SAN MATEO COUNTYWIDE GUIDE SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS1printed on recycled paperFebruary 2004SUSTAINABILITY:“The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”– United Nations World Commission on Environment and DevelopmentSustainable design and construction can preserve the unique environment and enhance the communities and built areas of San Mateo County.1 1 Introduction 7 Checklist 10 Checklist Illustrations 12 Area 1: Community Planning 15 Area 2: Site & Landscape 21 Area 3: Waste Reduction & Management 24 Area 4: Concrete 26 Area 5: Wood Framing 29 Area 6: Exterior Treatments: Siding & Roofi ng 32 Area 7: Windows & Doors 35 Area 8: Plumbing 39 Area 9: Electrical 42 Area 10: Heating & Cooling, Insulation & Ventilation 49 Area 11: Renewable Power & Solar Energy 53 Area 12: Interior Materials 58 Area 13: Other Green Alternatives1TABLE OF CONTENTS23More InformationMore information on the checklist and the booklet, as well as electronic versions are available at www.RecycleWorks.org or by calling the RecycleWorks hotline at 1-888-442-2666. RecycleWorks is a program of the County of San Mateo. The checklists should also be available at your local permitting counter. Credits & AcknowledgementsThe sustainable buildings checklist, booklet, and program were developed by a countywide com-mittee consisting of city planning and permitting staff, city recycling staff, local architects, nonprofit representatives, and builders. While many people have reviewed and offered help and comments during the process, the following individuals were key to having this project come to fruition and deserve special recognition:Jill Boone, County of San Mateo, project managerLisa Costa-Sanders, City of San CarlosCarol Borck, Town of Portola ValleySusan Eschweiler, DES ArchitectsDavid Crabbe, Sustainable San Mateo CountyPhil Hanes, City of San BrunoIn addition we’d like to thank:Global Green for presenting the workshop that kicked off the countywide green building program development process. David Johnston, our first consultant, who offered us both knowledge and encouragement and assisted us through the early planning stages.450 Architects, and especially Raphael Sperry. 450 Architects is a San Francisco architecture firm specializing in sustainable building and community-based design and they brought new life to our project, finalized our draft checklist, offered practical wisdom and creative input, and produced this booklet on a tight deadline. Raphael Sperry, who authored this booklet, and the two principal architects, Richard L. Parker, AIA, and David Bushnell, AIA, took this project on with a commit-ment to both excellence and usefulness that has made the final stages of development a joy. Lisa Duba of Gigantic Idea Studio, who designed the booklet and checklist. Lisa has provided her creative insight and skill to many RecycleWorks’ publications and not only produces excellent design but is also delightful to work with.C/CAG and the County of San Mateo for recognizing the importance of the emerging green build-ing issues, providing the forum for these ideas to be addressed and the staff and financial support to coordinate the development of a countywide program and materials. And finally, Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson, Supervisor Jerry Hill and the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo for having the foresight to adopt the first Sustainable Buildings Policy in the county on December 11, 2001, which has helped all of us to recognize the importance of making decisions based on long term effects rather than short term gain. Cover photo credits:Aerial photographs ©WAC CorporationFront cover: Eco Design Resources (left); Mark Ruthringer (right)Front inside cover, clockwise from left: Outdoor Education; RecycleWorks Green Building Program; RecycleWorks Green Building Program; Philippe CohenBack cover: Richard Parker, 450 Architects (left); Philippe Cohen (right)ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS23INTRODUCTIONSan Mateo Countywide Sustainable Buildings GuidelinesIntroductionWelcome to the San Mateo Countywide Sustainable Buildings Guidelines and Checklist. These are provided to encourage you to explore what you can save – for yourself and for the environment – by building green. This booklet aims to explain all the checklist items, some of which may be unfamiliar to some users, and to describe the major benefits and approaches to green. Many items on the checklist and in these guidelines are fairly simple, inexpensive, and easy to accomplish. Almost every project should try to do these practices. Others are more expensive or require a larger departure from some conventional building systems, but offer correspondingly large rewards. We hope that more and more San Mateo County building owners will explore and develop these strategies.You can find additional information on the guidelines, and any requirements that are unique to your city in the Green Building section of the County of San Mateo RecycleWorks website: www.RecycleWorks.org.Who is this booklet for?These guidelines are intended for people planning new construction and renovation projects. The environmental impacts of construction – and the opportunities to benefit from handling them well – are proportional to every project, from a small addition to your house to a large new office building. Every project is unique, so if some checklist items do not fit with the specifics of your site or program, focus on accomplishing ones that are appropriate for your project. The right-hand columns on the checklist identify items that are appropriate to each building type.This booklet is also for members of the building industry: architects, engineers, building contractors, and others. Green building is a relatively new part of what clients are asking for, and professionals are at different levels of skill in providing green buildings. This booklet may introduce new ideas or serve as a jumping-off point for discussions with clients, colleagues, and consultants. We have solicited the input of many building industry members from San Mateo County and beyond in compiling this information, and we hope that their experience will be helpful to you.What is green building, and why do it?Green building means taking the environment into account during design and con- struction. Green buildings aim for harmony with the local environment:
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