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DOCUMENT A
Sustainability
“Green” & Sustainability
The Midrash teaches that God created many worlds and destroyed
them. At the end of creating our world, God said, “This is the last
world that I will create. It is yours to care for and protect, for I will not
create another one.” Core Jewish values of tikkun olam (repairing the
world) and ba’al tashcit (do not destroy) are the driving teachings and
principals that have been placed on our “green” initiatives.
Our new Beit Elohim was designed to be environmentally friendly and
will conserve energy, as well as our temple community’s footprint.
Site Selection
Our new building is located on the land previously used as our
parking area, and the new parking area will be located on the site of
the existing school wing of our former building. The building project
did not disturb any of the surrounding undeveloped land, and
produced a net reduction in paved areas on the Temple property.
Additionally, great care was been taken to protect the wetland area
along the eastern edge of the Temple property, between the new
building and Bobolink Road. The preservation of undeveloped natural
areas was a priority in the development of the design for the new
Temple building.
Construction Activity and Pollution Prevention
The design team worked closely with our general contractor, Richard
White Sons to ensure that best practices were followed with regard to
the reduction of noise and dust pollution during construction, as well
as ensuring that the impact construction will have on the site was
minimal. The contractor implemented a control plan for erosion and
sedimentation. Topsoil was protected during construction, and straw
bales and silt fences surrounded the site to prevent runoff into the
wetlands area.
Recycling During Construction
During construction the contractor implemented a plan to minimize
the amount of waste that will go to landfills. They requested that the
amount of packaging be minimized for building products coming to
the site and that packaging that is provided to protect materials
should be recyclable to the greatest extent possible. Metals were
separated out for complete recycling. Asphalt, brick and concrete
was separated out to be ground up and turned into gravel by a
recycling facility. These and other efforts during construction
minimized the total amount of waste produced, and allowed us to
recycle the largest extent of the waste produced possible, while
minimizing the amount of waste that ends up at a landfill.
Bicycle Transportation
Our new Temple building has been equipped with bike racks for
visitors or Temple members who would like to ride their bicycle to our
property.
Parking Coordination with Schofield School
The parking area for the new Temple will provide the same number of
parking spaces as the current building. However, the Temple has
reached an agreement with the Schofield School to coordinate
parking in such a way that the Schofield School can be used as an
overflow parking area for large events. Additionally, the new parking
area will be located adjacent to the school’s parking area, making it
easy to connect the two lots when there is a large event being held at
the Temple. In reaching this agreement, the Temple will be able to
double the number of readily available parking spaces while also
protecting valuable natural space around the building by not covering
more area with asphalt.
Habitat Protection/Restoration
As part of the new building project, the wetland area along the east
edge of the Temple property will be cleaned up in spring 2011, so
that the detritus that has accumulated there over the years will be
taken out, improving the health of this delicate environment.
Storm water Design: Quality and Quantity
Wherever possible, the design for the new Temple attempted to
minimize the area of impervious surfaces such as asphalt or
concrete. The new parking area, when completed in spring 2011, will
be covered with a special type of asphalt that is actually pervious to
water, allowing rain and runoff to percolate through and into the
ground, rather than collecting on the surface and running off onto
adjacent land. The combination of carefully selected materials and
minimal hard surfaces has allowed the new design to have a net
reduction of impervious surfaces compared with the current building.
A special feature of the new site is a series of “rain gardens” in the
parking areas. These rain gardens [planted in spring 2011] are
swales planted with a specific combination of water-loving plants.
During storms, rainwater is collected in these swales. The plants help
to filter the water before it is returned to the ground, and the swales
are designed to quickly drain back into the ground, so that no water is
left in the swale within a day of a major storm. These rain gardens,
apart from being beautiful, also help to reduce the amount of
underground water detention chambers, filter the water from storms
to clean it, and contribute to a more pleasant, attractive, and healthy
ecosystem.
Heat Island Reduction
The new Temple implements a number of strategies to reduce heat
island effects. A major problem with buildings and parking areas is
that the usually dark surfaces will absorb a great deal of heat from the
sun, creating localized increases in temperature known as a “heat
island.” Heat islands are damaging to the ecosystem, are
uncomfortable, and increase cooling costs.
The pedestrian walkways throughout the site will be light-colored
concrete, which reflects a great deal more light than it absorbs.
