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12/22/2006 11:04 AM
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What's New on the Horizon for Green Buildings Page 3 |
Living Building prerequisites:- Responsible site selection: With some exceptions, a Living Building may not be located within 50 feet of wetlands; on or adjacent to sensitive ecological habitats; on prime farmland; or within the 100-year floodplain.
- Limits to growth: The building may be built only on a previously developed site.
- Habitat exchange: For each acre developed for the building, an acre must be set aside for wildlife habitat.
- Net-zero energy: All the building's energy needs, on a net annual basis, must be supplied by onsite renewable energy.
- Materials red list: Living Buildings must avoid a long list of chemicals, which includes PVC, formaldehyde, and halogenated flame retardants.
- Construction carbon footprint: The building must offset the embodied carbon footprint of its construction through a one-time carbon offset.
- Responsible industry: All wood used in the building must be either salvaged or certified according to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards.
- Appropriate materials and services radius: Materials and services used to create the building must come from within an adjustable radius determined by the environmental costs of transportation. Renewable energy technologies, for example, must come from within 7,000 miles (11,000 km) of the site, while heavy materials are limited to 250 miles (400 km).
- Construction waste: Construction waste must be diverted from landfills, in percentages ranging from 80% to 100%, by weight, depending on the material type.
- Net-zero water: With the exception of water that is required to be potable, all water used in the building or on its site must be either captured rainwater or reused water that has been treated without the use of chemicals.
- Sustainable water discharge: All stormwater and water discharge must be handled on site.
- Civilized work environment: All occupiable spaces must have operable windows that provide access to fresh air and daylight.
- Healthy air and source control: Entryways must have both external and internal track-off systems; all kitchens, bathrooms, copy rooms, janitorial closets, and chemical storage spaces must be separately ventilated; and all interior finishes, paints, and adhesives may emit only low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Ventilation: The building must be designed to deliver air exchange rates in compliance with California's Title 24.
- Beauty and spirit: The building must include features intended solely for human delight and the celebration of culture, spirit, and place appropriate to the function of the building.
- Inspiration and education: Educational materials about the performance and operation of the building must be made available to the public, and non-sensitive areas of the building must be open to the public at least one day each year.
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Adapted from Environmental Building News, Dec 06, a SustainableBusiness.com Content Partner.
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