Friday, December 19, 2008
Check out our progress 24/7
Our friends at Butz/Burkey Construction have installed a webcam atop the Goggleworks. Now, you can watch the progress of our building project 24/7. To check it out, click here.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Congratulations Bill
It's probably no surprise that the people involved in the design of our building are involved in other community issues as well.
This week, Berks Women in Crisis presented The Voices for Change Award to Bill Vitale of Designworks, the local architect for our building. The award is presented annually to one or more individuals or organizations whose work has made a significant contribution to further the mission of Berks Women in Crisis: to provide supportive services for victims and eliminate domestic and sexual violence in Berks County.
Bill has been a supporter of and done work for BWIC for over twenty years, including the design of The Emma Lazarus Place, BWIC’s long-term transitional housing complex and Emma’s Place, the agency’s child development center, built in 1999. Currently, Bill is working on preliminary plans for a new BWIC facility that will bring most of the agency’s services together under one roof.
Congratulations Bill.
This week, Berks Women in Crisis presented The Voices for Change Award to Bill Vitale of Designworks, the local architect for our building. The award is presented annually to one or more individuals or organizations whose work has made a significant contribution to further the mission of Berks Women in Crisis: to provide supportive services for victims and eliminate domestic and sexual violence in Berks County.
Bill has been a supporter of and done work for BWIC for over twenty years, including the design of The Emma Lazarus Place, BWIC’s long-term transitional housing complex and Emma’s Place, the agency’s child development center, built in 1999. Currently, Bill is working on preliminary plans for a new BWIC facility that will bring most of the agency’s services together under one roof.
Congratulations Bill.
BCTV
Don't forget to watch the archived versions of Heidi Williamson's BCTV show Building Green. They're available on the web and really quite good. Last week they focused on some of the mechanical systems....a key part of making the building more environmentally and energy friendly.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Score so far: 191 to 0
One of the challenges of undertaking a building that treats the environment differently than we have in the past is to minimize the impact of construction waste. In the past, construction waste went straight to landfills with little consideration given to reuse or recycling.
Not at our building. Our goal is to divert 75% of the waste from the site away from landfills and toward a more productive use. Butz Burkey has hired Construction Waste Management to manage that process for us and the first report is in.
To date, we've removed 191 tons of waste from the site. Here's how much went to landfills.......ZERO! So far, not a single piece of waste has gone into a landfill.
Most of what has been removed has been "rubble". The asphalt that was torn up was sent to E.J. Breneman and was recycled into new asphalt. The concrete from the old sidewalks was buried in a farmers field as part of a project to regrade a field to make it useful for cultivation.
191 tons of waste and not one ounce to a landfill so far! Congratulations to the whole team for that accomplishment.
Not at our building. Our goal is to divert 75% of the waste from the site away from landfills and toward a more productive use. Butz Burkey has hired Construction Waste Management to manage that process for us and the first report is in.
To date, we've removed 191 tons of waste from the site. Here's how much went to landfills.......ZERO! So far, not a single piece of waste has gone into a landfill.
Most of what has been removed has been "rubble". The asphalt that was torn up was sent to E.J. Breneman and was recycled into new asphalt. The concrete from the old sidewalks was buried in a farmers field as part of a project to regrade a field to make it useful for cultivation.
191 tons of waste and not one ounce to a landfill so far! Congratulations to the whole team for that accomplishment.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Something we didn't think about......
As we thought about the economic justification for building a green building, we were able to quantify the value of energy savings due to the improved design of the buildings. For instance, we know that our energy bill will be at least $20,000 a year less than it would have been in a standard design building. That makes the decision to integrate green building design into our project a "no brainer".
But at a meeting of foundations last week, former Vice President Al Gore dropped by to talk about the emerging economic changes that are occurring globally as a result of the imperative to decrease carbon emissions. Gore urged us to look at our investment portfolios for "hidden carbon liabilities". "How many companies in your portfolio have business models based on the idea that it's free to dump billions of tons of carbon dioxide in the air? How confident are you that the world will continue to allow that? What will be the impact on these companies?"
Gore and his business partner David Blood (they co-founded Generation Investments) made a compelling argument that considering carbon emissions in investment decisions is no longer a social imperative, but a business one as well. They believe that the market value of companies that depend on the right to dump carbon at will may be wildly overstated. One can only imagine that this will lead to price increases on goods and services from these companies (particularly energy providers) as they absorb the costs of alternative methods of disposing of carbon.
If they're right, and I suspect they may well be, the decision to build a green building may be an even better business call than we might have thought.
But at a meeting of foundations last week, former Vice President Al Gore dropped by to talk about the emerging economic changes that are occurring globally as a result of the imperative to decrease carbon emissions. Gore urged us to look at our investment portfolios for "hidden carbon liabilities". "How many companies in your portfolio have business models based on the idea that it's free to dump billions of tons of carbon dioxide in the air? How confident are you that the world will continue to allow that? What will be the impact on these companies?"
Gore and his business partner David Blood (they co-founded Generation Investments) made a compelling argument that considering carbon emissions in investment decisions is no longer a social imperative, but a business one as well. They believe that the market value of companies that depend on the right to dump carbon at will may be wildly overstated. One can only imagine that this will lead to price increases on goods and services from these companies (particularly energy providers) as they absorb the costs of alternative methods of disposing of carbon.
If they're right, and I suspect they may well be, the decision to build a green building may be an even better business call than we might have thought.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Congratulations to Berks County's newest LEED AP
Congratulations to Berks County's newest LEED AP The US Green Building Council doesn't just accredit buildings, it accredits people as well. The LEED AP (Accredited Professional) accreditation is awarded to professionals in the design and construction industries. To achieve this prestigious credential, they must pass a rigorous test measuring their knowledge of green building technology.