Additionally, the roof of the building will be white instead of black. The
white roof will reflect sunlight rather than absorbing it, reducing the
heat island effect as well as reducing cooling costs in the summer. In
areas where a light-colored surface is not practical, as in the parking
area, the landscape architect has included many trees to shade the
parking area. By providing shade, the trees prevent direct sunlight
from striking the parking area and heating the surface. As an added
benefit, the addition of trees and other plantings in the parking area
will help beautify this part of the new building.
Light Pollution
In an area such as Wellesley, and in particular in a location such as
the Temple’s, it is important to minimize the amount of light that
“leaks” from the building. First, it is important to avoid flooding the
area with light out of respect for the neighbors. Second, a dark night
sky is critical for the function of many animals and insects active at
night; light pollution can disrupt their activities. The lighting design for
the building has carefully avoided including any fixtures inside the
building that are aimed out windows. This keeps the light inside the
building where it is useful, and does not send it outside the building
where it is damaging.
Exterior lighting is an important component of this project, as many
events take place at night. It is important to maintain a safe and
attractive environment at night while also being sensitive to the
effects of light pollution. All the light fixtures in the parking area are
“zero-cutoff” fixtures – the light is aimed down at the parking area,
and no light is sent up into the sky. The lighting at the front wall of the
building and within the courtyards has been kept to the minimum
power levels, yet still provides a sense of safe and attractive entry to
the Temple.
Water-efficient Landscaping
The plantings for the new Temple have been selected from local and
non-invasive species. Because the species selected are adapted to
this environment, the need for irrigation is minimized. This preserves
potable water for other uses, and does not use this valuable resource
on the plants. The irrigation system is kept to an absolute minimum,
and has been designed with moisture sensors that cut off the system
when it is raining to prevent waste.
Water Efficiency in our new Beit Elohim
Every plumbing fixture in the building has been selected for its waterefficient characteristics. All sinks are equipped with aerators that
reduce flow volume. Toilets are all equipped with a dual-flush lever –
one for liquid (small flush) and one for solid waste (larger flush). This
significantly reduces water usage. Additionally, the urinals will utilize
a low-volume flush.
Efficient Heating and Air Conditioning System
The mechanical engineer has designed a system that will provide
heating, air-conditioning and humidity control for the new Temple that
will create a comfortable working, learning and worship environment
all year-round.
Five air-handling units have been provided. One for the Sanctuary,
one for each side of the Community Gathering rooms, one for the
north end of the building, and one for the south end of the building.
These five “zones” will provide an efficient way of selectively
conditioning areas of the building that are being occupied while
reducing the usage of equipment for areas that are unoccupied. For
example, during the summer, when the classrooms are being utilized
less, that unit can be turned down. The unit that conditions the
Sanctuary can be turned up or down to provide heating and cooling
specifically when the space is occupied.
In addition to the five air handling units, the entire building is provided
with radiant heating at all windows. Radiant heating creates a very
comfortable environment for building users and dramatically reduces
the feeling of “draftiness” near windows. As an added benefit, the
radiant heat can keep the building warm enough overnight that all of
the air handling units can be turned off, and only turned on just before
the building is occupied again in the morning. This will greatly reduce
the cost of heating the building.
Thermal Comfort
Thermostats have been included in each room so that users can
individually control the heating and cooling levels in each room.
More importantly, all the heating and cooling equipment has been tied
into a computerized central management system. This system will be
designed so that heating and cooling of every space in the building
can be coordinated with the schedule of use. For example, a
classroom that is used for five hours a day will be heated and cooled
during those hours only, and the thermostat will be “dialed back”
when not in use to save energy. This system will be able to provide
control on both a zone-by-zone and room-by-room basis.
Solar Power
While the project does not have solar panels to provide power for the
building, the electrical system has been designed so that if solar
panels are incorporated into the building in the future, they can be
“plugged in” directly, and the system will take advantage of the solar
power without having to add or change expensive equipment.
The power for the Ner Tamid in the sanctuary will be provided by a
solar panel. And a light in the nursery school playgroup house is solar
powered!!
Recycling Program
TBE will enhance its recycling program for paper, glass, plastic and
metal with a central recycling collection area adjacent to the trash
pick-up area. This area is located near the kitchen and adjacent to
the community gathering courtyard in an enclosed outdoor area.
Recycling bins will be located in each office, classroom, and in the
corridors.
Recycled Content
The design team has worked to provide materials that will have a
high level of recycled content. The steel and aluminum are highrecycled content products, and additionally can be recycled in the
future. Carpet tiles, floor tiles, gypsum wallboards and other interior
finish products were selected with sensitivity to the environment, and
all contain recycled materials.
