Sustainability Consulting
LEED Services
Building Commissioning
Energy Consulting
December 7, 2009
Barbara A.W. Clarke, AIA, LEED AP
Drexel University Planning, Design and Construction
3201 Arch Street, Suite 320
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Regarding:
Green Globes Stage One Assessment for New Construction
Millennium Hall
Drexel University
34th Street and Race Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Dear Ms. Clarke:
Thank you for the opportunity to conduct a third-party, Green Globes Stage I Assessment of the new
Millennium Hall project at Drexel University.
The Millennium Hall is a residence hall/dormitory, a 17-story concrete frame building with curtain wall
façade. It was designed by EM Architecture of Philadelphia, PA. The civil engineers were Pennoni
Associates of King of Prussia, PA, and the MEP engineers were AKF Engineers of Philadelphia.
The documents we reviewed for this Assessment included the following:
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·
·
·
·
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Architecture drawings A 0.00 through A 8.00, (63) drawings, dated 08-01-08, issued as
“Construction Documents.”
Civil drawings C0201 through C8001, (9) drawings, dated 08-01-08, issued as “Construction
Documents.”
Mechanical drawings H-1.0 through H-6.3, (21) drawings, dated 08-01-08, issued as
“Construction Documents.”
Electrical drawings E-1.0 through E-8.1, (27) drawings, dated 08-01-08, issued as “Construction
Documents.”
Plumbing drawings P-1.0 through P-5.0, (15) drawings, dated 08-01-08, issued as “Construction
Documents.”
Project Manual (Specifications) dated 08-01-08
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New Construction Stage I Assessment
Overall, the building appears to have integrated green design features as a result of good design
practices. Our preliminary assessment is that you should receive a Two (2) Green Globes Rating if you
continue through a Phase II Site Assessment and provide the documentation necessary to verify some of
the items listed within the Stage I Assessment.
Stage I of a New Construction (NC) Assessment is a review of documentation of the design of the facility
and includes but is not limited to: construction documents, landscape designs, water and energy
analysis, life cycle cost documentation, commissioning reports, and other design considerations.
In the case of the Millennium Hall, the design of the project as shown in the construction documents
was reviewed based upon your online application submitted to the Green Globes web site. Online
information entered for the Construction Document Stage was used for the Stage I Assessment of the
design.
The Stage I Assessment indicates whether the building appears to be on target to achieving a certified
rating. It also indicates any additional information needed prior to or at the time of Stage II of the thirdparty assessment. Normally after construction, the Stage II assessment can be completed. It includes an
onsite walk through, review of additional documentation that may have been missing in the Stage I
Assessment or not available until the construction phase of the project, and interview of key team
members. For more information regarding the Stage II Assessment, please consult the pre-assessment
checklist on the Green Building Initiative website (www.thegbi.org) accessed through your project login.
The online application for Millennium Hall listed the Overall Rating at a 56% (539 points scored out of
965 available). However we found areas where points were applied for but could not be verified in the
Construction Documents. There are (85) points in this category, which, if left unverified could lower the
building rating to One (1) Green Globe.
We also found areas where points are verifiable but not applied for in the application. There are (47)
points in this category.
Assuming all points currently claimed can be verified during the Stage II Assessment, and verifiable
points are applied for, your present score could increase to 61% (586 points scored out of 965 available).
A Two Green Globes Rating requires a minimum compliance level of 55% which means you are likely to
achieve the Two Green Globes Rating. This projected rating assumes that all points applied for are
verified at the Stage II Assessment.
Following is a Section-by-Section discussion of the points verifiable but not applied for as well as points
which were applied for but could not be verified in the Construction Documents Stage. Only the points
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which need either to be further defined or to be applied for are discussed. If the point is not mentioned
below, the Stage One Assessment essentially agrees with the answers provided by the design team to
the various questions.
Section
Project
Management
Project
Management
Site
Site
Question
Commissioning
requirements are
included in the
Construction
Documentation.
