor and outdoor air exchanges.
 PFT Air Infiltration Measurement Technique:  Similar to a blower door test, this records air
leaks and hot spots in buildings over time.  Unlike the blower door test, however, the PFT
(perfluorocarbon tracer gas) technique takes into account atmospheric pressure, weather, wind
velocity, and any other activities that would affect air infiltration rates.
 Thorough Examination of Past Utility Bills
 Lighting Assessment
 Room-by-Room Examination

list of preparations that building owners should undertake prior to an energy audit:

 Make a list of energy-related problems that exist within the building.

 Close and lock all windows and doors for building envelope testing.
 Collect 12 to 24 months of gas and electric utility bills.

Green Leasing

Green leases (also called aligned leases, high-performance leases, or energy-efficient leases) are
rental agreements in which tenants commit to or gain incentives by participating in water/energy
 conservation, waste reduction and recycling, use of nonhazardous cleaning products, or other
sustainable actions.

Specialty Waste Disposal

Most people realize that when it comes to waste disposal, there is no “away.”  All waste ends up
somewhere, and, in fact, due to the wide variety of items in the waste stream, there are quite a few
different places waste can go.  Instead of trying to throw all kinds of waste “away,” it is better to
consider the most responsible method of disposal for each waste type.  Composting and standard
recycling (glass, metals, plastics, paper, and cardboard) can make a big dent in the volume of waste
discarded, but what happens to the rest?  That’s where specialty waste disposal and recycling come
in.

Types of Waste
In addition to the most common recyclable materials, there are numerous other items that can be
recycled.  (Learn more about recyclable materials here.)  Products should not be thrown away simply
because they require special treatment for safe disposal.  Many items are composed of a variety of
materials, some of which can be recycled, some of which must be handled carefully, and some that
cannot currently be used or diverted from landfills.  While such items can be dismantled to reduce
waste and salvage materials, they are often discarded without consideration of other options.  The
following are just a few of the objects that should be disposed of in places other than the trash can:
 Fluorescent light bulbs
 Electronics: cells phones, computers, printers, televisions, digital cameras, and other e-waste
 Printer cartridges
 Tires
 Batteries (including car batteries)
 Construction and demolition waste (including lead products and asbestos)
 Household hazardous waste: aerosols, paints and solvents, pesticides, automotive fluids,
cleaning agents
 Medical waste: sharps, pharmaceuticals
 Appliances containing refrigerants: refrigerators, freezers, window air conditioning units,
dehumidifiers

Remediation processes
Land remediation starts with looking at a property’s past uses and identifying possible
contaminants. The process for remediation depends largely on the zoning and intended use of the
property.  A parking lot, for instance, will require a different level of cleanup than a lot being converted
to a community garden.  Future residential sites have higher standards than commercial sites and
thus will likely take longer and be more expensive to treat.

Remediation is a reclamation process in which the removal or sealing off the contaminant at site. 
Remediation techniques are divided into those for groundwater and those for soil.  Common
approaches to treating soil include:
 Point-source contamination removal:  removal of polluting pipes, tanks, or other objects.
 Excavation and disposal:  a common practice if an area is already going to be excavated; difficulties
can include site accessibility, depth of contamination, and area safety issues; soil can be treated off-site and
returned to the project site, or it may be used on a landfill site.
 Containment:  for complex pollution problems or large areas; sites that are surface-sealed must be
maintained similar to a landfill with consideration to groundwater; containment may be used for parking lots
or industrial buildings without basements, but this can restrict future changes to site use.
 Immobilization:  for sites with heavy metal contamination of groundwater; metals may include lead,
chromium, arsenic, zinc, and mercury, among others, and immobilization uses chemical processes to fix these
metals to soil particles so that they cannot leach out.
 Soil vapor extraction:  used for contamination above the water table; involves drilling of extraction
wells and creation of a vacuum to pull out underground VOCs in vapor form.
 Phytoremediation:  planting species that produce chemicals that react with or immobilize
contaminants, species that can degrade contaminants around their roots, or species that draw up
contaminants from the soil into shoots and leaves, which must then be disposed of.
 Microbial remediation:  speed the degradation of hydrocarbon contaminants with the use of
microbes.
 Mycoremediation:  use of fungal species to degrade contaminants.
 Thermal desorption:  heating of soil to make contaminants more volatile; when contaminants off-gas
from the soil, they can be collected and destroyed.

