Environmental Design + Construction - November 2008 - (Page 112)

CASE STUDY By Debra J. White Green has Gone to the Dogs THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IS CONSIDERED WHILE DESIGNING SEVERAL ANIMAL SHELTERS. In animal shelters that were built for unwanted dogs and cats, things like energy efficiency, water use and air filtration were not priorities. But that’s all changing as shelters go green. and protect the environment at the same time. for the new Potter League for Animals in Middletown, R.I., slated to open in November 2008. A 15,000-gallon cistern will capture stormwater runoff. The water will be recycled, of course, after it’s disinfected and used for cleaning. Captured water will not drain into the sewer system or the surrounding wetlands. According to Lucy Schlaffer, principal architect with ARQ, “With the cistern, Potter will be the first shelter to demonstrate success in water reduction in their new green building.” Water reduction projects are also working at the Dallas Animal Services in Texas and planned for the new shelter at Humane Society Silicon Valley in California. Water is, of course, thoroughly disinfected before reuse; none of the projects involve potable water. Water Usage The concept of going green poses unique challenges for shelters. Air Filtration Animal shelters, like hospitals, rely on efficient air filtration systems to help prevent airborne diseases like kennel cough in dogs and upper respiratory infections in cats. Systematic air changes keep the air healthy and curtail disease. New green buildings employ ventilation systems that provide for 10 to 12 air exchanges an hour. Use of heating and/or cooling recovery coils can further cut expenses because they save wasted energy by pre-heating or pre-cooling exhausted air. James E. Owens of Rauhaus Freedenfeld &Associates says, “The benefit of a green building is fresh air. More is brought in to cut down on contamination.” Owens says green buildings benefit workers as well by curtailing sick THE TOMPKINS COUNTY SPCA WAS THE FIRST ANIMAL SHELTER IN THE NATION TO EARN A LEED SILVER RATING; OTHERS ARE NOW FOLLOWING SUIT. PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL BONACCI, ARQ ARCHITECTS. The Tompkins County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Ithaca, N.Y., opened an eco-friendly shelter in 2004 — the first in the nation to receive a LEED Silver rating. The project features recycled-content materials, FSCcertified woods, a geothermal heat pump and other environmentally considerate products and systems. Numerous green shelters in the United States and Canada are now open, under construction or in the planning phases. Shelters have found they can save animals Water use is huge. Workers sanitize and hose down kennels daily with disinfectants to control disease. Reliable estimates are hard to come by, but the average shelter might use at least 1,000 gallons per day. Large shelters in cities like Phoenix, Dallas and Chicago use considerably more. In planning a green building, reducing water use is crucial, especially for LEED certification. ARQ Architects, with offices in Kittery, Maine, and San Francisco, designed a novel approach 112 ed+c N OV E MBE R 08

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Environmental Design + Construction - November 2008

Environmental Design %2B Construction - November 2008 Contents Web TOC Editor's Note Newsline New %2B Notable Green by Nature Award Winner: Juvenile Justice Award Winner: Desert Living FSC Special Section Designing a Greener Building with BIM The Case for Modular Creating a Rustle Lessons Learned The Move Toward Sustainability Lead by Example A%2B Rating Nurture by Nature Commitment to Sustainability Eyeing the Future Work of Art Green has Gone to the Dogs Sensible Upgrade Moisture Issues in Courthouses Green Build - Green Product Buzz Guide Benefi ts of BIM Product Focus Marketplace %2B Classifieds Advertiser's Index Parting Shot

Environmental Design + Construction - November 2008

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