Building greener: Minnesota examples

The Green Building program has developed brief case studies of new and renovated buildings in Minnesota to demonstrate real-world applications of sustainable building principles and strategies. Sustainable building involves a broad spectrum of choices about resource efficiency and pollution prevention. The result is buildings that are more economical to operate and maintain, healthier and more productive for occupants, and less burdensome on the environment.

ERSystems

ERSystems’ LEED-registered manufacturing facility showcases technologies that reduce urban heat island impacts, conserve water, reduce stormwater runoff, and generate renewable energy. The rooftop doubles as a test lab for experiments with green roof plant spacing and various elastomeric coatings. Rooftop instrumentation logs surface and HVAC air intake temperatures, with data monitoring via the Internet.

Sustainable features

Site and water

• Most of the parking lot is pervious surface, covering over 15,000 sq. ft. A grid system (InVisible Structures) covered with chipped granite reduces surface temperatures by roughly 40° F compared with asphalt pavement and infiltrates 10,000 gallons rainwater during a 1" storm event.
• Three bioswales infiltrate another 15,000 gallons rainwater. Strategically placed speed bumps guide rainwater from asphalt loading dock area toward bioswales.
• Hillside above asphalt loading dock area is planted in native prairie vegetative cover to minimize runoff. Prairie restoration covers more than 2 acres of the 5.5 acre site.
• A rooftop collection system channels rainwater from back quarter of building to two large storage tanks inside the manufacturing facility for irrigation of the traditional landscaping facing the street. This saved 400,000+ gallons of potable water during summer 2005.
• 5,000 sq. ft. of green roof planted with hardy sedums (no irrigation) provide test plots to experiment with plant spacing and growth rates while reducing stormwater runoff and cooling membrane temperatures.
• Predominantly white roof with high reflectivity reduces urban heat island impact.
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures, including urinals and toilets, save 6,000 gallons of potable water annually.

Energy

• 4.9 kW net-metered photovoltaic array on rooftop generates about 5,800 kWh/yr.
• Six small-scale wind turbines on rooftop supplying 2.4 kW charge an uninterruptible power supply unit (UPS).
• High-efficiency HVAC units.
• High-efficiency lighting fixtures in offices and warehouse, with occupancy sensors in offices, and LED exit lights.
• Company purchases certificates for renewable power.
• Third-party commissioning of building systems for improved performance.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Zero-VOC paints throughout building
• Construction IAQ management plan
• Low-emitting carpet and adhesives
• Thermal comfort in accordance with ASHRAE 55-1992, Addenda 1995

Materials and Waste

• Recycled materials include structural steel, tilt-up concrete shell made with recovered flyash, and recycled-content broadloom carpeting.
• Wheat board chair rails throughout the building.

Key Statistics

Project Type: Combined commercial office, manufacturing plant, and test facility

Location: Rockford, Minn.

Occupied: June 2004

Owner: TTJK, LLC

Contact: Tim Leonard, CEM, LEED AP, Principal < tim@ersystems.com >

Project Team: Jed Larson (architect); Al Symanietz, TDJ Construction; J Bird Mechanical

Size of project: 48,000 sq. feet

Cost: $50/square foot

Design Tools Used: Registered under LEED-NC Version 2.1 Rating System

Savings: Greywater saves 500,000 to 1 million gallons/yr. depending on timing of rain events. White roof provides 15% savings on HVAC system’s energy use by reducing air temperature at intakes. Low-flow fixtures save 12,000 gallons water annually.

Payback: Uninterruptible power supply charged using wind turbines has 10-year payback.

St. Paul Public Housing Agency

This high-performance building was designed to use 50% less energy than required by code. The four-story office building in located on the southern border of I-94 in downtown Saint Paul. In addition to a parking ramp and exterior garden, the building is equipped with a cafeteria and 1.5 floors of leasable space. Locker rooms and showers are in place awaiting finish-out when budgets allow. Flexible floor plans help to reduce churn rate (number of office transitions within a particular year). All workstations are within thirty feet of an exterior window.

