Green Building at Potawot
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Site / Demo
- Restoration of native landscape and farm 4 years prior to building
- Designed with considerations to solar, wind, and visual aspects
- Fill used to create topography for habitat and aspect
Foundation
- Slab foundation using local aggregate
Landscaping
- Planted wetland, meadow, and upland native plants throughout clinic landscaping and entire site
- Integrated stormwater system from roof and parking lot runoff
- Installed snags and woody debris to attract wildlife
- Pine resin pitch semi-permeable trails
- Use of recycled plastic decking (Trex)
- Used recycled redwood on decks, bridges, benches, and signs whenever possible
- 3 acre Organic Food Garden with onsite farmer’s market
- Installed bike racks to promote biking
Native Landscaping Around Potawot
[click photo to enlarge]
Structural Frame and Building Envelope
- Concrete tilt-up wall construction using split redwood forms
- The walls, roof, and glazing all feature higher resistance to heat transmission than required by California
Exterior finish
- Stained concrete to look like redwood
- Seamless Metal Roof
- Recycled hem-fir ends
- Non-toxic glues in carpet
- Patch type carpet for replacing only small areas that need it
Recycled Hem-fir Flooring
[click photo to enlarge]
Interior Finishes
- Non-lead based paints
- Recycled redwood from old mill and barn
Appliances
- Energy Star Refrigerators
Electrical
- All Compact Florescent Lighting (T-8 and T-5 lamps)
- Use of some motion sensor light switch
- Microlite Lighting System
Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning
- Highly efficient Boilers (min. 87% efficiency)
- Highly efficient Chillers
- Computerized HVAC system
- Use of VAV (Variable Air Volume) system to manage airflow with a Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) to reduce the speed of the standard induction electric motor. Maximizing the fan energy savings associated with matching airflow to building load.
- High Efficient motors for air handlers and pumps
- Building Automation System: The Direct Digital Control (DC) system provides accurate, efficient control of all the building system components.
Insulation
- Use of all dual pane windows
- Minimum of R-19 on walls
- Minimum of R-30 in the ceiling and roof
Plumbing
- Insulated hot water pipes
- Urinals, lavatories, and faucet aerators throughout the building are low-flow water-conserving designs
- 42 KW grid-tie solar system (~25% of clinics energy demands)
- Installed well pump for garden with conduit ready to integrate solar
- Use of passive solar (skylights, windows, etc.)
- Waste reduction efforts through recycling, composting, and resource minimization
- Promote use of email to reduce paper consumption
Potawot Solar Electric System
[click photo to enlarge]
Concrete Tilit-up
