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This Month: Understanding the Virtues of Sustainable Insulation Products
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Feature Article
The Growing Role of Insulation in Sustainable Building
Author: Scott Miller, Director of Sustainability and Public Affairs
Knauf Insulation
The building industry is changing- for the better. There has been an undeniable shift toward more sustainable construction. Recent research from McGraw Hill predicts that sustainable building will grow at a rate 5 times that of conventional building. Knauf embraces the market transformation driven by the USGBC and is proud to have received LEED gold designation for its new engineering office building. Today, more than ever, designers, builders and contractors are challenged with creating energy efficient, quiet, productive environments in a cost effective, sustainable manner. If buildings are going to be competitive in the future, they will need to provide superior energy efficiency, occupant comfort and sustainable design in a cost effective manner for owners and occupants alike.
Insulation contributes directly to all of these important attributes by providing improved indoor air quality, acoustical performance and thermal protection while allowing for greater architectural design freedom. But, the benefits don't end there. The largest benefit is likely the enormous impact that insulation can have on a building's ability to be more sustainable. In fact, few materials have a greater impact on a building's ability to be "green". And, when you consider that insulation actually saves owners money in the long run, it becomes evident that insulation might possibly be the most important thing a building owner can do to ensure both long-term cost savings and environmental sustainability. More importantly is the fact that saving energy it is the right thing to do.
According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), residential and commercial buildings are responsible for about 40 percent of the energy use and 39 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Energy efficiency through insulation is the simplest, most cost-effective way to reduce energy use and the associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Insulation is inherently carbon negative. The amount of energy it saves is overwhelmingly greater than the energy it takes to make the product. From an energy savings standpoint it is perpetual, as once in place, it uses no energy to save energy.
According to Energy Conservation Management Inc., glasswool (fiber glass) insulation saves 12 times as much energy per pound in its first year in place as the energy used to produce it. And it continues to save that much more energy each year it is in place. All insulation products installed in US buildings currently save consumers 12 quadrillion Btu annually, reducing the amount of energy they would have used by about 42 percent compared to having no insulation.
A simple way to demonstrate the impact the amount of insulation has on operating costs, freedom of design, occupant productivity and ROI is to look at the Knauf Insulation corporate headquarters located in Shelbyville, Indiana. The LEED Gold Certified building is super insulated to R-40 exterior walls, allowing the 24,860 square foot space to have more window area while also meeting an energy use goal of being 30 percent more efficient than conventional construction. The insulation serves as a centerpiece for a sustainable systems approach that includes proper siting, water reduction strategies, lighting, and HVAC energy management. It allows for a strategic use of sun shaded windows to the south and "daylight harvesting" to help reduce the need for electricity to light and cool the space. As a result, based on the energy saved by the insulation in the use-phase, the insulation embodied energy was recovered in less than one month.
From a carbon reduction standpoint, the impact of insulation is similarly amazing. Insulation currently in place in U.S. buildings reduces our CO2 emissions by about 780 million tons each year, which is equivalent to over 150 coal-fired power plants.
The energy savings that owners experience from optimizing insulation levels are as impressive as the carbon reduction. The United States uses a lot of energy-nearly a million dollars worth each minute, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Sadly, 56 percent of all energy in the U.S. economy is wasted-including 20 percent of all the energy used in residential and commercial buildings. Recovering just a small part of that lost energy is a significant dollar savings for the building owner, increases the square foot value of the building and provides additional cash flow on a sustainable basis.
Insulation is a known technology that has an immediate economic impact and provides a substantial environmental payback. Glasswool (fiber glass) insulation products have always been sustainable because of what they are made from: sand, one of the world's most abundant, renewable resources and recycled glass. Now, however, new technologies have been introduced that elevate their sustainability even further. An example of one such more sustainable technology is a recent innovation called ECOSE® Technology brought to market by Knauf Insulation. Knauf introduced this new bio-based binding technology to replace the petro-based chemicals that were traditionally used in fiber glass insulation. It reduces the binder embodied energy by up to 70 percent as compared to Knauf's previous products, and does not contain phenol, formaldehyde, acrylics or artificial colors. We believe that life cycle assessment will show that ECOSE Technology will reduce the Global Warming Potential of our processes by about 4 percent.
Insulating pays huge green dividends. By making a building more sustainable and energy efficient, the building's value is increased-operating and utility costs are lower, resale value is higher and market attractiveness increases. In the future, all building will be assessed over its lifecycle, and no product contributes more to sustainable construction than insulation. That is why we endorse the USGBC and what it does.
Author Bio
Scott Miller is the Director of Sustainability and Product Affairs for Knauf Insulation in Shelbyville, Indiana. With more than 30 years of product assessment and testing experience, Scott is a recognized expert in the performance of insulation products, with a special focus on building science, public policy and sustainability.
