Transcript Green Building Rating Systems: making wood fit

GREEN BUILDING RATING
SYSTEMS:
HOW WOOD FIT
FOR ARCHITECT
Presentation location and presenter info
Learning Outcomes





The environmental benefits of wood.
How the use of wood fits within current
definitions of green building.
Principles, strategies and procedures to
optimize rating system score using wood.
What to ask suppliers.
Best practices for articulating the
environmental performance of buildings.
Agenda

Module 1: Introduction to rating systems and how wood fits

Module 2: Design Best Practices



Passive Design & Framing Techniques

Durability
Module 3: Materials Credits

Certified Wood

Locally Produced Materials

Recycled Materials

Salvaged Materials

Construction Waste Management
Module 4: Indoor Environmental Quality

Indoor air quality (IAQ)

Acoustics

Module 5: Life Cycle Analysis

Module 6: What’s Next? EIS and EPD
MODULE 1:
OVERVIEW OF WOOD’S
RELATIONSHIP TO RATING
SYSTEMS
What we are starting with: there are some rating systems
which make it more difficult to succeed if wood is used
Environmental Impacts of
Building Materials







1/4 of all the world's wood harvest
40% of global consumption of raw
materials
20-30% of North American landfill
is taken up by construction and
demolition debris
20% world’s energy consumed by
building construction (including
manufacturing of building
products)
World building materials market
accounts for more than 3bn tons of
materials per year
+50% of the world’s annual
concrete production is poured in
China
Wood is a renewable building
material
Climate Change Impacts:
Construction v Operation

To date, most of the focus in green
building (and rating systems) has been
on improving operational efficiency.

Most building
material choices
and budgets
ignore the true
impacts of
material
manufacture and
disposal.
Is this true?
(UK advertisement)
Wood is a Carbon Neutral
Building Material


No more carbon is
emitted in the
production and
whole life cycle of
a wood product
than is absorbed
from the
atmosphere when
the tree is
growing.
Sustainable
forestry practices
are assumed.
Of Particular Interest:

To what extent can the use
of wood make a building
“green” (as defined by rating
systems)?

To what extent do rating
systems capture the
environmental benefits of
wood (carbon footprint, LCA,
local economies)?

Is using wood an advantage
or disadvantage in terms of
the number of points/
credits that could be earned
compared to other
competing products?
11 Rating Systems Surveyed
(18 applications)



BREEAM

CASBEE (for Homes)

Offices

Green Globes

Multi-family residential

Green Star

Eco-homes

LEED
Built Green Canada
LEED NC (Canada)

Low-rise

LEED NC (US)

Multi-family residential

LEED CI (Canada)

LEED for Homes (Canada)
Built Green Colorado
Multi-family residential

Living Building Challenge
Built Green Washington

NAHB Model Green Home
Buildings Guidelines

SB Tool




Low-rise

Multi-family residential
Fraction of World’s Rating Systems
(a moving target, 60 at last count)
Where Does Wood Fit?

Certified wood: different forest certification schemes accepted
by the various rating systems.

Recycled/reused/salvaged materials: recycled content in
wood products and reused or salvaged wood and wood
products.

Local sourcing of materials: local manufacturing and
harvesting.

Building techniques and skills: specific building techniques
that can leverage wood to gain green building points/credits.

Waste minimization: points/credits are given for diverting a
certain amount of waste or minimizing wasted woodcuts.

Indoor air quality: no added urea-formaldehyde in wood
products and low-VOC finishes.

Life cycle impacts: embodied energy and lifecycle carbon.
% Credits Involving the Use of Wood Products
Rating systems for commercial buildings
20%
18%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
LEED CI
BREEAM
Green Globes LEED NC (CA) LEED NC (US)
SB Tool
% Credits Involving the Use of Wood Products
Rating systems for multi-family residential buildings
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Built Green Canada
BREEAM
Built Green
Washington
Green Star
% Credits Involving the Use of Wood Products
Rating systems for single-family residential buildings
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Built Green
Canada
Built Green
Colorado
Built Green
Washington
NAHB
LEED for
Homes
BREEAM
Recognition of Life Cycle
Benefits of Wood
Not Addressed
1.Built Green Canada
2.Built Green Canada MF
3.Built Green (WA)
4.Built Green (WA) MF
5.Built Green Colorado
6.Green Star
7.LEED NC Canada
8.LEED NC US
9.LEED CI
10.LEED for Homes
11.Living Building Challenge
12.NAHB Model Guidelines
12
Gives points for LCA assessment,
but does not specify
methodology: Green Globes
1
1
1
Offers points for LCA methods
that examine embodied energy,
lifecycle GHGs, and lifecycle
costs: SB Tool
3
Uses rules of thumb that depend
on the major building elements
that are related to lifecycle CO2:
CASBEE
Calculations from the UK Green
Guide: BREEAM Offices, MF, Ecohome
Not addressed
Testing the Impact of Wood Intensity
on Rating System Success

