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Nationwide, the majority of LEED™-accredited practitioners
are architects. However, mechanical engineers and, to a lesser
extent, electrical engineers are starting to become accredited in
greater numbers. These integrated team members provide valuable
contributions to any sustainable building effort, and it is
interesting to hear about the process from their side. Presented
here are comments from mechanical and electrical engineers who
offer their insights into the process:
- V. Mitchell Lyles, Associate Principal and
Director of Engineering, Westlake Reed Leskosky
- Matthew Murphy, LEED AP, Associate and
Mechanical Project Engineer, Westlake Reed Leskosky
- Robert Smolinski, Associate and Manager of
Electrical Engineering, Westlake Reed Leskosky
- John Hummel, Electrical Project Engineer,
Westlake Reed Leskosky
Overall Project Approach
Lyles: LEED basically quantifies what should be
common-sense, good design principles. We should all be concerned
about being good stewards of our natural resources on every
project. However, sometimes an owner needs an additional nudge to
convince them to champion a sustainable-project approach. The LEED
brand can often be quite persuasive.
Smolinski: The LEED rating system appears to be
a good benchmark to keep the design team on track. At the project
kickoff, the potential points that the design team is looking to
achieve can be targeted and used as goals throughout the
project.
Murphy: It is crucial to define the
LEED-certification strategy early in the project as a team. This
can affect how the scope of work is set and can also determine for
engineers how they should set up their load and energy
calculations. Most points require input from multiple design team
members, so the intent needs to be understood early and well by the
entire team. Not all credits are feasible for every project.
Smolinksi: If LEED certification is a project
goal, all design team members must be aware of this from the very
beginning. LEED is an integrated, whole-building design practice
and it must involve everyone. If the goals aren’t outlined at
the very beginning, it’s highly unlikely that the building
will get certified. Marketing efforts to secure LEED projects
obviously must be influenced by all the disciplines to be
successful.
Hummel: The single biggest energy load on a
building is the lighting. Lighting accounts for 35 percent of a
building’s total energy consumption and additional energy is
needed to air-condition the heat load it creates. Choosing
efficient lighting (luminaries, lamps, ballasts) and using controls
are the best ways to minimize the lighting load. However, this can
be challenging, as lighting fixtures that create accents or special
effects are often not efficient fixtures. I need to be in the
design loop for interiors and building design, participating in
discussions regarding building interiors to ensure that interior
surfaces are reflective and the design of ceilings and walls will
promote efficient lighting design. Minimizing the lighting loads
can reduce the fixture options available. Early in the design
process, this needs to be taken into account. The use of
incandescent lights, for example, should be omitted or
minimized.
Smolinski: Because lighting contributes to
approximately 50 percent of a building’s total energy
consumption, it is imperative for electrical engineers to
strategize their designs together with the architect, working
toward a common goal of utilizing the most energy-efficient
lighting systems available. LEED certification becomes a natural
extension of selecting and applying proper systems and equipment
early on.
Lyles: Sustainable projects also need to be
approached with a long-term vision. LEED can be a useful tool in
steering owners away from cheaper first-cost systems that limit
design flexibility and are less efficient because they won’t
allow the credits to be achieved. Working with better mechanical
systems allows better and more creative engineering to happen. We
often embark on a financial check-and-balance process to weigh the
initial system cost against payback to determine what the most
appropriate system for a given project is. For example, savings in
energy costs or the number of full-time employees needed to operate
a system can offset the initial cost of its purchase very quickly.
Without efficient systems, achieving LEED silver or higher
isn’t possible.
Hummel: Providing energy-efficient electrical
distribution equipment is key to achieving an energy-efficient
facility. As an electrical engineer, I have to work with the
mechanical engineer to select efficient pumps and motors and
explore the use of things like variable frequency drives.
Innovation credits are also important to consider in the electrical
system, such as the use of harmonic mitigating transformers to
smooth out the energy-use curve. The increasing amount of
electronic equipment in facilities increases the amount of
nonlinear loads, reducing the efficiency of electronic equipment
and creating overload conditions.
Staying Green
Murphy: During any value-engineering process,
it's important to not take any suggestions that would affect the
project’s LEED certification. Unfortunately, because LEED
defines minimum standards, some owners choose to jettison some
design elements if they have already achieved the maximum LEED
points required for the project’s certification.
Smolinski: A/E teams ideally need to be
configured with at least one LEED-accredited design professional to
efficiently navigate the LEED process. However, everyone must work
towards a common goal of designing the building to meet the
client’s budget while complying with all applicable building
and energy codes. Systems, equipment, and product selections must
be an integral and constant theme throughout the process.
