Sustain-ablility

Sustainable development of wastewater infrastructure, GT Daigger, D Burack, V Rubino

Wastewater management and sustainability, GT Daigger, D Burack, V Rubino

Pollution prevention applies to wastewater treatment, KN Irvine, TR Hersey Jr, MC Rossi, J Caruso, JE Jordan

Educating for sustainability, A Ahmadi

Energize with state-of-the-art technologies, BR Klett, RJ Wilson

Sustainability for New York's drinking water, TA Endreny

The “greening” of the building industry, MA Stallone

Water conservation in a water-intensive industry, G. Wainwright

Sustainable design at NYCDEP, P Zimmerman, J Tyler, VJ DeSantis,N Ramanan

People and places

Fall 2001 — Vol. 31, No. 3

by Michael A. Stallone

Proposed use of solar shading devices on the roof, photovoltaic panels for Manhattan Pump Station in New York City

The development of cities was an important milestone in the history of civilization, but with them came daunting ecological challenges. The migration of population to cities and the creation of suburbs have dramatically shifted the spatial and material relationships of our species to the earth's ecosphere, adversely affecting our ecological balance.

This is particularly evident in the waste disposal arena. High-density cities, especially, impose increasing burdens on our environment to assimilate their inhabitants' wastes—both liquid (sewage) and solid (garbage and recyclables). In 1999 the USEPA determined that New York City's 7.3 million residents (1990 census) produced 12,650 ton/day of garbage, most of which consisted of nonrecyclable refuse. Indeed, whether through commercial trade or natural processes, modern cities create an enormous draw on their resources for waste disposal.

In response, they have looked beyond their borders, disposing of their wastes over an ever-widening radius. The exhaustion of municipal resources typically experienced by our cities underscores the urgency of “greening” the building industry. By choosing materials and methods that are both easy to maintain and environment-friendly, we can reduce the amount of waste produced and processed.

New approach to building cities

Those of us involved in creating the built environment—including developers, urban designers and planners, architects, and manufacturers of building materials—have a significant, but as-yet unrealized, role to play in enhancing the sustainability of our cities in the 21st Century. To meet the challenge to develop environmentally sustainable or "green" architecture, we must first understand and embrace a new set of design guidelines. These guidelines can be broken down into five basic areas:

• Building ecology
• Energy efficiency
• Materials selection
• Building form
• Good design practices.

Brise-soleil (“sun break,” sun shading louver-like device on left) at the Visitor's Center at Newtown Creek WPCP

Building ecology

Many products and systems used in the construction industry are toxic. For years following building construction, unhealthy gases and substances may be emitted as by-products into the air. Toxins may also be released during a fire.

To avoid or minimize these problems, materials should be carefully selected during the design process. Wherever possible, environment-friendly building materials should be used. In addition, HVAC systems can be designed to provide maximum levels of fresh air to reduce the levels of environmental pollution, including mildew and mold accumulation.

Energy efficiency

With growing demand on our natural resources, we must explore alternative means and methods to lessen our reliance to these limited resources. Using effective solar-shading devices (such as the brise-soleil at Newtown Creek Water Pollution Control Plant), as well as solar heating methods, thermal massing for heat conservation, and insulation systems to minimize heat gain or loss, significant energy savings can be realized.

Other measures can also dramatically reduce conventional electric use. These measures include occupancy sensors that adjust lighting based on room usage, effective use of insulated glazing, and careful selection of energy-efficient lighting and electrical fixtures.

Energy efficiency can be further enhanced by implementing the use of photovoltaic (solar panels) and fuel-cell technology. Fuel cells generate electricity through an electrochemical process. The energy stored in a fuel is converted to direct current. Fuel cells can achieve up to 37% electrical efficiency. Efficiencies as high as 90% can be realized if the heat produced in the process is used for space heating or domestic hot water.

USEPA considers electricity generated from fuel cells a clean source of energy since it generates minimal waste. This surplus power generation can be sold to the local power utility and returned to the community.

Materials selection

Some materials are more demanding on the earth's environment than others. Destructive forestry practices are used on some wood species, such as teak, and some materials require extensive processing and produce toxic wastes. Others may be from renewable sources and relatively safe to produce.
 

Schematic of sod-roof proposed for 26th Ward WPCP in New York City

Green-building considers regional and global factors. An environment-conscious architect selects materials according to their overall effect on resources. The consistent use of materials with a low adverse-effect will help to preserve the planet's precious assets. One way is to use the sod-roof system, which consists of vegetation cover over roofing membrane. It has been proven to extend the service life of the underlying waterproofing system by a factor of 2 to 3 because it blocks the material from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.

Building form

The form of a building can respond to adjacent landscape, vegetation, and climate patterns. Appropriate enhancements that fall under this category include recycling facilities, reduced-flow water fixtures, and indoor planting areas. The design itself can aesthetically and sensitively reflect regional natural features, while respecting the local microclimate.

Good design practices

Finally, we should take a broader perspective and consider what we are leaving to future generations, from an environmental standpoint. Buildings designed with longevity, ease of use, and reusability in mind will add beauty, require less energy and repair, and provide more future value. Thoughtful design, attention to detail, and use of quality materials and building systems all result in facilities that are much easier to sustain in the future than the mass-produced, inexpensive, designed-to-fail components that we frequently encounter today.
 

Proposed landscape plan featuring sod-roof system for 26th Ward WPCP

The New York City example

As a Manhattan-based environmental firm, Hazen and Sawyer has worked on many infrastructure projects for the City of New York that incorporate this new philosophy of environmentally sustainable architecture. Here are examples:

• Brise-soleil sun shading system at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Pollution Control Plant (WPCP), to reduce building heat load
• The propose sod-roof system at the 26th Ward WPCP, to extend roofing life and reduce heat load
• Photovoltaic system on the exposed surfaces of the Manhattan Pump Station, to generate supplemental energy.

By helping to implement these innovative green techniques, we are continuing our role in enhancing the sustainability of our cities in the 21st Century.

 

Although using environment-respecting construction methods may lead to higher up-front costs, these can be offset by the benefits ultimately reaped. When we factor in the savings gained by protecting our valuable natural resources and by providing longer-lasting buildings and structures with lower replacement frequency, being green will cost less in the long run. Most importantly, by adhering to the green philosophy, we will also create a better world for future generations.
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Michael A. Stallone is a senior associate with Hazen and Sawyer, PC, 498 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10018. Phone 212-539-7174.