Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Case Study Example

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified Building Introduction The basis of this studyis centered upon the identification and analysis of an LEED certified building in various aspects, but, particularly in relation to the process that the owners of the building followed in order to enable it to be certified. Subsequently, this study shall be centered on other aspects such the attainment of innovation in constructing a building and the features of the respective building that make it be considered as outstanding. The chosen building for study in this particular case is California Academy of Science, San Francisco. Architecturally, this study is more concerned with the determination of the architectural design of the building, especially, in relation to the current models that have been attributed to the building, as exhibited in its roofing (Brophy & Elizabeth 78-86). This study will largely be achieved by discussing the above mentioned sections through the address in various thematic subtopics. However, the type of building housed at the Academy is of the nature of a museum. Historical background California Academy of Science can be considered as one of the first constructions to have ever been built and since the year 1853 when the building was established, it can be regarded as one of the largest museums globally, that has natural history as its core area of operation. In 1853 when the Academy began, it was for the core purpose of operating as a learned society and it still operates under the same considering that it has a large number of original researches that are housed in the museum. Largely, most of these researches were for the purposes of educating people and being offered for exhibits as significant endeavors during the 20th Century by the museum. The name California Academy of Science was given to the building in 1868 before which it was initially known as the California Academy of Natural Sciences However, the initial building was destroyed by the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, in which the then 158 year old building was completely destroyed forcing the organization to start up a new building. Currently, a new building has been brought up at the Golden Gate Park. The current facility which is situated on a 400,000 square foot structure was opened in the year 2008. This new facility has since been perceived as a home for the Academy’s world-class group of researchers considered as the most affluent in matters that relate to research. Subsequently, the current facility houses an education department that is mostly concerned with the provision of numerous services to teachers and students. It also has an extensive library that has about 46 million artifacts and specimens. Based on these roles already played by the Academy, it can be perceived that the same are in accordance to the organization’s mission of exploring, explaining and sustaining life. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification of the building The Academy in September, 2008 managed to be regarded as an LEED certified building due to its innovative means that were benchmarked on its ability to sustainably maintain innovative building techniques as is prominently portrayed by the new building that was unveiled in which the roofing was of a green technology. There are correspondingly other explanations as to why the building is regarded as a green building. Considered from a broader perspective, the unprecedented achievement of the Academy during its assessment for the reward can be largely attributed to the outstanding success attained in several areas such as a quality in-door environment, innovative design process, efficiency in the use of water and energy, availability of sustainable sites, and adequacy in the use of resources and materials. In 2008, the greenest museum in the world was unveiled by the Academy in which it is regarded as the most eco-friendly building given that it features many green innovations. Such green innovations include a roof that is in the shape of a hill. This roof is living considering the green vegetation spotted on it. Subsequently, the new building was fitted with denim insulation that was recycled and the most recent technology included in the building was the platinum. The figure below shows representations for the Green Building that is the center of attraction in the Academy. Figure 1: California Academy of Science and its green living roof Source: http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/09/Academy-Sciences-Renzo-Piano-Double-LEED-2.jpg The other main reason for the incorporation of the building into the classification of LEED buildings is due to its platinum symbolic color. This was the main reason for the presentation of the Academy with an LEED Platinum award by the US Green Building Council. Being the second award by the Council, the Academy can be regarded as the first building globally to have been presented with Double Platinum awards. As such, the building is currently being referred to as the largest Double Platinum building globally. The figure below is an illustration of the building’s green roof top that has vegetation of different kinds on it. Figure 2: Rooftop of California Academy of Science: New building Source: http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/09/Academy-Sciences-Renzo-Piano-Double-LEED-1.jpg The building that forms the Academy was designed by Renzo Piano, an Italian architect; thus, making the new structure to be considered as a complex center of science. There are several activities accommodated in this building and such include a planetarium, an aquarium, 4-story rainforest, a 3D theater, a Naturalist Center, a lecture hall, two restaurants, an aviary, an Academy store, a roof terrace, an adjacent garden and natural history museum. All these activities were taken into consideration when the award for a Double Platinum was being awarded to the Academy. Additionally, the award of the platinum to the Academy extends to other factors such as the commitment of the Academy to issues of sustainability that define the facets of the building. In this context, the