Green Modular Check List
Basic green design elements
There are many sustainability and efficiency specifications that can be designed and built into a building. The following is a shortlist of basic green design elements of a few of the buildings we have completed.
- Formaldehyde-free, low VOC paints, and coatings reduce “off-gassing” that can result in dangerous pollution.
- White roofing (instead of black) reflects solar heat and reduces air conditioning loads to save energy.
- Recycled steel construction produces a structure that is strong, non-combustible, and mold resistant because it’s cellulose-free.
- Environmentally and ozone friendly Icynene, a water-based, sprayed floor insulation and rigid Polyis, made with recycled materials, provide a continuous blanket around the exterior walls and roof for superior thermal protection, energy savings, and mold resistance.
- Eco-friendly interior wall finishes include medium density fiberboard (MDF) made from recovered wood fiber, the use of which slows deforestation, and helps preserve natural habitats. Bamboo is used for the chair rails because it is a rapidly renewable resource that grows as much as four feet a day.
- Recycled content carpet tiles help reduce landfill waste.
- Improved daylighting: Sun tunnels improve and balance natural lighting; light shelves help bounce more natural light to the center of the room; occupancy sensors conserve energy by turning lights off when people come and go; lights are dimmed when natural light reaches proper levels.
- A vestibule safeguards the inside rooms from inclement weather, buffers outside noise, and helps retain heating and cooling levels. Walk-off mats scrape dirt and moisture from shoes, improving the life-cycle and maintenance of the interior floor finishes.
- Energy-efficient, 2-stage HVAC system reduces energy consumption and use R410A refrigerants that do not harm the ozone layer.
- Modular buildings themselves are the ultimate in sustainability in that they can be repurposed for reuse again and again.