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Green Wisdom LLC is using the
building it has
purchased as its office to operate the
L.O.R.A.X. Educational Project. The
Laboratory of Rehabilitation/Restoration and
Alternative Construction, (or L.O.R.A.X.)
will be operated by Green Wisdom LLC to test
the application of new and existing building
materials and technologies for the purpose
of preserving existing buildings, while
increasing their energy efficiency and
environmental sensitivity.
Located 1315 South Saint Francis Drive,
Highway 285, in the heart of Santa Fe, three
blocks from the South Capital RailRunner
terminal, the 50 year-old, un-insulated,
single-wall adobe typifies the construction
of thousands of buildings in the southwest.
The energy efficiency of most of these
buildings wasn’t of great concern when they
were built. They tend to be cold, drafty,
energy dependent. But, they represent the
historical legacy of the indigenous and
migrant peoples that settled this part of
the country, and are worthy of
rehabilitation, preservation, and reuse.
The City of Santa Fe’s adoption of the “2030
Challenge” necessitates the
conversion of all, new and existing
buildings in the City Different to a zero
energy standard by the year 2030. The City
of
Santa Fe Green Building Code
currently mandates a HERS (Home Energy
Rating) index (per Green Build NM standards)
of 70 to acquire building permits, and
Certificates of Occupancy for all projects
to be built in the City of Santa Fe.
This required
HERS index will decrease in
future years, culminating with a “Net Zero”
(0 HERS index) requirement for all building
permits and C.O.’s in 2030. Conscientious
design, contemporary construction techniques
and materials, and an understanding of
“Building Science” make the 70 index of
today easy to achieve with new construction.
Many architects, builders, and material
manufacturers are exploring building
techniques and materials that will make the
2030 challenge goals realizable in new
construction. But at this point in time,
there is no proven method or path to achieve
this in existing buildings.
The L.O.R.A.X. Facility creates the
opportunity to test different materials and
technologies as we define how to achieve
maximum energy efficiency, environment
sensitivity, and indoor air-quality in
existing buildings.
The ultimate goal of the L.O.R.A.X.
Educational Project is to develop
construction standards that enable
architects, builders, and the owners of
existing buildings to predict and achieve
the HERS index or
LEED score required by future
Green Building Code standards and ultimately
the “2030 Challenge”.
Green
Wisdom will study and document in report
form:
1) various building envelope improvements;
comparing cost and environmental sensitivity
with increased energy efficiency,
2) electro-mechanical systems
replacement/enhancement (space and water
heating); comparing cost to yield in the
form of energy efficiency and capacity,
3) various interior finish systems;
comparing cost to durability and indoor air
quality,
4) various exterior finish systems;
comparing cost to durability, environmental
sensitivity, and energy efficiency.
Green Wisdom LLC will offer its services and
L.O.R.A.X. facility for the testing of third
party materials and equipment as well. The
L.O.R.A.X. facility offers the opportunity
to test roof, wall, and raised floor
envelope improvements. Two spaces, one of
1,300sf and one of 350sf allow for
simultaneous testing of multiple envelope
improvements and electro-mechanical
systems. Excellent, permanent, unblocked
solar access allows us to test existing and
emerging, solar-thermal and photo-voltaic
technologies.
Data will be kept measuring daily energy
consumption, based upon known constants.
Studies and data collected by and for Green
Wisdom LLC will be compiled and made
available to the architects, builders, and
the public in general. Data collected under
contract for customers will be provided to
customers only, unless Green Wisdom LLC is
given permission to distribute such data.
Green Wisdom LLC will offer to partner with
the City of Santa Fe to assist in achieving
the goals of the “Sustainable
Santa Fe Plan”. The Plan
outlines the City’s program to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions to make our
community more resilient in the face of
global warming and increasing energy costs.
The goal of Green Wisdom LLC with the
L.O.R.A.X. Educational Project is to reduce
the amount of energy required to heat, cool,
provide hot water and power our existing
structures. If we can eliminate, or, at
least minimize the amount of greenhouse
gases generated by an existing building’s
fossil fuel consumption, we will have had a
greater effect on our environment than if we
were to change the standards for new
building construction.
The Sustainable Santa Fe Plan’s Education
and Outreach program details the need to
teach sustainability to the children,
community leaders, and concerned citizens of
Santa Fe. The L.O.R.A.X. facility can
provide the opportunity to see and learn how
to achieve the goals of the Sustainable
Santa Fe Plan, in both existing and new
construction “in hands-on fashion”. The
350sf section of the facility will allow for
the exposed study of single-wall adobe
construction in a classroom like environment
through the use of ‘truth windows and
walls”.
All reports generated and data collected
during testing of the L.O.R.A.X. facility
will be provided to City staff for their
analysis and use in further developing their
green building code. Power-point
presentations and photo studies can be
presented by Green Wisdom staff documenting
both rehabilitative and new, green
construction techniques. Green Wisdom LLC
will place a link on its web site to the
City of Santa Fe’s Plan, further
complimenting our common goals. We plan to
work with the City of Santa Fe by making the
L.O.R.A.X facility available for educational
programs, facility tours, and environmental
and material testing. We will act as a City
resource, for information on current and
developing green building technology.
Our culture, too often teaches us to throw
out rather than reuse. One of the victims
of this has been our architectural legacy.
We frequently build anew, or demolish and
rebuild when rehabilitation/remodel/and
reuse can provide us with a richer context
for the canvass of our lives.
Sustainability is about quality of life, and
guaranteeing it for the heirs of this
planet. Green Wisdom LLC’s L.O.R.A.X.
Educational Project and the City of Santa
Fe’s “Sustainable Santa Fe Plan” are about
developing and passing on these
values. |
