•Restrooms
•Mechanical Rooms
•Lighting
Restrooms
•Water Faucets: The water flow is both low volume and time-limited, providing the optimal amount of water for hand washing.
•Toilets: The dual-flush mechanism (up for liquids, down for solids) reduces water usage. A light flush which uses 0.8 gallons per flush (GPF), is typically selected 80% of the time; a heavy flush draws 1.6 GPF. Compared to conventional toilets that use 3.4 GPF, these dual flush toilets will help to conserve up to 70% of toilet water usage.
•Showers: Available in our first floor restrooms, these are low flow, too.
Shower and dual flush toilet in first floor restroom
GREEN PRACTICES: In the Restroom
•Showers are available in our first floor restrooms to encourage bicycling, especially among the staff. With this benefit, however, comes responsibility: we ask that shower takers please dry the walls and floor of the shower after use, to avoid slips or falls.
GREEN PRACTICES: Recycling
•The synagogue will continue to recycle paper, glass, plastic and metal. We have a recycling collection area just inside of where the trash and recycling pickups are made. Contents from collection bins from each classroom and office will be gathered here.
Mechanical Rooms
•Mechanical Rooms: Mechanical rooms are located in the center core of the building on both the first and second floors.
Heating, Cooling and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
•Boilers installed in the building are 95% efficient.
•Energy Efficient Zoning System: Each room has a separate thermostat and variable air velocity (volume) box to deliver warm or cool air. They are designed so that air is only delivered as needed when the room is in use. A classroom that is in use for only 6 hours per week will be heated or cooled to accommodate only those hours. Likewise the sanctuary can be cooled or heated only when it will be used. There are 30 zones in our 31,000 square foot building. Our staff can set a central computer program according to anticipated building use, on a room-by-room basis, and can adjust the settings as our schedule dictates. Each room can also be reset up or down 2 degrees as needed for comfort.
•CO2 Sensors: Integrated into the HVAC system, each room has a CO2 sensor, which assures enough fresh air will be brought in to each area for a healthy oxygen level. The fresh air brought in through the system is filtered.
•Fire doors on the second and third floors close automatically for both fire and heating considerations. When not in use, the entire 3rd floor can be closed off so that heat is retained on lower occupied levels.
Thermostat and CO2 monitor keep room comfortable
GREEN PRACTICES: Indoor Air Quality
•Cleaners: Only low or non-toxic cleaners will be used in the building.
•Construction materials, cabinetry, carpeting and furnishings are low-toxic, non-formaldehyde emitting.
•Paints, sealers and adhesives are low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emitting.
Lighting
•Windows. The operable windows are designed to be used only during the spring and fall when the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) system is off.
•Lighting: Occupancy sensors turn lights on or off when rooms are in use or vacant. The lighting is provided by fluorescent T-5 bulbs, which are particularly energy efficient. Additionally these bulbs are on dual switches, which means that we have the option of using only half the energy when daylight permits. The color rendering index (CRI) of a T5 is better than the typical T12 and T8 bulbs.
•Back Stairwells: Include windows to minimize the need for electric lighting. Motion sensors and photo sensors turn stairwell lights on only when needed.
Ceiling mounted occupancy sensor control room lighting
Ceiling mounted light fixture, with one of two T5 fluorescent tubes powered on
Windows illuminate utility stairway
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