Green Engineering Charette Meeting Minutes
Present:
1. Green Engineer Charette
Mr. Senecal introduced Carrie Havey and Erik Ruoff, Project Engineers with the Green Engineer, LLP, a green building design consulting firm.
Mr. Senecal said that the Committee was in the process of evaluating the conditions of the existing school and conducting a site review of a parcel of land off Bullard Street and the existing school site for potential building sites in order to determine the best building option(s) for the Town. It is important to consider green/sustainable building design for either a renovation or new construction. The school will be designed for approximately 800 students and 50 faculty members.
Mr. Ruoff explained the triple bottom line considered when incorporating green design building principles: people, profit and planet. He said it is important to build a safe, healthy and productive school, be mindful of money, and make considerations that are good for the planet. A green design means it is safe and healthy, resource efficient, flexible and adaptable, and durable and maintainable. It is also important to build a school that will benefit the community for many years to come and adapt to changing uses and technology.
Items discussed were carbon footprint (water/materials/building systems/traffic/transport/
Mr. Ruoff and Ms. Havey explained the MA-CHPS = Massachusetts Collaborative for High Performance Schools green certification program. The program has been tailored for MA schools to design a green building and incorporate green policies in the whole building (green building + green teaching + green cleaning, etc.). Criteria involved in the MA-CHPS program include site, water, energy, materials & waste management, indoor air quality, operations and management and integration and innovation. A certain number of points must be obtained in these categories in order to qualify for MSBA reimbursement (Verified Status is 40 points/new - 35 points/ renovation and Verified Leader Status is 50 points new - 45 points/renovation).
LEED is another type of accredited national green building program that would also qualify the building project for green reimbursement from the MSBA.
Mr. Senecal said LPA is LEED’s certified. However most schools it designs are MA-CHPS certified. He said the MA-CHPS process is very straightforward. The client picks the objectives or “points” the project wants to achieve and the project is built to those standards. Mr. Ruoff said that the documentation for MA-CHPS is more work up front. However, once the points are selected, the plan is easy to follow.
The Committee and LPA will discuss the two green certification programs at its next meeting in order to determine which one is the better fit for the Mountview project.
The group participated in an exercise to generate important building goals and ideas for the final building design. Suggestions included bringing the project in on time and on/under budget, obtaining a 2% MA-CHPS reimbursement, designing a green, energy efficient school with sunshine in every window and the ability to harvest the sunshine, construction of a “fabulous” looking windmill on the property, improved traffic flow, construction of a school that is an asset to the school and community, a final design that interacts with students and staff, a building that operates at a low, “off the grid” energy level, and is made from renewable materials.
The group reviewed the MA CHPS Project Checklist Matrix.
Mr. Brassard, Site Engineering Subcontractor commented that making the right choices at the beginning will help to integrate the whole process. He said that there are enough options available on the project checklist that will allow a successfully green designed school to be built on either site.
The group discussed potential hurdles regarding a possible renovation. Mr. Seaman, Mechanical Engineering Subcontractor discussed the current HVAC problems in the school involving the aging equipment. He said that the Sherwood Middle School in Shrewsbury, designed by LPA contained a dehumidifying system that will keep the building cooler while qualifying it for MA-CHPS points. Additionally, there are significant plumbing failures and hazardous waste materials in the building. Mold, mildew, and asbestos testing are ongoing.
Mr. Senecal said the shell of the building was not environmentally or structurally within code. The current roof will not support new HVAC system. There is no insulation in the building and an extreme lack of windows. The walls are rigid and there is no ceiling headroom, which will make renovation very difficult.
Mr. Rawji, Electrical Subcontractor informed the group that all electrical systems in the building are out of date/code and will require 100% replacement. The pone system is also obsolete.
Mr. Githmark reported that during the winter months, teachers are constantly blowing fuses and overloading the electrical system, which generate safety concerns. Many times the single outlet in each classroom is so hot, they must wait for it to cool down before it is usable. Mr. Rawji said new LED lighting and daylight harvesting will improve the energy requirements of the building significantly. His designs conform to MA-CHPS guidelines. Mr. Githmark also added that classroom size (too small) and control of air temperature and lack of air flow/movement are problems.
Town Manager Nancy Galkowski asked that energy costs be considered in the new building – with added technology, operating costs are bound to rise. Mr. Ruoff said this factor is taken into consideration. Energy costs can be contained through the purchase of energy star products. Ms. Galkowski also asked if there was a way to capture water on site for irrigation use. Mr. Brassard said stormwater could be connected to a drip irrigation system. Field irrigation would require a large amount of water storage and electrical service. Many times, the costs associated with such a request outweigh the benefits. The Green Engineering team will evaluate the request.
Narrative on the plans of the Committee stating its intent to pursue a green designed building will be required for the August 9th Feasibility submittal to the MSBA.
Mr. Ruoff and Ms. Havey agreed to provide an analysis of MA-CHPS vs. LEED certification criteria to the Committee prior to its next meeting.
The meeting ended at 10:54AM.