The Greening of St. Andrews
Greening St. Andrew’s
Something “Green” is happening at St. Andrew’s By-the-Lake Episcopal Church. When the term “green” is bandied about these days it is often difficult to know what is really green and what is simply the status quo being advertised in a new green wrapper. This summary describes the truly green aspects of the new St.Andrew’s By-the-Lake Episcopal Church remodeling project.
Efforts were made by the Building Committee and the Architect throughout the design process to retain as much of the existing structure as possible, to reduce the amount of construction waste generated during the project. Existing walls and finishes were not altered or replaced unless the alteration would significantly improve the usability or durability of the space. For this reason, a few of the existing spaces may still not be “ideal” for their use, but slight inconveniences were weighed against significant cost and material waste increases that could result from such minor modifications.
Thermal improvements to the building structure help reduce energy consumption and improve occupant comfort. Reducing energy use is considered a hallmark of green building. At St. Andrew’s, new energy efficient windows, insulation upgrades and improved air sealing increase the building durability and reduce energy use.
The mechanical and electrical systems are upgraded as an integral part of the remodeling. This included the elimination of one furnace and the relocation of another to reduce energy consumption and improve comfort. The sanctuary furnace ductwork has been reconfigured to improve air distribution. All new light fixtures were selected with the criteria that they accept fluorescent bulbs. The tank style water heater is replaced by an on-demand unit that is located closer to the
kitchen to significantly reduce the energy required for water heating.
Existing finishes were retained and salvaged where possible. In the reconfiguration of certain spaces, any salvageable items were retained for reuse in the new space. Reuse of materials diverts debris from the landfill and also avoids the energy consumed in the manufacture and transport of a new product (known as“embodied energy”).
Where finishes and materials did need to be replaced, the following are among the decisions made based upon their true green benefits.
Timbers: The timbers used by Woodland Builders and Design for the
construction of the entrance steeple were reclaimed wood made
available locally from the Duluth Timber Company.
Windows: All new windows are triple-pane, low-e, argon-filled Loewen windows with warm-edge spacers. The thermal performance of these windows exceeds code requirements by 40%. These new windows, which include the replacement of some aging existing windows, will
significantly reduce heat loss and air infiltration. Further, over 85% of
the Douglas fir wood used in all Loewen windows comes from forest
land that is certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).
Insulation: The cellulose insulation used in the new roof system is a natural
paper based product that is approximately 80% recycled content. The
cellulose is treated with a non-toxic borate fire retardant. The material
is recyclable and 100% reusable if alterations or repairs occur.
The R-50 roof insulation is 30% greater than required for commercial
construction in
energy consumption and costs over the lifetime of the building while
only adding marginally to the initial cost of the insulation.
Carpet: The InterfaceFlor carpet for the Sanctuary is manufactured using 42%- 50% post industrial recycled content in its fiber and 40% preconsumer recycled content in its backing. The modular carpet tile (50 cm x 50 cm) is preferable to broadloom carpet because if a section is damaged, it can be removed and replaced with a new tile without having to replace all of the carpet in the room. Further, the modular carpet tile system results in much less installation waste than a broadloom carpet.
Linoleum: The Marmoleum sheet good flooring manufactured by Forbo used in the kitchen and new toilet room is natural linoleum with jute back.
Natural linoleum requires no toxic chemicals in its manufacture, and
produces no toxic waste products, unlike vinyl alternatives. The
product is extremely durable as well; yet at the end of its useful life, it
is completely biodegradable.
natural product that is sustainably harvested. The finish on the floor
is a water-based acrylic that expels fewer VOCs (Volatile Organic
Compounds) to the air than solvent-based finishes. The floor can be
refinished and sanded, reducing future replacement costs and waste.
Paint: Low-VOC paints and clear finishes were used to reduce the
environmental impact of manufacturing the paints, and to improve
indoor air quality in the finished building by significantly reducing
new product off-gassing.
Wagner Zaun Architecture
218 733-0690
