G|PRO Fundamentals of Building Green Green Professional Building Skills Training REVIEW

G|PRO 1 WHY GREEN BUILDING? Page 5 What is the definition of sustainability? A way of living that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

G|PRO Why is the design and operation of buildings so important in relation to sustainability? Existing buildings use almost 40% of the energy in the U.S. and by tuning and optimizing our existing buildings we can go a long way toward cutting down fossil fuel emissions and reducing America’s energy use. 1 WHY GREEN BUILDING? Page 5

G|PRO What is a green job? Where are the opportunities for these jobs in the building industry? Green jobs are jobs that help to protect and restore ecosystems, reduce energy consumption, and minimize waste and pollution. Opportunities for green jobs can be found in new construction, retrofitting, and improved operations of existing buildings and renewable technologies. 1 WHY GREEN BUILDING? Page 6

G|PRO What job-site health hazards does green building address? Dust (particulate matter) that can be harmful to lungs Carbon Monoxide that can cause illness or even death VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that can be very hazardous to health 1 WHY GREEN BUILDING? Page 9

G|PRO 2 CLIMATE CHANGE: CAUSES AND IMPACTS Pages 11 & 12 What is global climate change, and how do greenhouse gases affect it? Global climate change is the process that has caused the Earth’s surface to steadily warm since about 1750 (the start of the industrial revolution). Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane gas trap the earth’s heat and reflect it back to the surface, causing warming of the Earth and associated climate disruptions.

G|PRO What is embodied energy? The amount of energy required to bring a product to market. This includes extraction, manufacture, transportation, use, and disposal. 2 THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY: THE FOUR R’s Page 30

G|PRO What is a carbon footprint? The amount of greenhouse gases that a process or activity releases throughout its lifecycle. 2 CLIMATE CHANGE: CAUSES AND IMPACTS Page 14

G|PRO How does the burning of fossil fuels affect global warming? Every pound of fossil fuel that we burn contributes to the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), water vapor, and methane gas, that trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. 2 CLIMATE CHANGE: CAUSES AND IMPACTS Page 12

G|PRO What are the expected impacts of climate change on the environment? Melting glaciers and rising sea level Extreme weather (storms, heat waves) Shifts in plant and wildlife cycles 2 CLIMATE CHANGE: CAUSES AND IMPACTS Pages 14 & 15

G|PRO Which issues does green building address in relation to our use of fresh water? Diminishing supply of water Water pollution from buildings Stormwater runoff 3 OUR NATURAL RESOURCES: SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES Page 19

G|PRO Why are forests so important to maintaining life on Earth? Forests create the oxygen we breathe and filter pollutants from the air They help stabilize the Earth’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide Prevent floods and provide us with natural resources 3 OUR NATURAL RESOURCES: SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES Page 21

G|PRO How do we know that climate change is happening? Global surface temperatures have increased 0.5 ºF every 10 years since the 1970s 9 of the 10 warmest years on record were between 1995 and CLIMATE CHANGE: CAUSES AND IMPACTS Page 11

G|PRO What is sprawl, and how does it affect farmland? Sprawl is when a city grows outwards, creating suburbs that replace farms. Suburban populations depend on automobiles for travel, which requires the paving over of farmland for highways and other roads. 3 OUR NATURAL RESOURCES: SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES Page 23

G|PRO What does the history of environmental laws tell us about the cost of cleaning up our emissions? It’s a lot less expensive than industry lobbyists would have us believe. 4 THE HISTORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Page 28

G|PRO 5 THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY: THE FOUR R’s Page 30 U.S. consumption of which world resources has increased? While Americans make up only 4.5% of the world’s population, we account for nearly a quarter of the world’s energy consumption. This includes growing use of fossil fuels, wood, and other natural resources.

G|PRO What materials are most effectively recycled and what are the environmental benefits of doing so? Paper, metal (aluminum, steel), and cement. We use many fewer natural resources by recycling existing materials. 5 THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY: THE FOUR R’s Page 33

G|PRO In what ways are renewable technologies a better source of energy than fossil fuels? Renewable technologies use pollution-free energy sources, like the sun and wind. 5 THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY: THE FOUR R’s Page 34

G|PRO What is the least expensive yet most effective strategy for protecting the environment? Reduce consumption. 5 THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY: THE FOUR R’s Page 31

G|PRO 6 HOW DO WE KNOW IT’S GREEN? Pages 39 & 40 What is the definition and what are the goals of green building? A green building is designed and built to reduce environmental impacts and energy consumption while contributing to the health and productivity of its occupants. Goals of green building: Highly efficient use of energy, water, and other resources Improved health and comfort for the construction team and building occupants Reduced waste and pollution Increased building system durability and performance

G|PRO How is an integrated design process different from a typical design process? Integrated design encourages building professionals in different trades to collaborate to produce a building whose component parts operate well together. Contractors and builders are often involved much earlier in the process to provide scheduling and pricing advice. 6 HOW DO WE KNOW IT’S GREEN? Page 40

G|PRO Does a green building cost more than a conventionally built building? High performing buildings can be built cost- effectively and can cost much less to operate. Factors such as the grades of finishes and the equipment used during construction affect building costs more than whether or not the building is green. 6 HOW DO WE KNOW IT’S GREEN? Pages 42 & 43

G|PRO What are some of the financial benefits of green building? Lower fuel and operations costs over short periods, as well as higher occupancy rates, higher sale prices, and premium rental rates. 6 HOW DO WE KNOW IT’S GREEN? Page 43

G|PRO 7 CODES AND STANDARDS: ENSURING PERFORMANCE Page 44 How do energy codes relate to green building performance? Energy codes have broad impact and ensure that projects achieve the minimum available standards.

