— Indoor Environment

–HVAC systems and the building envelope should be designed to provide for the most optimal delivery and mixing of fresh air.

–Reduce the number of indoor contaminants by selecting paints, carpets, and other materials emit low level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or none at all.

–Areas within the building should be established for chemical-using operations (such as house cleaning and printing/copying).  These areas should have a separate outside exhaust or no air recirculation.

–Natural light and view opportunities should be maximized.

• Navigation

  • What is Green Building?
  • Goals + Guidelines
    • — Site Design and Planning
    • — Material and Product Selection
    • — Construction and Demolition Waste Management
    • — Energy and Atmosphere
    • –Water Management
    • — Indoor Environment
  • History
    • — Overview
    • — Timeline
  • Pricing
    • — Apartments
    • — Condos
  • LEED
  • Case Studies
    • — Forest House Apartments
    • — The Visionaire
  • Government Involvement
    • — Beneficial Policies
    • — Building codes
    • — Detriments: Zoning Laws

• Search

  Search for:

• Reference

  • 1. NYC Department of Sanitation
  • 2. Green Home NYC
  • 3. NYC Rent Guidelines Board
  • 4. Issues in Green Building and the Federal Response
  • 5. White Paper on Sustainability
  • 6. Environmental Protection Agency

• About this Project

  

  This project aims to inform and educate about green building in New York City. We introduce the formal definition of a green building and the goals and guidelines set forth by The Bureau of of Waste Prevention, Reuse, and Recycling of the NYC Department of Sanitation. LEED is also discussed as it is the foremost authority on rating green building effectiveness.

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  In order to attain a greater understanding of the topic at hand, we conducted case studies of two drastically different green buildings within New York City: The Visionaire and The Forest House Apartments. Each shows a contrasting side of green building pricing, but are prime examples of innovative green design.
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  The project also encompasses the government's role in green building. Its policies, building codes, zoning laws and tax breaks have helped shape green building, for better and for worse. We assert that in order for green building to continue to rise, the government must take an active role in encouraging its implementation.