J Thomas Construction just completed this two-bedroom, three-bath duplex located in a former textile factory in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood, the renovation of which was designed by Broshears Stancil Projects Architecture. Jonathan Thomas, JT, Stewart, the founder and owner of J Thomas Construction, shared with DesignCommotion his insight into simple ways anyone can go green, especially good advice for those of us who feel overwhelmed at the idea of learning all the codes and practices that a certified “green” project demands.

What defines green construction?

That it is a question with many layers of answers, so while we know globally there are different ways to think about the question, we are choosing to answer the question as it relates to New York City Residential Construction. The definition of green construction is essentially reducing the environmental impact of our buildings with design and construction techniques. In many of the older buildings in New York City that we work in, much of the “green” construction we do is stuff that wasn’t considered green several years ago but is certainly today. Things like adding insulation to walls and ceilings. Changing out or repairing deteriorated windows to increase the energy efficiency of the building, installing newer energy efficient appliances.

This can be taken further with using sustainable or post consumer products for insulation and throughout a construction project to lessen the carbon footprint of a building. There are some really great new products like Paper Stone which uses 100% post-consumer paper and resin to make counter tops that are just as durable as stone. Another example is zero voc paints, which have come a long way in recent years as well. The next step that we feel should be taken into consideration in any full-gut renovation or ground-up build is the design of the mechanical systems and fixtures. On a current project, the client has worked extensively with the architect to design a green roof and water recapture system for the outside plants and waste systems. They have also designed a solar system that will work with the new boiler to heat the home through radiant heat flooring.

How can one carry green construction beyond the project?

A great way to take green construction beyond your project is to donate things you may be either tearing out or not using to local construction recycling places. In New York we have Build it Green. It’s a great place to take left over materials like tile and old bath fixtures. We also donate kitchen cabinets from projects where the client has functional cabinetry that is simply out of date or is just not what they want aesthetically. They are great for basement or garage storage though, or just someone who needs function and not style.

What are some of the latest trends in green construction?

There is so much happening in green construction these days, it’s hard to say what is a trend. It seems like every day there is some new product. Something we are seeing is a real turn in the paint we are allowed to use in apartment buildings in the City. We are seeing more and more building management companies limiting the use of even latex paints and specifying that we use zero VOC paint. On a recent project we also used a great floor finish made of vegetable oils and pigments called Rubio Monocoat. It’s a great product that is said to hold up just as good as water- or oil-based polyurethane and is free of any harmful chemicals, though it does require some maintenance.

What materials are used for green construction?

Some materials are recycled, like Paper Stone and Vetrazzo, and some are just sustainable like using metal studs instead of wood. Then there are things like using plants, grass and other ground coverings to cover a roof top, which not only cools a building in the summer, but decreases the water runoff during rains which backs up the city’s waste systems.

What materials are used that are currently considered green that you do not agree with?

I can’t comment on specific products but I will say that any green product that isn’t built to last is just as bad as buying products bad for the environment.  Cheap slapped-together furniture that falls apart after a year isn’t good for the environment no matter how green it is. Quality products are just as important as what they are made of. The same can be said for a contractor or designer. A good contractor who will do a great job and build something that will last is environmentally better, not to mention cost saving in the long run, than a contractor who is just there to get in get paid and get out.

How can designers be greener?

I think designers can be greener by taking the opportunity of designing construction projects to actually be green. We see a lot of projects that are incredibly beautifully designed, but beyond new insulation and appliances there is not the first bit of green thought given. That being said, it’s a lot to design green. I think the designer has to look at every part of the design process with that mindset to do it right, and designers, rightfully so, look at aesthetics and functionality first.

I also think that green design needs to get lean toward a warmer feel too. A lot of the “green” design products and materials have a cold feel to them. Stone and wood give off the feeling of warmth. Concrete, glass and steel, while making long lasting and very often beautifully-deigned structures, don’t scream warmth.

Not only are Trend Wallpaper patterns inspired by nature, 26 of 64 of them are kinder to the environment with post-consumer recycled FEEL mosaics. Clockwise from top left, the patterns are: Fresh, Flourishing (detail), Grand (detail), Lively, Wild (detail), Pure. The Wallpaper collection starts at $23 a square foot and is designed in modules so that patterns can be replicated seamlessly. The tile can be installed on floors, walls and ceilings.

For green products, click here. For the Trend-USA site, click here. There’s a Wallpaper video here.

As Thomas mentioned above, homeowners are increasingly looking for healthy, environmentally-friendly paints that are free of harsh odors. There was a time when it would have been tough to convince people that a fresh coat of paint could be toxic, but it’s true. The volatile organic compound (VOC) in most paints can cause headaches and dizziness or even cancer.

Kelly-Moore Paint Company has introduced zero VOC and low odor Enviro-Coat. to accompany its Green Coat and eCoat, its recycled paint. The paints can be tinted to a wide variety of custom colors. Kelly-Moore’s new Enviro Coat and Green Coat have received the industry’s most rigorous and reputed certifications, including Green Wise and the Master Painters Institute’s (MPI’s) Green Performance Standard. These products also meet the Green Seal GS-11 VOC criteria for architectural coatings.

