Creating resilient and adaptive buildings for community
health and environmental changes.
Why invest in sustainable buildings?
The midwest region is predicted to have an increase in annual temperatures, variable precipitation, flooding, and heavier downpours which requires buildings to withstand and adapt to these changes with social, economic, and environmental benefits. Buildings also have a large environmental footprint, as building construction and operations account for 40% of energy-related carbon emissions in the U.S. Minnesota has set necessary yet ambitious goals for reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, which requires all municipalities and communities to make efforts to reduce energy demand, source energy from renewables, and increase resiliency of buildings.
Benefits of sustainable buildings
Social
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Economic
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Environmental
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Source: Green Built Alliance
Objectives
- Review low-cost and effective zoning regulations and building code/construction standards for materials, energy, and water management
- Develop region and socio-demographic specific recommendations for zoning and building code/construction standards typologies balancing equity, efficiency and effectiveness.
- Identify partnerships and funding sources for implementing the recommendations.
Certifications and Rating Systems
ENERGY STAR®ENERGY STAR provides a benchmarking performance system and energy saving technologies to improve the efficiency of all buildings.
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LEEDThe LEED rating system was created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and offers four levels of certification for all building types and uses.
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B3 Guidelines and BenchmarkingCreated by the Center for Sustainable Building Research (CFSBR), the B3 provides Minnesota-specific standards for sustainable building features and aligns with the state's goals of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.
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Methods
1. Informational Interviews
- Interviews with four professionals with expertise in sustainable design, standards, green building, and rating systems.
- Peer reviewed articles and organization documents.
- Seattle, WA, Chicago, IL, St Louis Park, MN, Portland, OR, Oberlin, OH.
Findings
Green building certifications most commonly used and recognized within the United States are the LEED (created by the USGBC) and ENERGY STAR® (created by the US EPA). The B3 guidelines and benchmarking system was created by the CFSBR tailored to the Minnesota climate and aligns with goals for reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. Zoning ordinances often incorporate the LEED rating system and a variety of different benchmarking tools.
Education
Widespread education in sustainable development is important for the system's overall success but it also plays a key role in the success of an individual building. In order to encourage builders, contractors, and landowners to invest in sustainable best practices for buildings, educational resources must be provided. The small city of Oberlin, OH partners with non-profits to provide hands-on sustainability assistance and information. Many are reluctant to make energy and watersaving upgrades because of the upfront costs however, results in cost savings in the long term. Oberlin stresses education in K-12 and around the community to reach their goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2025. Oberlin used two strategies: providing accessible learning opportunities and necessary resources and positive incentives for all constituents.
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Energy
The buildings sector accounts for about 76% of electricity use in the U.S., according to the Department of Energy. Luckily, there are affordable and logical renewable energy options available for residential and commercial buildings. Minnesota has set goals to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, which requires all local municipalities to work cohesively towards switching to renewable sources and reducing the energy demand for all buildings. Hopkins' general energy provider is Xcel Energy, who can provide efficiency support through their Home Energy Squad, Multi-family Building Efficiency program, and Design Assistance Program. LEED certifications and ENERGY STAR® benchmarking have been implemented into ordinances in Portland, OR. The city requires commercial buildings greater than 20,000 square feet to report energy performance annually. Benchmarking is essential for tracking improvements and comparing buildings. One of the easiest ways to generate renewable energy onsite is by installing photovoltaic panels. Installation costs of non-residential systems have dropped from $10/watt in 2003 to less than $2.00/watt as of 2018, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.
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Water
Improving water efficiency can increase energy and cost savings. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, 12% of water used per day in the U.S. belongs to building operations. Commercial and residential buildings have opportunities to recycle and reuse rainwater that most commonly leads to flooding. Water storage tanks provide a solution to polluting rainwater caused by flooding and can be cleaned and used to supply sinks, toilets, showers, and more.
The TwentyTwenty Apartments and Woodlawn Apartments in Portland, OR utilized eco roofs, living walls, rainwater cisterns, and low-flow appliances to conserve water usage. Residential buildings with gutter systems should drain water into storage tanks or permeable surfaces (ex. rain gardens).
The TwentyTwenty Apartments and Woodlawn Apartments in Portland, OR utilized eco roofs, living walls, rainwater cisterns, and low-flow appliances to conserve water usage. Residential buildings with gutter systems should drain water into storage tanks or permeable surfaces (ex. rain gardens).
Materials
Building materials have a large impact on indoor air quality and human health. When considering a new development of a building in Hopkins, the project should consider the proximity, materials sourcing, and resource consumption and the use of reclaimed products and materials when possible. Concrete and cement are among the most resource-intensive and carbon-emitting materials to produce and should be avoided. Timber and steel are more sturdy and local to Minnesota, according to Richard Graves, Director of the Center for Sustainable Building Research.
Policy & Ordinances
Chicago, IL has three Green and Solar Permit Incentive programs which offer expedited permitting and review processes for projects that utilize geothermal systems, green roofs, photovoltaic panels, solar thermal panels, wind turbines, or rainwater harvesting systems. An easy to access and use green permit process flow chart outlines step by step the process for obtaining permits and approval through the Department of Buildings. The Green Permit Process requires commercial and residential projects to utilize the LEED rating system. Wood can be produced with Forest Steward Council certification to ensure sustainable production conditions.
Portland, OR has fostered sustainable buildings through adopting green building policies, performance standards, and LEED certifications. Their commercial building energy performance reporting ordinance uses benchmarking tools, such as ENERGY STAR® to promote climate goals and cost-benefit savings. Portland requires commercial buildings over 20,000 square feet to report energy performance annually. Hopkins should take advantage of the B3 benchmarking system to advance their Green Step Cities rating and have valuable data that tracks energy usage and demand. |
Recommendations
- Engage community members through a sustainability education program to increase sustainable behaviors, public support, and community action.
- An online source of educational materials would reach a broad range of Hopkins residents. Accessible online action steps for community members to make their homes more sustainable will improve the building management decisions of renters, homeowners, and property owners. An example of accessible education materials is Chicago's Sustainable Development Policy Handbook that provides an explanation of the city's strategies and resources to achieve green features. Technical terms should be provided to community members to stay informed on changes occurring in the future, as outlined int he 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Finally, sustainable building education classes in Hopkins' schools will instill the value of sustainable behaviors at a young age.
- Create or strengthen partnerships with local organizations and agencies that provide funding and programs to advance and guide sustainable development transitions.
- Local organizations and agencies can provide opportunities through funding programs and design assistance to advance and guide the transition to sustainable building development. Xcel Energy offers retrofitting programs to aid home efficiency improvements. Through partnership with CenterPoint Energy, Xcel Energy offers a joint Multi-Family Building Efficiency program. Additionally, the University of Minnesota Extension offers Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships to work with communities on sustainable development goals or projects.
- Create non-financial incentives to encourage sustainable development within commercial and residential building areas.
- Non-financial incentives in the form of expedited permitting process, fee reductions, or design and technical assistance. Hopkins can incentives sustainable development by offering expedited permit process and consider reductions for project permit fees if the project is designed for LEED or ENERGY STAR® certification. Creating comprehensive and accessible educational materials for community constituents will be essential to participation in the incentive program.
- Adopt building codes that create incentives to encourage sustainable development within commercial and residential building areas.
- Hopkins can utilize existing rating systems such as the B3, LEED, or ENERGY STAR to require energy reporting by new construction projects. Utilizing the B3 would aid Hopkins in achieving stage 4 or 5 in the Green Step Cities program. Energy reporting is useful for tracking usage over time, and showing results of implementing energy saving technologies.