Wall splatter below a dryer surface mounted on painted wall board.

I spend an inordinate amount of time talking about toilet rooms at work. I’ve had meetings and dedicated to waterless urinals, pressure assisted toilets, and a variety of toilet room smells. The latest round of conference calls has focused on high efficiency hand dryers in several projects.

First, high efficiency hand dryers are the new-ish models that are popping up in restrooms around the country. They are powerful yet efficient, and dry our hands in about 10-12 seconds. Excel and Dyson are 2 of the major manufacturers. Using dryers is more sanitary than paper towel dispensers or push button dryers, and cleaning staff no longer need to clean wet paper towels off of the floors. With lower annual costs when compared to paper towels and lower energy use when compared to standard dryers, there are clear environmental benefits and they are (finally!) becoming industry standard.

Some of my clients are becoming reluctant to install them because of occupant complaints about noise and appearance. In my own travels, I’ve seen many poor installations, and I’ve witnessed quite a few small children cry at the sound of the dryer. After too many conference calls, I’ve come up with this list of easy steps to include high efficiency dryers in toilet rooms without scaring the children or disturbing the adults:

• Include the noise reduction nozzle! This is an option when ordering the Xlerator dryer, and it significantly reduces the noise.  Without it, the device is likely to frighten small children or disrupt conversations in adjacent rooms.
• Inform your users. Excel has a simple online calculator that determines annual cost savings and environmental savings. Many users who complain about the dryers are not aware of their benefits.  Use the calculator and include a small sign that shows the actual savings for your dryers. A sign may read:

“By using these dryers instead of paper towels, we eliminate 550lb of waste, save 12,331 gallons of water, save 10 trees, reduce our carbon footprint by 1278.58 kgs CO2 eq., and save $1,260.00 each year.”

I always carefully consider the tone of any signage and I craft it to be appropriate for the building, client, and users. Most occupants will appreciate being “informed” but will resent being “educated” in a public toilet room.

• Ditch the paper towel dispenser. If you include both a dryer and a paper towel dispenser, many users will choose paper towels. This can negate the cost savings that you will realize if you only install the dryer.
• Pay attention to the wall material. Many small toilet rooms have dryers that are surface mounted on painted wall board. With these dryers, the velocity of air is greater, and water from hands will splash on the wall. Some occupants complain about ‘unsanitary conditions’ when in fact, what they are seeing is this unsightly wall splatter.  I recommend including a stainless wall panel, tile, or other cleanable surface at the location of an Xlerator dryer and training cleaning staff to wipe the surface. The Dyson Airblade is self contained and usually does not have wall splatter problems, but because it is accessed from the top, different mounting heights may be needed in toilet rooms that serve both children and adults.

This paper towel dispenser is conveniently installed on a partition adjacent to the sink.

The Dyson Airblade is on the opposite side of the partition. Shame on them!

I took my toddler son to see the Hawi wind farm. He was amazed, I was amazed. We drove up the spine of Kohala Mountain (EL = 5,480′), then descended to the small town of Hawi. Located at the northern tip of the Big Island, this place is certainly windy. You can find wind maps on Hawaii Electric Company’s website. Dozens of cows are nestled beneath 16 wind turbines.  The wind farm is adjacent to the Upolo Airport (How do the pilots handle the wind?) and the island of Maui looms in the distance. It was a fantastic place to wander around.

There are sixteen Vestas turbines providing a total output of 10.56 Megawatts. The wind farm came online in 2006 and provides power for Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO). (data from the American Wind Association).

PUBLIC Bikes - mmm, juicy

I suspect that many people don’t bike to work because it doesn’t “look” cool. Enter PUBLIC Bikes. They are releasing a new line of European style urban-cool bikes. I haven’t been able to try one out yet, but they do look juicy… as in a sweet drippy tangerine or kiwi.

If you are in San Francisco, you can test ride one at their shop. Bikes can be pre-ordered, and the line will be available online this month and at Tretorn in Soho. By the way, if you will be in New York for Metropolis’s ICFF 2010 (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) May 15-18, join PUBLIC on their Design Ride Manhattan celebration on Sunday. The ride travels from the ICFF to the Tretorn Store.

