Sustainable Initiatives in our Project

Our project architects, Carnevale and Eustis, are confident that our new buildings would be eligible for a New Construction LEED v2009 (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System) Silver designation.
Here’s why:

Sustainable Sites

Our project is eligible for eleven points:

• The site is a fifty-six acre working farm with an agricultural easement. Two existing residences, along with a barn, springhouse, milk house, and shed will be maintained.
• More than forty-five of the fifty-six acres will remain undeveloped.
• Residents share cars and use bicycles for transportation. Residents will learn and work on the farm, creating a live/work model of sustainability.
• The project received a waiver from East Vincent Township to create less parking than mandated in zoning ordinances.
• The project received a waiver from East Vincent Township for site lighting. The reduced number of fixtures will meet “dark sky” requirements.
• The pre-finished metal roofs on the buildings will have an SRI of 29 or greater.
• Storm water runoff will be managed by Best Management Practices (BMPs) in accordance with the PA Department of Environmental Protection:
• Rain gardens will reduce the volume of runoff through infiltration and improve water quality by implementing a soil-compost mixture in the bottom of the garden and utilizing native plant species.
  • Storm water generated by roofs will be collected in cisterns and re-used as “grey water” for flushing toilets or watering plants and crops.
  • Gravel sidewalks and cobblestone driveways will reduce the amount of impervious cover at the site.
  • Areas disturbed during construction will be reestablished as meadow to match pre-development conditions.
  • Riparian Enhancement will incorporate native plantings throughout the farm, particularly along the south and west borders abutting French Creek.

Water Efficiency

Our project is eligible for all ten points:

• “Grey water” from rain water collection cisterns will be used to flush toilets and water plants and crops.
• The landscape design uses native plants. No potable water will be used for irrigation.
• The specified plumbing fixtures are low-flow. In addition, where appropriate automatic flush valves and faucet sensors have been specified.

Energy and Atmosphere

Our project is eligible for fourteen points:

• Based on final construction costs, fundamental commissioning will be considered. The school wishes to undertake it, but we need to consider overall costs and the effects on our construction budget.
• Plans call for the installation of 15KW of photovoltaic roof panels on the existing barn. Carnevale and Eustis estimates the panels will provide the required 7% renewable energy.
• To optimize energy performance and achieve a projected 30% improvement in energy performance, these strategies have been implemented in the design:
  • The exterior wall design provides a 14% increased wall cavity for additional insulation.
  • Foundation walls will consist of ICF (insulated concrete forms) selected for their increased R-value.
  • All light fixtures will incorporate CFL or fluorescent lamps. According to energystar.gov, if every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes. That would prevent the release of greenhouse gas emissions equal to that of about 800,000 cars.
  • Where possible, Energy Star appliances have been designated.
  • Camphill communities prefer to air dry wet garments. Drying rooms have been provided in both buildings to limit the use of mechanical dryers.
  • Both buildings will incorporate geothermal heating and cooling systems, together with operable windows and skylights for natural ventilation, minimizing energy use in heating and cooling.

Indoor Environmental Quality

Our project is eligible for ten points:

• Mechanical design includes CO2 and airflow measurement equipment to correct indoor air quality problems.
• The building specifications require low-emitting materials, including adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, flooring, and composite wood products.
• A walk-off mat at the main entrance of the Education and Resource Center will reduce the amount of outdoor pollutants entering the building.
• The residential building has a large boot room where residents will remove soiled clothing and shoes before occupying the remainder of the home.
• The artificial lighting design enables individual control of lights and switching options to maximize user needs with low energy use.
• The HVAC design has multiple zones and local diffusers to permit occupant control. In addition, every occupiable space has ventilating windows or skylights.
• To maximize interior day lighting, the building design provides day lighting in at least 75% of regularly occupied spaces through the use of windows, skylights, and tubular skylights.
• The specified windows have high performance glazing.
• Automatic photocell-base controls have been specified in the outdoor lighting systems.

Regional Priority Credits

Our project is eligible for at least one point:

• Beaver Farm is a working and sustainable farm where the residents grow much of their own food and practice biodynamic farming.

Innovation and Design Process

Our project is eligible for three points:

• The architects and mechanical engineer associated with our project all are LEED accredited.
• Carnevale and Eustis believe the project could earn one point for exemplary performance under day light and views with the use of skylights and tubular skylights.
• An additional point could be garnered for exemplary performance in the design of the VAV system, which will be extraordinarily quiet.

Materials and Resources

Our project is eligible for two points:

• Approximately 10% of the building materials will qualify as regional materials.
• The project requires the use of certified wood.
• Camphill Special School will negotiate with the general contractor to divert construction waste from landfills (potentially earning one or two additional points in materials and resources).