2 identical hypothetical projects:


1 (high intensity) – wherever possible wood is specified
2 (low intensity)– wherever possible competing (non-wood)
products are used.

For consistency, all other credits are assumed to be
successfully accomplished (not possible in reality).

No account was made for degree of difficulty or cost.

Some systems could not be compared due to:


integrated nature of the rating system (e.g CASBEE)
the structure and scope of the materials credits (e.g. Green
Star, Living Building Challenge).
Impact of High Intensity Wood
Choices on Rating System Success
LEED CI
LEED NC Canada
LEED NC US
BREEAM Eco-homes
BREEAM Offices
NAHB Model Guidelines
Built Green Canada
BREEAM Multi-residential
Built Green Canada Multi-family
Green Globes
Built Green Washington Multi-family
Built Green Washington
Built Green Colorado
LEED for Homes
-2.0% -1.0% 0.0% 1.0%
Commercial
MF residential
2.0%
3.0% 4.0%
SF residential
5.0%
6.0%
Is Wood Treated Fairly
(in general terms)?
Indoor
environmental
quality
Points lost
Points gained
Points often awarded when
natural or low-VOC carpet is
installed.
Some systems give points if zero
carpet is installed.
No systems reward the
installation of wood floors
specifically.
Competing
product given
advantage –
Points frequently given for flyash
in concrete and calculated such
that a lot of concrete required to
gain the points.
Some points given for non-wood
products such as above-grade
ICFs, RC steel studs.
Building
technique &
skills
Product
certification
Some SF Homes rating systems
give points for advanced framing
and/or optimal engineering.
No “chain of custody” standard is
referenced for steel or concrete.
Rating Systems Currently do not
Recognize the Environmental
Benefits of Wood
GAPS




Carbon footprint impacts
ignored: ISO 14,040 provides a
recognized LCA methodology:
none of the systems reference
it.
Acoustics: only addressed by
Green Globes. Sound
abatement strategies use
wood panel and fibre
products.
Thermal mass and passive
design: wood’s contribution
not recognized.
Material efficiency and dematerialization: wood offers
combined benefits of
insulative value, light weight,
structural integrity and
weather resistance.
Concert Hall, Caracas,
Venezuela
About the Study
“Green Building Rating Systems,
How Does Wood Fit?”

Study completed in 2009 by Light House Sustainable Building
Centre, Vancouver, Canada

For Forestry Innovation Investment of British Columbia,
Canada - www.bcfii.ca.

Summary available at www.naturallywood.com/resources

Full report available from [email protected]
MODULE 2:
DESIGN BEST PRACTICES:
PASSIVE DESIGN AND
DURABILITY
"We are now entering an age of consequences."
Sir Winston Churchill
Passive Design



Building design that uses the building
architecture to leverage natural energy
sources, minimize energy consumption and
improve thermal comfort.
Passive design buildings rely heavily on
high-performing building envelope
assemblies and passive solar power.
Knowing how products interact as
assemblies is critical to success.
Passive Design and
Rating Systems


No explicit requirement or metric.
Passive design informs overall building
performance.
Passive Design, Nat. Vent, Heat
Recovery
Efficient
Equipment
Generate
lose less energy
use less energy
make more energy
Passive Design =
Free Energy
4 Steps to Passive Design




A high level of insulation,
with minimal thermal
bridges.
A high level of utilization
of solar and internal gain.
An excellent level of air
tightness.
Good indoor air quality.
Passive Design Toolkit Vancouver:
www.vancouver.ca/greenestcity/new.htm
Passive House Institute: www.passiv.de
Wood’s Role in
Passive Design

Unique
combination of
properties:





Thermal
resistance
Natural finish
Structural
integrity
Light weight
Weatherproof
Laminated timber panel
provides thermal mass
Triple glazed wood
window with metal
flashings
Water resistant
hardboard air barrier
Rainscreen with cedar
siding
Wood fibre insulation
How to Include Wood in
Passive Design
Optimum value engineering (OVE) uses
advanced principles to optimize the use of
wood for framing by:

Expanding the spacing between exterior
and interior wall stud to as much as 24” oncenter.