Sustainable Features

Site and Water

• Rain garden on west side of building reduces stormwater runoff while naturally filtering pollutants.
• Use of previously developed site reduces sprawl.
• Water use reduction through sensor-operated and low-flow fixtures.
• Native plantings help to reduce water consumption.
• Erosion- and sedimentation-control fencing during construction.
• Construction recycling plan with a detailed section in specification for environmental considerations.

Energy

• Sun shades on the south and west elevations help reduce solar gain.
• Dimmable controls on direct and indirect light fixtures.
• Central location near public transportation
• Building orientation along east/west axis reduces heating and cooling demands, capturing low winter sun and shading from harsh summer sun.
• Exterior lighting shines on building only to reduce city light pollution.
• Variable speed drives, pumps, and fans.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Extensive daylighting. All occupants have access to natural light and views.
• Mechanical system allows for greater thermal comfort with zoned controls in open office work areas and private offices.
• Reduced glare at computer monitors achieved through direct/indirect light fixtures and north-facing glass.

Materials and Waste

• Construction waste management plan included in special section of specifications given to all bidders.
• Use of certified wood products as rated by the Forest Stewardship Council.
• Use of recycled-content countertops, concrete work, ceiling panels, and carpet.
• Use of low-emitting materials including paints, carpets, and adhesives specified as low VOC.
• Use of local materials (reduced embodied energy).

Key Statistics

Type of project: Public/Government Office Building, new construction

Location: St. Paul, Minn.

Completed: 2004

Owner: St. Paul Public Housing Agency

Size: 65,000 GSF (includes 19,000 SF of leasable space), and parking for 119 cars.

Cost: $12 million (less than 2% more than conventional construction budget)

Anticipated Savings: Paybacks for most strategies range from 2 years to no more than 6 years.

Contact: Marilyn Porter, 651-292-6059

Project Team: Hammel, Green and Abrahamson, Inc.; Rani Engineering, Inc. (Civil); Building Consulting Group, Inc. (Parking Ramp Structural), Total Lighting Design, and Lund Martin Construction, Inc.

Design Tools Used: LEED, Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide, Energy Design Assistance (Xcel Energy)

Hartley Nature Center

Hartley Nature Center, a cooperative venture between the city of Duluth and a private non-profit corporation, provides environmental education and outdoor recreation programs to adults and children. A major objective of the design team was to create a new interpretive center that supports the learning process. The building's many sustainable features include extensive daylighting and ventilation; inclusion of renewable, efficient energy systems for heating and cooling; and materials with recycled content.

Sustainable Features

Site

• Located on 660 acres in Duluth's Hartley Park, the building's placement is sensitive to the site and its natural features.
• Emphasis on preservation of existing trees.
• Areas disturbed by construction were reseeded with native plant species.

Energy

• Solar-heated fresh air intake panels
• Roof-mounted photovoltaic cells
• Passive solar heating, daylighting, and lighting control via window configuration and orientation.
• Air-to-air heat exchanger.
• Destratification system, motor-operated clerestory windows will vent excess hot air in summer; ventilation system redistributes hot air in winter.
• Geothermal heat pump.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Ample mechanical and natural ventilation.
• Maximized daylighting though building orientation, clerestory windows, high windows on east, west, and north.

Materials and Waste

• Post-consumer recycled-content products: paint, counter, restroom partitions, and shingles.
• Carpet has 25% post-industrial recycled content, contains no chlorine or plasticizers, and is low-VOC.
• Post-industrial recycled content ceramic tiles in restrooms.
• No PVC-based products.
• Sustainably harvested, FSC-certified exterior siding and trim, structural wood decking, framing and sheathing, interior wood board and batten, and custom wood cabinets.
• Energy-efficient insulated concrete forms (ICFs) serve as wall structure.

