adaptive reuse

The Church Solutions 2008 Factbook arrived digitally in my Inbox this morning - brimming over with good content. I will hereby commence regurgitating some of said content back to you.

One article, called "Adaptive Reuse" caught my particular attention because it seems like we hear more and more about local ministries opting to renovate an existing, non-church building rather than build from the ground up. Mars Hill in Seattle caused no small stir when they opened their newest campus in an old dance club. Several churches are now taking over bars on Sunday mornings. ... Or maybe I'm partial because my own church is in a former Big Lots department store space.

The Church Solutions article - teasingly labeled "Part I" - discusses some of the benefits to these "found spaces."

1. Lower first cost.
   
2. Faster occupancy.
3. Increased proportion of volunteer-ready work. (New constructions required trained, experienced professionals to lay concrete and erect steel. In a renovation, more of the work can be done by skilled or unskilled volunteers, and construction managers are usually more apt to let skilled volunteers participate since the risks are reduced.)
   
4. Location. (Renovating allows a ministry to set up in densely populated areas.)
5. Environmental sustainability. (Fewer raw materials and less garbage, and you can still get LEED certification.)
   
6. Cultural familiarity and mission. (It's all about knowing your church's DNA.)
7. Experimental freedom. (Go ahead and paint the walls ... again and again.)

Check out Church in the Word in our Project Gallery for one example of adaptive reuse.

happy earth day

In honor of Earth Day we want to help your church building get greener, faster. Here are a few of the odd things you can get LEED credit for.

(In an existing building)
SS Credit 5: Reduced Site Disturbance - 1 Point
"Over the performance period, have in place native or adapted vegetation covering a minimum of 25% of the site area, excluding the building footprint." i.e. Let a quarter of your grounds get over-grown.

MR Credit 5: Sustainable Purchasing: Food - 1 Point
"Achieve sustainable purchases of at least 25% of total combined food and beverage purchases (by cost) during the performance period." i.e. Get donuts from a local bakery and USDA Certified Organic coffee.

EQ Credit 2.1: Occupant Survey - 1 Point
"Implement an occupant comfort survey and complaint response system to collect anonymous responses about thermal comfort, acoustics, indoor air quality, lighting levels, building cleanliness and other occupant comfort issues."

(In a rented interior space)
SS Credit 3.2: Alternative Transportation - 1 Point
"Provide secure bicycle storage, with convenient changing/shower facilities for 5% or more of tenant occupants."

SS Credit 3.3: Parking Availability - 1 Point
"Priority parking for carpools or van pools will be provided for 5% or more of tenant occupants."

MR Credit 1.1: Tenant Space - 1 Point
"Occupant commits to remain in the same location for not less than 10 years."

Who said going green isn't fun?

why go green?

Two weeks ago was Green Week here at the WDG blog. It was fun, but it wasn't the end of the green speak. Before we go any further, however, let's discuss the Why? factor.

The April issue of Grow focused on a green Church, and closed with an address to the Why? factor. I think they put it pretty succinctly, so I'll just insert a block quote:

Your church can be designed, built, and operated to be energy and resource efficient. All it takes is a willingness to start with a goal, and assembling the right team to make it happen. The result will be a well-designed, functionally efficient building that is a 'living' example of stewardship in action.

Churches are community examples, not only of the ministries the people do, but also of the facilities they have. Church buildings stand for something - the recognition that there is a God of creation, that His people are stewards of the Earth, and that the Church should be a leader and example in all areas of community life.

To put it simply, if we are efficient in the use of our resources, we can be more effective in our ministry endeavors.

Wal-Mart made a huge impact on the national scene by encouraging their customers to make a difference by changing one light bulb. No matter how well-intentioned Wal-Mart is, they shouldn't be the leader in your community when it comes to sustainability issues. So take up the green challenge, and change your world - one light bulb at a time!

Green Week, Day 5: Acronyms and Labels

More and more companies are stretching to get their products up to someone's code. It's a good idea to keep an eye out (or ask your contractor to keep an eye out) for some of these labels and acronyms.

FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council. They have third-party certifiers around the world assessing forest management activities and tracking of forest products. If a forest landowner or manager becomes certified by the FSC, he signs a five-year commitment to continue sustainable forestry practices.

There are over 1500 FSC certified suppliers in the U.S., and many retailers stock FSC products. FSC certified wood usually costs about 2% more than non-FSC certified wood.

The CRI is the Carpet and Rug Institute. In 1992, they launched the Green Label program to test carpet, cushions and adhesives to help identify products with very low emissions of VOCs. Then came the Green Label Plus program, which is just a little more stringent. Green Label and Green Label Plus certifications must be re-evaluated annually.

VOCs are volatile organic compounds. They come from a wide variety of chemicals in a wide variety of products, and are released as gases into the air. They can create short-term or long-term, adverse health effects and are usually much worse indoors than out. As you're looking at paint, cleaning supplies, lacquers, furniture, etc., make sure you're looking for products that have low-VOC emissions. Prices should be comparable.

WaterSense is the EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) label for efficient plumbing products. Prices are comparable, but the products will save you money in the long-run anyway!

That's enough to get anyone started! If you can get FSC Certified wood in your building's structure and/or finishes, Green Label carpeting on the floors, low-VOC paint on the walls, and WaterSense sinks in the bathrooms your church building will make a dramatic statement to your community without leaving a dramatic impact on the earth!

