Archive for Daylighting
Interview: Kimball Office on LEED-CI Showroom and Sustainability
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Courtesy Kimball Office
We recently had the opportunity to catch up with Paula Schmidt, Director of Market Communications for Kimball Office to discuss the company’s new 5,700 square foot, LEED-CI Silver certified showroom in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood, as well as Kimball’s impressive overall stance on sustainability.
LB: What factors, primarily, drove Kimball’s decision to pursue LEED certification?
KO: At Kimball Office, it’s our nature to take initiative to not only reduce waste, but to conserve energy and be a truly self-sustaining company, to develop real solutions, to commit fully and lead by example, and to sustain our environment. Since our beginning, sustainability has been a passionate pursuit. We are proud of our stewardship and are committed to continued sustainable business practices. Our strategic approach to sustainability is based on People, Product and Process. With People, we ensure that sustainability is a clearly stated Kimball Office value, we provide training and education, participate in industry and government programs, and look for continued ways of giving back to the communities we live and work in. We design new products using the Design for the Environment (DfE) protocol, maintain the highest level of performance attributes for indoor air quality, and provide numerous wood products with Forest Stewardship Council Certified materials. From a process perspective all Kimball Office manufacturing facilities are ISO 140001 certified, we embrace lean manufacturing practices, and develop sustainability strategies and incentives with our supply chain partners. Additionally we build all facilities and perform renovations using LEED protocol. So it was only natural for us to design our Atlanta showroom with LEED-CI standards in mind. It also provides the opportunity for us to walk the talk in gaining a true understanding and appreciation for what many of our customers are experiencing as part of their sustainability journey and commitment.
LB: What are the most notable ‘green’ features of Kimball’s Atlanta showroom?
KO: Our Atlanta showroom is a place for customers to experience Kimball Office and see how affordable it can be to create workspaces that are functional, attractive and friendly both to the environment and their employees. To meet LEED-CI’s rigorous standards we implemented several strategies, which included:
Diverting more than 50 percent of onsite construction waste from landfills;
Specifying locally manufactured, recycled and rapidly renewable materials;
Using green housekeeping service and products; and
Sharing the project as part of an educational program to give clients insight to sustainable building design and environmentally friendly products.
Making daylight and window views available to more than 90 percent of occupants;
Minimizing or eliminating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in materials specified for paints, adhesives, carpets and composite wood materials;
Using Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood where possible in the architectural wood elements;
Installing low-flow plumbing fixtures to increase water efficiency; and
Employing multiple measures to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
LB: How was your overall experience with the USGBC?
KO: Kimball Office is a member of the USGBC and operates several LEED-certified facilities, including our New York, Chicago and Jasper showrooms, along with the corporate headquarters and Research & Development team rooms. Our San Francisco showroom is an applicant for LEED certification as well. Our overall experience with the USGBC during the certification of our Atlanta showroom, as well as other facilities, has been positive. We have completed the necessary work up-front and followed the USGBC guidelines to minimize any challenges in the overall process.
LB: Who were the members of the design and construction team? Why were they chosen over their competitors?
KO: We partnered with idea|span, one of Atlanta’s top 25 interior design firms, and H2 Ecodesign, as both companies were knowledgeable in the needs of the marketplace for the Atlanta area and were experienced in meeting LEED-CI guidelines for facilities. Together they brought the necessary insights to the forefront and successfully put together a design and layout plan that effectively met our sustainability criteria.
LB: What kind of feedback have you received from your customers and employees? Any noticeable productivity benefits?
KO: The response from visitors, customers, and our distribution partners has been overwhelming. It’s more than just a showroom of the available Kimball Office solutions, it has become a work center for community groups and associations. Our employees have also benefited from the updated collaboration areas, additional sunlight, and technology upgrades.
LB: What other sustainability initiatives is Kimball following? About which are you most excited?
KO: Sustainability is a journey that is evolving daily so our efforts continue in full force. Some of our current initiatives are focused on Life Cycle Assessment, CARB, Chemicals of Concern, Indoor Air Quality and supplier education and engagement as it takes a collective approach.
Additionally Kimball Office recently received level tm certification based on the BIFMA sustainability standard for our entire portfolio of products. level is the sustainability standard and third-party certification program for the commercial furniture industry. Taking into account a company’s social actions, energy usage, material composition and indoor air quality. level addresses how a product is sustainable from a holistic perspective. We are very excited about being one of the first organizations to implement the standard across our offering.
You can learn more at KimballOffice.com or follow @kimballoffice on Twitter. We would love to get some comments and feedback from people who have visited the showroom.
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Salem State College Announces LEED Dormitory
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Photo Credit: DiMella Shaffer
Salem State College has announced that they will be targeting LEED silver certification on a new, 525-student residence hall.
The project, estimated to cost $57.5MM, will feature a green roof, high recycled content materials, an occupant-interactive energy management system, a high percentage of daylighted spaces and, possibly, a solar PV system.
Built on a former light bulb factory site, the new building will incorporate the use of 15-resident pods that may be grouped together based on common interests or degrees of study. Additionally, the 320-seat in-building cafeteria will have a fully glazed exterior wall, creating a fully-daylighted dining area.
“One reason higher education institutions have latched onto the concept of sustainability is that this is what we are teaching the next generation of leaders,” said Edward Adelman, executive director of the Massachusetts State College Building Authority.
The project was designed by firm of DiMella Shaffer.