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From the Chair
Green Building Education is one of the best ways to stay in touch with the cutting edge of the building industry. Normally the only way to find quality education is at Chapter events. Yet nationally, I have found no better way then to attend the annual GREENBUILD conference. This year the Indiana Chapter is in luck since GREENBUILD will be held in Chicago Nov 17-19. If you have never attended this event, I encourage you to join us. From learning about new residential equipment to designing high performance commercial envelopes It has proven to be the single best location for education, networking and motivation towards green building. We look forward again to our Indiana Chapter reception (usually Wednesday night) and the wonderful atmosphere of Chicago.
Registration just went live and the slate of speakers looks even better than before. Keynote speakers will be announced shortly but as I sit on the national events committee I can tell you it will be worthwhile. In addition, Indianapolis is in the running to host this event in 2015 and 2016.
For more information about GREENBUILD, please visit http://www.greenbuildexpo.org/
Look forward to seeing you this November in Chicago, Cheers!
Very Truly,
Luke Leising, AIA, PE, LEED AP
USGBC Indiana Chair
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USGBC Indiana Chapter News & Events
Central Branch
Program / Meeting:
Wednesday,
June 16th
 The
Central Branch Monthly Program will be on Wednesday, June 16th at
5:30pm. The venue for
this event is yet to be determined. Please visit
usgbc-in.org for updates.
Program
information is as follows:
Date: Wednesday , June 16th
Time: 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Location: (To be determined.)
Cost: $10 members, $20 non-members
North Central Branch Program / Meeting:
Thursday, June 17th
 The North Central Branch Monthly Program will be on Thursday, June 17th at 5:30pm. We will meet at Geddes Hall on Notre Dame's campus to tour the building. Geddes Hall recently achieved a LEED Gold rating.
Program information is as follows:
Date: Thursday, June 17th
Time: 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Location: Geddes Hall
Notre Dame University
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
See location in Google Maps
Cost: Free
LEED® Green Associate Training
Begins Tuesday, June 15th
IMSDC, BSA LifeStructures and USGBC are offering LEED® Green Associate Training. The course will focus on the understanding of the core concepts of the LEED® Rating Systems needed to pass the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED® Green Associate Study Exam.
Benefits of training with us:
- Instructor Don Able, LEED® AP, has a thorough understanding of green building practices
- Continuing education credits (self reported)
- $300.00 of the $550.00 course fee is tax-deductible
- One-year Membership to USGBC Indiana Chapter (www.usgbc-in.org)
- Light dinner served at each class
Date: Six weeks: every Tuesday beginning June 15th, 2010
Ending July 20th, 2010 (i.e. 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20)
Time: Light Dinner: 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Class: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: IMSDC
2126 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46202
See location in Google Maps
Fee: $550.00 (six week course)
Registration Deadline: June 10th, 2010
Course materials included with class:
- Green Associate Study Guide (online access and hardcopy)
- Video Training (online access and CD)
- Online Digital & Printable Flashcards
- Online Exam Questions & Test Simulator - 600 Questions
- Online Term Quiz - 200 Questions
Additional materials available but not included:
- Green Building and LEED® Core Concepts Guide, First Addition - $50.00
- USGBC LEED® Green Associate Study Guide - $80.00
The LEED® Green Associate credential is a prerequisite to pursue the next tier of accreditation, LEED® Professional with Specialty, which is designed for professions that directly apply LEED® and green building in their practice.
Please note that the cost of the course is $550.00 and includes six class modules, all course materials (noted above) as well as a light meal. If you have any questions please contact Denika Thomas, Office Manager/Certification Coordinator, at (317) 921-2681 or dthomas@imsdc.org
IBGS 2010 Presentations Now posted
Many of the presentations from the 2010 Indiana Building Green Symposium are now posted on the website. Please visit ibgs2010.org
USGBC Indiana Chapter on Flickr
 USGBC-IN has established a freely accessible
photostream on flickr. Click here to find out more.
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Join USGBC-IN Today!
Join the Indiana Chapter of USGBC today to enjoy the many benefits of membership that help your organization stay competitive, grow your business, and make the best contacts in the green building industry.
Indiana Chapter members receive the following benefits:
- Member-only discounts and networking events - local event fees are discounted for chapter members. Monthly meetings are free!
- Get a fantastic array of green building tools and educational resources.
- Be noticed - membership sets your organization apart.
- Build relationships in the local construction industry.
- Meet, learn and network with other building professionals who share the same passion for green building.
- Benefit from company and individual names being listed in one of the largest directories of green building practitioners and supporters via the USGBC National website and our local chapter homepage.