Congratulations to Eric Burkey of Burkey Construction. Eric passed his test last week and now adds to the capacity of Berks County to start building smarter, more efficient buildings.
Congratulations to Eric Burkey of Burkey Construction. Eric passed his test last week and now adds to the capacity of Berks County to start building smarter, more efficient buildings.
Friday, November 14, 2008
FSC Certified Wood
The US Green Building Council' s Materials and Resources Technical Advisory Group requires that FSC-certified wood be used throughout a green home.
What does FSC mean?
In 1992 at the Earth Summit held in Rio, the attendees focused on threats to the world's natural resources. Land use and climate changes, combined with pollution, war, poverty, and cultural practices, threatened and continue to devastate resources such as minerals, water, forests, and air.
While very little was accomplished at that conference, there was one significant outcome. In 1993 a group of scientists, environmentalists, foresters, economists, and sociologists convened and formed the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC is a non-governmental, non-profit organization established "to promote the responsible management of the world's forests and to improve forest management worldwide."
The international headquarters of FSC are located in Bonn, Germany and there are national offices in over forty countries. In 1995, FSC-US was created as the American chapter of FSC and its headquarters are located in Washington, D.C. FSC has established standards for forest management that are recognized in 57 countries.
In April 2008, the Unites States Green Building Council (which sets the standards required for a structure to be LEED-certified) issued very specific guidelines for builders to use related to lumber.
All of the wood being used in our green home is FSC-labeled and certified according to these regulations. That wood originated in FSC-certified forests and has not been mixed with non-FSC wood or wood products. From the framing to the cabinetry, all the wood must pass these standards.
It is logical to assume that a world-wide system of well-managed forests will continue to provide that natural resource to future generations. It is the responsibility of all of us to insist on only using FSC-certified wood for all home improvement projects and new construction.
What does FSC mean?
In 1992 at the Earth Summit held in Rio, the attendees focused on threats to the world's natural resources. Land use and climate changes, combined with pollution, war, poverty, and cultural practices, threatened and continue to devastate resources such as minerals, water, forests, and air.
While very little was accomplished at that conference, there was one significant outcome. In 1993 a group of scientists, environmentalists, foresters, economists, and sociologists convened and formed the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC is a non-governmental, non-profit organization established "to promote the responsible management of the world's forests and to improve forest management worldwide."
The international headquarters of FSC are located in Bonn, Germany and there are national offices in over forty countries. In 1995, FSC-US was created as the American chapter of FSC and its headquarters are located in Washington, D.C. FSC has established standards for forest management that are recognized in 57 countries.
In April 2008, the Unites States Green Building Council (which sets the standards required for a structure to be LEED-certified) issued very specific guidelines for builders to use related to lumber.
All of the wood being used in our green home is FSC-labeled and certified according to these regulations. That wood originated in FSC-certified forests and has not been mixed with non-FSC wood or wood products. From the framing to the cabinetry, all the wood must pass these standards.
It is logical to assume that a world-wide system of well-managed forests will continue to provide that natural resource to future generations. It is the responsibility of all of us to insist on only using FSC-certified wood for all home improvement projects and new construction.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
And suddenly, there were walls.......
Yesterday, over the course of a few brief hours, walls went up that formed the foundation for the building. In a move that reduced concrete use by about 75%, we installed a relatively new product called Superior Walls, a prefabricated wall product. It's less expensive than concrete foundation walls, uses much less material and has a higher "R-Value" which will give us better energy savings.The walls came pre-made, and simply slid into place between the columns that Burkey Construction had already erected. Large bolts will hold them in place and the team from Burkey will caulk and waterseal the seams today.
This is one of those learning experiences. On the other side of town, Carolyn and Jerry Holleran are using Superior Walls for their new home. And it looks like a great choice for residential use.
Our design team probably wouldn't use them again. It seems like our building may be the first commercial use of them and there were extensive design and engineering challenges in getting them integrated into our building.
We have a great design and engineering team, and we know that the walls will ultimately serve us well, but they didn't save time on this project.
It's a lesson learned, but boy........was it cool watching them being installed.
It's a lesson learned, but boy........was it cool watching them being installed.
Stop by the site at 3rd and Court Streets to check them out.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Congratulations Penn State!
Congratulations to Penn State for their decision to build a LEED certified building at the Berks Campus!
Education buildings, both by higher education institutions and by public schools set a tone for the rest of the community. Penn State is joining a few other educational institutions in setting a leadership tone for the community.
Here's hoping that the other school districts and colleges will join in!
Education buildings, both by higher education institutions and by public schools set a tone for the rest of the community. Penn State is joining a few other educational institutions in setting a leadership tone for the community.
Here's hoping that the other school districts and colleges will join in!
Monday, October 27, 2008
As part of our effort to educate people about the green building process, our friends at VA Productions have been filming various aspects of the construction for a video we'll release at the end of the process. Last week, they filmed the installation of our rainwater retention cistern and we're excited to be able to share that video with you.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
It's HOW big?
On Tuesday, we added one of the most innovative green features to our building when an operator of a huge crane assembled and placed the cistern in what will be the basement of the building.In an effort to limit the amount of water that we use unnecessarily, we're installing a stormwater capture system. In short, all of the water that lands on the roof will be collected and piped to our basement. It will be used to flush the toilets and, if necessary, irrigate the landscaping. The only water we'll be drawing from the City of Reading system will be from our taps.
In total, this will be an 85% reduction in water usage. Obviously, that number would be different in a residential setting, but the ongoing cost savings are huge.
To hold that much water, the folks from Modern Precast Concrete made us a special cistern. Installed in two parts, the assembled cistern is seventeen feet long, seven feet wide and nine and a half feet deep. It will hold an astounding five thousand gallons of water, enough to guarantee that we will always have an adequate supply.
In total, the cistern weighs almost twenty six tons, or about as much as ten African elephants!
