Beinetti of SWBR speaks at NAIOP Green Development Seminar

On February 19, the NAIOP upstate New York chapter sponsored a Green Development Seminar. The topic was sustainable design and recognizing the value that sustainability provides clients, the economy and the environment. Our featured speaker was David Beinetti, AIA, LEED AP with SWBR Architects. Beinetti discussed with the chapter the prime elements that should be incorporated into green building. First he suggested selecting a site well suited to take advantage of mass transit. He also said to pick a site that you can retain much of the existing landscape and natural features. Select plants that have low water and pesticide needs and that require minimum trimming. Secondly, he discussed energy efficiency by using passive design strategies. These strategies include building shape and orientation, passive solar design and natural lighting. He says that most buildings can reach energy efficiency levels far beyond California Title 24 standards but most builders are only achieving 40% less energy than the Title 24 standards. The third element he discussed was material efficiency which included using materials with characteristics such as reused and recycled content, zero or low off gassing of harmful air emissions, zero or low toxicity, high recyclability, durability, longevity and local production. Using recycled materials helps develop markets for recycled materials that can be diverted from area landfill. The fourth topic was water efficiency and internal air quality for the building occupants. He suggested using designs that use recycled water for toilet flushing or a gray water system that recovers rainwater or other nonpotable water for site irrigation. He also emphasized choosing construction materials and interior finish products with zero or low emissions to improve indoor air quality. This would also apply to the cleaning and maintenance products which could emit toxic gasses, such as volatile organic compounds. Beinetti said his team of design professionals goal is to promote the education and awareness of sustainable design in their community and in their practice. Working collaboratively with the owner and the contractor on an integrated design process, SWBR will promote strategies that will contribute to everyone's well being and help preserve the environment for generations to come. The chapter thanks Beinetti for his enlightened and informative insights and also the event sponsors, the Chamberlain, D'Amanda, Oppenheimer & Greenfield Law Firm and Public Abstract Corporation.