Sustainable Building

Sustainable building, sometimes called "green building" or "high performance building", is the practice of designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and removing buildings in ways that conserve natural resources and reduce pollution. It also means creating a building that is healthier and more comfortable for its occupants, consequently enhancing productivity.

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), a sustainable building provides economic, human, and community benefits as well as reduced environmental impacts. 

• Economic Benefits.  The lifetime costs of a sustainable building are lower. Energy efficient and water conserving strategies yield operational savings for the lifetime of the building. Integrated design strategies allow tradeoffs that can reduce first costs. For example, chiller size can be reduced with the use of high efficiency lighting, which generates a smaller heat load in the building.
• Human Benefits.  Daylighting, improved air quality, greater thermal control, and other indoor environmental quality strategies typically improve occupant satisfaction. Greater satisfaction often leads to increased productivity and morale, decreased turnover, and reduced absenteeism.
• Community Benefits.  Green buildings often result in less wind/water erosion and sedimentation of waterways during construction. Sustainably designed sites permanently reduce stormwater runoff and watershed pollution. Furthermore, resource-efficient buildings place less demand on the community infrastructure for potable water, sewage conveyance, and power generation.  A sustainable building is more than efficient lighting and water conservation; it involves thinking differently about how to design and operate the building, choose the site, and select building materials. It involves incorporating sustainable principles throughout the design process and a commitment from all members of the planning and construction team.

Washington County's service centers in Forest Lake and Cottage Grove incorporate a wide range of sustainable design features. Both are being built utilizing the Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines. The County Board adopted these guidelines in 2005; thereby incorporating them in the county's building process.

Water efficiency and energy conservation were a priority in the design of the buildings. Water use will be reduced in buildings by 30% compared to standard building codes. The site will include low-flow toilets and urinals, and infra-red controls on faucets. Landscaping will include native plants that do not require irrigation. The Cottage Grove site will have four large rainwater gardens to infiltrate stormwater.

Energy use in the buildings will be reduced by at least 30%, and will include efficient building equipment and appliances. The buildings will also include high efficiency mechanical and electrical systems, and 96% efficient condensing gas boilers and chillers. Daylight will be utilized for all office areas, and daylighting sensors will be installed to control artificial light in lobby and public areas.

The buildings also integrate a variety of products that have recycled content, are locally/regionally produced, are highly durable, are reused, recycled, or are biodegradable. For example, the linoleum flooring is made of all natural material – flax seed, linseed oil, rosins, cork wood flour, limestone, and jute. Paint for the office areas will be re-blended paint with a minimum of 80% post consumer recycled content. The fabric for the office furniture is 100% recycled polyester, and is recyclable.

A number of other sustainable design goals will be achieved. The buildings have been designed to avoid critical sites such as designated farmland, flood plains, and endangered species habitat. For example, the center in the Cottage Grove Ravine Park will include an equal land replacement for the park land being used. The buildings and grounds have been designed to reduce light pollution. Efficient transportation alternatives will be included such as preferred carpool parking for employees. In addition, low-emitting materials such as zero-VOC paint and low-VOC sealants, adhesives, finishes and furnishings will be incorporated into the interiors.

To encourage healthy physical activity, the buildings will be near current or future planned mass transit and public amenities to encourage walking to services instead of driving. The Cottage Grove center is part of long-range planning including city services and connection to future development, and is located near outdoor trail areas

The building plans also included specifications for waste reduction and management by diverting construction debris from landfill disposal and including paper and beverage container recycling within the construction trailers on the sites.

The services centers are an example of the county's commitment to sustainable building. The buildings and grounds will be a teaching tool on how municipalities, residents and businesses can incorporate sustainable building design into their own building and remodeling projects.

The Washington County Environmental Center was designed and built utilizing the Minnesota Sustainable Building Design Guidelines, which the County Board adopted in 2005. The 24,000 square foot center, built in 2009, is located next to the Washington County Public Works South Shop at 4039 Cottage Grove Drive in Woodbury.

Several features are in place to capture and filter nearly 100 percent of the stormwater runoff for both the Environmental Center and the adjoining Public Works site, preventing polluted runoff from reaching local lakes and rivers.  These include:

• A stormwater retention pond,
• A rainwater harvesting system where roof runoff is captured, filtered and stored for on-site irrigation.

The Environmental Center was also built with energy conservation in mind.  Features that conserve    energy include daylighting and occupancy sensors to control artificial light, use of ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances and energy-efficient lighting, tinted glass to reduce heat gain, and a relay panel to better control lighting and save energy.

The Center also integrates a variety of products that have recycled content.  Examples include:

• Copper panels on the building exterior made from 70 percent recycled materials,
• Floor tiles in the lobby and Free Product Room made from 70 percent recycled granite and marble, 
• Asphalt paving made from 5 percent tear-off (used) recycled roof shingles, totaling 70 tons. For more information, visit RethinkRecycling.com and search for “Shingle Recycling.”

The Environmental Center is an example of the county's commitment to sustainable building. The buildings and grounds will be a teaching tool on how municipalities, residents and businesses can incorporate sustainable building design into their own building and remodeling projects.