Sustainable communities - information & resources

One Erdman Place: LEED Gold Certification

Cogdell Spencer ERDMAN’s Madison, Wis., headquarters received LEED-NC Gold certification in 2008 with 44 qualified features. With this achievement, the building became the first multi-tenant commercial office non-owner-occupied LEED Gold certified building in the state of Wisconsin. The following were achievements the building made within each credit category:

Sustainable Sites

  • Dedicated parking for low-emission and fuel-efficient vehicles promotes clean air.
  • Drought-tolerant native landscaping conserves water and supports the local habitat.
  • Alternative transportation includes two bus stops within ¼ mile (0.4 km) and 24 bicycle stalls.
  • Maximized open space is equal to 20 percent of site area.
  • Bioretention pond treats storm-water run-off from impervious parking area.
  • Environmentally preferable site furniture, such as trash receptacle, chairs and benches, by Landscape Forms Inc.

Water Efficiency

  • Water-conservation fixtures, including no-water urinals, dual-flush toilets, and low-flow lavatory faucets and shower heads maximize water efficiency.
    • Zurn EcoAdvantage 1/8-gallon urinal system
    • Zurn Dual Flush Water Closet
    • One Erdman Place has experimented with four different models of waterless urinals. One manufacturer (Zurn) increased the scent strength in its fluid sealant, at least in part, because of Cogdell Spencer ERDMAN feedback.
  • Low-flow shower heads:  As technology improves and different models become available, Cogdell Spencer ERDMAN continues to install these shower heads in fitness-center showers. User evaluations are sent to plumbing specifications for updating of best practices.
  • A 20,000-gallon (76000-L) rainwater-harvesting system that was specifically engineered to study best practices allows for irrigation from rainwater.
  • Siphonic roof drains result in a 30 percent savings in material and labor.
  • Electronic descaling system in lieu of traditional sodium-ion-exchange water softener.
    • Freije Series One Flow Anti-Scale Electronic Descaling System
    • Alternatives to traditional sodium-ion-exchange water softening continue to enter the market. Cogdell Spencer ERDMAN proactively researches and follows these developments and has tried other technologies on other projects, such as site-induced microprecipitation from Watts ScaleSafe.

Materials and Resources

  • Construction recycling diverted 85 percent of construction waste from the landfill.
  • The carpet, ceiling tiles, rubber flooring and other materials with recycled content reduce pressure on landfills and lessen demand for natural resources.
  • Rapidly renewable resources, such as cork floor, agrifiber core doors and bamboo-veneer wall panels, minimize demand on slow-growing natural resources.
  • Regional materials harvested and manufactured within 500 miles (805 km) of the project site made up 16 percent of the total project’s materials cost.
  • Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood made up 63 percent of new wood-based materials.

Energy Efficiency

  • Energy-efficiency measures, like a cool white roof, high-efficiency lighting fixtures and occupancy sensors, reduce operating costs. The roof is a Sarnafil single-ply PVC reflective white roof membrane. There is some research that demonstrates that even in northern climates buildings’ energy efficiency will improve from using a reflective roof. Buildings are cooling dominated because of the large internal-to-external ratio; features that reduce the cooling loads will generally overcome an increase in the heating loads they cause. The cool roof is a product Cogdell Spencer ERDMAN wanted to experience to be more credible when suggesting it to clients.
  • A thermally efficient envelope, efficient lighting and controls, and efficient Trane HVAC systems demonstrate a 28 percent energy savings compared with a baseline building of similar size.
  • Instantaneous Eemax tankless electric water heaters are installed  at hot water point-of-use. For example, placing tankless water heaters immediately below a lavatory or break-room sink--except for the shower area--eliminates the hot-water supply and hot-water return piping systems to all upper floors, as well as hot-water-pipe heat losses. Only cold water is routed throughout the building. There are no stand-by heat losses from the instant water heater.
  • Spray polyurethane foam insulation maintains less infiltration. The insulation was applied during the manufacturing and construction of the steel wall panels, prior to field delivery.
  • Enhanced refrigerant management strategies decrease ozone depletion and minimize climate-change potential.

Indoor Environmental Quality

  • A designated smoking area is located 25-feet (8-m) away from the building to protect indoor air quality.
  • Interior finishes with low VOC-emitting components maintain IAQ
  • Carbon-dioxide monitors by Trane in the large conference room determine ventilation control.
  • Watt Stopper daylight controls and occupancy sensors on lighting.
  • Lithonia for the majority of light fixtures--Pearless light pendants and Gotham can lights.
  • Motorized solar shading system.
  • Ninety-eight percent of task areas have direct access to outdoor views.

Innovation and Design

  • An outreach program educates the Madison community, Cogdell Spencer ERDMAN employees and the health-care industry about the benefits of sustainability in the built environment through sharing of best practices and processes, building tours, informational building kiosks and marketing materials.
  • A comprehensive green housekeeping program eliminates the use of toxic chemicals.
  • Thirty-five percent of the building’s regulated load is supplied by renewable power purchased from a national Renewable Energy Credit program supporting research and technology in the field of renewable-energy sources.

To read the complete article about One Erdman Place, click here.

 

                                          Cogdell Spencer ERDMAN, Madison, Wis.