Yakkay Bicycle Helmet & Cover

Keeping your pretty little heads protected is a must, and now there are a few options for doing so in style. Yakkay has been getting lots of press for their Danish designed helmet covers. Very cute, but they come at quite a price. If you are one of those people that can handle  riding in a suite, it makes for a perfect accessory. A DIY option that is actually quite easy is to personalize a Bern bike helmet (Bern helmets are shaped like french motorcycle helmets) with paint or decals. See an example here. Bern’s Watts helmet is pretty sleek on its own.

“We can see our planet earth with detachment, with tenderness, with some shame and pity, but at last also with love.” — Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Earth Shine, 1969.

Earth - NASA satellite image

1946 was our first glimpse of the earth from space. Grainy black and white photos were taken with a 35 millimeter camera on a V-2 missile. (Smithsonian Air & Space has a great description along with a photo gallery and video). These images and others taken in the following years had a profound impact on how we view ourselves and our home.

The above image is one that I’ve used for years in education and training workshops. It is a NASA satellite image that was given to me by a colleague from Australia. I love using it in the United States because the image is so dynamic, allowing North Americans to view it without the distraction of identifying our own geographical home on the Earth. (This image shows Africa, the Middle East, and Antarctica.)

For more earth day eye candy, check out NASA’s Visible Earth site, which contains a catalog of images and a composite Earth: The Blue Marble, a composite image with exceptional detail and color. For more quotes, check out this site.

Happy Earth Day!

On a separate note, Cooper Green Design | The Blog has a backlog of posts, including the remaining posts in the World Expo Series. I’ll correct this soon and have them up this week. Thanks for your patience and as always, thanks for following.

Israel's Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo

Rendering of the Whispering Garden

Israel’s Pavilion is the feature of part 2 of my series on green design at the Shanghai World Expo 2010.

This is Israel’s first pavilion in a World Expo. The theme is “Innovation for Better Life,” and the design by Haim Dotan brings natural features and technology in harmony with one another. I find the form quite elegant, with the glass (Hall of Light) and stone (Hall of Innovations) volumes in a twisting embrace: a nod to the Taoist Yin and Yang. Architect Haim Dotan is the designer of the AORA solar flower,  a 30m tower ringed by mirrors, which generates 100kW of power at Kibbutz Samar. Here again, he is a master of efficient use of materials.

In the Hall of Innovations, hundreds of “light-sphere” stations will demonstrate Israel’s technological innovations in solar & green energy, science, music, agriculture, medicine, and security. Visitors can have a virtual conversation with Israelis.

What appears most intriguing is the Whispering Garden, with over 50 orange trees and a meandering covered pedestrian path. The garden will showcase Israel’s irrigation technology, which is one of the most advanced applications of drip irrigation in the world.

The construction and activity budget is $6 million.

For more info:

• Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Haim Dotan Architects Israel Pavilion Site

CGD’s Score: +4

+3 Sustainability is evident in the design

-1 Many materials are not recyclable

-1 No onsite renewable energy

+3 Exhibit them focuses on efficient irrigation and science & technology

First up: Switzerland’s “Rural-Urban Interaction” Pavilion

Rendering of the Swiss Pavilion

Facade with solar cells and LEDs

Vegetated Roof and Chair Lift

The 43,000 sf pavilion is designed by Buchner Bründler Architects and Element GmbH of Germany. According to the official Swiss Pavilion site it is a “hybrid construct of technology and nature that combines town and country in a perfect balance.” The Expo organizers have named it Nature’s Playground.

The façade is an aluminum mesh with attached solar cells that power flashing LEDs. Most of the façade components will be recycled at the close of the expo, and the solor cells will be reused or resold. The lights flash in a cause and effect relationship: LED’s light up for different amounts of time based on the amount of light or wind detected by sensors and the amount of stored energy. When one cell lights up, neighboring cells respond and light up as well.

The Pavilion is organized with two interior cylinders. One houses a pedestrian ramp that guides visitors through the exhibits. The second cylinder contains a chair lift that opens to the exterior and will bring visitors from the interior “urban” space and over the luscious vegetated “rural” roofscape.

The designers won an international competition for the pavilion. Some early reports described the façade as a biodegradable soy-based material. The material is now aluminum.

The 2010 World Expo runs from May 1 through October 2010, and is estimated to be the largest world exhibition yet.