Key Statistics

Type of project: Public/private

Location: Duluth, Minn.

Completed: 2003

Owner: City of Duluth, leased to Hartley Nature Center Corporation

Size: 7,775 square feet

Cost: $1,795,000

Contact: Gerry Johnson, Duluth City Architect, 218-723-3649;
www.hartleynature.org

Project Team: Stanius Johnson Architects, The Weidt Group (consulting), Kraus Anderson (contractor)

Karges-Faulconbridge, Inc.

KFI reused the shell of an existing commercial building to create their engineering firm headquarters. Benefits from reusing the shell of a former grocery store included ease of winter construction and up-front cost savings of $40/square foot. Removing most of the parking lot increased the amount of green space on the site. KFI’s headquarters is the first LEED-certified building in Minnesota to receive a gold rating. As a mechanical and electrical contracting firm, KFI made an extended effort to be energy efficient and demonstrate many different technologies. Winner of a 2005 Governor's Award.

Sustainable Features

Site and Water

• KFI replaced much of the parking lot with natural prairie grasses, wild flowers, and a raingarden, increasing green space on the 3.6-acre lot by 54%.
• Ponds hold stormwater, filtering out sediment and slowly releasing water into the watershed.
• No permanent, potable irrigation system.
• Waterless urinals save 21,000 gallons of water per year.
• Sensor-type faucets and toilets reduce water use.

Energy

• Exceeds Minnesota Energy Code requirements for energy efficiency by 65%.
• Energy Star score of 93 based on LEED-EB requirements
• Closed-loop ground-source heat pump system (48 bore holes at 200 feet each) heats and cools the building.
• Radiant ceiling panels in bathrooms transfer the heat directly to surfaces.
• Infrared heating is used in the high bay areas to heat the large thermal mass of the building, which radiates heat evenly and reduces the use of fan energy.
• A desiccant wheel exchanges heat between the building exhaust and fresh air streams and controls humidity according to seasonal needs to conserve energy.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Open floor plan promotes greater daylight penetration through two large north-facing vertical monitors; perimeter windows let daylight into the breakroom and perimeter offices
• Multilevel switching of direct/indirect lighting turns off one-third of the lights during the day.
• Displacement ventilation allows air to enter near floor level and rise gently as it warms, providing better indoor air quality without draftiness.
• KFI has formal policies endorsing low-VOC-emitting paints and adhesives, and low-impact environmental cleaning fluids.

Materials and Waste

• Reused majority of building’s core and shell (some refinishing occurred).
• Added an Energy-Star-rated roof
• More than 88% of construction and demolition materials were recovered for recycling through implementation of a construction waste management plan. li>
• Used many products with post-consumer (PC) recycled content: ceramic tile (100% PC), rubber flooring (72% PC), carpet (23% PC, 25% post-industrial), and structural steel (40% post-industrial).
• Natural linoleum flooring in breakroom
• Maximized use of local and regional materials.

Key Statistics

Project Type: Commercial office/test facility

Location: Roseville, Minn.

Completed: December 2003

Owner: Bill Karges and Jim Faulconbridge

Contact: Chris Nelson, 651-771-0880; www.kfi-eng.com

Project Team: KFI (mechanical and electrical design), Pope Associates (architectural design) and McGough Construction (general contractor).

Size of project: 34,000 sq. feet

Cost: $4 million (including acquisition of site and improvements)

Design Tools Used: LEED-EB Rating System

Savings: Existing shell cost savings: $40/square foot. Annual energy savings of $25,000.

Payback: 6.5 years. Annual return on investment is 17%.

Lebanon Hills Trail Head and Visitor Center

Dakota County’s park facility in the Schulze Lake area of Lebanon Hills Regional Park was designed to strike a balance between ecological preservation and human utilization of natural park amenities. Much effort went toward preserving open space and minimizing impacts associated with development and construction. In addition, this is the first building in Minnesota to use all certified wood for the studs (rough framing), plywood sheathing, birch interior trim, and door veneers. The building incorporates sustainable design principles and showcases them through interpretive displays.