Eliminating headers at non-bearing interior
and exterior walls.

Using header hangers instead of jack studs.

Eliminating cripples on hung windows.

Eliminating double plates, using single
plates with connectors by lining up roof
framing with wall & floor framing.

Using two-stud corner framing with drywall
clips or scrap lumber for drywall backing
instead of studs.
Standard details for advanced wood framing available from
CMHC: http://www.cmhc.ca/en/inpr/bude/himu/codemo/
codemo_001.cfm#CP_JUMP_62280
What to Ask Suppliers


Ask if key wood product
suppliers are able to
participate in the
integrated design process
to discuss innovative
methods of employing
wood in the project.
Request information
about framing
techniques and
assemblies available for
your proposed project.
Procedure
Case Study:
Whistler Passive House
Architect: Treberspurg & Partner Architekten
Case Study:
Whistler Passive House
(interior during construction)
Durability


Durability is the ability of a building or any
of its components to perform the required
functions in a service environment over a
period of time without unforeseen cost for
maintenance or repair.
When designing with wood, durability
considerations are particularly relevant to
the building envelope.
Definitions and Criteria
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Design Service Life
Category Failure
Predicted Service Life
Maintenance Frequency
Maintenance Access
Cost
Building Envelope
Systems
Steel column base by Structurecraft
provides durable solution for wood
structure.
www.structurecraft.com
Design Service Life
Category
Temporary
DSL for Building
Up to 10 years
Examples
*Non-permanent construction buildings
(sales offices, bunkhouses)
*Temporary exhibition buildings
Medium Life
25 to 49 years
* Most industrial buildings
* Most parking structures
Long Life
50 to 99 years
* Most residential, commercial and office
buildings
* Health and education buildings
* Parking structures below buildings
designed for long life category
Permanent
100 Years minimum
* Monumental buildings
* Heritage buildings
Failure Category
Category
Effects of Failure
Example
1
No exceptional problems
Replacement of light fittings
2
Security compromised
Broken Door Latch
3
Repair Requires Discontinuation of
Interruption of building use Services or Dislocation of Occupants
4
Costly because repeated
Window Hardware Replacement
5
Costly repair
Requires Extensive Materials or
Component (Direct and Indirect)
Replacement
6
Danger to health or ecosystem
Excessive dampness, mold, soil
gases, asbestos, PCB's
7
Risk of injury
Loose handrail
8
Danger to life
Sudden collapse of structure
Failure Category +
Design Service Life

For components or assemblies in Categories 6, 7, and 8 use
design service life = design service life of the building.

For components or assemblies in Categories 4 or 5 use a
design life equal to at least half of the design life of the
building.

For example: windows would be category 4 therefore if the
building service life is 60 years, the component service life
needs to be 30 years.
Predicted Service Life (PSL)

The service life of a component forecast from recorded
performance, previous experience, tests, or modeling (variety
of options in drop down menu).
Maintenance Assessment
Maintenance Frequency
 None
 Low
 Medium
 High
Maintenance Access Cost
 None
 Minimal
 Moderate
 Expensive
“High” Maintenance Frequency
+
“Expensive” Maintenance Access Cost
=
Maintenance Problem
Building Assembly
Building Assembly
Materials
Failure
Category
Maintenance
Notes
Maintenance
Frequency
Maintenance
Access
Exterior
Foundation Footings
1.1.1
1.1.2
Predicted
Service Life,
Yrs
Walls Below Grade (including Structural)
1.0
1.1
Design Service
Life, Yrs
Foundation Walls
(FW1)
Cast-in-place concrete
(CIP) (incl. Rebar)
100
100
5,7,8
none
expensive
10
10
1
medium
minimum
Architectural CIP
Concrete
100
100
5,7,8
none
expensive
Drainage Mat
60
60
4
none
expensive
38 + 50mm Extruded
Polystyrene Rigid
Insulation
60
60
4
none
expensive
Waterproof membrane
60
60
4
none
expensive
CIP Concrete
(incl. Rebar)
100
100
5,7,8
none
expensive
Clear silane siloxane
sealer
reapply by
spray every
10 years
Durability Plan Procedure
BRE Net Zero House, UK
Envelope Commissioning
(part of whole building commissioning)