Each year, about forty eight inches of rain will fall on the site that we occupy. We had two choices about what to do with that rain. We could do what most buildings do: Develop an expensive system to flush it into the Schuylkill River and then go buy new water. Alternatively, we could capture the free water and use it. We thought it made sense to use the free water!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Avoiding the Landfill
One of the most important goals of building green is to prevent any natural and man-made material from being dumped into a landfill. Therefore, one must carefully manage all waste that accumulates during the building process.
When we cleared our lot we had to remove nine trees: seven ash trees and two walnut trees. Our project manager, Mike Micozzi, located a company that would transport the ash trees to an Amish carpenter located in Lancaster County who plans to use the ash lumber to make wooden wheelbarrow handles. Of course, it is also very desirable to have any waste turned into a useful product.
Notice that the trees were kept within a local mileage radius of the house as well because wherever possible we try to not have high transportation costs or use more fuel than necessary. The walnut trees have gone to a local mill to be made into lumber and the branches will become mulch, which we will use in the landscape. We must plant nine trees on our lot to replace the nine trees we removed.
Our lot contained big limestone boulders. Fortunately, the excavators did not have to blast to remove the rock from the area where the foundation of the house was being laid. However, we accumulated a very large pile of huge boulders and large rocks. We are using that stone to build a support wall in the rear of the house. In the picture you can see how that natural material is being reused. No fuel has been used to transport it to another site.
In addition, all the waste from packaging is being placed in a special dumpster to be taken to a local recycling center. Scrap wood is also being properly recycled in this area. There is truly an extraordinary effort to find uses for all these materials that will not be used in the house construction.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Local Resources
During the course of our project, we've discovered a few businesses right here in Berks County who are leading the way in green design, construction or materials. We thought it might be a good idea to highlight them and, as we find more, we'll add more.
Misco Products produces cleaning chemicals, including an environmentally friendly line. They're located in Leesport.
C.H. Briggs is a distributor of hardware and has an environmentally friendly products division. Their Chair is our former Chair (and a great supporter of our building), Julia Klein.
Ethosource is a recycler and seller of office furniture and systems.
We've relied on the guidance and advice of the Seven Group, located in Kutztown. They provide consulting services for owners and developers of green buildings.
Burkey Construction (our construction managers) are putting their first green building under their belt and eager to take on more.
Two architecture firms that we know of, DesignWorks (part of our team) and Olsen Design Group have made a committment to green building design as well.
As we find others, we'll highlight them.
Misco Products produces cleaning chemicals, including an environmentally friendly line. They're located in Leesport.
C.H. Briggs is a distributor of hardware and has an environmentally friendly products division. Their Chair is our former Chair (and a great supporter of our building), Julia Klein.
Ethosource is a recycler and seller of office furniture and systems.
We've relied on the guidance and advice of the Seven Group, located in Kutztown. They provide consulting services for owners and developers of green buildings.
Burkey Construction (our construction managers) are putting their first green building under their belt and eager to take on more.
Two architecture firms that we know of, DesignWorks (part of our team) and Olsen Design Group have made a committment to green building design as well.
As we find others, we'll highlight them.
Monday, October 6, 2008
If the schools don't get smart, who will?
Only two Berks County School Districts have adopted green building technology (Wilson and Twin Valley) and only Kutztown University and Albright have made significant commitments to green buildings (though Alvernia is doing some recycling on its construction site).
When I ask education administrators why they’re not adopting environmentally friendly and energy efficient building technologies, they almost always say “ because it costs more”.
So I always say: “More than what?”
And no one’s ever answered that question.
It used to be true that there was a “green premium" for building green buildings, at least as it relates to what are called “first costs”—another way of saying “construction and design costs”.
But improvements in technology and the increased availability of better building materials have made even that first cost premium go away, leaving the building owner free to just enjoy reduced operating costs.
But schools and colleges shouldn’t take my word for it.
The Davis Langdon study "The Cost of Green Revisited 2007" was unable to find any correlation between green design and higher construction costs in academic buildings . An October 2006 study "Greening America's Schools: Costs and Benefits" by Capital E found a modest (about 1.7%) green premium in construction cost that, depending on regional energy costs, was recaptured in a very short time given an average reduction of 30% in electricity utilization. The Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate estimates that electric rates will increase 51% when the rate caps come off in 2010 or 2011 (depending on the service territory). At that point, the reduced operating costs of a green building will be deeply appreciated by the taxpayers (or tuition payers).
In the Capital E study, the authors noted a growing body of research that (after controlling for demographics) putting students in green schools results in about a 15% decrease in absenteeism (this is consistent with similar data from office environment studies).
Green schools are demonstrating increases in student standardized test scores of between three and five percentage points. One school we funded (the Clearview Elementary School in Hanover) found a documented (this was a PhD Dissertation) increase in Oral Reading Fluency Scores of 19%. Same kids. Better school.
If the schools don't get smart, who will? It's time for education to start providing some leadership in the area of building better buildings.
When I ask education administrators why they’re not adopting environmentally friendly and energy efficient building technologies, they almost always say “ because it costs more”.
So I always say: “More than what?”
And no one’s ever answered that question.
It used to be true that there was a “green premium" for building green buildings, at least as it relates to what are called “first costs”—another way of saying “construction and design costs”.
But improvements in technology and the increased availability of better building materials have made even that first cost premium go away, leaving the building owner free to just enjoy reduced operating costs.
But schools and colleges shouldn’t take my word for it.
The Davis Langdon study "The Cost of Green Revisited 2007" was unable to find any correlation between green design and higher construction costs in academic buildings . An October 2006 study "Greening America's Schools: Costs and Benefits" by Capital E found a modest (about 1.7%) green premium in construction cost that, depending on regional energy costs, was recaptured in a very short time given an average reduction of 30% in electricity utilization. The Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate estimates that electric rates will increase 51% when the rate caps come off in 2010 or 2011 (depending on the service territory). At that point, the reduced operating costs of a green building will be deeply appreciated by the taxpayers (or tuition payers).