Sustainable Features

Site and Water

• Previously impacted site.
• Orientation to gain maximum solar exposure.
• Existing parking area reconfigured to correct previous road's impact on wetlands.
• Native plants, no irrigation .
• Green (vegetative) roof reduces stormwater runoff.
• Rain gardens and biofiltration system.
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures conserve water.

Energy

• Natural daylighting through windows and borrowed lites.
• Natural ventilation (via operable windows).
• Passive solar heat with supplemental in-slab, hydronic radiant heat.
• Heat recovery system.
• Highly insulated envelope.
• Daylight-sensing system for light dimming.
• Reduced material use via infrastructure exposure.
• Triple-glazed, argon-filled low ‘E’ windows.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• No-VOC interior finishes.
• Mechanical fresh-air ventilation.
• Non-toxic, emission-free binding agents used in particleboard made from agricultural residue.
• Greatly reduced use of carpet and carpet adhesives.

Materials and Waste

• Construction waste separation and recycling plan required of contractor.
• Certified sustainable wood used for framing, millwork, trim siding.
• Interior furnishing, casework and wall coverings made from renewable agricultural and forest products.
• Low-maintenance, durable materials.
• Materials with low-embodied energy.
• Recycled-content materials and materials that are easily recycled.

Key Statistics

Type of project: Public/Government, new construction

Location: Eagan, Minn.

Completed: 2003

Size: 6,030 square feet (initially programmed 16,000 sq. ft.)

Cost: $2.6 million ($1.4 million for building design/construction and immediate site improvements)

Contact: Beth Landahl, 651-438-4664

Project Team: Partners & Sirny (architect); L.S. Black Constructors (general contractor)

More information: Dakota County Parks Department

Dakota County Sustainable Buildings

Pierre Bottineau Public Library

The Pierre Bottineau Library combines historic significance with new construction. Achieving sustainability through conservation was a motivating objective in this project. It incorporates two turn-of-the-century buildings along with a new addition in its design.

Sustainable Features

Site

• Previously impacted site (incorporation/renovation of existing buildings on historic Grain Belt campus).
• Pedestrian-friendly walkways and bicycle parking help to encourage low-energy methods of transportation.
• Many existing trees were retained as part of new landscaping.

Energy

• High-efficiency electrical and mechanical systems.
• Southeast orientation helps to maximize wintertime solar gain. Trees and building overhangs provide shade in summer.
• Occupancy sensors decrease demand for artificial lighting.
• End-of-day shutdown of mechanical/electrical systems conserves energy.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Natural daylighting through skylights.

Materials and Waste

• Natural linoleum flooring.
• Reuse of materials salvaged onsite, such as reclaimed brick and ceiling beams.
• Composite roof panels made of wood fiber and insulation.

Key Statistics

Type of project: Public, new construction combined with renovation

Location: Minneapolis, Minn.

Completed: 2003

Owner: Minneapolis Public Library

Size: 12,355 square feet

Cost: $3.1 million

Contact: Amy Ryan, Project Director, Community Libraries, 612-630-6206

Project Team: RSP Architects; Lund Martin (general contractor)

Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center

An emphasis on consolidation of services, including unfinished space for future judicial expansion, guided the facility design. Extension of District Energy St. Paul Inc. heating and cooling to this previously developed site allowed the county to avoid construction (and emissions) of an on-site boiler stack and cooling tower. An existing structure on the site is being renovated as the new St. Paul Police Department headquarters.

Sustainable Features

Site and Water

• Redeveloped site with reuse of one structure.
• Building oriented to maximize daylight for office spaces.

