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 A
Green Building Charrette facilitated by NYSERDA
consultants was hosted by the Gates Public Library in
Rochester, N.Y. The Gates Public Library is proposing
the new construction of a 27,000 square foot addition to
the existing library, employing energy efficient,
environmentally sustainable, and economically feasible
design principles. The project is located in Rochester,
N.Y.
 The
Charrette focused on the United States Green Building
Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED®) Version 2.2 rating system. Green Building
strategies identified indicate that out of 69 possible
points of the LEED® rating system, the project could
attain 36 credits, which would achieve a “Sliver” rating
for this building. In addition, 16 credits were
identified, as “Possible Credits,” which if added to the
36 attainable credits, would result in an award of
“Platinum”. Where practical, this report attempts to
identify a path forward, including additional
opportunities offered by NYSERDA to assist the Gates
Public Library. A LEED® Charrette Report for the
building, located in Section 5, contains a complete list
of LEED® credits and those credits identified during the
Charrette as applicable to the project.
The goals established for this session were:
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To inform and
educate Charrette participants about the energy and
environmental implications of design and
construction to identify realistic, cost effective
and sustainable measures that could be designed and
implemented at the proposed building site.
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To clarify the
interrelated approach of holistic design by using
the LEED® rating system to help define a high
performance building.
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To identify
economically viable strategies to implement in the
new building and in doing so, attain a LEED® rating.
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To establish
champions for high performance building strategies
and LEED® credits.
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To document the
Charrette as a training tool and information source.
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To ascertain
which additional funding sources are available to
offset capital expenditures that might increase
energy and environmental construction costs.
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To develop a
technical assistance strategy to advance the project
through NYSERDA’s New Construction Program (NCP).
 Section
3 contains information regarding certification. The
Charrette provides a concise resource for the design
team participants to understand the LEED® program,
including program prerequisites, credit intent,
requirements, strategies and required submissions.
Discussions led by the Charrette facilitators’ defined
high-performance ideas and strategies for the new
facility. Members of the owner’s design team provided
pertinent project-specific information used to discuss
the ideas and strategies. Ultimately, the group came to
consensus on Green Building strategies to be documented
if a LEED® rating for the proposed project were pursued.
The Gates Public Library is eligible to participate
further in NYSERDA’s program to assist with attaining a
project LEED® certification, if pursued. The following
should be considered:
o Technical Assistance (TA) services to
optimize electric energy savings through the New
Construction Program’s Whole Building approach and
identify systems or equipment that might be eligible for
capital cost incentives.
o TA services to provide building
system commissioning services.
o TA services to assist in the
documentation of LEED® credits.
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