The High Performance Buildings Database is a searchable web resource developed by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to catalog information and data on high-performance, green buildings across the world (but primarily in the United States).
The Database includes information on environmental aspects and energy use, as well as other business aspects (i.e. financial information) on many of the buildings.
The following are a few of my favorites:
Building: 20 River Terrace – The Solaire
Location: New York, NY
Photo credit: Jeff Goldberg / ESTO |
This unique building was built in a landfill directly adjacent to the site of the former World Trade Center. It consumes 35% less energy, reduces peak demand for energy by 65%, and requires 50% less potable water than a standard building of its type. Photovoltaic panels generate 5% of the building’s energy demand. In addition to energy and resource use benefits that make it green, the building features ventilation and filtration, humidification/dehumidification for indoor air quality and occupant comfort, maximizes daylighting, and has a unique on-site black-water treatment and reuse system that supplies the building’s toilets and cooling tower. The building utilizes a green roof to reduce urban heat island effects and to improve energy performance, along with a rooftop garden – both supplied with water by a stormwater catchment system. More than 65% of the building’s materials were sourced within a 500-mile radius and 19% contain recycled content. The materials are formaldehyde free and low-VOC. Most of the construction waste for the project was recycled.
Go, go NYC.
Building: Argonne Child Development Center
Location: San Francisco, CA
Photo credit: David Bushnell |
San Francisco’s first solar-powered school, Argonne shares a site with San Francisco's largest community garden. The school building creates a new concept of classroom by incorporating these gardens into the design. In addition to photovoltaics, the building incorporates daylighting strategies, natural ventilation, and recycled and low-VOC material selection. The building requires no cooling system and minimal heating, and the classrooms can be used almost year-round without the need for artificial lighting.
Talk about teaching through example.
Building: Factor 10 House (F10)
Location: Chicago, IL
Photo credit: Doug Snower Photography |
The City of Chicago Departments of Environment and Housing sponsored a national competition in 2000 to identify interesting strategies to incorporate green building practices into their “New Homes for Chicago” program. This design was one of five selected to be built as a case study for affordable, sustainable design.
The building incorporates modular design and is named Factor 10 because it “strives to reduce life-cycle environmental impacts by a factor of 10 compared to the average home built in America today.” Daylighting strategies, a solar chimney (to bring in additional natural light), and innovative window strategies reduce the need for artificial lighting. A green roof minimizes stormwater runoff and improves energy efficiency. The mechanical systems in the home have been minimized through the use of a thermal-mass wall (made of water bottles) to retain heat in the winter and an innovative chimney that pulls hot air up in the summer and warm air down in the winter. Materials used in the home include fly-ash concrete, sustainable wood, cork floors, carpet made from recycled soda bottles, fiber-cement siding, low-VOC paints, and cellulose insulation made from recycled paper.