A Commissioning
Plan has been
developed.
Answer
No
Will at least 35%
of impervious
surfaces be
shaded preferably with
trees, shrubs or
vines?
Do the
construction
documents specify
measures to
reduce heat buildup on the roof,
either by using
high-albedo
roofing materials
(reflectance of at
least 0.65 and
emissivity of at
least 0.9) for a
minimum of 75%
of the roof
surface, or by
constructing a
green roof, or by a
combination of
both high-albedo
materials and
green roof?
Yes
No
Yes – by a
combination of
high albedo
materials and
green roof
Comment
This could add (3)
points to your
evaluation score if
the building is
commissioned.
This could add (6)
points to your
evaluation score if
the building is
commissioned.
There was no
landscaping plan
in the CD’s. This
could deduct (7)
points from your
evaluation score.
Action Item
Engage a
commissioning
agent to
commission the
building.
Engage a
commissioning
agent to
commission the
building.
Submit the
landscaping plans
for review.
A high-albedo roof
was specified but
the reflectance
and emissivity
requirements
were missing from
the specification.
This could deduct
(7) points from
your evaluation
score.
Submit
manufacturer’s
documentation or
an approved
submittal for the
roofing material
that was actually
installed, showing
a reflectance of at
least 0.65 and
emissivity of at
least 0.9, for
review.
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Section
Site
Energy
Energy
Energy
Question
Does the
landscape plan
create/preserve
natural core and
corridors and/or
specify a
naturalized
landscape using
native trees,
shrubs and ground
cover, with
minimal lawn?
Do the
construction
documents
indicate window
glazing with a low
U factor and
window
treatments that
enhance interior
thermal comfort?
Indicate the
window U value:
Answer
Yes
Comment
There was no
landscaping plan
in the CD’s. This
could deduct (20)
points from your
evaluation score.
Action Item
Submit the
landscaping plans
for review.
Yes
Specification
section 084113,
page 3, paragraph
1.3.J calls for a Uvalue of 0.57.
Action says 0.15.
This could deduct
(2) points from
your evaluation
score.
Specification
section 084113,
page 3, paragraph
1.3.J calls for a Uvalue of 0.57. This
could deduct (8)
points from your
evaluation score.
Submit an
approved
submittal for the
window glazing
that was actually
installed,
indicating a U
factor of 0.15, for
review.
Will major energy
uses be submetered?
Yes
0.15
Electrical drawing
E-6.0 indicates a
meter at Sub
Station MDP,
upstream of any
loads. No submeters are
indicated. This
could deduct (5)
points from your
evaluation score.
Submit an
approved
submittal for the
window glazing
that was actually
installed,
indicating a U
factor of 0.15, for
review.
Submit an
approved
submittal for the
BAS that was
actually installed,
indicating that
sub-meters are in
use and reporting
data, for review.
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Section
Energy
Question
List the major
energy uses that
will be submetered:
Answer
BAS system tracks
energy use.
Energy
Is the building's
energy efficiency
increased through
the use of the
high-efficiency
chillers?
Is the building's
energy efficiency
increased through
the use of variable
speed drives?
Yes
Is there water submetering for highwater usage
operations or
occupancies?
No
Energy
Water
No
Comment
The BAS specs do
not appear to
require that
electrical or water
meters will be
monitored. This
could deduct (5)
points from your
evaluation score.
There is no chilled
water system in
the project. This
will deduct (6)
points from your
evaluation score.
VFD’s are featured
on several pumps
and fans in the
project. This will
add (6) points to
your evaluation
score.
Water metering is
called for at the
radiant floor and
heat pump loops,
but is not required
to be read by the
BAS. This could
add (2) points to
your evaluation
score.
Action Item
Submit an
approved
submittal for the
BAS that was
actually installed,
indicating that
sub-meters are in
use and reporting
data, for review.
Revise answer to
“no.”
Revise answer to
“yes.”
Revise answer to
“yes.”
