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The Austin Garden

The Austin Garden LEED Presentation1Project By:Cayla WalshJoe SmrtKyle Petty

This project was completed by Cayla Walsh, Joe Smrt, and Kyle Petty2Sustainability:At The Austin Garden we strive for efficient use of resources that come into our facility and aim for long term maintenance of the environment. We want to responsibly manage all resources socially, economically, and environmentally to ensure customers are satisfied with our products and services.

What sustainability means to our facility

At The Austin Garden we strive for efficient use of resources that come into our facility and aim for long term maintenance of the environment. We want to responsibly manage all resources socially, economically, and environmentally to ensure customers are satisfied with our products and services.

3What is LEED?Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

LEED is an international green rating certification The higher the rating, the more efficient the building is

What is LEED?

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

It is an international green rating certification that allows confirmation about a facilitys efficiency through a third-party not affiliated with the company. It is based off of how energy and environmentally efficient each building is. The facilities accumulate points and after the points are tallied they earn a LEED rating. The higher the rating, the more efficient the building is.

4Five Rating Systems:Building Design and ConstructionLEED for New ConstructionLEED for Core and ShellLEED for SchoolsLEED for HealthcareLEED for RetailGreen Interior Design and ConstructionGreen Building Operations and MaintenanceHomesNeighborhood Development

There are five rating systems that a facility can become LEED certified in.

Building Design and Construction contains five internal rating systems. These include: LEED for New Construction, Core and Shell, Schools, Healthcare, and Retail. These guidelines are for new buildings and old buildings that are undergoing major renovations

Green Interior Design and Construction consists of LEED Commercial Interiors and LEED Retail Interiors. These are guidelines for tenants that are leasing a portion of a larger building.

Green Building Operations and Maintenance includes LEED for Existing Buildings and LEED for Existing Schools.

The Homes rating system is designed for single and multi-family residences that are three stories or less. This is modeled after the Environmental Protection Agencys successful Energy Star for Homes program.

Neighborhood Development promotes smart growth, urbanism, and green building for neighborhood design.5Four Levels of LEED:There are 100 base points, 6 possible Innovation in Design and 4 Regional Priority points

Certified 4049 pointsSilver 5059 pointsGold 6079 pointsPlatinum 80 points and above

There are also four levels of LEED certification.

LEED certification is available in four progressive levels according to the following scale:

The Certified level is between 40 and 49 points,Silver between 50 and 59 points,Gold between 60 and 79 points, and Platinum certification is 80 points and above.

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The following is an example of a LEED certification checklist used for New Construction and Major Renovations

(pause)7LEED Construction/Operating:

The Austin Garden will strive to reach a LEED certification of Gold for both construction and operating procedures. As the facility progresses, upgrades regarding sustainability can be made to reach a Platinum certification.8Construction Requirements:Heat reflective paintIncrease insulationUse fiberglass windowsSelf cleaning glassInstall weather-strippingInstall ICFsRadiant floor heatingGeothermal heating andRecycled material

The Austin Garden will undergo many different construction processes to meet the LEED Gold certification. Some of the features in the facility are:Heat reflective paint, which keeps the building warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, andInstalling more insulation in the walls to help with efficiency.

Regarding windows, The Austin Garden will install fiberglass windows because they do not require paint, and make sure they have self cleaning glass.

We will use weather stripping on all doors and windows, and install insulating concrete forms, or IFCs that will stand up to harsh winds and hurricanes, and have a tremendous thermal mass which can help keep the facility cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Radiant floor heating will also be beneficial because as heat rises, the air will not warm, but only the people and objects inside it will. This component is virtually noise free and allows users to set the thermostat 2 to 4 degrees lower compared to forced air. This can save the facility 10-30% in overall energy compared to forced air.

Geothermal heating and cooling will also be beneficial because it saves energy, provides heating, cooling, hot water, and eliminates the need for fossil fuels by using the earths ground as a source of heat in the winter.

The Austin Garden will also use recycled material during the construction of the facility. This includes using cork, glass, and plastic products for surfaces such as floors, walls, and other fixtures.

9Operation Requirements:Motion sensor lightingOutdoor timersRegulate heat and air conditionerProgrammable thermostatShuttle serviceRecyclingBathroom plumingHigh efficiency toiletsEnergy-Star appliances

The Austin Garden will also undergo a variety of operational requirements in order to meet the LEED Gold certification.Following are some of the requirements-

Outside the facility sidewalks, pathways, and side parking lots there will be motion sensor lighting that only come on when individuals are present. This will keep the nights off and saving electricity and energy when the lots are not in use.

These outdoor lights will also be sunset and sunrise aware so that they are not running during the daylight.

This facility will also regulate internal air flow by keeping the heat at 68 degrees or below and the air conditioner at 78 degrees or above on programmable thermostats.

There will also be a shuttle service offered during events that will encourage customers to take public transportation and shuttles in order to reduce fuel emissions.

Throughout the Austin Garden there will be recycling receptacles to throw away paper and plastic waste from conferences, expos, and events.

All bathrooms within the facility will feature automatic sinks, toilets, soap, and hand dryers to reduce on water and paper waste. Each restroom also features high efficiency low flow toilets to help cut down on water waste.

Also within our facility, especially the kitchen and ballroom areas, Energy Star Appliances will be featured.10Noteworthy Feature #1:Solar ForestProvides shadeElectric vehiclesElectricity at night

At the Austin Garden there are three especially noteworthy features that help promote sustainability and environmental responsibility.

The first is the Solar Forest located in Parking Lot A. The panels located on these trees rotate with the path of the sun to absorb as much light as possible and also provides shade for the cars parked underneath. However, electric vehicles can directly benefit from parking here because they can charge their batteries by plugging into these solar trees. The light absorbed from the trees is then converted into electricity for the tree to light the pathways at night. Extra stored electricity is then transferred to light the garden between the facility and parking lot.11Noteworthy Features #2:Cool roofFacility benefitsReduce billsExtend roof lifeEnvironmental benefitsLower electricity demandReduce power plant emissions

The second noteworthy feature at the Austin Garden is the Cool Roof. The Cool Roof is not only beneficial to the facility, but to the environment as a whole. This roof will reduce facility energy bills, air-conditioning needs, decrease roof temperature, extend the life of roof, and improve comfort for those non-air-conditioned rooms. Cool Roofs help the environment by reducing local air temperatures, lowers electricity demand, and reduces power plant emissions due to the reduction in cooling to the building.

12Noteworthy Feature #3:Irrigation systemRecycles rain water and gray waterCuts down on costs

The third feature at the Austin Garden is the irrigation system.

This system will take rain water and gray water through an irrigation system to help water landscape features around the facility. Gray water is water that drains from sinks and other faucets from the building that is no longer drinkable. This will keep water from going to waste as well as provide a maintenance free way to water the landscape. This will cut down on facility employee costs and keep The Austin Garden looking at its best especially during the dry Texas heat.13Thank You:Thank you for watching!For more information please feel free to contact The Austin Garden at:Telephone: (512) GARDEN1 (512) 427-3361

Fax: (512) GARDEN2 (512) 427-3362

Email: events@theaustingarden.com

Thank you for watching the LEED presentation on The Austin Garden.

For more information please feel free to contact The Austin Garden by telephone at 512- GARDEN 1 or by email at events @the austingarden.com14Resources:http://www.everblue.edu/ http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=220http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12300http://curiosity.discovery.com/topic/green-living/10-sustainable-buildings.htmhttp://www.builderswebsource.comhttp://burb.tv/view/Solar_foresthttp://www.coolroofs.org/

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