GREEN BUILDINGS

DESKTOP STUDY
ALEKYA MUSUNURU
ROLL NO : 007
 Maison du dévelopement durable
Montreal, (Centre for Sustainable
Development)
• When the founding members of the Maison du développement durable decided to
create a unique, state-of-the-art space that exemplified sustainability and
environmental education, they were hoping to create a new space that would inspire
the community.
• After a great deal of carefully planned development and collaboration with community
members, organizations, governments and industry experts from every discipline – the
result is one that truly does inspire.
• It was designed to optimize the relationship between the well-being of users and the
environmental impacts, with particular attention to air quality, choice of materials, and
the environmental management of energy, water and waste.
• In doing so, the project team not only created an impressive structure, but one that
earned the distinction of being one of the first commercial buildings to certify LEED
Platinum for New Construction in the downtown core of a Canadian city.
• It is also one of the most efficient buildings in terms of energy amongst offices in
Quebec, with a green roof, incredibly efficient lighting, an outer envelope that includes
windows with triple glass and films of low emissivity, and heating and cooling that
comes from 28 geothermal wells.
• The client is a community organization that had no previous
construction experience.
• The nine members who made up this organization, therefore, created a
charter that defined the objectives for the building, together with a
budget of only $380/sf.
• With a mandate to create a demonstration facility that would educate
the public and decision makers in the real estate industry about
sustainable building practice, the design team had to optimize energy
performance, daylighting, water conservation, natural ventilation and
other environmental objectives, while maximizing rentable area and
respecting the height, site coverage and other zoning constraints.
• Project design and development followed a multi-stage IDP model and
took place over a period of three years. Numerous meetings and
feedback from participants allowed for the fine-tuning of solutions, and
broadened the horizons of everyone involved. Meeting the
sustainability goals within the very limited budget required close
collaboration with the client, the various engineers and other
consultants, together with researchers such as Hydro-Québec, École de
Technologie Supérieure, and the Université de Montréal.
The IDP sessions were recorded in both audio and video to help
facilitate broader input from the community and stakeholder groups.
This IDP process was fundamental to the success of the project, and its
achievement of Quebec’s first LEED NC Platinum certification.
 Decision to go infill
• The decision to locate the project downtown – rather than in the
outskirts – enabled the construction site to be remediated while
densifying the city and supporting the use of alternative transportation.
• It also led to other more radical decisions; such as not including any
parking beneath the building or on the site - instead providing interior
bike storage and showers. The creation of a park adjacent to the building
planted with indigenous species and 30 mature trees, is an equally
dramatic move that provides a rare and welcome natural oasis in the
heart of downtown.
• The intent of these gestures was to demonstrate the viability of
progressive, environmentally-responsible strategies that would reduce
the carbon footprint of the building and its occupants, and at the same
time promote community engagement and interaction.
• The building also includes a green roof and a living wall within the linear
atrium space. The former assists in managing storm water runoff; the
latter helps purify the air. Water captured on the green roof is filtered
then used for flushing toilets, and any excess water is diverted to the
adjacent detention pond before being returned to the city storm water
system
• Views and natural lighting were maximized throughout the building. Users control
their environment with automated and manual blinds. Artificial light is optimized
through the use of direct LED and indirect lighting technology. Each type was
selected according to the use of the space and the comfort of occupants,
depending on the specific spectrum of light. Motion and daylight sensors allow for
efficient control of the lighting.
• Air flow management was approached with the same focus on efficiency and low
energy costs. A system of window openings is located on the ground and fifth floor
of the atrium. Once activated, they allow the circulation of air, and passively
eliminate overheating of the five-storey curtain wall. As a result, the atrium
requires minimal air conditioning to control temperatures.
• Moreover, a part of the air from the offices is filtered and humidified through the
living wall. This powerful “bio-filter” is capable of eliminating 30 to 90% of VOC
emissions from the interior air. Air distribution through floor diffusers offer
individual occupant control as well as maximum flexibility in room layout. The
choice of an underfloor system improves efficiency and reduces the volume of air
that needs to be circulated.