No explicit credit but important for
wood frame construction.
Building envelope commissioning can
identify areas of concern related to
air infiltration and leakage, moisture
diffusion, surface condensation, and
rain water entry.
Analyze Envelope Performance with
Energy Simulation—use energy
simulation and life cycle analysis
tools to optimize the performance of
all components of the envelope.
Air Leakage through a
Building Enclosure
What to Ask Suppliers



Get information about
expected service life of
building envelope
products in assembled
condition.
Ensure that scope and
limitations of product
warranties are fully
understood.
Enquire about care and
maintenance solutions
for proposed materials
and convey this
information to the
building operator.
Case Study: Murray Grove
(weather protection + pre-fabrication = durability)
Waugh Thistleton Architects
Case Study: Murray Grove
(XLT for thermal mass and durability)
MODULE 3:
OPTIMIZING WOOD USE
FOR MATERIALS CREDITS
Wood products are applicable to the majority of
materials credits
Certified Wood

Forest certification verifies
the sustainability of forest
management.

Chain of custody certification
tracks wood material from
point of harvest to its end
use.

More than 50 certification
standards worldwide.

Two international umbrella
organizations:


PEFC
FSC
Environmental Management
System Certification
ISO 14001
•
•
International environmental management
system (EMS) standard, applicable to any
type of organization.
Many British Columbia forest companies
are certified for either their manufacturing
facilities and/or their forest management
practices.
Forest Management Certification
Canadian
Standards
Association
•National
standard of
Canada
•Endorsed by
PEFC
•29.6 million ha
certified in B.C.
(YE-2010)
Forest
Stewardship
Council
•B.C. regional
standard
endorsed by FSC
International
•2.7 million ha
certified in B.C.
(YE-2010)
Sustainable
Forestry
Initiative
•U.S. and Canada
•Endorsed by
PEFC
•20.6 million ha
certified in B.C.
(YE-2010)
Chain of Custody
Tracking procedure
for a product from
the point of harvest
or extraction to its
end use, including
all successive stages
of processing,
transformation,
manufacturing, and
distribution.
Rating Systems and
Wood Certification

Environmental benefits of wood.

Certification systems promote sustainable forestry
practices.

Most green building rating systems recognize all forest
certification systems: CSA, FSC, SFI and PEFC.

LEED recognizes only FSC

Certification costly for tropical hardwood providers –
first step is to specify “legal” wood to develop markets
and save forests.

Sustainability criteria and third-party certification
lacking for other building materials.
Procedure
Percentage of Certified Wood =
Certified wood material value ($)
Total new wood material value ($)
x 100
Only include materials permanently
installed in the project.
Temporary construction applications such
as bracing, concrete form work and
pedestrian barriers are EXCLUDED.
What to Ask Suppliers



Coordinate with vendors
early to make sure supply of
the “brand” of certified
wood that is acceptable to
the particular rating system
is available.
Ask for copies of all relevant
chain-of-custody (COC)
certificates.
For non-wood products, ask
those suppliers about the
level of stewardship and
standards that apply to these
other materials.
Case Study:
Percy Norman Aquatic Centre
Hughes Condon
Marler: Architects
Locally Produced Materials




Match a local design
aesthetic.
Tend to be more
durable in the local
climate.
Supports local
economies.
Reduces the
environmental impact
of transportation
(dependent on type/
volume/weight of material
and mode of
transportation).
Gulf Islands Operations Centre
LEED Platinum
Larry McFarland Architects
Map

For the purpose of
green building
rating systems, local
or regional
materials are those
that are extracted,
harvested, and
manufactured
within 500 mi (800
km) of the project
site, 1500 mi,
(2,400 km) if
shipped by rail or
water.
Procedure
Percentage of Local Materials =
Value of Local/Regional Material ($)
x 100
Value of Total Material ($)
What to Ask Suppliers




Where were the materials
used to make the product
extracted, harvested, or
processed?
Where were final product
manufactured?
What is the distance from
these locations to your
project site?
How were the materials
transported to the project
site. (Were they delivered by
rail, water or truck?)
Case Study:
Vancouver Convention Centre
Architects: Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership
Architects Designers Planners; Downs/Archambault &
Partners; LMN Architects
Recycled Materials

“The proportion, by mass, of recycled material in a
product or packaging. Only pre-consumer and postconsumer material is considered as recycled
content.”