building’s unique features such as rechargeable stations for vehicles, racks for bikes, a radiant sub-floor heating that is located inside the building and solar panels for the generation of energy situated on its rooftop, all are contributive factors for the achievement of the award and are considered as innovative (De et al. 101-106). For the academy, the past 30 years have been greatly influenced by massive changes in sustainable designs. When analyzed in the context of the Malcolm Wells Wilderness-Based Checklist, it is noted that the revised changes in the building were a reflection of the sustainability levels attained by the Academy’s management. In another context, the award of the LEED certification can be attributed to other significant contributions of the various aspects of the building. For instance, the Academy is a home for various native plants that are believed to be a great home or habitat for various species of wildlife if harnessed well. Subsequently, the building is regarded as green for the reason that it relies on clean energy in the powering of nearly all its activities. This is because the roof of the building has photovoltaic cells that have been integrated into the roof’s design so as to enable it generating clean energy. Still considering the roof design that has vegetation, it can be argued that its ability to create a new habitat for the wildlife is also based on the foundation of the ability of the roof top to absorb rainwater and channel the same to other extensive uses. As such, the same can be regarded as a means by which the Academy has been able to prevent the pollution of the ecosystem for wildlife as the runoff rainwater that would have washed away pollutants is prevented and instead used at the roof (Laitner et al. 178-183). From the perspective of performance analysis, the building can be regarded as a good example for regeneration of design in building. Based on the LEED certification criterion that was applied, the building is recorded to have scored high on this aspect of regenerative design. This was an implication that there were possibilities for improvement in the design of the building so as to accommodate other new innovations to be presented. From the perspective of being declared an LEED building, there are adequate standards of sustainability that have been fronted by the organization to which the award of the certification was based (Edwards & Emanuele 201-204). For instance, at its construction, the inclusion of such as aspects such as natural ventilation of the building, radiant heating, and a wide range of habitats were intended for the moderation of the building and presenting its features that are easily adjusted. In this regard, the other aspects in the building such as the abilities to enhance the quality of its soil, decrease in the amount of waste being dumped and the reduction of the use of fuel in the transportation of visitors all are indicators of sustainability in the building. The figure beneath indicates an exemplification of the building in relation to roofing and green life comprising of trees as planted in the Academy. Additionally, the diagram shows representations into how the forms of life are maintained in the building, in relation to all the respective factors such as energy and water conservation, as discussed earlier. Figure 3: The green roofed representation of the Academy Source: http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/09/Academy-Sciences-Renzo-Piano-Double-LEED-4.jpg Green maintenance and operations The award of the LEED certification to the Academy was based on a wide range of performance metrics and practices that when aggregated together can be attributed to the success factors as detailed above. First, the architect, when designing the building had one aspect in mind in which the construction of the building was to be based upon; the attainment of sustainability in the organization by the adoption of operations green technology. Particularly, the Academy’s innovativeness in regard to the resources used to build it is an indication of the great technology at play (Aukeman 125-136). In considering the aspect of green maintenance and operations right from the beginning of the project, it can be noted that the management of the Academy had its own specifications in the choice of materials that were used. First, in considering the purchase decisions regarding the materials, it is noted that the nearly 100% of all the computers installed in the building were rated Energy star. Subsequently, the paper that the Academy uses to the current moment can be regarded as being entirely post-consumer recycled. Finally, nearly all the cleaning products that are used in the building are certified as green-sealed; thus, implying that the paper products that have always been used in the Academy are recycled so as to provide for green products. During times that the building has been renovated and alterations made to it, all upgrades have been made possible through the use of exhibits from the museum and aquarium. The green aspect of the building is also considered in relation to its refrigeration function in which the use of low-emission substances that are friendly to the ozone is encouraged. The same concept applies to ventilation functions, heating and air conditioning in the building. In relation to the recycling of its waste, the approximately 65% of the waste from the Academy is again recycled to other uses such as the diversion of waste from landfill to a compost that is then used to richen the soil at the roof top. In relation to electronic waste, the organization uses GreenCitizen Company in the handling the same through the repair, recycling and reuse of the same. The maintenance of a green environment has also been enabled in the Academy and its environs through the adoption of alternative means of transport by the staff to the Academy. Such adopted means include walking to the institution, biking or use of public transit as forms of transport in commuting to the Academy for work. These forms are majorly geared towards the reduction of the usage of energy to efficient levels. The current figures indicate that the Academy’s management at the time of being awarded