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Section
Water
Emissions
Emissions
Question
Does the design
include other
water-saving
appliances (For
example low-flow
kitchen faucets,
low water
consumption
domestic and
commercial
dishwashers (8
gallons) and water
efficient washing
machines).
Are low NOx
boilers and
furnaces
specified?
Answer
Yes
Comment
Low-flow kitchen
faucets are not
specified.
Appliances are not
specified. This
could deduct (4)
points from your
evaluation score.
Action Item
Submit an
approved
submittal for the
kitchen faucets
and appliances
that were actually
installed,
indicating that all
faucets are low
flow and all waterusing appliances
are Energy Star
rated, for review.
Yes
The drawings and
specifications do
not require low
NOx emissions for
the boilers. This
could deduct (10)
points from your
evaluation score.
Do the
construction
documents
indicate that the
building’s air
conditioning
system complies
with the
requirements of
ASHRAE 15-1994?
No
ASHRAE 15 is
referenced
throughout the
specifications.
This point should
be taken. This will
add (5) points to
your evaluation
score.
Submit an
approved
submittal for the
boilers that were
actually installed,
indicating that
they are low NOx
emitters, for
review.
Revise answer.
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Section
Emissions
Question
Are there
measures to
intercept and/or
treat
contaminated
water to prevent
contaminants
from entering
sewers or
waterways?
Answer
Yes
Emissions
Briefly describe
measures:
Infiltration system
Emissions
In the case of a
retro-fit, do all
PCBs present in
the building meet
applicable
regulatory
requirements?
Will sufficient
ventilation be
provided to obtain
acceptable IAQ in
accordance with
ANSI/ASHRAE
62.1-2004?
Yes
Indoor
Environment
No
Comment
There appears to
be a Lint Trap
indicated on
drawing P-3.0A,
but no hair, grease
or oil interceptors
appear to be
indicated for the
remainder of the
system. This could
deduct (3) points
from your
evaluation score.
Unclear as to what
this referring to.
This could deduct
(2) points from
your evaluation
score.
This is a new
building project,
not a retro-fit
project. This will
deduct (1) point
from your
evaluation score.
The ventilation
system appears to
exceed the
requirements of
ANSI/ASHRAE
62.1-2004. This
could add (10)
points to your
evaluation score.
Action Item
Revise answer, or
demonstrate how
the system is
preventing
contaminants
from entering the
sewers.
Revise answer to
refer to a specific
piece of
equipment
identified on the
plans.
Revise answer to
“N/A.”
Revisit the
ventilation
calculation and
contrast it with
the requirements
of ANSI/ASHRAE
62.1-2004. Provide
results at the
Stage II
Assessment.
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Section
Indoor
Environment
Question
Describe the
measures to
prevent mold:
Answer
Anti-microbial
carpet
Indoor
Environment
Does the building
design conform to
the ASHRAE 552004 for thermal
comfort?
No
Comment
The project
specifications do
not appear to
require antimicrobial carpet
treatment. This
could deduct (5)
points from your
evaluation score.
Assuming this
system does not
have comfort
problems, it
should easily
conform to
ASHRAE 55-2004.
This should add
(20) points to your
evaluation score.
Action Item
Provide an
approved
submittal of the
carpet tiles to
substantiate the
answer.
Revise answer to
“yes.”
You are well on the way to having a Green Globes certified building. If all of the design parameters
verified during this Stage I Assessment are installed and in place at the end of construction, after the
Stage II Assessment you should receive a Two Green Globe rating for this Residence Hall.
Congratulations.
We hope to have the opportunity to meet you on site for a Stage II Assessment. During that Assessment,
please have available for review, the Action Items listed in the above table. Attached please find a copy
of the Green Globes report generated by the Web site based upon your answers to the online survey
application. If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to
contact me at (404) 789-2716. We look forward to working with you through the finalization of the
Green Globes rating process.
Sincerely,
Michael K. O’Brien, PE, LEED AP
cc: Kristi Martin, The Green Building Initiative
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