CGD’s Score: +6

+3 Sustainability is evident in the design

+1 Materials can be recycled

-1 Onsite renewable energy powers façade, but not building energy use

+3 Exhibit theme shows natural environment, air quality, water quality, sustainable construction, and transportation

Christoph Geilen's photo: Deer Crest II California, 2008

Chris Jordan: Depicts 11,000 jet trails, equal to the number of commercial flights in the US every eight hours.

I’ve read a number of transportation reports in the last few months, and this has me thinking quite a bit about my own means of transportation. Last week I attempted a trip on the local bus route, and it was an utter failure. It seems that I’m out of practice.

The American Public Transportation Association issued  a summary of the financial savings realized by public transit riders in 20 major cities. The findings include an average individual savings of $9,242.00 annually. The savings is even greater in cities such as New York, Boston, and San Francisco.

Earlier this week I reviewed a Sustainable Sites LEED credit with a client. They are looking to obtain a credit for low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles. In order to obtain the credit, they are providing preferred parking for vehicles that are classified as zero-emission-vehicles (ZEV) and have a green score of 40 or above on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Annual Vehicle Rating Guide. The review brought out an interesting point that I often take for granted: Hybrid cars are not required to meet the credit. Many large hybrid vehicles do not meet the LEED requirements while many non-hybrid compact or even midsize cars do. For example, the 2010 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid CI500 has a green score of 29, while the 2010 Hyundi Elantra and Nissan Versa each score  43. This actually makes enforcing preferred parking more of a challenge because most users assume that hybrid = greener.

As some of my readers know, before I moved to the Pioneer Valley, I did not own a car. Most of my transportation was human powered: I lived in Philadelphia and biked to work every day. I walked around the city all weekend, and rarely had the need to use a car. Sure, I had a few awkward moments (carrying a new mop home, getting caught in the rain in a  suit), but for the most part, my $165 used Schwinn brought me to business meetings, museums, shops, the orchestra, and even happy hour without trouble. I also used a local printer for architectural drawing sets, and rolls of prints were delivered by bike messenger. When I moved to Western Mass, I made a choice to accept a job some distance away, and that required me to have a car. After 2 weeks of commuting, I thought to myself “how do people live like this?” Three and half years later, I found myself driving 1.8 miles to CVS.

I am now recommitting to using my bike. I’m planning a few adjustments and accessory additions for my bike so that it will be more useful for running errands and getting me to meetings in the area. This is inspired by not by the insightful transportation reports, but by 2 artists’ work: Chrostoph Gielen and Chris Jordan. Both artists have an incredible ability to translate difficult-to-grasp complex ideas or quantities into readable and compelling images. When I view Gielen’s work in particular, I’m determined to escape from the suburban maze. I invite you to check them out.

Chris Jordan’s work is on exhibit at the Boston Museum of Science. Running the Numbers: Portraits of Mass Consumption runs through May 9, 2010. Christoph Gielen’s show “Arcadia” was shown at Daniel Cooney Fine Art in New York  in 2008-2009.

Thoughts of rebuilding are already emerging. George H. Miller and Christine W. McEntee, President and Executive Vice President of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently sent and E-mail to the organization’s membership addressing the future rebuilding efforts in Haiti.  After stressing the immediate need for financial assistance and encouraging architects to volunteer for rescue effort tasks, the letter goes on to describe how the profession can assist with the next phase of relief efforts: rebuilding. Read the full letter here. The AIA is working with the US Green Building Council (USGBC); Red Cross; United Nations Envoy to Haiti, former President Bill Clinton; and Architecture for Humanity to discuss ways for architects to offer expertise. From the letter: “We are discussing ideas with Architecture for Humanity on how architects can provide on-the-ground design guidance in Haiti so local citizens can seek qualified counsel as they rebuild their homes, businesses, and lives.”

Following the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the AIA, USGBC, and Architecture for Humanity contributed design services for countless projects in affected areas. The projects focused on green and affordable rebuilding. Designs for green and “off-grid” buildings, homes, and alternatives to FEMA trailers were developed. While many of these exemplary projects were built, many others were not. Despite the many efforts of the profession’s organizations to have all FEMA trailers constructed in a healthy and green manner, the typical FEMA trailer contains unhealthy levels of formaldehyde and other toxins. Read more about the FEMA formaldehyde fiasco here.