Energy

• Building will use “green” power supplied by the District Energy St. Paul Inc. wood-waste-fired power plant.
• Building envelope has high thermal performance factor.
• Efficient lighting controlled by motion detectors.
• HVAC system with economizer cycles and heat recovery equipment.
• The months-long process of commissioning the facility's heating and ventilation system was conducted by a specialty subcontractor.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Conditioned air was circulated through the building for some time prior to the county taking possession to ensure that construction materials would properly dry and "off-gas."

Materials and Waste

• Approximately 650 gallons of recycled latex paint used as base coat.
• Demolition wastes separated and recycled: concrete, asphalt, steel, brick and mechanical equipment.
• Pre-cast components - cells, floor structure, columns, and beams - reduced construction waste, and can be disassembled.

Key Statistics

Type of project: Public detention facility, new construction

Location: St. Paul, Minn.

Completed: October 2003

Owner: Ramsey County

Project Team: McGough Construction; Glenn Rehbein Excavating; Newman Mechanical; Electric Resources Contractors; Schadegg Mechanical; Aloha Landscaping

Design tools used: The Weidt Group used Energy Design Assistance (Xcel Energy) for modeling and recommendations on energy use.

Size of project: 297,000 sq. feet

Savings: Implementing energy recommendations expected to result in 35 percent less energy use.

Contact: Fred Shank, Ramsey County
fred.shank@co.ramsey.mn.us>

More information: Ramsey County Property Management

Rogers High School

Reducing operational energy costs was a primary design goal for the new high school in Rogers. The high-performance facility for School District 728 is anticipated to reduce annual operating costs by 55 percent. Sustainable design strategies such as optimal building orientation and daylighting of occupied spaces allow the ventilation and lighting systems to operate at highly efficient levels while creating a positive and inviting learning environment for students.

Sustainable Features

Site and Water

• Building's proximity to existing roads minimizes need for additional impervious, paved surfaces.
• Strategic placement of trees in parking areas and plazas reduces heat gains.
• Drainage paths retained by conserving existing wetlands, redefining swales, and creating a sediment control pond.
• Building orientation and configuration facilitates 100% daylighting and creates more efficient mechanical zones.

Energy

• Exterior sunscreens minimize heat gain on glass
• Interior light shelves and sloped ceilings allow penetration of natural daylight from large tall windows deep into internal spaces.
• Low-E glazing on windows reduces heat gain.
• Occupancy and photo sensors significantly reduce the need for artificial lighting during daytime hours.
• Infrared controls on all rest room plumbing fixtures.
• Highly insulated envelope.
• Highly efficient displacement ventilation system (2-year payback).

Indoor Environmental Quality

• 100% daylighting to all occupied spaces.
• Operable windows promote natural ventilation.
• Low-flow displacement ventilation system supplies clean air flow and returns air high to reduce the spread of germs between occupants.
• Low-VOC finishes.
• Minimal use of carpeting.

Materials and Waste

• Brick from local quarry.
• Post-consumer recycled content products.
• Highly durable, low-maintenance terrazzo flooring in circulation areas.
• Grouping of spaces requiring large amounts of plumbing, mechanical, and electrical (restrooms, science rooms) allows for cost effective future remodelings and expansions.

Key Statistics

Type of project: Public/Educational, new construction

Location: Rogers, Minn.

Competed: August 2003

Size: 255,000 square feet

Cost: $35.6 million

Contact: Ron Bratlie, Director of Business and Operations, 763-241-3402

Project Team: KKE Architects; Intep (high-performance-building consultant); Dunham Associates (mechanical/electrical design); Kraus Anderson Midwest Division (construction manager)

Anticipated savings $114,000/year

Dakota County Northern Service Center

The third facility of its kind in Dakota County, the new Northern Service Center provides a host of services in a central location to county residents. The county’s commitment to build to the 100-year mark has yielded a building that emphasizes durability and flexibility as well as ease of maintenance.

Sustainable Features

Site and Water

• Redeveloped brownfield.
• Reduced parking area (limits heat island and stormwater runoff).
• Prairie and low-maintenance turf areas.
• Accessible to public transportation.

