Removing the mystery from going green

Sustainable building series starts in Sullivan County

By SANDY LONG

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — A series of discussions aimed at “demystifying” the green building process got underway last week at The Center for Discovery in Harris. Co-sponsored by the center and Sullivan Renaissance, the series aims to explore opportunities related to sustainability and green construction, by linking decision makers in Sullivan County’s construction industry with experts, practitioners and resources in this growing field.

The “Demystifying Green Building in Sullivan County” series targets policy makers, builders, suppliers, planners and citizens with three sessions offering examples of projects, samples of products and forums for exploring new ideas about sustainable building.

The Discovery Center is an especially appropriate location for the series given that its Discovery Health Center is the first healthcare building in the country to be registered through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The goals guiding its design included reducing operating and energy costs of the building, increasing its energy independence, preserving the integrity of the natural landscape and protecting the health of everyone at the center.

The first session on February 4, “Planning and Thinking Critically about your Construction Plans,” featured keynote speaker New York-based architect and author Robin Guenther, whose 25-year career has been devoted to the policy and practice of creating sustainable healing environments.

Guenther received the 2005 Center for Health Design Changemaker Award and is the architect behind the Discovery Health Center. She co-authored the “Green Guide for Health Care” and serves on the LEED for Healthcare Committee. Last fall, she released her new book, “Sustainable Healthcare Architecture.”

During her address, Guenther discussed the philosophy behind sustainable construction and the societal issues related to this. She said studies of industrial and institutional construction showed that the determination to make a building green was not as costly as other design and use decisions, typically adding only a percent or two to overall expenses. Health concerns associated with conventional construction and the economics of green building were also addressed. A conversation about the challenges and benefits of building green and a case study involving The Discovery Center’s green principles followed.

Following Guenther, Craig Kneeland, LEED AP, the senior project manager for Energy Efficiency Services, described programs and funding offered for green construction through New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Upcoming sessions will be held in February and March. On February 25 from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., “Getting it Done!” tackles the possibilities and pitfalls of green construction and will include first-hand accounts and displays of sample products. This session targets contractors, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, architects, supply houses and building suppliers.

The final discussion, “Building a Healthy Community,” is scheduled for March 10 from 8:00 a.m. to noon and is designed to explore green principles of sustainability as they relate to planning, zoning and code enforcement.

Breakfast will be served for both sessions by the center’s Thanksgiving Farm Table Chefs. The sessions are free of charge. For additional information or to make reservations call 845/707-8504.