Hummel: The project needs to stay on the LEED
path throughout the design, being mindful of how each decision can
affect lighting or power loads. It is important to understand the
design constraints of LEED before the design is finalized.
Lyles: Experience builds good instincts and
allows the project to work toward earning innovation points. Some
areas that we have explored in past projects include:
- Demolition monitoring and sorting of recyclable materials
- Compatibility of new fixtures/equipment with existing: allows
existing spare parts to be used, provides compatible refrigerant
parts
- Energy conservation
-
- True facility management system that monitors incoming
utilities and allows the owner to make a decision to switch to
alternative sources of power as needed. This controls costs by
leveling peaks of energy usage.
- Ability to export power back to the power company.
- Ability to broker fuel costs by prepurchasing energy on a
monthly basis.
Hummel: Ensure that the owner understands the
impact of lighting choices on LEED points, as well as the impacts
of the building design on the natural light available to the space.
It is important to calculate the lighting loads using both the
overall building method and the overall space method to determine
which is most advantageous.
Challenges with the Program
Hummel: The impact of first-cost premiums to
design to LEED standards must be understood by the owner, which can
be difficult if the construction and the facility management
departments don’t share common goals. GSA has been great to
work with because both a regional representative and a facility
engineer are involved from the start of design to the finish to
ensure that both the first costs and life-cycle/maintenance costs
are viewed through the LEED prism.
Murphy: More proscriptive guidelines would be
helpful, as many credit areas, such as energy and atmosphere
(optimize energy performance), have a very restrictive calculation
procedure and can’t be relied on to get the entire ten points.
Also, credit interpretations can be difficult to navigate and the
entire process is overshadowed by LEED bureaucracy.
Hummel: To get LEED points, the lighting must
be more efficient than the minimum standards set forth by ASHRAE
90.1 for each type of space. The 2005 ASHRAE standards are even
more stringent, which will make earning these points more difficult
and will require more creative and integrated design to achieve
desired light levels.
Murphy: The owner should be aware of the amount
of time it takes to document a project seeking LEED certification.
This needs to be factored into the fees as well as the project
schedule, as it can be a cross-discipline effort up to one month in
duration.
Smolinski: System, equipment, and product
selections are directly affected by LEED goals. Certainly, simple
cost-effective solutions exist and can be implemented under tight
budget constraints. Most clients are going through the LEED process
for the first time and must be educated through a cost/benefit
analysis. They either become indifferent or are interested in
first-cost only. If first-cost is more of an interest to them, a
LEED-certified building may be more of a challenge or possibly not
attainable.
Hummel: Lighting control systems are costly and
often don’t pencil out for smaller projects, where there
isn’t an economy of scale that can be achieved. To get the
LEED credit and comply with mandatory ASHRAE provisions, every
lighting fixture in the facility must be on an automatic control
device. Controls are also required if the project is going to
attempt daylight harvesting.
Murphy: The construction manager or general
contractor should be familiar with the LEED process to streamline
documentation.
Angela Mazzi, AIA, has worked on the design and
planning of buildings nationwide. She was awarded the Young
Architects Citation by the AIA Arizona in 2001 and has published
several papers and articles addressing design as a source of
cultural identity. Ms. Mazzi has led efforts at community advocacy
for better development and has taught architectural education
outreach programs with grade school and high school students. She
is a member of the AIA Cleveland Government Affairs
Committee.
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 Metzenbaum U.S. Courthouse, Cleveland—The
Metzenbaum project, registered with USGBC to pursue Silver LEED
certification, is one of four pilot projects participating in a
study developed by the Cleveland Green Building Coalition and the
Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District. The modernization
and rehabilitation of the courthouse by the GSA, through its Design
Excellence program, is an exemplary model for adaptive reuse and
preservation of a historic landmark. The design concept solves
modern circulation issues and internal organization requirements
while reclaiming the building’s historic circulation
system.
The conversion of the original light
well into a central atrium—a five-level in-fill light
court—captures opportunities for public access and space in
the center of the building. Spanned by a new skylight, the light
court is the centerpiece of the design, solving circulation
problems and requirements for increased security while imbuing the
space with a spark of vitality.
Photo by Kevin Reeves
 Salem Community Hospital, Salem,
Ohio—Hospital additions often compromise functionality and
efficiency by focusing on short-term needs instead of overall
facility implications. In a two-phase undertaking, Westlake Reed
Leskosky worked with SCH to implement intelligent, sustainable
future expansion. The new central-plant replacement facility
applies breakthrough engineering, sustainable design, and
technology to the critical demands of healthcare. It is one of the
first healthcare plants of its size in the country to deploy rotary
flywheel technology for uninterrupted power, a green battery-free
power source for the entire campus. A DDC facility-management system monitors,
controls, and adjusts the facility’s energy usage. Sustainable
strategies, such as variable pumping, high-efficiency central plant
equipment, and multiple backup systems, make it one of the most
advanced facilities of its kind. The facility is pursuing LEED
Silver certification, with exemplary performance in the energy and
atmosphere category. Phase II, a Surgery/CSR expansion is enrolled
in Green Guide for Healthcare’s pilot program.