Energy

• Exterior walls average R20 (code = R13).
• High-efficiency boilers, chillers, motors and heat recovery unit.
• Occupancy sensors for lighting.
• Daylight photosensors for atrium lights.
• Perimeter (hot water) heat allows for shutdown of ventilation system at night and on weekends.
• Fully thermally broken, low-E windows.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Supplemental task lighting at workstations.
• Low- and no-VOC finishes.
• Sound-masking system.
• Glare reduced through indirect fixtures coupled with high-reflectance ceiling tile.
• Windows extend to ceiling, allowing more natural light in work areas.
• CO2 monitoring system along with ample ventilation.

Materials and Waste

• Carpet tile with 40% recycled content.
• Terrazzo flooring with recycled glass content in main atrium.
• Construction waste recycling.
• Pre-existing building on site was deconstructed.
• Basic construction materials obtained locally or regionally (within 200-mile radius).

Key Statistics

Type of project: Public/Government, new construction

Location: West St. Paul, Minn.

Completed: 2002

Size: 249,000 square feet building; 18.36-acre site

Cost: $37.7 million + $2.6 million for site.

Anticipated Savings: Energy costs expected to be more than $60,000 lower as compared to conventional building built to code.

Contact: Tom Burrows, Dakota County Capital Planning and Project Management Office, 651-438-4350

Project Team: Wold Architects and Engineers; Knutson Construction Services (general contractor); Xcel Energy Design Assistance-Custom Consulting (energy analysis)

Kroening Interpretive Center at North Mississippi Regional Park

Designed to be authentic to its location, the building transitions smoothly into the surrounding natural environment. Resource-efficient engineered wood columns on the interior conserve the same grove of trees they evoke. Clerestory windows and borrowed lites maximize daylight and views allowing the park’s beauty to flow deep into the building’s interior.

Sustainable Features

Site and Water

• Located on previously impacted area
• Low-flow fixtures

Energy

• Windows with high thermal performance
• Natural daylighting through clerestory windows and borrowed lites.
• Highly efficient lighting fixtures with daylight sensing and dimming
• Maximization of passive solar energy: solar slab for thermal mass storage, effective placement of glazing, and attention to building orientation
• Highly insulated envelope (roof, R-60; walls, R-25)
• Air-air heat exchanger
• Energy management System controls CO2 sensors, temperature, and ventilation
• Attention to exterior detailing (e.g., gasketed service boxes at exterior walls)
• LED exit lights

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Building form and location of operable windows allow for fresh air interior ventilation on pleasant days.
• Wheat straw particleboard with non-toxic, emission-free binding agent
• No-VOC paint

Materials and Waste

• Durable, easy-to-maintain ceramic tile and concrete used extensively throughout building.
• Exposed infrastructure (roof structure and concrete slab-on-grade) allowed for significant material reduction.
• Recycled-content products include countertops, restroom partitions, carpet, and engineered lumber using wood waste.
• Construction waste and recycling plan focused on systematized recycling, modularity of materials, and efficient space planning.
• Materials with low-embodied energy (wood, natural fiberboard)
• Non-solvent-based concrete form release
• Use of 100% salvaged stone

Key Statistics

Project Type: Public/Park, new construction

Location: Minneapolis, Minn.

Completed: March 2002

Owner: Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Contact: Jim Bradley, 763-694-7694

Project Team: Partners & Sirny

Size: 5,300 square feet

Cost: $1,765,800

More Information: Andy Lesch,
612-230-6400

Minnesota DNR Consolidated Field Office

Located on the prairie of southwestern Minnesota, DNR-Windom minimizes site disruption with extensive native plantings to create three distinct but contiguous prairie landscapes. Building, road, and parking footprints are minimized compared with a typical DNR facility. The Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide provided the template for the project. Day-lit spaces are a key architectural feature of the building.

Sustainable Features

Site and Water

• Biologically based storm water management features include swales, sediment control ponds and wetlands.
• No irrigation system provided.

