Sustainable Design Initiatives
The sustainable design goals for Milstein Hall are being met through the use of good design practice to provide a healthy and comfortable environment for the building occupants. Sustainable design initiatives are being guided by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. Earning LEED certification is an important goal of the Milstein Hall project. The key sustainable design features included in the design are:
- Reduce energy usage for building heating and cooling:
Utilize cogeneration produced steam for building heating and lake-chilled water for building cooling.
Incorporate energy efficient chilled beams for cooling.
Employ insulated walls and glazing to reduce building air loss.
Employ a vegetated roof to reduce solar heat gain and to reduce building air loss.
- Reduce energy usage for transportation:
Incorporate existing public transportation network.
Accommodate pedestrians access and bicycle parking.
Specify locally manufactured materials.
- Reduce energy use for building lighting:
Employ skylights and glazing for natural day-lighting.
Specify energy efficient light fixtures.
- Reduce energy use for material production:
Employ recycled steel and concrete aggregate.
Employ recycled finish materials where appropriate.
Design building finishes to reduce building material use.
- Reduce material use and landfill waste:
Reuse of existing buildings.
Specify contractor sorting and recycling of demolition material.
Reduce construction material packaging.
Design a flexible building to increase long-term use and adaptability.
- Reduce storm water pollution:
Employ vegetated roof or storm water retention system to filter storm water.
Incorporate quantity and quality storm water measures.
Specify native plants to eliminate pesticide usage.
- Reduce water usage:
Specify native plants to reduce irrigation water usage.
Provide a temporary irrigation system for the vegetated roof.
Specify low-flow plumbing fixtures to reduce potable water usage.
- Increase environmental comfort of building occupants:
- Employ radiant slab system and chilled beams.
Employ day-lighting.
Specify low volatile organic compounds (VOC)-emitting material.
Employ outside air system.
Provide visual and direct connections to natural areas.