• This is just one of the many strategies that combine to make MDD 69% more
energy efficient. Other strategies include a high-performance building envelope
with a 34% glazed surface area, and low-emissivity triple-glazed windows, ground-
source heat from 28 geothermal wells beneath the building, heat recovery from
equipment and exhaust air; high-efficiency condensing boilers, and air exchange
control using a CO2 sensor
 Additional project strategies and
results
• All general purpose concrete that was used includes fly ash waste from coal-fired power
plants; fly ash, the solid residue derived from incineration processes, is used to offset
Portland cement in concrete. A plate of experimental concrete, including a significant
amount of recycled glass, is also being tested.
• The building is covered with an extensive green roof with an area of over 800m2. The
vegetation is composed of at least 10 varieties of plants which reduces the heat island
effect, aids energy consumption and contributes to the building's sewage and
wastewater.
• The premise for the construction of this building was the minimal use of materials
(polished concrete, no acoustic tiles or gypsum on the columns, exposed concrete on
walls). Eighty-seven ecological materials were catalogued using ATHENA software that
enables designers and builders to assess and compare their environmental impacts.
• The architectural walkway and staircase in the atrium were created with driftwood,
retrieved from Lake Huron's Georgian Bay. Experimental products were also used, such
as glass powder as an additive to cement, and kitchen counters made of 93 per cent
recycled glass.
• At least 50 per cent of all new wood used in the building comes from FSC certified
forests; and 15 per cent of all materials are recycled products. For example, the gypsum
board that was used is made of 99 per cent recycled materials and the material used for
the insulation is 70 per cent recycled content. There are five counters in the building's
kitchenettes and each is made up of 93 per cent recycled glass.
 Minimal use of materials
• The premise for the construction of this building was the minimal use of materials
[polished concrete, no acoustic tiles or gypsum on the columns, exposed concrete on
walls]. Eighty-seven ecological materials were catalogued using ATHENA software that
enables designers and builders to assess and compare their environmental impacts.
• To minimize the impact of environmental pollutants on the health of the occupants, all
paint, adhesives, sealants, composite wood and carpets used had a low to zero rate of
volatile organic compounds and contained no urea formaldehyde. The architectural
walkway and staircase in the atrium were created with driftwood, retrieved from Lake
Huron’s Georgian Bay. Experimental products were also used, such as glass powder as
an additive to cement, and kitchen counters made of 93% recycled glass.
• By proposing a Platinum LEED-certified environmental construction project in the
downtown case, the promoters of the Maison du développement durable made a very
strong statement concerning respect for the built environment. Conceived and
constructed to serve as an educational tool, the success of the MDD will ultimately be
measured both quantitatively - in the performance of its environmental systems, and
qualitatively - in the response of its occupants and in the influence it exerts on others
through its educational components and outreach programs.
• To date these have included 150 guided visits of the building, a dozen conference
presentations and more than 1,000 media appearances in five countries. For the casual
visitor the MDD also offers self-guided tours [by way of touch screens that monitor and
explain real time building performance], and a library of more than 100
environmentally-friendly materials
• Materials
• Structure: Steel and concrete construction with curtain walls
• Interior: high-density Izodal insulation by Fransyl
• Vegetated roof: by Hydrotech, metal support and accesories
by Bailey Metal Products
• Interior: low-VOC interior paint, carpet tile by Interface on raised
floor system, interior living wall
• Project Performance
• Energy intensity [building and process energy] = 700MJ/m2/year
• Energy intensity reduction relative to reference building under
MNECB = 48.1%
• Energy cost reduction = 64%
• Potable water consumption from municipal sources 4,588
L/occupant/year
• Potable water consumption reduction relative to reference
building = 56%
• Regional materials [800km radius] by value = 35,54%
• Reclaimed and recycled materials by value = 18.53%
• Construction waste recycled = 90.3%