KEC Sustainable Details

It seems there are a few highlights to every high performance building or sustainable building project.  However this project really takes advantage of sustainable design and construction in virtually every aspect of the project.  As I look back on the blogs over the past 16 months, this aspect is lost in the details.  So here is a recap of the sustainable details of the KEC.

The Net Zero Energy operation of the KEC is possible because all the energy required to run the facility in a year is generated onsite by an acre of photovoltaic panels (296kW array).

All walkway materials are reclaimed milled asphalt and lined with LED bollard lights activated by motion sensors to limit energy consumption.

Corridor walls are lined with tapped maple, salvaged from local sugar maple farms in VT.

Bathrooms are equipped with low flow Kohler plumbing fixtures to conserve water.

This shower head was specially engineered for this project.  It provides low flow as standard pressure and has a push button for a brief surge of pressure which comes in handy when trying to rinse out the shampoo.

granite counters

Dorm room lights are all controlled with Lutron lighting control systems.  Fan light and desk lamps are all switched by the door and are also tied into an occupancy sensor to turn off if nobody is in the room to conserve energy.

Windows are high performance argon filled double glazed Marvin units.

The cedar sunshade shades the southern exposure in summer while allowing winter sunlight in.

Exterior siding materials include FSC certified cedar and recycled content Certainteed cement board siding.

The controller for the Cinco Solar Evacuated Tubes allows you to evaluate your system needs and optimize your systems with the hot water produced by solar energy.  It also allows you to monitor and program system performance. 

Furniture selection also utilized reclaimed materials as you can see from this oak end table.

Locally sourced stone was used as a stone veneer feature on select elevations of the exterior.

Flow meters were installed which are integrated into the building dashboard.  This will allow the end users to monitor and meter systems performance and usage.

Polished concrete floors were selected for corridors, labs, and the commons.  This reduces material usage as tile, wood, or carpet will not be used in these spaces.  The corridor classroom will pick up solar gain in the winter from southern exposure for passive heating.  

KEC Recycling

Current project recycling rate is   83% 

We have recycled 189 tons of material on site.  A ton is 2,000 lbs.  So we have recycled about 379,000 lbs.  To help put this in perspective, a car weighs about a ton.  Another way to look at it is by volume.  Construction debris weighs about 1,000 lbs per cubic yard.  Therefore we have recycled 379 CY.  In the KEC a single dorm room is about 41 CY.  

This is equivalent to recycling 9 dorm rooms full of debris!

For LEED we are required to recycle construction waste from the project.  Your project can earn 1 point for a 50% recycle rate or 2 points for 75% recycle rate.  There are a number of strategies to make sure this is successful.  All strategies include trade awareness and education.  We discuss the requirement at weekly subcontractor meetings with trade foreman, post project signage, and partner with a hauling company with experience in recycling goals on LEED projects.  

Materials are sorted onsite into seperate containers for Steel, Wood, Drywall, Concrete and Masonry, Paper and Cardboard, and general debris.  The general debris can be further sorted offsite at a recyling facility.  A demonstration of one of these facilities in action can be seen here.

KEC Final Inspections

Final inspections were all passed this week. This was a major milestone for the team to hit. Great job everyone!

KEC Tapped Maple

A product called "tapped maple" was selected by the architect to be used for the corridor wall paneling. Tapped Maple Sugar Wood is harvested from Vermont’s maple sugar orchards. Maple sugar makers drill holes in the trees to gather sap each Spring. Over time, these trees decline in sap production and are culled to make room for new growth in the forest. Typically, these 100+ year old trees are considered unusable in the hardwood lumber industry, due to the tap holes. By celebrating the distinct “tap streaks” found across the surface of the wood and by filling the tap holes with colored resin, Tapped Maple offers clients a refreshing alternative to traditional wood products.  Source.  

The architect hand selected each piece at the shop and then worked carefully with the millworker to locate where each piece would be installed onsite.  This material is locally harvested and fabricated (within 500 miles) and it is using a tree that has already served its useful purpose for sugaring.  By celebrating the tap holes and streaking this wood is being used in the Environmental Center as a finished product that would have otherwise been used as firewood.

[detail of tapped maple panel]

[detail]

[installation in progress]

[tapped maple in corridor]

[tapped maple in mudroom]

[tapped maple in entry foyer]

KEC Week 64

We are down to the finishing touches.  The furniture moved in last week.  We are commissioning the mechanical equipment.  Subcontractors are working on wrapping up their punch list work.  Final inspections are scheduled.  The entire team has put a lot of hard work into this project and the finish line is in sight.  Now its time for the final push to make sure everything wraps up smoothly!

[lab]

[lab]

[classroom corridor with tapped maple wall paneling]

[conference room]

[mud room boot bench]

[dorm first floor corridor]

[dorm second floor corridor]

[dorm second floor lounge]

[dorm first floor lounge]

[dorm room]

[dorm room]

[dorm room]

[dorm stairs]

[commons kitchen]

[commons seating]

[commons seating]

[commons wood stove and flatscreen]

[first floor faculty housing]

[first floor faculty kitchen]

[courtyard view from lab corridor]