G|PRO 7 CODES AND STANDARDS: ENSURING PERFORMANCE Page 45 What organizations develop the primary building codes? The International Code Council (ICC) prepares model building and construction codes for adoption by states and municipalities. ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) generates standards used throughout the industry which are sometimes adopted in local codes.

G|PRO What are the more common green product rating systems and what elements of a building do they cover? Energy Star: Energy- and water- efficient building products and appliances WaterSense: Water efficient products Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): Sustainably produced wood and woodwork GreenSeal: Labeling for low VOC products 7 CODES AND STANDARDS: ENSURING PERFORMANCE Pages 45-48

G|PRO What are the six LEED credit categories? Sustainable Sites Water Efficiency Energy & Atmosphere Materials & Resources Indoor Environmental Quality Innovation and Design 8 APPLYING SUSTAINABILITY: USING LEED CREDITS Page 49-63

G|PRO 8 APPLYING SUSTAINABILITY: USING LEED CREDITS Pages What are the goals of each LEED credit category? Sustainable Sites – Reduce environmental impact of buildings on local ecosystems. Water Efficiency – Protect and conserve natural water sources by reducing water use for building operation and site maintenance. Energy & Atmosphere – Minimize the effects of atmospheric pollution associated with energy generation by reducing the amount of energy required for building operation. Materials & Resources – Protect and conserve natural resources and habitat by reducing waste and the need for environmentally damaging processes related to the extraction, processing, and transportation of materials and products. Indoor Environmental Quality – Provide healthy indoor environments for occupants and construction workers.

G|PRO How can the effects of heat islands be mitigated with green building design? Shading built surfaces with trees Using highly reflective materials for paving and roofs Replacing paved surfaces such as parking lots, roads and roofs with vegetated surfaces or open-grid paving products 8 APPLYING SUSTAINABILITY: USING LEED CREDITS Pages 51 & 52

G|PRO What is the value of Measurement and Verification (M&V) for a new building? It determines how well the building's energy use agrees with pre-construction predictions. 8 APPLYING SUSTAINABILITY: USING LEED CREDITS Page 58

G|PRO Why is building reuse often a more sustainable approach than new construction? Reusing existing building components requires the least amount of embodied energy and reduces waste. 8 APPLYING SUSTAINABILITY: USING LEED CREDITS Page 59

G|PRO Why are low-emitting materials important to workers and occupants? VOC’s are hazardous to the health of workers and building occupants. 8 APPLYING SUSTAINABILITY: USING LEED CREDITS Page 62

G|PRO 9 CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY POLLUTION PREVENTION Pages 67 & 68 Why is CAPP an important part of the green building construction process? A CAPP (Construction Activity Pollution Prevention) Plan reduces: Stormwater runoff Soil erosion Air pollution (by dust and exhaust fumes) Fines for violation of local, state, and federal regulations

G|PRO 10 CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT Page 72 How do the Three R's relate to CWM (Construction Waste Management) on a green job? Reduce demolition to the extent possible by repurposing existing building components. Reuse building components and equipment on-site. Recycle material that must be removed from the site to the greatest extent possible.

G|PRO 11 CONSTRUCTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY Page 76 What are some of the common job site pollutants and where do they come from? Particulates: From cutting wood, sanding plaster Formaldehyde: Emitted from particleboard, plywood, OSB, glues Mold: From damp environments

G|PRO What is the value of a CIAQ Plan? A CIAQ (Construction Indoor Air Quality) Plan reduces indoor air quality problems that result from construction or renovation. It protects the comfort and well-being of construction workers and building occupants. 11 CONSTRUCTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY Page 75

G|PRO What are some sample measures that will ensure a good CIAQ outcome? Ventilation: Adequate fresh air supply must be maintained at the worksite at all times. HVAC system protection: Ensure that HVAC system is not full of dust and pollutants. Source Control: Minimize the source of pollutants. Pathway Interruption: Keep pollutants from circulating. Housekeeping: Clean up as you go. Protecting moisture-sensitive materials: Cover equipment and materials. Building Flush-Out: Purge pollutants. 11 CONSTRUCTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY Pages 76-78

G|PRO 12 COMMISSIONING Page 81 Why is it so important to commission a building? Ensures that the building performs as designed Ensures that building systems work together Ensures substantial monetary and energy savings

G|PRO How does the commissioning process help trades, building operators, and occupants? Reduces claims of defective workmanship. Trains building operators so they can diagnose operational problems and lower energy consumption. Improves occupant comfort and productivity. 12 COMMISSIONING Page 81