Sustainable Sites Prerequisite 1:

Construction Activity Pollution Prevention

This prerequisite was created to prevent the damage that construction projects can cause to the project site by destroying plant cover - causing soil to erode into waterways or fly away as dust. McGough Construction set up barriers such as silt fences and sediment traps to prevent soil from eroding away into the road or sewer system.

Sustainable Site Credit 1

Site Selection

This credit is designed to prevent development on ecologically sensitive sites such as wetlands, riparian areas, prime farmland or habitat for endangered or critical species. The IGC site was previously occupied by Winton Health Services and is not new development on a green site. It is also not located on farmland, near waterways nor is designated as habitat for any sensitive species.

Sustainable Site Credit 2

Development Density and Community Connectivity

This credit is intended to channel development to urban areas with existing infrastructure. Macalester is located in a moderately dense urban area and has access to many community services such as banks, restaurants, churches, supermarkets, etc all within walking distance.

Sustainable Site Credit 4.1

Alternative Transportation – Public Transportation Access

This credit rewards developers who build in a location with access to more than one form of public transportation The IGC sits at intersection of Snelling and Grand Aves with 3 common bus routes passing by – the 63, 84 and 144. This easy and convenient access will help building occupants to avoid using personal automobiles for commuting, reducing the greenhouse gas and pollution impacts of the IGC’s operation.

Sustainable Site Credit 4.2

Alternative Transportation – Bicycle Storage & Changing Rooms

This credit encourages bike commuting by providing day storage for bicycles and a location for bike commuters to change and shower if needed. The IGC has shower facilities specifically for bike commuters. This encourages a reduction in the use of personal automobiles for commuting.

Sustainable Site Credit 4.3

Alternative Transportation – Low Emitting & Fuel Efficient Vehicles

This credit works to reduce the impact of employees commuting to work by rewarding them for traveling in low-emitting vehicles that are more efficient or do not use fossil fuels. Macalester College has initiated a Preferred Parking Program across campus that will allocate up to 5% of campus parking spaces as reserved for individuals with low-emitting vehicles such as electric cars, etc. Individuals may apply for these parking spots through the Facilities Services Office.

Sustainable Site Credit 4.4

Alternative Transportation – Parking Capacity

This credit encourages the building design to include forethought about ways in which the commuting impact can be reduced. The IGC does not include any additional parking compared to Winton Health Services – which previously stood on this site.

Sustainable Site Credit 5.2

Site Development – Maximize Open Space

This credit is designed to preserve green space in developed areas as an integral part – not an afterthought. The IGC building is a very compact, space-efficient structure that leaves quite a bit of the project site unbuilt. These areas are landscaped with a wide variety of native MN plants that will ensure a high level of biodiversity and beauty throughout the year.

Sustainable Site Credit 6.1

Stormwater Design – Quantity Control

This credit ensures that the building will handle stormwater in a way that causes minimal disruption to the natural hydrology of the site. The IGC collects the majority of the stormwater and runs it through a system of underground perforate pipes that allows the water to infiltrate naturally into the ground water system, thereby reducing the amount of water that runs-off into the Mississippi.

Sustainable Site Credit 6.2

Stormwater Design – Quality Control

This credit ensures that the stormwater that leaves the building site is clean and does not contain suspended solids such as gravel or dirt that can disrupt local water systems. The IGC stormwater systems is designed to filter out at least 80% of the suspended solids in stormwater before it is released from the site or allowed to infiltrate into the groundwater.

Sustainable Site Credit 7.2

Heat Island Effect – Roof

This credit works to combat the Heat Island Effect, which occurs when warmer temperatures are experiences in urban areas because of heat absorbed on artificial surfaces such as concrete or asphalt. The IGC has a white membrane roof, which reflects 76% of the heat radiation from the sun – this helps keep both the building and the surrounding air cooler and saves on air conditioning as well.

Sustainable Site Credit 8 (Attempted)

Light Pollution Reduction

Credit 8 restricts the amount of Light Pollution emitted from the building. This minimizes the impacts of sky glow, improves nighttime visibility by preventing glare and reduces impact on nocturnal environments and species. The IGC only uses exterior lights where necessary for safety and uses light fixtures that restrict the angle of the light. The idea is to only light the areas that need to be, not the whole building site.

Water Efficiency Credit 1.1-1.2

Water Efficient Landscaping – 50% Reduction or No Irrigation

This credit restricts the amount of potable drinking water that is used to irrigation landscaping. In the United States nearly 30% of treated drinking water is used for irrigation around homes and buildings. The IGC will only have a temporary irrigation system for one year to help that plants get established, at which point it will be permanently removed.

Water Efficiency Credit 3.1-3.2

Water Use Reduction – 30% Reduction

These credits reduce the amount of water that is used in sinks, toilets, urinals and showers by requiring efficient fixtures that use less water per use than typical faucets and toilets. The IGC will use 45% less water than a typical building of its size and with the same amount of occupants. For example, all of the toilets are dual-flush, meaning that they have a flush that uses ½ of the tank, and a full flush to be used only when necessary.

Energy And Atmosphere Prerequisite 2

Minimum Energy Performance

This prerequisite ensures that at the very minimum the project design meets local energy and building codes of DOE (Department of Energy) standards. The IGC is designed to be far more efficient than a typical building. Please see E&A Credit 1.