Groundwater remediation takes longer and is harder to measure, but strategies include the following:

 Pump and treat:  most common groundwater cleanup method, which involves pumping out
groundwater and purifying it; this method varies in complexity based on how many types of contaminants are
in question.
 Air sparging:  used together with soil vapor extraction; air is injected into the ground below the water
table to push contaminant vapors up toward the surface.
 Chemical oxidation:  introduction of an oxidant to react with contaminants and break them down into
less harmful compounds; a variation of this can be used to treat soil.
 Groundwater circulation wells:  water injected with compressed air flows upward in underground
wells and contaminants are removed in vapor form along the way.
 Permeable reactive barrier:  a trench up to 50 feet deep is filled with material that can react with
contaminants or filter them out as groundwater flows through the barrier; in some cases, impermeable side
walls are built to funnel water through the reactive barrier.

Site Solutions
Permeable Pavement

Permeable pavement (also known as pervious or porous concrete) is a specific type of pavement
with a high porosity that allows rainwater to pass through it into the ground below. Permeable
concrete consists of cement, a coarse aggregate, and water, with little to no fine aggregates (sand or
clay).  That is why permeable concrete has a very rough and uneven appearance.

Through this movement, pervious concrete mimics the natural process that occurs on the ground’s
surface, consequently reducing runoff and returning water to underground aquifers.  It also traps
suspended solids and pollutants, keeping them from polluting the water stream. Pervious concrete
has many applications, most commonly:

 low-volume pavements

 residential roads and driveways

 sidewalks

 parking lots

 low-water bridges

 well linings
  walls (including load-bearing walls)

 swimming pool decks

Types of Pervious Concrete

There are multiple types of permeable concrete, all of which are used for different purposes:

 Porous Asphalt is used on highways to remove excess water.

 Single-Sized Aggregate contains no binder and is commonly known as loose gravel.  It can
commonly be seen in very low-speed applications such as driveways or pathways. 
 Plastic Grids allow for a 100% porous system and are growing in popularity due to LEED
project requirements.  These grids help reinforce gravel driveways, parking lots, and fire
lanes.  Plastic grids can also be planted with grass.
 Porous Turf can be used for areas with occasional parking, such as stadiums or churches. 
 Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavers are individual units that can be laid out in an
interlocking grid pattern, with in-between spaces commonly filled with grass or small stones. 
This type of paving is popular in public areas due to its architectural appeal.
 Permeable Clay Brick Pavers are similar to interlocking pavers, but are composed of fired
clay.
 Resin-Bound Paving is a mixture of a clear resin and aggregate, used for areas with
pedestrian and vehicular traffic, including walkways, driveways, and parking lots.
 Bound Recycled Glass Porous Pavement is a mixture of post-consumer glass with resins
and binding agents, this colorful pavement prevents glass waste from ending up in a landfill. 
Recycled glass pavement is appropriate for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Green Parking
Permeable paving can be one part of building green parking lots, which can also include rain gardens,
art, trees, solar covers, and other creative elements.  Paving and landscaping choices have a large
effect on the environmental impact of parking lots.

Rainwater Harvesting
A water tank can be used to collect and store rainwater.  It maintains harvested rain—rainwater that
gets reused before reaching the aquifer.  Such tanks can be used in any area and are commonly used
to collect water from rooftops or rain gutters.  Rain water harvesting are beneficial because they not
only recycle water, but also prevent excessive amounts of it from becoming stormwater and over-
flooding areas.

Native Plants

Native plants are those that occur in a particular region or habitat without human
intervention

Interior Solutions

Building Insulation
Air Sealing and Ventilation
Greywater Systems
 Composting Toilets
Flooring Materials
Lighting Strategies
Paints and Coatings
Materials Red List
Green Cleaning

Building Insulation

Insulation is not the most attention grabbing building component, but it is essential to both
the performance of the building and health of the occupants. Without sufficient insulation,
large portions of the energy used to heat or cool a building will be lost to the outdoors. 
The best way to insulate a building is to have a well-defined thermal boundary.  The
thermal boundary of a building separates the conditioned (heated or cooled) spaces from
outdoor or unconditioned areas.  A building should be insulated continuously around the
thermal boundary, including corners and edges. 

Air Sealing and Ventilation

Air sealing a building reduces or eliminates air infiltration.  An airtight building
is more energy-efficient than a leaky one, but good ventilation is essential to
maintaining a healthy, comfortable indoor environment.