Rendering courtesy of Westlake Reed Leskosky
 Idea
Center’s ideastream Headquarters and Playhouse Square Arts
Education Program, Cleveland—Idea Center at Playhouse Square
is an interactive center for the arts, technology, and education.
In a first-of-its-kind partnership, WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN
Ideastream and the Playhouse Square Foundation have renovated the
National Register landmark One Playhouse Square in downtown
Cleveland, integrating multimedia and performing arts. Westlake
Reed Leskosky provided sustainable design services for the
environmentally responsible redevelopment of One Playhouse Square
and was instrumental in the pursuit of LEED certification. This
innovative project is part of the USGBC’s LEED-CI (commercial
interiors) pilot program, introducing green building practices to
the commercial lease space real estate marketplace. The project has
received the 2005 GreenCityBlueLake Award from EcoCity
Cleveland.
Photo courtesy of Westlake Reed Leskosky |
Bios
V.
Mitchell Lyles
Associate Principal and Director of Engineering,
Westlake Reed Leskosky
Mitch Lyles has extensive national experience in design and
management of engineered systems for a variety of project types,
including new work, additions, and renovations. Mr. Lyles leads the
firm’s integrated engineering effort and staff, as well as
quality control for mechanical engineering. His expertise
includes constant and variable volume air distribution;
refrigeration, chilled and condenser water piping; energy recovery
and “green” technology; specialized air-conditioning such
as operating rooms; electric, natural gas, steam, or fuel oil
heating; constant and variable pumping; medical gas, plumbing, and
fire protection; and building automation control. Under his
leadership, Westlake Reed Leskosky received the prestigious ASHRAE
Region V Technology Award for state-of-the-art mechanical systems
in a historic facility.
Robert
Smolinski
Associate and Manager of Electrical Engineering,
Westlake Reed Leskosky
Robert Smolinski is a registered professional engineer in multiple
states and has designed various building electrical systems in both
new and renovated construction. His experience includes
specification writing, designing low- and medium-voltage power
distribution, interior and exterior lighting systems, fire alarm,
PLC-based security automation systems, and tele/data wiring
systems. He also has extensive field experience involving
verification and evaluation of existing electrical equipment and
wiring methods as well as identifying code violations within
existing installations. His responsibilities include directing the
firm’s electrical engineering discipline in quality control.
Mr. Smolinski has worked on projects incorporating building-wide,
Internet-based lighting control systems; power monitoring systems;
innovative green power design, including battery-free, rotary
flywheel UPS systems, peak shaving, and power export
capabilities.
Matthew
Murphy, LEED AP
Associate and Mechanical Project Engineer,
Westlake Reed Leskosky
Matthew Murphy is a registered professional engineer and
LEED-accredited professional with experience in design and
engineering of sustainable buildings. As a specialist in energy
efficient mechanical systems, he has employed proven
technologies to provide value to owners, including: geothermal
(ground source heat pumps), energy recovery systems, evaporative
condensing chillers, demand control ventilation, waste energy
reclaim, and others. Mr. Murphy takes a leading role in the firm's
practice of integrated design to collaborate on sustainability.
He has completed several important LEED projects, including
the PHSF/Ideastream Idea Center and the Metzenbaum Federal Building
and U.S. Courthouse.
John
Hummel
Electrical Project Engineer, Westlake Reed
Leskosky
John Hummel’s experience in electrical engineering includes
lighting design using the latest and most energy-efficient
lamp/ballast technology, lighting unit power density calculations
to meet or exceed stated watts per square foot allowance, and
automatic lighting control technologies to harvest daylight and
occupancy sensor shut off. He has also worked on designs to provide
reliable and clean power distribution design for heavy nonlinear
electronic equipment loads and in estimating construction
investment indicating the upfront saving or payback period. Mr.
Hummel has worked with state and federal programs to protect the
environment through superior energy efficiency. Design materials
used include LEED, ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1, the U.S. Department
of Energy software Comchek EZ3.0, and California Title 24.
Angela Mazzi, AIA, is project director at Westlake Reed
Leskosky. As a project director, Angela is responsible for leading
integrated team efforts and works with clients directly to achieve
project goals. She was awarded the Young Architects Citation by the
AIA Arizona in 2001. She is also a member of the AIA Cleveland
Government Affairs Committee.
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