Indoor Air Quality
All air handling equipment is equipped with filters to pull harmful
particulate matter from the air as it heats or cools the air. Additionally,
ventilation is provided to every room to ensure that a continuous
supply of fresh air will reach every room, maintaining a health oxygen
level in every space. All windows are operable, allowing the building
occupants to control additional ventilation with fresh air from outside
on pleasant days.
Low-Emitting Materials
The adhesives, sealants, and paints used in the project will all be low
in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – irritating and harmful
chemicals. Products such as particleboard and plywood will contain
no added formaldehyde – a similarly irritating and harmful chemical.
Chemical and Pollutant Control
The main entry vestibules at the front and rear of the building have a
walk-off mat. This mat will remove the bulk of dirt, salt, and other
pollutants, maintaining a clean indoor air environment.
The maintenance program in the new building will use only low- or
non-toxic cleaners.
Low-Maintenance Materials
Flooring materials have been selected that balance initial costs with
on-going maintenance costs. Durable and easy-to-clean materials
have been selected throughout the building to last and to minimize
the amount of cleaning and maintenance over the long term. Carpet
tiles were installed in the offices and a few classrooms; individual tiles
can be removed and replaced if they become damaged or worn.
Additionally, there was much less waste produced during installation
of the tile product than with a roll product. Bio-based tile was used for
most classroom spaces. This alternative to vinyl composition tile
(VCT) contains no vinyl, a high recycled content, and a binder derived
from corn. In addition to its green credentials, bio-based tile is
stronger and more resilient than vinyl tile.
The exterior “skin” of the bulk of the building is composed of fibercement siding. This clapboard siding is made from Portland cement
mixed with ground sand, cellulose fiber and other additives. Fiber
cement siding is more durable than wood or stucco, is fire-resistant,
requires little maintenance, and comes with a factory-applied paint
finish that is extremely durable. This material provides the
appearance of a wood clapboard building without the maintenance.
Lighting
Lighting controls have been designed in each space for a high level
of user control. Each classroom has switches with multiple levels to
provide lighting appropriate to the use and time of day. The
Sanctuary and Community Gathering Rooms have multiple “scenes”
programmed into the lighting system to provide varying levels of
lighting for services, receptions, lectures, performances, etc., as the
needs and time of day require. Additionally, every room was
equipped with an occupancy sensor that will automatically shut the
lights off in unoccupied spaces.
The majority of lighting in the building is provided by fluorescent tubes
or compact fluorescent light bulbs. These light sources are extremely
efficient, and provide a great deal of light with very little heat. Where
incandescent lighting is used, as in the Sanctuary, the light source is
metal halide, which is not only long lasting (more than four times as
long-lasting as a typical light bulb), but also extremely efficient and
provides beautiful, warm light.
Daylight and Views
Almost every room in the building has operable windows to provide
access to fresh air, daylight and views to the beautiful surroundings.
The Atrium not only has a wall of glass facing the wooded hillside to
the west, but also a dramatic central skylight to fill this space with
daylight. The Gallery and South Corridor are provided with eight
skylights to bring natural light into these spaces. The Sanctuary has
two full walls of glass to bring a feeling of connection to the outdoors
into the worship space. The east wall of the sanctuary has been
provided with a wood screen on its inner surface; this wood screen
will block direct sunlight and glare while providing a beautiful glowing
backdrop to the ark and Bimah, and will admit a great deal of natural
light into the room.
The windows utilize low-E coatings that minimize UV light penetration
into the building without reducing the quality of light in the spaces. All
of the glazing is insulated to maintain an efficient building envelope
and reduce heating and cooling costs. Additionally, the quantity of
glass will reduce the need for electric lighting during the daytime.
Flexible Space Design
Our new Temple Beth Elohim building was designed to make the
most of the space available by providing numerous flexible spaces
that will be able to accommodate the changing needs of the
congregation as time progresses, as well as providing flexibility now
for special programs and different learning methods.
The Sanctuary was designed to comfortable seat 425 people for
services, while maintaining a sense of intimacy for smaller groups.
The Community Gathering Rooms can be used individually or
simultaneously, thanks to a sound-blocking operable partition
between the two spaces. On the High Holy Days, these three rooms
can be combined to seat over 1100 people for services.
In the education areas, two nursery school rooms, four classrooms
and the multipurpose room have been provided with sound-blocking
operable partitions so that the spaces can be used open or closed to
accommodate numerous different activities and numbers of students.