by Heather Livingston
Contributing Editor

How do you . . . as an architecture firm, live the green life?

Summary: Walking the walk is taking on new importance in the sustainability movement. In addition to providing sustainable design services, clients want to see their architect living the green life, too. Environmental Dynamics Inc. is providing such a model for its community by completing its eco-office in the East Nob Hill neighborhood of Albuquerque. A one-story renovation, the eco-office also is home to the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, The Sierra Club, and landscape architecture firm Quercus.

EDI is an adaptive firm focused on reaching out to its community to help people understand the positive impact they can have on global climate change. The original concept of EDI was to create an architecture firm that made green design a viable option for the community. According to Partner Stace McGee, LEED AP, the firm previously spent a lot of their time educating the community about why green design is important. Now, with the sustainable movement merging into mainstream consciousness, EDI is finally able to pursue their main interest: regenerative design.

“Environmental Dynamics wants to partner with people in the community to start developing buildings that are regenerative; i.e., buildings that give back to the community and allow some reversal of this global warming process,” says McGee. “That’s how EDI is continuing to adapt, by trying to interpret and lead the way in this green building movement. We’re trying not to get too far ahead of [the clients] so that we can actually make a living, but we’re always trying to figure out a way to do it better.”

Instead of just creating zero emissions, it’s giving something back

Partner Mike Ryan defines regenerative design as a building that gives back instead of taking. An example of a regenerative building is one that uses more recycled than raw materials in its construction so that it actually consumes the by-products from other industries. “If a building can use those up, it’s giving back to the community as a whole,” explains Ryan. “Then, in terms of lifecycle, the building is equipped with power generation so that not only does it run on its own power, but it generates more than enough to sell back. Instead of just creating zero emissions, it’s giving something back.”

Giving back
For its new facility, EDI selected an existing one-story office building on a half-acre site in a blighted neighborhood. “EO was our attempt at public outreach, showing how different organizations can reduce their carbon footprint,” says McGee. “At the same time, it is a place where the community can come to learn about green building technologies, what they can do to reduce their carbon footprint, and about energy and transportation issues.”

One of the most effective strategies for minimizing the environmental impact of material use is to reuse existing buildings. In addition to reusing 50 percent of the existing shell and structural elements, much of the purchased construction material was reused, refurbished, or salvaged. In the process of rebuilding, EDI was able to divert over 85 percent of the construction waste from the landfill to recycling and salvage centers.

EDI was able to divert over 85 percent of the construction waste from the landfill to recycling and salvage centers

“We either adaptively reused the materials or donated them to organizations like Habitat for Humanity Re-store,” notes McGee. “When we reduced the parking area, we rented a truck, loaded up the asphalt, and took it back to LaFarge so they could put it back into asphalt emulsion. If all else failed, then we took materials to the dump.”

About their reuse philosophy, Ryan adds, “It definitely took a little more work than just hauling the materials out to the dump, but we felt that was worth it.”

Daylighting and a lime skin
For its new office, EDI reduced loads by optimizing the building envelope, introducing daylighting, and installing efficient lighting throughout the interiors. They presently are in the process of developing a heating and cooling prototype that will integrate solar thermal and PV panels with interior radiant and heat exchange systems as well as passive solar and ventilation technologies. The firm ensured indoor air quality by increasing outdoor air ventilation, eliminating the use of VOC-emitting paints and carpets, using high-performance filters, and designing for thermal comfort. Through the use of skylights, clerestory windows, and overhead doors, the facility provides daylight and views for all regularly occupied spaces.

EDI used a 90-percent recycled glass, lime, and stucco system

For its skin, EDI used a 90-percent recycled glass, lime, and stucco system developed by American Clay. “The fantastic part about this recycled glass, lime, stucco system is that you can get the recycled glass in any city in the U.S.A.,” explains McGee. “It is a leftover byproduct, so there’s almost no energy in the conversion. All you’re doing is putting it through a sieve to get the sizes you need.” McGee also notes that whereas cement will draw water into the wall, the lime-based application pulls water out, inhibiting mold growth. And, as an added cost-saving benefit, application is so easy that the EDI team even applied it themselves.

Finally, EDI created a 350-square-foot green roof, reduced the amount of onsite parking by 10 percent, introduced pervious paving and a wheat gluten-based sidewalk, and buried cisterns to capture and store rainwater. Ryan notes that included in their water efficiency efforts is the commitment to use potable and graywater as many times as possible before releasing it into the aquifer.