ISO 14021 Environmental Labels and Declarations – SelfDeclared Environmental Claims (Type II environmental
labeling).
Using recycled materials reduces the need to
landfill these materials.
Materials that would otherwise have been
discarded either:
 during
the manufacturing process (preconsumer) or
 at the end of service life (post consumer).
Terminology



Pre-consumer recycled material: diverted from the
waste stream during a manufacturing process.
Materials generated in a process and capable of
being reclaimed within the same process (such as
rework, regrind or scrap) are excluded.
 Examples include: planer shavings, ply trim,
sawdust, etc
 Note that wood chips created from virgin wood
does not qualify as recycled content.
Post-consumer recycled material: generated by
end-users of a product that can no longer be used
for its intended purpose.
Assembly recycled content: the recycled proportion
of a material calculated by dividing the weight of the
recycled content by the overall weight of the
assembly.
Environmental Information Sheet


Should
accompany
MSDS
Summary
statement of
environment
al criteria
Procedure
Recycled Content Value ($) =
(% post consumer RC ($) x materials cost) +
(% pre consumer RC ($) x materials cost)*
*some rating systems (e.g. LEED) apply a factor for pre-consumer recycled content
What to Ask Suppliers

Material technical data must be
acquired from suppliers clearly
spelling out proportion of
recycled content in total
assembly based on weight.

Obtain contact information for
the manufacturer.

14021 Environmental Labels
and Declarations – SelfDeclared Environmental Claims
(Type II Environmental
Labelling) is the international
standard used to verify recycled
content.
Case Study: Wood Anchor
www.woodanchor.com
Salvaged Material



Includes materials retrieved from an
existing building.
Clean wood can be easily salvaged and
reused.
Salvaged materials strategy to be
coordinated with building re-use and
construction waste management.
Terminology

Refurbished materials
includes renovating,
repairing, restoring, or
generally improving the
appearance, performance,
quality, functionality, or
value of a product.

Remanufactured materials
are items that are made
into other products.

Landscape mulch from wood waste
chipped on site by Vancouver-based
Klondike Contracting
Salvaged materials are
recovered from existing
buildings or job sites and
reused such as structural beams and
posts, flooring, doors ,cabinetry, etc.
Working with Architectural
Salvage



Engineering profession
becoming adept at
working with salvaged
wood structural material.
Extremely popular as
adding “character”
to a building.
Specialized knowledge
necessary akin to the
antiques trade.
Salvaged Materials
Salvaged heavy timbers form
structure in LEED VanCity
branch in North Vancouver
A Little Piece of an
Old House Lives On
The wood ceiling is
saved and sold…
… to the Stanley Park
concession stand!
Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB)

Roughly half of B.C.’s pine trees
affected.

Most extensive damage
occurring in central Canadian
Rockies, where two-thirds of
the lodgepole pine forests
have been infested.

MPB is not yet explicitly
recognized by green building
rating systems.

Growing awareness of the value
of pine beetle wood in
addressing “regional priority”
credits.
Infested pine tree
Procedure
Percentage of Salvaged Material =
Value of Salvaged Material ($)
x 100
Value of Total Material ($)
Furniture may be included
What to Ask Suppliers



Ensure that all costs are
declared at the outset.
Clarify the presence (if any)
of any toxic substances and
ensure all costs and
responsibilities for
decontamination are taken
into account.
Confirm documentation is
available for the product’s
provenance and history.
Case Study:
Richmond Oval
Richmond Oval’s 2 hectare roof built out of lumber from
salvaged wood from the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation.
Architect: Cannon Design
Case Study: Wood Salvaged
from Flooded Lands
Triton Wood used in Mountain Equipment Co-op store
Construction Waste
Management




Over 1 million tonnes
of demolition, land
clearing and
construction (DLC)
waste was generated
in 2002.
Represents 1/3 of
waste stream in Metro
Vancouver.
Wood waste makes up
15% (about 240,000
tonnes) of Metro
Vancouver’s waste.
Diversion rates +95%
in Vancouver achieved.
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Recover
Residuals
Construction Waste Management
(key elements)



Develop a construction waste
management (CWM) plan early.
The diversion rate from project
must be distinct from the
overall diversion rate at
recycling facility.
Receiving facility/recycling
depot information must be
provided for each material load.