COVERINGS, ETC. SELLS GREEN AND IS GREEN

Coverings ETC is practicing what it preaches with a newly renovated showroom that is a LEED-CI registered project with the United States Green Build Council (USGBC) for commercial interiors. The build-out incorporated reuse, reclaim and recycle mandates during the restoration and renovation process.  New design elements incorporate skylights and large format window walls to flood the loft-like space with interior day lighting.

Some of the company’s green efforts include on-site recycling, energy efficient lighting, draught tolerant landscaping, and French drains for waste water management. Coverings is also renowned for recycled content materials, such as Bio-Glass™, a Cradle to Cradle-certified counter-top material.

Bio-Glass, above, is a 100%-recycled and 100%-recyclable material that is Cradle to Cradle Silver certified. It comes in six colors. Eco-Terr, an eco-friendly terrazzo with recycled content, below, is available in tiles and slabs.

Integrative design is the way to create truly green, high-performance, healthy buildings. According to Bill Reed, of Integrative Design Collaborative, “The shift from a fragmented worldview to a whole systems mental mode is the significant leap our culture must make – framing and understanding living system interrelationships in an integrated way.” The key to doing integrative design is “Everyone. Everything. Early.” Here are five tips for putting integrative design into action, taken from the new book, The Truth About Green Business (FT Press), by Gil Friend, noted sustainable business expert and CEO of Natural Logic Inc.

1. Kick off the integrative design process with a “design charette.”  This intensive, collaborative design session – with a full complement of stakeholders and every aspect of the project on the table – helps ensure that you work as a team, with full consideration of all relevant factors, right from the start. The charette is a good way to communicate and clarify green goals for the project and to turn your group of specialists into a true team with common goals. Your list of people to invite to the team should include architects, engineers, finance, operations team, and legal. The charette should generate a compelling, shared story to guide the design team and the client.

2. Assess the site and your building needs. Or more accurately, assess the needs of the people that will occupy the building. How will you use water, energy, living systems, and materials to meet those needs? (You’ll do some of this as preparation for the charette, and some during it.)

3. Set initial goals for your green building. But don’t limit yourself to a shopping list of features and technologies. Start with performance goals, including energy and water benchmarks, and let the lists follow, not drive, the process. Research other green building case studies for some inspiration. Think about how you can go beyond “doing less harm” to building something that actually enhances natural capital.

4. After the charette and buy-in from decision makers, the design team should discuss how it will approach the actual building process. Continual, active communications among the various specialists is key; effective communication helps make sure the building is properly calibrated for all systems.

5. Schedule frequent team workshops after the initial charette and early phases of work. A standard building has one workshop, and the integrative design process can have upward of five.

Herman Miller’s Aeron, left, and Embody, below, are two of the company’s products that have been certified by NSF International at level™ 2.

Iannone’s products (including the Mod Flower dresser, above, and Dandelion dresser, below) are made from FSC plywoods and formaldehyde free plywoods, locally sourced lumber from managed forests, and sustainable materials such as bamboo and sorghum board..

Xylem’s Ka (above, left) and Wave (above right) are carb compliant.

Wood from replenished sources, non-toxic glue, springs of recycled iron ore and foam of plant-based renewable raw materials are some of Robin Bruce’s green efforts. Upholstery items, such as the Nadine Loveseat, can be ordered in ninety different natural-fiber fabrics, including eight new certified organic cottons.

The Galleries at Turney, designed by the architectural firm, [merz]project architecture + interiors + urban design was chosen by the Host Committee of Greenbuild 2009 as a feature project during Greenbuild Tours Arizona. The conference will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 11-13, with a guided architectural tour to wrap up the week’s events on Saturday, November 14, 2009.

The Galleries at Turney is the first and only LEED-H (Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design) certified housing development in Arizona. Located in the Biltmore area of Phoenix, the contemporary multi-family community consists of eight 2,000-square-foot homes. The homes in the community will net considerable energy and water savings for its owners and have a considerable amount of sustainable exterior and interior finishes.

The Conference will also feature educational sessions, speakers, green building tours, special seminars, and networking events.

ITOKI Design's SP task chair (above), which receive the prestigious Best of NeoCon Innovation Award this year, is 96% recyclable, and BIFMA, EN and ISO 14001 certified.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is in the process of turning its headquarters into a green and carbon neutral building. The 180,000-square-foot building was originally designed by The Architect’s Collaborative and was first occupied in 1973.

In order to attain a Platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating, the AIA plans to build three ventilation shafts through the top four floors of the building to be used in conjunction with proposed operational windows, which will help cool the building using natural air flow.

The D.C. office of Studios architecture will partner with the AIA and DPR Construction, Inc. to complete the renovation. The initial goal is a 60 percent reduction in fossil fuel use by 2012 with carbon neutrality by 2030. The project is expected to start in early 2010.