the Double Platinum had managed to record about 70% of the staff members using the green transport means. Subsequently, the attainment of the certification is based on the reduced usage of water to about 32% below the baseline of LEED. This is attributed to the toilets, shower heads and urinals that are being used in the Academy, all of which are waterless. Finally, the Academy was awarded the LEED Certification due to its engagement in green education. In this, the Academy majors in the provision of green building education through various forms such as the Institute of Science and Sustainability that targets teachers from Bay area in its program. To achieve this, green building aspects have been included in the Academy’s curriculum. Second, the Academy engages in Building Green exhibits for the public so as to educate the visitors and public members on how the technology works. This entails explanations to uses of innovations such as solar cells, the radiant heating of the floor and the recycling of building materials. Third, the Academy has an Education Division that is entirely dedicated to the offering of teacher workshops and lesson plans that are focused on the development of home energy, the living roofs, and the development of green building globally. Finally, the Academy has its living roof entirely dedicated for the conduct of public programs weekly, science projects, and research projects by students from high school to university and other higher levels across the globe. In various perspectives, the comparison that can be made in relation to the costs of the building in its initial and current forms can be effectively used by the management of the Academy in the planning of the activities of the museum. The original cost for the erection of the building is estimated at $500 million, and in its current state, the Academy is an indication of high cost equipment used in the finishing and setting up of appropriate structures and policies. Much of the initial costs were audited as higher considering that the initial museum building was not comprised of green aspects as is in the new one. However, considering the innovations that the Academy has made in terms of adopting new systems of operations and the decision to go green and be conservative of the environment has seen it considerably reduce in its costs of management and repair of the building. In approximation, the Academy averagely saves about 15% annually of its initial cost due to the innovative means of managing the ecosystem that is largely defined by the green roofing and appropriate administration of waste, maintenance of water and energy. Centered on the form of its operations and the recognition that the Academy has received in relation to the green technology that it has adopted, it is expected that it will be able to recuperate the original investment within a span of ten years. The determination of this cost is based on the realization less operational costs resulting from proper conservation measures such as in relation to the recycling of water for use in the adjacent garden. Conclusion California Academy of Science is a famous place that is largely known for its attainment of sustainability. All the operations that the management of the Academy has attained are all aimed at the enhancement of sustainable means of operation that are innovative and environmentally friendly. To achieve this, the Academy is constantly engaged in research activities that are carried out with the hope of attaining new innovative means for renovating the building without losing its green aspect. Recently, the Academy was awarded the LEED certification that put it at the highest levels globally as the most enhanced building in relation to green technology. This award took into consideration the overall integration of the green system in the designing and building of the Academy’s building that also houses its natural history museum. In addition to its available systems, the Academy managed to add the wind turbines to its systems with the aim of attaining the production of clean energy in the Academy but, at a lower cost for the long term. By the implementation of the current design in its construction, the Academy managed to succeed in its sustainability aspects. This success as has been portrayed by the Academy was the basis for its successful attainment of the LEED award. It is still the sustained belief of the organization that it will continue integrating sustainable means of design in building with the aim of enabling a regeneration of a green environment. In this study, the capacity of the Academy to maintain itself as an advanced institution in architectural designs is the core basis for its emergence as the greenest building globally. The outstanding features of the Academy’s building coupled with the green innovations that it has engaged in since its inception greatly contributed to the achievement of the award. Works cited Aukeman, Lisa. "Sustainability and Structural Engineering." California Polytechnic State University (2008). Brophy, Sarah S, and Elizabeth Wylie. The Green Museum: A Primer on Environmental Practice. , 2013. Print. De, Nevers G, Deborah S. Edelman, and Adina M. Merenlender. The California Naturalist Handbook. Berkerley: University of California Press, 2013. Internet resource. Edwards, Brian W., and Emanuele Naboni. Green Buildings Pay: Design, Productivity and Ecology. Routledge, 2013. Laitner, Meredith, Adam Stella, and Madeline Zamoyski. "Green building city survey." NYUJ Legis. & Pub. Poly 11 (2007): 81. Websites http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/arch464/Hall%20of%20Fame/Arch464/Spring2009/CalAcademyofScience.pdf http://www.calacademy.org/newsroom/releases/2011/double_platinum.php http://inhabitat.com/green-roofed-ca-academy-of-sciences-becomes-the-worlds-largest-double-leed-platinum-building/ http://www.mlandman.com/gbuildinginfo/leedplatinum.shtml http://www.arup.com/news/2009-03%20march/19_mar_2009_platinum_leed_finish_for_california_academy_of_sciences.aspx http://www.healthyfacilitiesinstitute.com/a_280-Model_Green_Buildings_California_Academy_of_Science http://greensource.construction.com/news/2012/11/121101-double-platinum.asp Read More