In the Capital E study, the authors noted a growing body of research that (after controlling for demographics) putting students in green schools results in about a 15% decrease in absenteeism (this is consistent with similar data from office environment studies).
Green schools are demonstrating increases in student standardized test scores of between three and five percentage points. One school we funded (the Clearview Elementary School in Hanover) found a documented (this was a PhD Dissertation) increase in Oral Reading Fluency Scores of 19%. Same kids. Better school.
If the schools don't get smart, who will? It's time for education to start providing some leadership in the area of building better buildings.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Awesome space available.
Anyone who's been following the progress of our building knows that the first floor will be a "Community Conference Center" with state of the art meeting space available to community groups. The second floor will house The Community Foundation's offices. So, what's going to happen with the third floor? You could be the answer to that question.
We're building a third floor on the building for two reasons. First, the surrounding buildings required that we construct a building of at least three stories to fit in with the environment. A two story building just wouldn't have looked right on that site. Secondly, while it's a long time from now, we expect that someday The Community Foundation's growth will require that we expand into that space.
In the meantime, there is 3,800 square feet of what will be (easily) the nicest office space in downtown Reading. With a fantastic location, easy access to parking and all the benefits of being in a green building, (and a hot dog vendor out front) the space provides an unique opportunity for a small business or professional firm to distinguish itself in the market. The space even looks out over the largest part of the green roof, providing a view that won't be available anywhere else in Berks County.
So, if you're interested in learning more, contact Franki Aitken at 610-685-2223
We're building a third floor on the building for two reasons. First, the surrounding buildings required that we construct a building of at least three stories to fit in with the environment. A two story building just wouldn't have looked right on that site. Secondly, while it's a long time from now, we expect that someday The Community Foundation's growth will require that we expand into that space.
In the meantime, there is 3,800 square feet of what will be (easily) the nicest office space in downtown Reading. With a fantastic location, easy access to parking and all the benefits of being in a green building, (and a hot dog vendor out front) the space provides an unique opportunity for a small business or professional firm to distinguish itself in the market. The space even looks out over the largest part of the green roof, providing a view that won't be available anywhere else in Berks County.
So, if you're interested in learning more, contact Franki Aitken at 610-685-2223
Friday, October 3, 2008
Channel 69 Coverage
Our friends at Channel 69 have been great about covering the progress on the building, which is next door to their studio. Check out last night's story by clicking here: http://wfmz.com/view/?id=509233
Thursday, October 2, 2008
I'd like to share some of the resources I've found to be helpful, especially in learning about products and processes to implement in a "green" home. The following books and publications have been very helpful:
Books:
Lamp'l, Joe - The Green Gardener's Guide, (Simple, Significant Actions to Protect and Preserve our Planet)
Riley, Trish - The Compete Idiot's Guide to Green Living, (Earth-saving Solutions for Every Part of Your Life)
Wilson, Alex - Your Green Home (A Guide to Planning a Healthy, Environmentally Friendly New Home)
Periodicals:
Ecohome - www.ecohomemagazine.com
Green Builder - www.greenbuildermag.com
Mother Earth News - www.MotherEarthNews.com
Natural Home - www.NaturalHomeMagazine.com
National Geographic Green Guide - www.TheGreenGuide.com
This Old House - www.thisoldhouse.com
I've found all of this publications to be very helpful, and I look forward to getting them in the mail. They all have many creative ideas for anyone trying to make some efforts to live green. There are so many inexpensive ways for individuals to help to protect our planet and to live in a healthy environment.
Carolyn
Books:
Lamp'l, Joe - The Green Gardener's Guide, (Simple, Significant Actions to Protect and Preserve our Planet)
Riley, Trish - The Compete Idiot's Guide to Green Living, (Earth-saving Solutions for Every Part of Your Life)
Wilson, Alex - Your Green Home (A Guide to Planning a Healthy, Environmentally Friendly New Home)
Periodicals:
Ecohome - www.ecohomemagazine.com
Green Builder - www.greenbuildermag.com
Mother Earth News - www.MotherEarthNews.com
Natural Home - www.NaturalHomeMagazine.com
National Geographic Green Guide - www.TheGreenGuide.com
This Old House - www.thisoldhouse.com
I've found all of this publications to be very helpful, and I look forward to getting them in the mail. They all have many creative ideas for anyone trying to make some efforts to live green. There are so many inexpensive ways for individuals to help to protect our planet and to live in a healthy environment.
Carolyn
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The Only Building with Its Own TV Show
Join our Vice President for Communications Heidi Williamson and her guests as she hosts a monthly TV show on BCTV focusing on the progress of our building project and various aspects of the green building movement. Shows are archived on the BCTV website and the most recent episode (focusing on material selection) can be viewed here: http://bctv.org/WatchArchive.aspx?id=383
Check your TV program guide for times and dates on this show, which repeats throughout the month. And remember, this has got to be the only building with its own regular TV show!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Hot Dogs and Construction Supervision
Believe it or not, one of the most frequently asked questions about our building project is "What will happen to the hot dog man?"
For six years, Percy Price has been located at the northwest corner of 3rd and Court Streets selling hot dogs, hamburgers and sodas to neighboring office workers and hungry travelers using the bus station. He's as much a part of the landscape as the fire station. When construction started on the building, he had to relocate across the street (in front of the bus station) as the construction fencing encompasses the sidewalk.
Those of you who came to the groundbreaking remember that we had Percy cater it.....providing hot dogs and hamburgers to all who attended.
From his new perch, Percy can view the construction process as it unfolds. In fact, when I want to know how things are "really" going on the site......I ask him.