Education of trades key to
success.

Ongoing program coordination
critic.
Recycling Wood Materials

Treated wood waste is not
recyclable.

Demolished wood is often not
reuable or recyclable unless it is
taken apart.

Check if the local recycling
centres can handle nail removal.

Wood waste as an alternate daily
cover for landfills is not
acceptable

Burning clean wood waste to
generate industrial process heat
and/or electricity is acceptable,
incineration is not.
Procedure
Percentage of Construction
Waste Diverted
=
Amount diverted through
Recycling and Salvage
Total Waste Generated
CWM calculations can be done by
weight or volume, but must be
consistent throughout
What to Ask Suppliers




Develop an understanding of
manufacturing processes, how
materials are delivered and the
waste they generate during
installation prior to finalizing
specification documents.
Work with manufacturers to
minimize unnecessary packaging make arrangements for pallet pick
up.
Ask for information about a
product’s recyclability and end-of
life impacts.
Ask suppliers if they provide a
take-back program to minimize
the generation of waste in the
future.
Responsibility of Trades
Constant vigilance needed!
What you need to know:
1.
BEFORE installing materials:

Submit material information sheets.

Check if your materials are approved.

ALL alternates must be approved.
2.
On-site WASTE:

Reduce, reuse, recycle.

Separate in areas provided.

Submit waybills for all waste taken off-site.
3.
Remove all moisture damaged materials from site.
4.
Making dust? isolate area, protect air ducts.
5.
Limit use of volatile liquids (solvents, fuels). Store in closed
containers.
If in doubt ask…
Keep this a healthy building site.
Help at Hand for Installers and Trades:
(Resources & Training)
Don’t Waste Wood
Light House
BuildSmart
MODULE 4:
OPTIMIZING WOOD USE
FOR INDOOR
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
“The problem is not with wood, the problem is with everything we put on it.”
Anon
Health Impact of Buildings
Source: Metro Vancouver BuildSmart

On average, North Americans spend
90% of their time indoors.

30% of Canadian households
have humidity problems and
potential mould problems.

One in five Canadians suffer
from lung disease.

US National Academy of
Sciences estimates that 15%
of the population has some
form of environmental
sensitivity.

IAQ directly linked to occupant
productivity, recovery rates in
hospitals, etc.
Causes of
Sick Building Syndrome



Inadequate ventilation.
Chemical contaminants from indoor and
outdoor sources (VOCs, pollution, etc).
Biological contaminants (mold, etc).
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)




IAQ is acceptable when there are no known
contaminants at harmful concentrations as
determined by cognizant authorities and with
which a substantial majority (80% or more) of the
people exposed do not express dissatisfaction
(ASHRAE 62.1-2007).
All rating systems recognize the importance of IAQ
– many function on a “pass or fail” basis.
Bare wood is considered hypo-allergenic.
Wood products impact IAQ via the treatments and
coatings applied to them
IAQ: What to Look For


Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): carbon
compounds that participate in atmospheric
photochemical reactions. The compounds
vaporize at normal room temperatures
frequently causing health impacts.
Urea formaldehyde (UF): a component of glues
and adhesives, and a preservative in some
paints and coating products. Commonly found in
pressed wood products (hardwood plywood
wall paneling, particleboard, fiberboard) and
furniture made with these pressed wood
products.
VOC Limits



Only applies to interior
products and siteapplied coatings.
Propose a no-carpet
policy - hardwood
floors are easier to
clean and thus
minimize
contamination.
VOC-free panel
products, cabinetry
and shelving are
available.
Source: South Coast Air Quality Management District
Alternatives to UF

UF found in resins and glues.

Plywood and OSB
panel products use
red/black-colored
phenol-formaldehyde
(PF) resin in which
emissions are lower
than those containing
UF.