- Get involved - help build much-needed awareness for green building in Indiana.
- Be recognized as a leader in supporting a better built environment.
- Shape and proactively promote local green initiatives through chapter and committee involvement.
- Vote in local chapter business/issues.
Sign up today and receive a one-year membership:
$65 for regular membership, $50 for national members, $25 for students.
For more information regarding USGBC Indiana, please visit our web site at usgbc-in.org.
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Indiana Green Building Events
Business on the Green
Friday, June 11th, 2010Registration information coming soon! Check usgbc-in.org. "Business on the Green" Presented By: Fineline Printing Group Date: Friday, June 11th, 2010 Location: Eagle Valley Golf Course Evansville, Indiana For additional information on sponsorship opportunities, contact (812) 401-9525 or email slittle@imsdc.org
Green Weekend 2010
June 11 - 12, 2010
 Green Weekend 2010 will be a two-day event combining the best of WNIT's Green Expo and the best of Downtown South Bend's EcoFest, transforming the heart of South Bend into a weekend-long celebration of the environment and sustainable living.
This two-day event will take place on Friday, June 11th and Saturday, June 12th. For more information, please visit: http://www.gogreenweekend.org/
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Emerging Green Builders News & Events
 Who We Are
Emerging Green Builders are students and young professionals dedicated to becoming and recruiting the future leaders of the green building movement. EGB Indiana, part of the Heartland Region, offers you the opportunity to get involved in green building locally, access USGBC resources, and particiate in local events.
All Things EGBPlease visit us at usgbc-in.org/egb for all the latest events, resources, and local branch information. | Indiana Green Building News
Items are linked back to their sources and are the property of their owners. Click on heading for complete article.
2010 Indiana Energy Conservation Code
(IECC)
Now In Effect
The
initial proposal for the energy code change was published in the Indiana
Register on December 23, 2009. After the January 28 public hearing, the
rule was submitted to the Attorney General and then the Governor's
office. The rule became effective on May 6, 2010 as the 2010 Indiana
Energy Conservation Code (2010 IECC). The 2010 IECC marks the state's
first commercial energy code update in two decades and raises the
minimum requirements for energy efficiency for all future projects in
the state.
Read more...
Geddes Hall receives LEED Gold Certification
Source: Notre Dame News
Date Written: 3/25/2010
The 65,500-square-foot home of Notre Dame's Center for Social Concerns and Institute for Church Life, Geddes Hall achieved all 42 LEED NC 2.2 credits originally sought at the outset of the building's design.
The building opened in August 2009 and includes many sustainable design and construction features.
Read more...
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Add Your LEED Projects to USGBC-IN.org
Submit Your LEED Certified Projects
USGBC Indiana is in the process of adding in-state LEED certified projects to the website's "Green Projects" showcase. If
you would like to submit your LEED certified
project, please complete the Green Project Profile
form and submit entries to info@usgbc-in.org.
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National USGBC News
Items are linked back to their sources and are the property of their owners. Click on heading for complete article.
NYC Skyscraper Is First U.S. Commercial Tower to Earn LEED Platinum
Author: Joann Gonchar
Source: Architectural Record
Date Written: 5/25/2010
Last week, two years after its first occupants moved in, the owners of the 55-story office tower at New York City's One Bryant Park celebrated the building's official opening with a reception in the lobby. The "opening" party, attended by several hundred guests, coincided with the announcement that the 1,200-foot-tall, approximately $2 billion skyscraper had achieved Platinum certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Core & Shell rating system. To date, it is the only commercial high-rise building in the U.S. to achieve this status.
Designed by Cook+Fox Architects, and jointly owned by the lead tenant, the Bank of America, and the developer, the Durst Organization, the faceted and tapered 2.1-million-square-foot tower deploys a host of highly integrated strategies that helped it win the highest possible level of LEED certification. Its features include daylighting maximized by a high-performance all-glass skin, rainwater and greywater recycling, and an advanced air filtration system..
Read more...
Author: Ellen Sterling
Source: Huffington Post
Date Written: 5/25/2010
There were two local-Las-Vegas historical events last week that are significant because each signals what one hopes is the beginning of a new era in two critically important areas of life here.
First up was the official reopening of 302 East Carson Avenue, an 11-story, 162,000 square-foot 1960s office building that was environmentally outdated. In 13 months with an investment of $11.5 million, the building became the first in the State of Nevada to be awarded gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). This designation means that the building is in compliance with a series of environmentally friendly standards and, depending upon those standards met, a certification level is awarded. This project earned Gold because its tally was between 60 and 79 points.
The retrofitting was done by two California companies, Shangri-La Construction and Thompson National Properties. The work created 250 conventional and "green collar" jobs in construction.