So when we got ready to start construction, Percy asked Franki Aitken, our Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration, if he could return to his corner after construction. Franki decided that it would be great to have a hot dog vendor in front of the building.....but cautioned Percy that our staff is a pretty health conscious bunch.
So, when the building opens next summer, Percy will be right outside the front door, but with the addition of "Turkey Dogs" to his menu!
For six years, Percy Price has been located at the northwest corner of 3rd and Court Streets selling hot dogs, hamburgers and sodas to neighboring office workers and hungry travelers using the bus station. He's as much a part of the landscape as the fire station. When construction started on the building, he had to relocate across the street (in front of the bus station) as the construction fencing encompasses the sidewalk.
Those of you who came to the groundbreaking remember that we had Percy cater it.....providing hot dogs and hamburgers to all who attended.
From his new perch, Percy can view the construction process as it unfolds. In fact, when I want to know how things are "really" going on the site......I ask him.
So when we got ready to start construction, Percy asked Franki Aitken, our Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration, if he could return to his corner after construction. Franki decided that it would be great to have a hot dog vendor in front of the building.....but cautioned Percy that our staff is a pretty health conscious bunch.
So, when the building opens next summer, Percy will be right outside the front door, but with the addition of "Turkey Dogs" to his menu!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
The neighborhood....and us.
One of the principles that we gave our design team was that we wanted a building that “fit into the neighborhood”. A tough challenge.
The site of our building is across the street from the Chiarelli Parking Garage—a useful, but architecturally uninteresting building. Gleaning clues about architectural style from the bus station or the 3rd and Court firehouse proved equally challenging.
Instead, we looked toward the north and the real bastion of stability in the neighborhood, Zion Baptist Church. Zion Baptist, as I like to say was there when nobody cared. For 103 years, the member of that church have gathered on Sundays in the building for worship. For a long time, before the GoggleWorks, the new parking garages and the Movie Theaters, this little corner of the city was written off……except by Zion Baptist.
So we reached out to the church to form a partnership. We’ve selected materials for the building that complement the church and designed the northern side of our building so that the church doesn’t look at a blank wall.
More importantly, we’ve discussed ways to make the sites work together. The church, for instance, will use the Community Conference Center on Sundays for church programs, relieving some of the pressure that’s built up because of their rapid growth. We’ll also open our small parking lot behind the building to them for services, allowing some of their older members to avoid parking in the garage.
A few years ago, the church acquired and cleared the buildings on the rest of the block. We’ve begun discussing with them ways to work together to redevelop that site---and they may even go green!
But the best part has been the personal relationships we’ve developed. The deacons of the church have been wonderful to work with and graciously accommodating of our need to tie up a small corner of their lot while we’re doing construction. Pastor Raymond Bland, the church’s leader, has been not only a supporter of our work, but become a great friend. And every time I visit, they feed me!
As the building goes up, we’ll continue to work with all of our neighbors to make sure that, as much as possible, we’re adding to the architectural and cultural fabric of downtown Reading.
The site of our building is across the street from the Chiarelli Parking Garage—a useful, but architecturally uninteresting building. Gleaning clues about architectural style from the bus station or the 3rd and Court firehouse proved equally challenging.
Instead, we looked toward the north and the real bastion of stability in the neighborhood, Zion Baptist Church. Zion Baptist, as I like to say was there when nobody cared. For 103 years, the member of that church have gathered on Sundays in the building for worship. For a long time, before the GoggleWorks, the new parking garages and the Movie Theaters, this little corner of the city was written off……except by Zion Baptist.
So we reached out to the church to form a partnership. We’ve selected materials for the building that complement the church and designed the northern side of our building so that the church doesn’t look at a blank wall.
More importantly, we’ve discussed ways to make the sites work together. The church, for instance, will use the Community Conference Center on Sundays for church programs, relieving some of the pressure that’s built up because of their rapid growth. We’ll also open our small parking lot behind the building to them for services, allowing some of their older members to avoid parking in the garage.
A few years ago, the church acquired and cleared the buildings on the rest of the block. We’ve begun discussing with them ways to work together to redevelop that site---and they may even go green!
But the best part has been the personal relationships we’ve developed. The deacons of the church have been wonderful to work with and graciously accommodating of our need to tie up a small corner of their lot while we’re doing construction. Pastor Raymond Bland, the church’s leader, has been not only a supporter of our work, but become a great friend. And every time I visit, they feed me!
As the building goes up, we’ll continue to work with all of our neighbors to make sure that, as much as possible, we’re adding to the architectural and cultural fabric of downtown Reading.
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Green Test
Jerry and I and some of the team members attended the United States Build Green Council Exposition held in Chicago in November 2007 where approximately 800 vendors of "green" products exhibited.
We examined and educated ourselves about many processes and products available to incorporate conservation and sustainability into our home construction.
We, also investigated and studied information available through journals, books, and the internet to continuously gain the knowledge we needed to embark on this journey. Mainly, though, we have relied heavily on our knowledgeable and communicative team members to guide us along the way.
Every decision -- from the management of waste on the building site to the selection of kitchen counter tops -- has gone through what I call the "green" test. In other words, we asked: "Is there a green process or product that we are able to implement instead of the traditional non-green one normally used in home construction?"
Every single decision about building this house has been given the "green" test.
We examined and educated ourselves about many processes and products available to incorporate conservation and sustainability into our home construction.
We, also investigated and studied information available through journals, books, and the internet to continuously gain the knowledge we needed to embark on this journey. Mainly, though, we have relied heavily on our knowledgeable and communicative team members to guide us along the way.
Every decision -- from the management of waste on the building site to the selection of kitchen counter tops -- has gone through what I call the "green" test. In other words, we asked: "Is there a green process or product that we are able to implement instead of the traditional non-green one normally used in home construction?"