Green Week, Day 4: Green Roofs

Green roof systems cover the roof of a building, partially or completely, with live plants over a waterproof membrane.

There is no shortage of companies that do this. Some lay it out as one big garden; others bring up scores of individual flats. Both methods work.

This looks really cool, especially if the roof is accessible and you put a big chess board or some seating up there too. I always assumed, however, that it was probably pretty terrible for the building. On the contrary, I've learned. Like most sustainable building initiatives there are few, if any, down-sides to this.

Highlights:

• Reduces heating needs in cooler weather by adding mass and thermal resistance
• Evaporative cooling reduces cooling load on building in warmer weather.
• Increases the life span of the roof by protecting it from weather and UV rays
  
• Reduces storm water runoff
• Filters air and rain water
• Provides sound insulation
• Creates a wildlife habitat
• Improves the aesthetic environment

Green roof systems also reduce the "heat island" effect in an urban area. This phenomena describes urban temperatures that are two to ten degrees higher than surrounding areas. The two main causes of urban heat islands (UHIs) are the modification of land surfaces by development, and the excess heat created by large buildings. These warmer temperatures have been linked to a variety of problems from residents' health to local weather patterns. Green roof systems help reverse the effect.

Green Week, Day 3: ULFs

The average toilet uses 5 gallons of water per flush.


Low-flow toilets (LFs) use about 3.5 gallons of water per flush.


Ultra low-flow toilets (ULFs) use no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush.


That's impressive. A more efficient bowl design and (as one website puts it) "increased flushing velocities" make sure that the 1.6 gallon flush is effective.

AND (scoop your jaw up off the ground for a minute 'cause we're not done) we now have Dual Flush Toilets. These are ULFs with an additional option for an ultra ultra low-flush that uses something like 0.8 to 1.1 (depending on the model) gallons of water per flush.

Most models have two buttons on them so the user can decide if the toilet just needs a little rinse or an increased flushing velocity. Some models, like the Sloan ECOS pictured, also use sensors to detect how long a user is in front of it, and automatically selects the smaller flush for short visits. That's right, the potty's timing you in the name of water conservation.

And if it's wrong, you can always hit the button. These models also ship with etched-metal plates clearly and concisely explaining the toilet to users.

The cost of a ULF toilet is comparable to the cost of a regular one, but if you want to get a nicer model it will pay for itself soon enough anyway. And they install just like regular, water-guzzling toilets: no special skills required.

Green Week, Day 2: Waterless Urinals

I'll be honest: The first time I heard someone talk about waterless urinals my mind instantly went back to the "out-houses" in India and I recoiled. You can't put a waterless urinal in an American church building! Eww.

Then I did the research and I have to say, I'm about as big a fan of waterless urinals as a woman could be.

The picture (left, from Falcon) does a pretty concise job of describing the process. The blue sealant liquid is less dense, so it stays on top. It traps bacteria and odor beneath it. The small compartment beneath the sealant liquid quickly overflows into the drain line.

In some models, what you see pictured is a cartridge that needs to be changed every so often. In other models (like the Kohler at the top), maintenance only requires pouring a little more of the sealant liquid in and Tada!; you're done. I worked on our church's volunteer cleaning crew for about a year, and I must say: If you have church members volunteering to clean your building you owe them this.

And, while this initially seems completely counter-intuitive, they actually make restrooms more sanitary. Think about it: no standing water in the bottom of the urinal, and they're touch-free!

AND they're usually less expensive than traditional urinals. I know, everyone likes to argue that they can't build green 'cause it costs more but it's not true in the men's restroom (actually, it's generally not true overall). The models are less expensive because there's no flushing mechanism, and installation is easier because all it needs is a drain line.

In a nutshell:

• Zero water consumption
• Low maintenance and operating costs
• Easier and more sanitary maintenance prodecure
  
• Lower sewage costs
• Less expensive installation
• More hygienic restrooms

I'm sold.

Green Week

Welcome to Green Week at Wildesign. This week will feature some of my favorite sustainable building options, but first, allow me to introduce you to Keystone Community Church.

Keystone is the first LEED-certified church building in the U.S. Our new mantra is "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's LEED certification." We're working on it.

Keystone is a non-denominational church in Ada, Michigan. They minister to about 850 people every weekend in a really cool, earth-friendly building. Worship Facilities featured them last spring; you can check that out here.

Highlights:

• Sensored lighting insures that lights are not left on in empty rooms.
• Waterless urinals and low-flow toilets save a bundle of water and money (we'll talk about those tomorrow).
• The building was intentionally situated in a natural clearing of a wooded area to protect the building from weather and avoid tree clearing.
• Every room gets some degree of natural lighting.
• Old, exterior building products were re-introduced as interior finishes.
• All paints and finishes are low-VOC products.
• There are electric car outlets in the parking lot.
  

Of course, LEED certification is not easy to come by. Every meeting and every decision needs to be made with LEED in mind, and the up-front costs for paperwork can be daunting.

Eventually, though, it all pays off. Your community knows that your congregation shares its values and is willing to put its money where its mouth is. Not to mention you save tremendously on reduced water and energy consumption.

Props to Keystone. May the rest of us be close behind.