Energy

• R-60 roof insulation in the office building.
• Low-E Argon filled glazing.
• High-efficiency lighting with Occupancy sensors and manual dimming.
• Zoned with 5 separate furnaces (92.5% efficient) and air-handling units.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Extensive south-facing wall with windows and clerestories provides daylight to penetrate central spaces.
• Windows provide connections to indoor and outdoor environments. All occupants are within 20 feet of a window.
• Exterior and interior shading provided. Low-VOC products and installation materials.
• Internal humidity controls for HVAC units.

Materials and Waste

• Material choices kept to a minimum. Emphasis on durability and longevity. Used stone block, cementacious siding, and a steel roof.
• Paints substituted for vinyl wall coverings.
• Open ceiling systems used instead of traditional ceiling tiles.

Key Statistics

Project Type: Public/government office/light industrial, new construction

Location: Windom, Minn.

Completed: June 2002

Owner: State of Minnesota

Contact: Mark Wallace, Minnesota DNR

Project Team: Kodet Architectural Group

Size: 8,700 sq. ft. office space and 12,800 sq. ft. heated and unheated maintenance space

Cost: $2.1 million (including design and construction)

Design Tools Used: The Weidt Group utilized sophisticated Department of Energy modeling to characterize energy savings, pollution prevented, and interactions among multiple alternatives for design, glazing, lighting, mechanical, and insulation.

Estimated Savings: Annual energy savings of $2,700 or 25% better than code. Peak energy savings equal to 16 kW. Total air pollution (NOX, SOX, particulates) prevented over 30 years estimated at 10 million lbs.

More Information: Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide.

Apple Valley Municipal Center

Located in the heart of downtown Apple Valley, this municipal building was designed with an emphasis on worker health and safety and the responsible use of public funds. The expansion of an existing police station to include other city functions enabled the city to maximize the use of existing amenities while simultaneously minimizing the economic and environmental impacts of additional development.

Sustainable Features

Site and Water

• Stormwater controlled with onsite drywells and surge pond.
• Flexible design allows for expansion without added construction.
• Previously developed site away from farmland and environmentally sensitive areas.

Energy

• High-performance insulation.
• Solar screens on exterior windows.
• Energy-efficient lighting operated by master control system or occupancy sensors.
• Central location near public transportation.
• High-efficiency boilers and chillers.
• Building zoned to accommodate different occupancy hours and activities.
• Energy Star appliances and equipment.
• Separate exhaust for maintenance areas.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Low- and no-VOC finishes and carpet adhesives.
• Central clerestory and perimeter windows provide extensive daylighting.

Materials and Waste

• Integration with existing police station helped reduce material use and construction waste.
• Natural linoleum flooring.
• Recycled-content carpet.
• Durable, easy-to-maintain ceramic tile used in high-traffic lobby.
• Collection/storage system for recyclables.

Key Statistics

Project Type: Public/Government, new construction

Location: Apple Valley, Minn.

Completed: 2002

Owner: City of Apple Valley

Contact: Charles Grawe, Assistant to City Manager, 952-953-2508

Project Team: CNH Architects; Shaw-Lundquist (general contractor); Ericksen Ellison & Associate Inc (mechanical/electrical)

Size: 50,000 square foot addition to existing 25,000 square foot building

Cost: $7.2 million, including furnishings

Design Tools Used: LEED, Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide

Thompson Park Center/Dakota Lodge

This multipurpose group rental facility and senior/community center was designed to provide a smooth transition from the built environment to the natural one. A partnership between Dakota County and West St. Paul provided for the development of a shared facility that cost-effectively and efficiently meets the needs of both public entities.

Sustainable Features

Site and Water

• Previously impacted site.
• Mature oak trees preserved and used as setting.
• Native plants.
• Settling pond and vegetation filter storm water prior to outflow to wetlands.
• Orientation to gain maximum passive solar.

