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Research Greenhouses set nationwide example by Lane Greer Greenhouse Manager, Portland State University This article appeared in the Association of Education and Research Greenhouse Curators newsletter for Fall 2008. The Research Greenhouse at Portland State University is the first (and so far only) greenhouse in the country to have achieved LEED Silver status. Bully for us! To bring you up to speed, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) uses a Green Building Rating System to evaluate buildings for their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
You might ask yourself, “Why would a greenhouse apply for LEED certification?” To be honest, because we had to. Oregon University System policy states that any new building or major remodel constructed with state money and costing over $1 million must apply for LEED certification. Oregon’s SEED (State Energy Efficient Design) system requires that state-funded buildings also exceed state energy codes by 20 percent. But, the greenhouse’s construction team wasn’t in this alone: one of the major responsibilities of PSU’s Sustainability Office is to help with green building efforts on campus. LEEDing The key to our success was having a construction and design team that met weekly. Two members of the Sustainability Office were involved, as well as Facilities and Planning, the Biology Department, the contracted architect, and the construction company. The lion’s share of our LEED points (11) was granted through sustainable site efforts, including pollution prevention during construction, alternative transportation options, and stormwater control. Additionally, sixty percent of construction waste was recycled rather than being sent to a landfill. Indoor environmental quality was another important set of criteria; we earned nine points in this category by using low-emitting paints and adhesives, and by having large windows that supply natural light and allow views. The design of the houses themselves, the headhouse, and stormwater planters were components in achieving success. We found that having a smaller greenhouse made it easier to achieve some LEED points. For instance, 55 percent of the wood used in the building was certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, but very little wood was used in the project. Eleven percent of the materials used during construction contained recycled content, and 10 percent of the materials came from local sources. All the windows in the headhouse are what I would consider over-sized and admit enough light that we often don’t need fluorescent lights. Another energy-saving feature: bathroom and office lights are triggered by occupancy motion sensors. My office is “naturally ventilated”, meaning that there’s no air conditioning. While I bemoan this fact on Portland’s few hot days, it’s usually comfortable with a fan. Office heat is supplied by a small wall heater that is on only during the times the office is occupied (I work part-time). Julia Person, the Sustainability Office Graduate Assistant, was inventive with the innovation points, which are awarded based on originality and take individual design into account. She realized that we would use 40 percent less water than was typical due to the low-flow fixtures and dual-flush toilet. In fact, we received six points for water efficiency measures. We also achceived points for landscaping, which consists of large planters containing native plants that are watered only by rainfall and stormwater runoff from the roof, rather than permanent irrigation systems. The stormwater flows through the planters, allowing pollutants to be filtered out. Since PSU is an urban campus, we were able to obtain four points by emphasizing the alternative transportation options in the area (we have multiple bus lines, a streetcar stop, and Zipcar parking two blocks away). Also, we have two bike racks and a shower to accommodate cyclists, and no new parking spaces were added. However, there is a loading zone, and the short ramp leading to it is constructed with permeable pavers, which reduces stormwater runoff. We were awarded one point for construction on a brownfield – land that needed to be cleaned up in order for it to be used again. In our situation, there were three underground oil tanks that had to be remediated before construction could begin. Interestingly, this was a very expensive and physically challenging aspect of the construction, yet we received only one LEED point for it. Where did we lose points? Well, as with any greenhouse, our roof contributes to a heat island effect. According to the LEED report, “In general this seems to be a case where a given credit is likely just not applicable to the building type.” We are also only optimizing energy performance to the minimum prerequisite level with 36 percent, which will not come as a shock to other greenhouse managers. We were denied a point for energy performance, since polycarbonate is not optimal. However, this glazing is more efficient (and cheaper) than glass. To meet SEED requirements, we used higher R-factor insulation in the headhouse, and a more efficient boiler, but we received no LEED points for this. Our greenhouse is on the self-guided Sustainability Tour of the PSU campus (http://www.pdx.edu/media/s/u/sus_tour.pdf), and we often have tours inside the greenhouse, as well. (Yeah, we’re begging for money.) Following If you are considering applying for LEED certification, our tips are to focus on the materials. Look for recycled content whenever possible. In paint, adhesives, and other applied products, go for low or no volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. Julia believes it is crucial to have at least one LEED Accredited Professional (AP) on the design team participating in the early stages of project planning. She also noted that nagging the project team was very effective. In our case, members of the Sustainability Office emphasized maximizing points to achieve LEED Silver, and provided research on suitable construction materials. They used three primary resources: 1) the EPA’s online list of Procurement Standards that provides information on the percentage of recycled materials each product should contain, 2) the City of Portland’s Office of Sustainable Development, which provided guidance and a manual for construction projects, and 3) the USGBC’s reference guide. But the whole team was on board to make this a green house in more ways than one, from design to enforcement to funding. Although this was their first LEED building AND their first greenhouse, our construction company attended all the weekly meetings and were responsible for obtaining all the documents needed to file for LEED certification. These documents included receipts for all recycled, local, and environmentally-safe materials, from the bamboo fencing around the patio area to paint. We applied to LEED as new construction, but the same rating system can be used for major renovations. Existing buildings use a different rating system. All of the LEED document submission can occur online. As you can see, the materials, documents, and procedures needed to achieve LEED status doesn’t come cheap. But with commitment and a willingness to learn new techniques, it can be done.
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Campus Infrastructure, Grounds & Planning 