Read more... |
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From the Editor
Can the Green Building Movement Fail?
In the timeless words of the Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Champions of green building would be wise to heed this warning.
This past month I attended the National Solar Conference in Phoenix, AZ. This year's conference marked the 55th year of the conference and its return to the city from which the event was first held.
In 1955, the conference focused much more of its attention on passive solar heating and cooling. That is, designed solutions for the built environment that utilize on-site solar income and micro-climatic influences to heat and/or cool an occupied interior without the assistance of mechanical heating and cooling (of course, in some climates you need an auxiliary back up). By comparison, active solar solutions require mechanical means, methods, and technologies - such as solar panels.
Passive solar strategies have a long, interesting history in the U.S. I've studied it for many years. (In fact, I co-instructed a full-day AIA/CES workshop on the subject as part of this year's National Solar Conference.) From the mid-1950s through the 1960s, the passive solar movement accumulated interest and garnered momentum. After the oil crisis began in 1973, the federal government invested in passive solar research through the Los Alamos National Laboratory (the same placed that was founded to coordinate the Manhattan Project) and other centers throughout the country.
By the mid-1980's, the Los Alamos scientists had developed a methodology to assist design teams with properly designing passive solar buildings. Such fundamental issues as the amount of south-facing glazing one should have to heat up a building or how much thermal mass should be placed within an interior to soak up the heat were outlined in detail.
Unfortunately, by this time, many less experienced design teams who understood the basic principles behind passive solar design had proceeded without being totally knowledgeable of the technical aspects to properly designing such systems. It was understandable - time was of the essence! Many Americans were feeling the ill effects of the oil crisis. Passive solar offered a viable solution to alleviate the financial pain many Americans were feeling. Solutions abounded - this was an exciting time for architecture and engineering. This was the time period in which Tombé-walls, attached sunspaces, and roofponds emerged. Buildings started featuring expansive, often sloped, south-facing glass (if you were lucky, it would also feature overhangs for summer shading).The ugly flip side to this era was that many of these imbalanced passive solar solutions from inexperienced design teams did not perform properly. Owners had to make expensive retrofits as many passive buildings required more mechanical conditioning than a typical "non-passive solar" structure would have. Soon, passive solar design received a bad track record and a poor reputation in the court of public opinion (this is in addition to the aesthetic criticisms from the communities of high architectural design).
By 1985, the nation's energy markets were stabilized, the President declared the energy crisis over, and interest in passive solar design dissipated.
While a renewed interest in passive solar has developed in response to the energy and economic crises of the past decade, today's industry is clearly focusing on a holistic approach we have come to refer to as green building. Moreover, it is clear that LEED certified projects are held to higher standard than non-certified green building projects.
At this year's National Solar Conference, I observed a considerable amount of research and case studies that suggested that many of our shiny, exalted LEED projects are either not being designed properly or owners and building management staffs are abandoning unfamiliar systems after the building is occupied (the reasons can vary greatly). I am also becoming highly suspicious that many owners are simply "gaming the system" to get a plaque then making changes to the building after certification that are inconsistent with the spirit and intent of green building design.
In addition, LEED is being picked apart in the media for issues regarding energy performance, contributions to indoor environmental quality, and leniency when it comes to validating performance metrics. Even Frank Gehry feels confident in criticizing LEED for its focus on combating climate change - which is becoming an increasingly hyper-political issue thanks to "climate-gate" and criticisms deployed toward the IPCC.
The public is forming its opinion of green building and LEED projects based on what is getting built and maintained. Much of the public has a healthy skepticism and flagrant shortcomings and contradictions do not speak well of the building owner or green building in general.
I know that in the interest of length and clarity I am oversimplifying the complexities of the issues at play here, but the point is still valid: As it relates to maintaining favor in the public arena, champions of the green building movement should observe the lessons presented by the passive solar movement of the past half-century. If the public at large becomes disenchanted with the movement, green building will become its own undoing.
Daniel Overbey, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C
USGBC Indiana Communications Chair
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Calendar at a Glance
June
11: Business on the Green
Location: Evansville, IN
11 - 12: Green Weekend 2010 Location: South Bend, IN 15: LEED Green Associate Training Begins Location: Indianapolis, IN 16:
USGBC-IN Central Branch Program
Location: Indianapolis, IN
17: USGBC-IN North Central Branch Program Location: Notre Dame, IN
July21:
USGBC-IN Central Branch Program
Location:
Indianapolis, IN
August18:
USGBC-IN Central Branch Program
Location:
Indianapolis, IN
Please email your event notices to the Editor. Thank you!
All dates are subject to change. For a complete list of upcoming events, please log-in to usgbc-in.org.
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