Every single decision about building this house has been given the "green" test.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
They're Pouring (Very Green) Concrete!
Any minute now, the construction crews will begin pouring the cement that will form the foundation of the building. This process will take a couple of weeks, but is among the first real “green elements” that we can showcase.
There are three main benefits of using cement with fly ash:
First, it helps divert some of the 37 million tons of fly ash that would otherwise consume space in landfills. Fly ash does nothing good for the environment of landfills and simply takes up space.
Secondly, it helps reduce the volume of Portland Cement required. The production of Portland Cement is highly energy intensive and a major contributor of greenhouse gasses.
Finally, the cement itself is stronger. That makes for a more durable, and reliable, building foundation.
So stop by the corner of
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Green and Lean
My husband, Jerry and I live in a large historic home built in 1840 and situated on approximately 17 acres in Berks County. Since our adult children and grandchildren are living in their own homes in various locations in eastern United States, the time had come for us to move into a more convenient home with much less land.
At the same time we were concerned about our wasted use of essential resources, including energy and water. It seemed unethical for two people to live in an estate property that was not built to conserve valuable resources.
Therefore, we embarked on our "green" adventure which led us to decide to build a LEED certified home. We carefully selected our team of advisers and experts to guide us through the process. I stress the word "team" because it has been a team effort from the very beginning of the project. The members of the team and the companies they represent are as follows:
Kevin K. Ohlinger - Architect
Jim Urso and Michael Micozzi - Associated Construction
Tad Radsinski and Jim McGrath - Sustainable Solutions Corp.
Gary Macglaughlin, Jane Greer and Shannon Jensen - Juxtapose Design
In addition, our son, Steve Najarian, has been an enormous help to us in the planning of our home.
At the same time we were concerned about our wasted use of essential resources, including energy and water. It seemed unethical for two people to live in an estate property that was not built to conserve valuable resources.
Therefore, we embarked on our "green" adventure which led us to decide to build a LEED certified home. We carefully selected our team of advisers and experts to guide us through the process. I stress the word "team" because it has been a team effort from the very beginning of the project. The members of the team and the companies they represent are as follows:
Kevin K. Ohlinger - Architect
Jim Urso and Michael Micozzi - Associated Construction
Tad Radsinski and Jim McGrath - Sustainable Solutions Corp.
Gary Macglaughlin, Jane Greer and Shannon Jensen - Juxtapose Design
In addition, our son, Steve Najarian, has been an enormous help to us in the planning of our home.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Fast Company
There is a great article in this month's Fast Company magazine about Grand Rapids Michigan becoming America's greenest city. That's exactly the kind of change we hope to make here in Berks County.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
The Greening of Southie
Please join us on Thursday Oct. 2, at 8:00 p.m. during Berks Movie Madness at the new IMax theater complex in downtown Reading as Berks County Community Foundation sponsors the local premier of "The Greening of Southie"
Here's a description:
Documentary / Official Selection
Directed by Curt Ellis and Ian Cheney
2008 | 72 min | USA | www.greeningofsouthie.com
What happens when you’re asked to build the city of tomorrow… today? Set on the storied streets of South Boston, The Greening of Southie is a feature documentary about Boston’s first residential green building, and the skeptical workers who are asked to build it. From wheatboard cabinetry to recycled steel, bamboo flooring to dual-flush toilets, The Macallen Building is something different––a leader in the emerging field of environmentally friendly design. But Boston’s steel-toed union workers aren’t sure they like it. And when things on the building start to go wrong, the young developer has to keep the project from unraveling.
Hope to see you there!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Getting there.....with a team.
Somehow, I became the appointed blogger. But for Berks County Community Foundation to have gotten to this point, it took a whole team effort from our staff.
The real point person on this project is Franki Aitken, our Senior Vice President. She's the one who negotiates contracts, settles disputes, checks on the progress and reminds me that there is a budget for technology and that I will not exceed it. Without her juggling skills, the hole you see at 3rd and Court Streets would still be just an idea.
We had to raise a lot of the money for this building. I'll talk about that more later in future posts, but without the communications talent of our Vice President for Marketing, Heidi Williamson there wouldn't have been the support material for the fundraising, we wouldn't have a blog, there wouldn't have been a groundbreaking. In short, there probably would have been a hole in the ground, but you wouldn't have known about it.
Rick Mappin, our Vice President for Grantmaking is our "Green Building Guy". Without his connections in the field of sustainable design and construction I'm not sure any of us would have learned half of what we now know about sustainability. Because of his leadership in the field of sustainable design, we had connections to firms and people that other groups simply don't have.
And all of us rely on a support team that includes Vivi Anthony, Leta Doganes and Sally Ott that make sure the day to day work of The Community Foundation still gets done. And when we do an event like the groundbreaking, it's "all hands on deck" with the support team making sure details like nametags and special meal requests are handled and that, when I leave the office, I actually have a copy of my speech.
Without our Board of Directors, we wouldn't be anywhere close to this far along. They helped raise funds, contributed design ideas and brought valued expertise to a team that's done a lot of things together, but---well---it's the first and probably last time this team will build a building together.
So, I'll keep writing the blogs while the rest of the team makes sure that the project moves forward. But everyone should know when they undertake a project of this scale, it's a team commitment.
The real point person on this project is Franki Aitken, our Senior Vice President. She's the one who negotiates contracts, settles disputes, checks on the progress and reminds me that there is a budget for technology and that I will not exceed it. Without her juggling skills, the hole you see at 3rd and Court Streets would still be just an idea.
We had to raise a lot of the money for this building. I'll talk about that more later in future posts, but without the communications talent of our Vice President for Marketing, Heidi Williamson there wouldn't have been the support material for the fundraising, we wouldn't have a blog, there wouldn't have been a groundbreaking. In short, there probably would have been a hole in the ground, but you wouldn't have known about it.