Energy

• Emphasis on daylighting.
• Daylight-sensing dimming system for electric lights .
• Heat recovery system in combination with mechanical ventilation.
• Primary heating source: passive solar, with supplemental high-efficiency gas furnace.
• High-efficiency lighting.
• Windows are triple-glazed, low E, argon-filled.
• Highly insulated envelope.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• No-VOC interior finishes
• Natural ventilation through operable windows (located to enable cross and stack ventilation)
• Low-and no-VOC-emitting cabinets.

Materials and Waste

• Products made from renewable agricultural materials.
• Recycled-content, low-embodied, and durable/low maintenance materials used.
• Engineered wood using wood waste.
• Construction waste minimized through modularity of materials and efficient space planning.
• Flexibility of design allows for future retrofits.

Key Statistics

Project Type: Public, new construction

Location: West St. Paul, Minn.

Completed: 2002

Owner: Dakota County

Contact: Beth Landahl, 651-438-4664

Project Team: Partners & Sirny (architect); Westbrook Development, Inc. (general contractor)

Size: 10,000+ square feet

Cost: $2.24 million

Design Tools Used: Dakota County Sustainable Design Construction Standards

Estimated Savings: $1 million (land and capital costs avoided because of mutual decision by West St. Paul and Dakota County to build one shared facility in lieu of two independent ones)

Livonia Township Town Hall

This small Minnesota community built a new 3,500 square foot building using products and components that are environmentally friendly and energy efficient. The facility, used for township meetings and other community business, also reflects the hard work and determination of several town officials who were committed to making green building a relevant and workable concept in their community.

Sustainable Features

Site and Water

• Shrubs from the old town hall were transplanted to the front of the new facility.
• Prior to ground breaking, trees on the construction site were transplanted to another area on the property.

Energy

• Geothermal heating/cooling system, which uses the earth’s constant temperature to heat and cool the building.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Flooring, cabinets, and paint with low- or no-VOC content.

Materials and Waste

• Cabinets and countertops made from WheatBoard™, a formaldehyde-free wheat straw product.
• Carpet made from 100% recycled pop bottles.
• Resilient flooring that is free of VOCs and plasticizers.
• Metal roof containing 40% recycled aluminum.
• Restroom partitions made from recycled plastic.
• Interior trim from certified sustainable wood.
• Recycled-content cellulose ceiling insulation.
• Concrete containing 10% fly ash for footings, foundation walls, slab on grade.
• Ceramic tile made from feldspar tailings, a postindustrial waste product.
• Ceiling tile containing 90% recycled content.
• Baby-changing stations made from 20% recycled plastic.
• Low-emissivity, argon-filled windows containing 100% recycled aluminum and 15% recycled glass.
• Fiber Cement siding containing 50% recycled cement.
• Minimal material landfilled.
• Use of durable, low-maintenance products should reduce life-cycle costs.

Key Statistics

Project Type: Public/Government, new construction

Location: Zimmerman, Minn.

Completed: February 2002

Project Team: Graeme Mahler & Associates (architects); Riverside Construction (general contractor); Consultants: Tim Doherty, Connexus Energy

Size of project: 3,500 sq. feet

Anticipated Savings: Payback of 5 to 7 years for the geothermal heating/cooling system.

Contact: Lila Spencer, town clerk, 763-856-5640 or e-mail <Townclerk@ livoniatownship.org>

The Church of St. Joan of Arc

St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church is guided by an overall philosophy of stewardship and respect for the environment. The Parish Center, which opened in March 2001, was remodeled with the goal of making the project as environmentally friendly as possible. The project received a 2002 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Pollution Prevention.

Sustainable Features

Site and Water

• Low-flow plumbing fixtures
• Native/low-maintenance/drought-resistant plantings
• Shading for west windows
• Expanded green space
• Salvaged and replanted trees
• Previously developed site

Energy

• High-efficiency, operable windows.