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Cub Foods Store Awarded LEED Gold
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A newly-opened 62,900 square foot Cub Foods store in Phelan, MN has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the USGBC, making it one of only three grocery stores in the nation to attain Gold certification.
“Cub Foods has a vested interest in supporting the communities where we do business, and contributing to the redevelopment of St. Paul’s East Side was a natural fit for us,” said Brian Huff, president of Cub Foods. “Choosing to build a LEED Gold Certified building was another example of Cub’s dedication to preserving the environment for future generations.”
- 44 skylights that illuminate 75 percent of regularly occupied spaces are daylighted with a solar-powered GPS tracking system that redirects sunlight.
- A maintenance-free floor system that eliminates the need for chemical cleaners.
- 75 percent of the construction waste was diverted from landfills.
- Interior fixture that provide a 35% savings in lighting costs.
- LED parking lot lighting with a useful life of 40 years and results in a 50% energy savings
- 35 percent savings in lighting costs compared to typical Cub stores.
- 50% of the materials from the building previously on the site (and demolished) were recycled or reused in the construction of the new building.
- A landscape irrigation system that uses 50% less water.
“Cub Foods submitted 41 points to the USGBC for LEED Gold consideration,” said Scott Reinke, senior project manager for SuperValu, Cub Foods’ parent company. “To have all 41 points approved is exceptional in the industry of green building development.”
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Stop & Shop Achieves LEED-EB Certification
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New England grocery retailer Stop & Shop has received LEED-EB certification on 51 locations totaling 3.4 million square feet.
“At a time when economic challenges may force companies to move away from these commitments, Stop & Shop continues to move forward toward its goals of balancing the interests of people, the planet and profit to create a business that is profitable and sustainable. We’re proud of our accomplishments to date and will continue to move forward,” said Faith Weiner, Stop & Shop’s Director of Public Affairs.
Among other building attributes that helped the company achieve the certification, Stop & Shop employed high-albedo roofs, high-efficiency refrigeration systems, T5 fluorescent lighting, daylighting, occupancy sensors and an aggressive recycling program.
Stop & Shop operates in 7 New England states and employs more than 59,000 associates.
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Featured Video: LEED Silver High School in Colorado
Posted by: | CommentsThis video is brief walk-through of the huge, 300,000 square foot Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins Colorado. It earned LEED for Schools Silver certification and utilizes over 70% recycled material, solar panels and heavy daylighting. The best part of the video is that is is primarily narrated by students of the school.
A great statistic in this video is that the estimated $100,000 in energy savings each year translates into 2 new teachers on staff. Thinking back to my high school days, it seems that facilities have come a long, long way.
Please let us know of any other LEED for Schools projects that you would like us to share.
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Using a Light Shelf for EA and EQ LEED Credits
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Photo Credit: AADL.org
Incorporating a light shelf into your building design is a great way to make progress on EA and EQ LEED credits. Basically, a light shelf is an architectural element placed overhead that redirects light deeper into a building than it would otherwise travel, thus reducing the need for artificial light.
Interior vs. Exterior: A light shelf can be placed on the interior or exterior of a building or, ideally, extend on both sides of the window. However, in some urban applications with zero lot line conditions the shelf can only be interior. While this, to some extent, diminishes the benefits it certainly doesn’t negate them. The real loss is not as much in the volume of reflected light into the space as much as it is in the glare reduction on the lower part of the window system.
Limitations: There are, however, some limitations. A shelf generally should be placed on the south elevation to take advantage of maximum sunlight exposure. If your building doesn’t have a southern exposure, the benefits can be significantly diminished, especially on a northern exposure. Also, a relatively high ceiling height is required for optimum benefit. Depending on the source, you’re looking at 9.5 to 10 feet. Lastly, in a geography with a limited number of sunny days, the overall benefit is reduced.
The most valuable aspect of the light shelf is that it is a passive solar technology, requiring almost no maintenance and has zero moving parts. As with any ‘green’ technology or design element, the simpler the solution and the less ongoing occupant interaction required, the better.
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Considerations in Daylighting Options
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We receive inquiries about energy efficiency and energy audits from clients ranging from homeowners to facility managers and everyone in between. One of the main areas of immediate payback is analyzing current or planned lighting systems and fixtures. Lighting makes or breaks any space and also is directly tied to the overall feeling of a space. Too dark and it feels uninviting, too bright and it can be overwhelming.
There have been many daylighting studies done, all proving the productivity and general well being improvements of having lots of natural light. A recent article in the January edition of Architectural Products Magazine highlighted some notable results:
- Full daylighting enabled students to get more vitamin D than students in schools with primarily electric lighting. These students’ had nine times less dental decay and grew nearly an inch more in height over two years.
- Daylighting has proved to increase per transaction value in retail store settings. Customers stay in the store longer.
The most obvious way to obtain more daylighting is more windows. However, windows are typically the weakest part of a building envelope in terms of insulation, and adding more may create a potential for greater energy consumption in heating and cooling. To solve this problem, consider some alternatives such as:
- Light shelves
- Tubular skylights
- Channel glass
- Exterior / interior shading
- Active systems that track and direct daylight
When comparing the cost of a passive system (fixed skylight, light shelf, etc) against an active (exterior solar control, tracking skylight, etc) system it is important to include all the variables that contribute to ultimate performance. For example, active daylighting systems can provide up to nine times more light than a passive system and spreads light more evenly over a wider area saving valuable energy costs.
In the end, the most effective daylighting scheme is going to rely on both passive and active as well as interior and exterior systems, but hopefully this post has given you some ideas for your own analysis.
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