Rick Mappin, our Vice President for Grantmaking is our "Green Building Guy". Without his connections in the field of sustainable design and construction I'm not sure any of us would have learned half of what we now know about sustainability. Because of his leadership in the field of sustainable design, we had connections to firms and people that other groups simply don't have.
And all of us rely on a support team that includes Vivi Anthony, Leta Doganes and Sally Ott that make sure the day to day work of The Community Foundation still gets done. And when we do an event like the groundbreaking, it's "all hands on deck" with the support team making sure details like nametags and special meal requests are handled and that, when I leave the office, I actually have a copy of my speech.
Without our Board of Directors, we wouldn't be anywhere close to this far along. They helped raise funds, contributed design ideas and brought valued expertise to a team that's done a lot of things together, but---well---it's the first and probably last time this team will build a building together.
So, I'll keep writing the blogs while the rest of the team makes sure that the project moves forward. But everyone should know when they undertake a project of this scale, it's a team commitment.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Building A Building And Capacity
One of the things that became very clear to us as we set out on the effort to build a green office space for The Community Foundation was the lack of experience in the community on this issue. When we started down this path, we were frequently greeted with blank stares by people who weren't really familiar with the idea of an environmentally friendly building that minimized energy use.
As I've said before on this blog, we think the reason nobody ever built a green building in Berks County was that....well.....nobody had ever built a green building. This is a particular challenge for a community foundation that tries, whenever it's possible, to work with companies from our region.
To break this cycle, we reached out to architects across the Mid-Atlantic region who had a strong backgrounds in sustainable design. We knew that, for a lot of reasons, our project would be very attractive to firms specializing in green design so we imposed an unusual requirement: They could submit a proposal to design our building, but they had to do it in partnership with an architecture firm located in Berks County. That's rare for a project this size, but many firms responded.
After an extensive review process we selected the Philadelphia-based firm Re:Vision Architecture. They submitted their proposal in partnership with Reading-based DesignWorks.
What we hoped to do was to make sure that at least one Berks County architecture firm could list a LEED certified building on their resume, leading to more buildings. Today, Re:Vision and DesignWorks are working on another local project, this time with DesignWorks in the lead. It's great to see a plan work.
Fortunately, the same pattern came together for the construction management team. Allentown-based Alvin H. Butz Inc. teamed up with Burkey Construction of Reading to build the building.
These two teams have worked together with incredible dedication. As a client, we've been very dedicated to sustainability, but very, very budget conscious. They've worked through the added challenge of creating these joint ventures and, when our project is done, Berks County will have---for the first time---the capacity to design and construct buildings in a whole new---and far more responsible way.
As I've said before on this blog, we think the reason nobody ever built a green building in Berks County was that....well.....nobody had ever built a green building. This is a particular challenge for a community foundation that tries, whenever it's possible, to work with companies from our region.
To break this cycle, we reached out to architects across the Mid-Atlantic region who had a strong backgrounds in sustainable design. We knew that, for a lot of reasons, our project would be very attractive to firms specializing in green design so we imposed an unusual requirement: They could submit a proposal to design our building, but they had to do it in partnership with an architecture firm located in Berks County. That's rare for a project this size, but many firms responded.
After an extensive review process we selected the Philadelphia-based firm Re:Vision Architecture. They submitted their proposal in partnership with Reading-based DesignWorks.
What we hoped to do was to make sure that at least one Berks County architecture firm could list a LEED certified building on their resume, leading to more buildings. Today, Re:Vision and DesignWorks are working on another local project, this time with DesignWorks in the lead. It's great to see a plan work.
Fortunately, the same pattern came together for the construction management team. Allentown-based Alvin H. Butz Inc. teamed up with Burkey Construction of Reading to build the building.
These two teams have worked together with incredible dedication. As a client, we've been very dedicated to sustainability, but very, very budget conscious. They've worked through the added challenge of creating these joint ventures and, when our project is done, Berks County will have---for the first time---the capacity to design and construct buildings in a whole new---and far more responsible way.
Friday, September 12, 2008
If we build it........
In the business of making grants to improve communities, we often talk about the "theory of change". That's really industry jargon for a "bet". Our bets are that if we do "x", then "y" will happen. One of the things we wanted to do in Berks County is to change the way buildings are built. We know that buildings account for 40% of all energy consumption in the United States and all across the country, people and organizations have been changing the way they construct buildings to make them more energy efficient in their construction and operations and to lessen their overall environmental impact. There are already 1,705 buildings with LEED certification and another 13,741 in the planning process. This is not a small movement.
So, why not here? Why was Berks County so slow to change the way it builds buildings?
This is where Theory of Change thinking starts to formulate. After talking to lots of people, we concluded that nobody had ever built a LEED certified building because........nobody had ever built a LEED certified building. When we talked with folks in the local design and construction community, we heard all the old (wrong) stuff: "You can't do it around here....the codes won't permit it"; "It costs 'more'/it's too expensive"; "It's harder to build that way".
So, our theory of change simply was: If we build the first one, others will follow. So we did. And others are following: Opportunity House has committed to a green expansion for their facility. Albright College's new science building will seek LEED certification. Alvernia College, while not seeking LEED certification is changing the way it undertakes its next construction project to be more environmentally friendly. And we've talked with at least four other groups who have asked for information on how we're doing it, including at least one organization planning a series of very large buildings.
It looks like we're winning our bet.
So, why not here? Why was Berks County so slow to change the way it builds buildings?
This is where Theory of Change thinking starts to formulate. After talking to lots of people, we concluded that nobody had ever built a LEED certified building because........nobody had ever built a LEED certified building. When we talked with folks in the local design and construction community, we heard all the old (wrong) stuff: "You can't do it around here....the codes won't permit it"; "It costs 'more'/it's too expensive"; "It's harder to build that way".