Here is hoping that the Haiti Quake rebuilding efforts will be more successful. We have the knowledge and capability to rebuild in a better way. We owe it to ourselves and the people of Haiti to proceed in a healthy, responsible, and respectful manner. Architecture for Humanity’s approach to bring expertise to Haiti, rather than a top-down approach seems more likely to succeed.

Check out Architecture for Humanity’s Haiti Quake Appeal.

Paypal is covering all of their charges for donations through February 12th. Want another reason to support Architecture for Humanity? The organization is very transparent, clearly showing a nifty little bar graph with their fundraising costs, administrative costs, and the actual amount that is directed to design and construction services.

Again, my thoughts go out to the people of Haiti.

Here are my top 10 quotes from Greenbuild 2009 in Phoenix. Some, inspiring, some technical, some witty, and some funny. Enjoy!

10. “People are starting to ask ‘Are we getting to much green tape?’” ~ Paul King, referring to regulations in the UK  and later, “If you stop someone on the street and ask them what they think of their gas condensing boiler, they won’t have a clue about what you’re talking about.”

9. “We are not going to build our way out of this we have to conserve our way out” ~ Richard Poe

8. “Real innovation will be in technology that turns systems off and allows natural processes to take over” ~ Vivian Loftness (sounding just like she did when I was a student in her class at CMU)

7. “We have insulated ourselves into ignorance” ~Daniel Wildcat

6. “Water is going to be more significant than energy.” - Bert Gregory of Mithun

5. “We can’t forget that this is all about the people inside the buildings.” ~ Rick Fedrizzi

4. “Most cities don’t want to be the first at something, but none of them want to be the last.” -Jeff Harlan, The Planning Center

3. “We’re going to solve the climate crisis… In 15 minutes. Hold on to your seats.” ~ Ed Mazria

2. “CFLs don’t have any ambiance. No sex. That is why we are going with LED” – Tony Gale, FAIA, Starbucks

1. “We are NOT going to let you down.” ~ Al Gore’s pledge to the children of our nation.

Note: Thanks to all of the Greenbuild attendees who contributed quotes by E-mail & Twitter  from sessions that I did not observe. If I’ve misquoted anyone, please send me corrections. See you next year in Chicago.

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Five years ago at Greenbuild, it seemed that everyone was caught up in semantics: Green vs. Sustainable vs. Eco-friendly vs. Bio-inspired. Various definitions were overly debated and argued, with no real outcomes. Since then,the arguments have largely been forgotten. What has emerged is some significant criticism of the LEED rating system, much of it centered on shortcomings such as a lack of robust metrics, exclusion of life-cycle cost measurements, and failure to adequately address zero-carbon goals.

While these criticisms are valid, the early goals of the LEED Rating System stated that certification should be “achievable” with a reasonable approach and level of effort and experience. I’m going to briefly revisit some of the old definitions.

Sustainable Building: A building that is

• CONSTRUCTED with environmentally benign and local materials
• OPERATED without adverse environmental or human health impacts
• Relies completely on RENEWABLE ENERGY and emits 0 green house gas emissions
• DECONSTRUCTS into 100% reusable or recyclable components at the end of its useful life

(my definition, adapted from an early USGBC definition)

Green Building: A building that

Uses design, construction, and operations practices that significantly reduce the negative impact of buildings on the environment and occupants through

• Sustainable site planning
• Safeguarding water and water efficiency
• Energy efficiency
• Conservation of materials and resources
• Indoor environmental quality

(from a 2002 USGBC training workshop)

Using the above definitions, “Green” is the weaker of the two, but the one that is behind the LEED Rating System. “Sustainable” is possible, but somewhat vague and more difficult to achieve. I’m of the opinion that over time, the definition of a “Green” building should have evolved to become synonymous with “Sustainable” building, and the LEED Rating System along with it. It is not there yet.

I generally tell my students and clients that LEED certified buildings are green buildings, which is not the same thing as sustainable buildings.

Back to Paul King and the Drexel University student’s question. He answered her by referencing the Brundtland Commission’s definition “one that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet thier own needs.”