LEED Certification

Since it's inception, the ABC No Rio: New No Rio project has been sustainability oriented. Even before programming was addressed, conservation, efficiency, and awareness were paramount to the client. It was only determined later that the design concepts and client desires aligned perfectly with the LEED application.

Part of EWB-NY's role - besides providing engineering services - is to manage the LEED Certification process. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design "encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools." With several rating systems available, our project will pursue a New Construction certification.

LEED - is a third party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
LEED - gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance.
LEED - promotes a whole-building approach by recognizing five key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection & waste management, and indoor environmental quality.

Working Groups

Project Team Begins Preliminary Design Phase, Forms Working Groups

At our second meeting, we formed smaller Working Groups. The meeting was held on 10/2 at Phebe's Bar, and the informal vibe helped the group members to get acquainted and plan the next steps for the project.

Each Working Group is focused on a particular aspect of the project. Paul suggested we should aim to deliver preliminary calculations, drawings, and cost estimates by end of December. Working Groups can coordinate and share documents using our new project website: http://ABC.ewbNY.org

The Working Groups include:

+ Mechanical: Heating & Ventilation
+ Solar photovoltaic, lighting, and misc. electrical
+ Green roof
+ Water conservation: site/civil, storm water, & water efficiency
+ LEED Application
+ Structural (facade & roof)

Volunteers needed for:

+ Acoustic, noise control
+ Sprinkler
+ Insulation system

The team is off to a great start, and there is still room for more volunteers. Email me if you are interested in lending a hand. ABC@ewbNY.org The next project meeting will be announced by 10/15.

Project Kickoff Meeting

First project meeting held at office of Paul Castrucci

About a dozen people showed up yesterday for the first project meeting at Paul's office. The multi-disciplinary group included engineers, a landscape architect, a lawyer, a mechanical engineering student, and the architectural consultants.

We engaged in a lively discussion of some of the project's technical issues, focusing mostly on feasibility of the sustainable designs. We also had a chance to tour the existing ABC No Rio building.