So, our theory of change simply was: If we build the first one, others will follow. So we did. And others are following: Opportunity House has committed to a green expansion for their facility. Albright College's new science building will seek LEED certification. Alvernia College, while not seeking LEED certification is changing the way it undertakes its next construction project to be more environmentally friendly. And we've talked with at least four other groups who have asked for information on how we're doing it, including at least one organization planning a series of very large buildings.
It looks like we're winning our bet.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Where did the trees go?
Last week, they tore the trees out on the south side of our site. Yes, we think it's ironic that the first thing we had to do to build an environmentally friendly building was to remove the existing trees. The problem is that they were the wrong type of trees, with shallow root systems that caused the sidewalks to buckle.
What will go up in their place (toward the end of construction) are trees better suited to an urban environment, with root systems that extend deep, but straight down. And the trees play an important role in energy management.
In the summer months, when we want to block more of the sunlight coming into the building from our important southern exposure, the leaves on the trees will limit the light (and therefore the heat) that enters the windows. Conversely, in the winter months come and we want as much of that heat and light as we can, there won't be leaves on the trees so we'll be able to take maximum advantage of that heat gain. This is just one more part of smartly designing a building.
An interesting side note: Our trees were taken to a wood recycling facility where they were shredded. Much of the wood from that shredding plant will be used to fire a biofuels energy plant at United Corrstacks in South Reading. That plant was developed in part with funding from our Metropolitan Edison Company Sustainable Energy Fund. Not only does it provide electricity for the plant from environmentally friendly biomass products, it helped create jobs for city residents.
It was also interesting for us to note that, while the LEED standards require a high level of recycling on the site, they're silent on recycling trees (nothing's perfect). Nevertheless, we think we found a win/win way to move our project forward, while making the best, most environmentally sensitive decisions available.
In the end, the important thing about green building design is that it forces you to THINK about your options.
Welcome
Welcome to the Building Green in Berks blog.
We're going to share the journey of constructing the first two LEED -certified buildings in our region.
Carolyn and Jerry Holleran have graciously agreed to share their story as they build an energy efficient and environmentally friendly home, while we at Berks County Community Foundation build our area’s first green office building.
Why’d we do it?
Well, we needed a home for The Community Foundation. We’re growing rapidly and we’re running out of space in the building that has housed us for the past decade. But the choice to grow into a green space really preceded all other decisions. We felt it was important for several reasons.
First, we need to lead.
Berks County dramatically lags other regions in adopting green building technology. Someone needed to break the log-jam and take the plunge. We think the reason no one has ever built a green building here is that, well, no one has ever built a green building. In ten years, all buildings will be constructed this way, but the Community Foundation has a special obligation to provide leadership.
Since we stepped forward, several other organizations committed using green elements in their construction. More than 300 people attended our official groundbreaking ceremony in June, which tells us something about the excitement surrounding this project.
In other words, we’re already on our way to creating a green building revolution in Berks County.
Second, it’s a smart move financially.
Green Building no longer costs "more". Sure, you’ll still hear architects and builders who don’t want to change their old ways claim that it does, but the research just doesn’t bear that out. Our building will save us hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of dollars over its lifetime, making it a wise financial investment for an organization that manages permanent endowments.
Finally, climate change is a global problem with local solutions.
Communities cannot afford to sit back and wait for "Washington" or "Harrisburg" to address the problems of the energy crisis and climate change. People don’t live "on the globe"; they live in communities. Our building is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to educate our region about ways that all of us can work together to preserve the environment…..and our way of life.
So check back often, we’ll be updating this blog all the time as our two projects progress. And don’t forget to tune into BCTV every month for Building Green, a half-hour show featuring architects Bill Vitale of Designworks Architects and Alex Vondeling of Re:Vision Architects. Show archives are available online.
Kevin Murphy
President
Berks County Community Foundation
We're going to share the journey of constructing the first two LEED -certified buildings in our region.
Carolyn and Jerry Holleran have graciously agreed to share their story as they build an energy efficient and environmentally friendly home, while we at Berks County Community Foundation build our area’s first green office building.
Why’d we do it?
Well, we needed a home for The Community Foundation. We’re growing rapidly and we’re running out of space in the building that has housed us for the past decade. But the choice to grow into a green space really preceded all other decisions. We felt it was important for several reasons.
First, we need to lead.
Berks County dramatically lags other regions in adopting green building technology. Someone needed to break the log-jam and take the plunge. We think the reason no one has ever built a green building here is that, well, no one has ever built a green building. In ten years, all buildings will be constructed this way, but the Community Foundation has a special obligation to provide leadership.
Since we stepped forward, several other organizations committed using green elements in their construction. More than 300 people attended our official groundbreaking ceremony in June, which tells us something about the excitement surrounding this project.
In other words, we’re already on our way to creating a green building revolution in Berks County.
Second, it’s a smart move financially.
Green Building no longer costs "more". Sure, you’ll still hear architects and builders who don’t want to change their old ways claim that it does, but the research just doesn’t bear that out. Our building will save us hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of dollars over its lifetime, making it a wise financial investment for an organization that manages permanent endowments.
Finally, climate change is a global problem with local solutions.
Communities cannot afford to sit back and wait for "Washington" or "Harrisburg" to address the problems of the energy crisis and climate change. People don’t live "on the globe"; they live in communities. Our building is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to educate our region about ways that all of us can work together to preserve the environment…..and our way of life.
So check back often, we’ll be updating this blog all the time as our two projects progress. And don’t forget to tune into BCTV every month for Building Green, a half-hour show featuring architects Bill Vitale of Designworks Architects and Alex Vondeling of Re:Vision Architects. Show archives are available online.
Kevin Murphy
President
Berks County Community Foundation
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
