Thompson Young Design commits to the AIA 2030 Challenge

Thompson Young Design is proud to have committed to the AIA 2030 Challenge. Below find the explanation of what that means and a link at the bottom showing other firms that have also made this commitment.

The Commitment

Identify Sustainability Team
Within two months of signing the commitment the firm will establish a team or leader to guide the development of the firm’s sustainability efforts and implementation of its commitment plan.

Immediate Operational Actions
Within six months of signing the commitment, the firm will implement a minimum of four operational action items from the list provided. These actions will be undertaken while the long-term sustainability plan is in development.

Sustainability Action Plan
Within one year of signing the commitment, the firm must develop a long range sustainability action plan that aligns with the stated 2030 benchmarks for achieving carbon neutrality. While action plans will differ from firm to firm, a successful sustainable action plan should address the following aspects:

Develop Sustainable Design Goals
Set quantifiable design goals for every project regardless of whether required by the client.

• Design projects to reduce the amount of fossil-fuel based energy used to align with 2030 goals
• Reduce the amount of potable water used in all projects
• Improve indoor air quality (IAQ) through the elimination of hazardous materials used in all projects
• Have every project undergo a green building evaluation whether the project is seeking certification or not
• Document all projects in case study format with consistent criteria to help measure performance and progress

Institute Staff Training and Education

• Ensure staff is invested in the firm’s sustainable design goals and can contribute to the success.
• Determine a minimum amount of staff training and education on sustainable design issues
• Provide support for staff to attend conferences and education programs focusing on sustainable design programs
• Implement programs that recognize individual and team sustainable design contributions

Evaluate the Design Process
Engage in a design process that is multidisciplinary, collaborative, goal-oriented, and metric driven:

• Use an integrated design process that promotes early involvement of stakeholders and engages in collaborative design process
• Use life-cycle cost analysis and consider the life-cycle effects of the materials and systems used in a project
• Develop metrics for sustainable design goals at the outset of the project. Green building rating systems such as LEED or Green Globes can be a useful tool
• Develop consistent measurement standards for building and site design performance
• Create feedback procedures to gather information about building performance that include things such as meters, sensors, controls, and post-occupancy evaluations

Sustainable Operations
Develop a sustainable operations plan that sets goals aimed at reducing the negative impact of firm operations related to:

• Office Energy Use
• Waste Reduction and Supplies
• Transportation
• Meetings

Develop a Business Strategy
Develop a business strategy that communicates why a sustainable design approach is important and why the firm is qualified:

• Put together information that supports the value of the firm’s sustainable design services (include information on projects costs, operating costs, and occupant satisfaction)
• Develop marketing materials that highlight the sustainable design aspects of the firm: define the design philosophy; list accredited staff; highlight benefits of sustainable design, etc…
• Make your sustainable actions and operations available to clients

Report Progress
Make the sustainability action plan available by providing them to the AIA for posting and commit to annual progress reports

DESIGN TOOLKIT

Spray Foam

Notes Based on  “Spray Foam Details & Myths Explored!  Chemistry, Application and Field Performance”, presented by Bob Duke, elected member of the Board of Directors for the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance.

Vistit SPFA website for in depth information www.sprayfoam.org

Spray Foam Insulation

What is it?
•    Spray Foam is a Polyurethane Insulation
•    It is a mixture of  – 1) Dimethyl Isocyanite and 2) Polyol Resin Blend
•    Alone Dimethyl Isocyanite is very toxic, when mixed with the Polyol Resin Blend it becomes inert
•    The product is not green – certain aspects of the Resin Blend can be green based, but there is always Dimethyl Isocyanite in the mix. It can be at most 7-8% organic content.

What types are there?
•    Low Density, AKA half pound, is open cell foam
•    Medium Density, 2 lb, is closed cell residential foam
•    High Density, 3lb, is roof foam
•    Open Cell has the possibility of absorbing water, according to the Mr. Duke.

•    Open Cell is a little better with sound absorption
•    Open Cell should not be used in a crawl space or unconditioned space because it can absorb humidity.

What happens when the mixture combines to create the foam?
•    It is an exothermic reaction that happens, creating heat when the two are combined
•    a blowing agent is needed in order to cool the foam as it is combined.
•    245fa is the blowing agent used now replacing the old CFC’s that ceased to be used in 2005
•    The SPFA states that there is no VOC offgassing by foam.

What are the R values?
•    Spray foam R values are dependent on the application
•    Hot foam should never be sprayed on top of hot foam – it makes the foam expand more and get a higher puff, but the insulating value is not the the same.
•    Get a good applicator, and it’s worth testing the foam by taking samples after the application -
•    There should be a felty feel to the interior of closed cell foam, and you can test it by weighing it.
•    closed cell, when applied correctly, achieves an R Value of approximately 7 per inch
•    open cell, when applied correctly, achieves an R value of approximately 3.5 per inch

Application
•    Temperature, Humidity, and Temperature of Substrate influence how the application goes on.
•    Cold absorbs more, hot weather gives a better yield in application
•    Cures 90 % in one hour, fully cured in 24 hours.
•    Should be applied in layers – 1 inch per pass.
•    Closed cell foam should look like a pebbly wall when complete

Other Information
•    Unless your foam exceeds the ASTM testing and your code official approves it, you probably need an ignition barrier applied to the foam if it’s in an attic storage space.
•    This is a product that is extremely difficult to remove, requiring scrapers and chisels.
•    Conversely the product significantly strengthens the rigidity of walls and increases the resistance of roofs against uplift.