Formaldehyde-free
alternative resins are
MDI (methylene
diphenyl isocyanate)
and PVA (polyvinyl
acetate).
Hanvey residence kitchen cabinets
comprise FSC certified maple veneers
(from Quebec) applied using PVA glue
to strawboard cores.
Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS)
Required for HAZMAT management purposes
Environmental Information
Sheet



Should
accompany
MSDS.
Presents VOC
and UF
emissions.
Summary
statement of
environmental
criteria.
Innovative Solutions:
Wood Welding
“Mechanically-induced wood flow welding”
 Produces high-strength bonds in
seconds without the use of adhesive.
 Pieces of lumber are pressed
together (at 60 – 330 psi) and
rubbed back and forth at high speed
for a few (3-5) seconds.
 After a few more seconds of clamp
time, the bonding process is complete
- much quicker than gluing.
 The equipment required is already available: used
to weld thermoplastic joints (eg. automobile
industry).
 Bonds are not water-tight, so most applicable to
interior joinery, furniture.
Procedure
IAQ performance is
based on “Pass or Fail”
of VOC limits
Analysis best accomplished
using proprietary
spreadsheets
Procedure shows VOC
calculation methodology
(example for paint) – MSDS
provide relevant information
What to Ask Suppliers



Ask early on about the production
of materials and obtain the
relevant Material Safety Date
Sheet (MSDS) describing the VOC
and UF emissions of the product (if
any).
Make sure that the supplier
provides contact information for
the manufacturer so you can
contact them for any additional
information required.
If in doubt, request independently
audited data from a reputable
third party agency such as the
South Coast Air Quality
Management District
(www.aqmd.gov).
Case Study: Softwood Plywood
Phenol Formaldehyde Glue
Acoustics


Wood is the material of choice for
quality of acoustical performance.
Some green buildings have been
shown to under-perform acoustically
due to:



Hard surfaces for radiant heat distribution
Minimization of soft surfaces that can
attract contaminants.
ANSI S12.60-2002, Acoustical
Performance Criteria, Design
Requirements, and Guidelines for
Schools resulted.
Wood’s Acoustical Features
Rarely Optimized
Acoustical design
requires professional
expertise
Get help from a
member of the
Acoustical Society of
America
http://asa.aip.org
Cave Restaurant, Sydney, Australia
(Takada Architects)
Procedure




No standard
procedure for rating
systems.
Provide noise
attenuation of the
structural systems and
implement measures
to insulate primary
spaces from impact
noise.
Specify acoustic
controls (various
wood products
available) to meet the
acoustic privacy
requirements.
Specify measures to
meet speech
intelligibility
requirements for
spaces and activities.
Wood acoustical paneling provides professional
quality acoustical performance, durable finish
and naturally warm appearance in concert halls
around the world.
What to Ask Suppliers


Acquire acoustical
performance data (such as
STC and IIC ratings) for key
components and assemblies.
Ask about any synergistic
environmental benefits such
as IAQ performance and
whether the product has
been certified by a third
party forestry certification
system.
Case Study:
Corelam soundframe™
MODULE 5:
LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS
“As I hurtled through space towards re-entry at twice the speed of sound the only
thought in my mind was that this craft was entirely built by the lowest bidder.”
John Glenn, Astronaut
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)



Analyzes total environmental impact of all
materials and energy flows, either as input
or output, over the life of a product from
raw material to end-of-life disposal or
rebirth as a new product.
Defined by ISO 14040/14044:
internationally-recognized standards.
The ONLY way to truly understand the
environmental benefits of using wood.
LCA: What’s Included

Material usage

Embodied energy

CO2 emissions
and global warming potential

Air pollution

Solid waste generation

Water pollution

Environmental costs
Source: www.naturallywood.com
How Wood Compares
Source: compiled using the Athena EcoCalculator, version 2.2, with a dataset
appropriate for Vancouver, Canada. (www.naturallywood.com).
Rating Systems: Barely Recognizing
the Life-cycle Benefits of Wood
Not Addressed
1.Built Green Canada
2.Built Green Canada MF
3.Built Green (WA)
4.Built Green (WA) MF
5.Built Green Colorado
6.Green Star
7.LEED NC Canada
8.LEED NC US
9.LEED CI
10.LEED for Homes
11.Living Building Challenge
12.NAHB Model Guidelines
12
Gives points for LCA assessment,
but does not specify
methodology: Green Globes
1
1
1
Offers points for LCA methods
that examine embodied energy,
lifecycle GHGs, and lifecycle costs:
SB Tool
3
Uses rules of thumb that depend
on the major building elements
that are related to lifecycle CO2:
CASBEE
Calculations from the UK Green
Guide: BREEAM Offices, MF, Ecohome
Not addressed
Embodied Energy: Manufacture of
Building Materials is Energy Intensive
For example:

Glass – melt
sand and
silica at
2,300oC

Cement –
burn lime at
3,500oC
Steel blast furnaces like this one get up to
around 2,000oC
Embodied Energy Not
Included in Design Decisions