Energy and Atmosphere Credit 1

Optimize Energy Performance

This credit offers up to 10 points for energy efficiency that is designed into the building from the beginning. The engineering firm VanZelm has calculated that the IGC will use 52.3% less energy than a building of the same size and type built to MN code minimums. The IGC was awarded all 10 points in this credit.

Indoor Environmental Quality Prerequisite 1

Minimum Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Performance

This prerequisite ensures that the building design meets the minimum acceptable levels of Indoor Air Quality as established by the ASHRAE 62.1-2004 standards. ASHRAE is the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Indoor Environmental Quality Prerequisite 2

Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control

This prerequisite minimizes the exposure of building occupants, indoor surfaces and ventilation systems to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS). The IGC prohibits all smoking inside of the building, as well as within 25 feet the building so that it cannot be sucked inside by mechanical systems or drift in through an open window.

Indoor Environmental Quality Credit 1

Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring

This credit requires that Carbon Dioxide and airflow sensors be installed in all densely occupied areas to ensure that ventilation levels are adequate. The IGC has installed these sensors in all appropriate areas. (Since humans emit carbon dioxide while breathing it is used as a measure of air quality. IE if the CO2 levels rise too high then there is not enough fresh air coming into the space).

Indoor Environmental Quality Credit 2

Increased Ventilation

This credit allows building owners to gain a point for increasing the fresh outdoor air levels in a building by 30% above the ASHRAE 62.1 – 2004 minimum standards. While increasing the amount of fresh air that can raise energy costs – because it has to be cooled or heated as it enters the building – it creates a healthier environment for building occupants. The 30% above ASHRAE standards is seen as a good balance between emphasizing energy efficiency and providing a healthy work environment.

Indoor Environmental Quality Credit 5

Indoor Chemical & Pollutant Source Control

This credit reduces the amount of indoor air pollution in the building. Although the IGC was designed with low levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and other common chemicals pollutants can still enter the building during operation. The IGC has installed door mats at all entrances to capture dust and chemicals that could be brought in on shoes, special ventilation in all areas such as janitorial closets that will contain chemicals and high level filters in the ventilation system to remove any pollutants that find their way in.

Indoor Environmental Quality Credit 6.1

Controllability of Systems – Lighting

This credit allows building occupants control over the light levels in their immediate workspaces. Since different people may prefer various light levels depending on the time of day or what task they are working on allowing them to have a degree of control create a more enjoyable workspace. All office areas in the IGC have individually controllable lights and a mix of overhead and task lighting.

Indoor Environmental Quality Credit 6.2

Controllability of Systems – Thermal Comfort

This credit allows building occupants to have control over the temperature in their immediate workspace. Since everyone is comfortable at slightly different temperatures allowing people a degree of control creates a more enjoyable workspace. The IGC has operable windows and adjustable thermostats in all of the workstation areas.

Indoor Environmental Quality Credit 7.1

Thermal Comfort – Design

This credit requires that the building Heating, Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC) systems are designed to ASHRAE 55-2004 standards, and that these systems monitor and respond to changes in air temperature, radiant temperature, air speed and relative humidity.

Indoor Environmental Quality 7.2

Thermal Comfort – Verification

This credit verifies that the building is operating in the manner designed and is providing a comfortable and healthy workspace by requiring that the building occupants respond to a survey about the thermal comfort of their workspace. This survey must be carried out between 6-18 months after the building opens. The architects have designed a survey and will send it to all building occupants in the future. If more than 20% of the building occupants express dissatisfaction with the building’s operation then a plan must be created to address these concerns.

Indoor Environmental Quality Credit 8.1

Daylighting and Views – Daylight 75% of Spaces

This credit provides a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces through the introduction of daylight into regularly occupied areas of the building. The IGC provides 90% of the interior space with natural lighting through the use of windows, reflective surfaces and a skylight in the IGC Court.

Indoor Environmental Quality 8.2

Daylighting and Views – Views for 90% of Spaces

This credit provides a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces through the introduction of outdoor views into regularly occupied areas of the building. The IGC provides a direct line of sight to the outdoors for 99% of commonly occupied workspaces.

Innovation & Design Process Credit 1.1

Green Touchscreen Building Tour

I&D credits reward a project for experimenting with new ideas that help further the intent of LEED in creating healthy, environmentally friendly buildings. This credit was awarded for the installation of the Green Touchscreen that you are using right now. This interactive display provides a tour of the IGC and real-time information about the energy use of the building.

Innovation & Design Process Credit 1.2

Exemplary Performance – Water Use Reduction 40%

I&D credits can reward a project for their optional efforts above and beyond the requirements of normal credit requirements. Water Efficiency Credits 3.1 & 3.1 reward a project for potable water reductions up to 30%. The IGC achieved an additional 15% reduction, which is recognized by this credit.

Innovation & Design Process Credit 1.4

Exemplary Performance – Optimize Energy Performance 45.5% I&D credits can reward a project for their optional efforts above and beyond the requirements of normal credit requirements. Energy and Atmosphere Credit 1 awards up to 10 points for a 41.5% reduction in energy usage compared to a structure built to local code minimums. The IGC achieved an additional 11.8% reduction for a total annual energy savings of 53.5%!