“The quantity of energy
required by all of the
activities associated with a
production process
including the acquisition of
primary material,
transportation,
manufacturing and handling”.
Wood is not an
energy-neutral material.
However, the carbon-neutral
question is more interesting.
Is Wood a Carbon-Neutral Material?
(Thank you Prof. Richard Murphy,
Imperial College, London for the maths)

The capacity of wood to absorb and store
carbon can be factored against the carbon
emissions incurred during drying,
processing and transportation to site.
Wood (oven dry) is 50% carbon by mass
The molecular weight of CO2 is 44; C is 12
So:
1000 kg of oven dry wood = 500 kg C
500 kg C x 44/12 = 1833 kg in CO2 ‘equivalents’
that can be factored against the carbon
impacts of manufacture, transportation and
installation.
LCA – Taking the Long View
Initial Embodied Energy vs. Recurring Embodied Energy of a Typical Canadian Office Building
Constructed from Wood over a 100-Year Lifespan (Cole & Kernan, 1996).
LCA Tools

Enable consultants
to easily
amalgamate
product
information.

Work with
regulators to create
demand for LCA.

Evaluate LCA
calculators (for
scope, relevance,
efficacy, ease-ofuse, rigour, etc.
Athena Eco Calculator – how can this be useful in
decision-making?
Athena EcoCalculator




Excel based
Based on Assemblies
Region and Building Type can be specified
5 impact measures calculated
 Global Warming Potential
 Primary Energy
 Weighted
Resource Use
 Air Pollution Index
 Water Pollution Index

Free
www.athenasmi.ca
Athena EcoCalculator
Five impacts are measured.
Impacts are immediately
updated with each entry.
Calibrated for various cities
and for either ‘High-Rise” or
“Low-Rise” construction.
Assemblies grouped by
structural component.
Select building elements
from tabs.
Athena Impact Estimator



Proprietary software – Quantity Survey
type
Comprehensive
Precise
Five Impact measures calculated:
Global Warming Potential
Primary Energy
Weighted Resource Use
Air Pollution Index
Water Pollution Index
software: $600
report CD: $500
(includes 1 yr support)
additional copies:
software: $450
report CD $300
Athena Impact Estimator
Items and assemblies are
grouped on this Explorertype tree. Details are
entered on dialogue
boxes for the various
assemblies.
Athena Impact Estimator
Charts and graphs can be
produced for the five impact
measures by:
•life cycle stages
•assembly groupings
•operating vs. embodied
MODULE 6:
WHAT’S NEXT?
ENVIRONMENTAL
INFORMATION SHEETS &
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT
DECLARATIONS
Environmental Product
Declaration (EPD)


An EPD is a standardized (ISO 14025/TR)
and LCA based tool to communicate the
environmental performance of a product
or system.
The information required for input into
LCA calculations.
Getting the Data:
Environmental Product Declarations
(EPDs) are Completed by Manufacturer
Courtesy Dr Sebastian Reuter, VTI, Germany www.vti-bund.de
EPDs in Europe







Based on data provided by the producer.
“Living documents” –additional aspects
are integrated continuously.
Undergo an independent external review
which additionally ensures high
quality and acceptance.
Updated every 3 years to reflect state
of current technology.
De facto database for building
certification.
Provide information regarding
production of the product, the stored
amount of CO2 of a wooden product
during use phase, and End of Life
including substitution for Energy
production.
Provide data of all other materials –
basis for calculation of substitution
effects regarding CO2 emissions.
What to Ask Suppliers







What are the sources of the product’s
data?
How much is based on primary
information directly from operations, as
opposed to databases of industryaverage data?
What assumptions are included about
the functional unit and service life of the
product?
What materials have been excluded (if
any) from the LCA calculation?
What are the uncertainty factors in the
information?
What is assumed about the products’
maintenance requirements and/or
impact on building operations?
Do the impact categories included in the
results capture the important
information, or might the results by
skewed by leaving out key categories?
Summary and Next Steps



Wood from replenished sources supports
“Low carbon” building but rating systems
need to catch up.
LCA and Passive Design not adequately or
consistently recognized – but principles
can be applied right away.
Training and resources for architects and
manufacturers underway.
Thank You!


Questions?
More information
available at
www.naturallywood.com

Don’t forget to complete
course evaluation forms.