Squamscott Community Commons

Green Design

DESIGNED WITH THE ENVIRONMENT IN MIND
Opportunities for Environmental Leadership

A Model of Sustainability
The Commons aspires to be a regional model for environmental and sustainable design and operations. The center itself will be a demonstration of technologies, practices and design that can be replicated by others. We hope that we are the tipping point for our community, in making local sustainable design the norm and not just an innovative concept.

Up to 90% of the old building will be recycled or diverted from landfill.

Recycling and Abatement of the Existing Building
Our new green community center will be built on the site of the old Exeter Area Junior High. Before construction of the new facility begins, the school building will be safely removed, with careful attention to environmental impact.

Connection to the Natural Environment: The Little River
Our site borders the Little River, recently ranked by the NH Department of Environmental Services as one of the most vulnerable systems in the Exeter River watershed. In collaboration with local conservation groups, The Commons will take the lead on restoration work needed to bring the Little River back to health.

OUR GREEN BUILDING DESIGN
"Squamscott Community Commons aspires to the Silver level of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED certification is the recognized national standard for measuring building sustainability. The building rating system awards points in six categories: site, water use, energy, materials, indoor air quality and “innovation in design."

Design Priorities
Resource conservation Energy efficiency	Healthy work environment Sustainable operations

An energy efficient cogeneration system will generate electricity, as well as 50% of the building’s heating needs. By capturing and utilizing heat that would otherwise be wasted from the production of electricity, a cogen system requires less fuel than separate heat and power systems to produce the same amount of energy. Our system will generate more electricity than we need on-site, so we can send our excess electricity back to the grid at night, reducing our energy bills. Fuel options include natural gas and biofuel.

Our energy-efficient building will use 30% less energy than a traditional building.

Super high performance insulation will make the facility twice as efficient as a typical school or office building.
Power consumption for lighting will be reduced by 30% by maximizing natural light, using energy efficient bulbs, and installing smart light controls that adjust indoor lighting levels as exterior lighting levels change.
Water conserving fixtures including on-demand sink faucets, dual-flush toilets, and waterless urinals will be used throughout the building. The two swimming pools will be equipped with high performance filters that require 60% less water for the cleaning process.
Porous asphalt pavement will be used in our parking lots to prevent storm water runoff, allowing for effective drainage and groundwater recharge. Quick drainage in parking areas will prevent runoff into the Little River, helping to stem the rising river temperature. Our site plan also improves the buffer along the river bank.
Rainwater collection will feed a “gray water” system for non-potable water uses, like flushing toilets and outdoor irrigation. Rainwater will be collected from 60,000 square feet of roof surface, then stored in below-ground cisterns.

We will save an estimated 1.6 million gallons of water each year by harvesting & reusing rainwater.

Environmentally friendly building materials will be selected based on low toxicity, recycled content, rapidly renewable resource content, local availability, and energy efficiency. Indoor air quality will be improved by selecting materials that eliminate off-gassing of pollutants into the indoor environment.
A "green" roof of living plants will be installed over the building’s entrance. Green roofs have an insulating effect that improves the energy performance of buildings, while the plants produce oxygen to reduce our carbon footprint.
Water efficient landscaping will include rain gardens where layers of soil, sand and organic mulch filter pollutants out of rainwater. Deep-rooted native plants and grasses will provide habitat for birds and butterflies.

SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS

Green housekeeping practices will reduce the exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical contaminants. Ecologically safe cleaning products and practices will be used throughout the building.
Green landscape maintenance will sustain a safe and healthy outdoor environment. Ecological gardening practices will emphasize healthy soil and healthy plants, without using synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
We will encourage alternative transportation by providing priority parking areas for bicycles, fuel efficient vehicles and carpoolers. We will collaborate with regional transit agencies to connect with public transportation options that will to improve the center’s public accessibility, and reduce individual vehicle use.
Our comprehensive recycling program will make it easy for all of our tenant agencies to recycle as much of their waste stream as possible.
The Commons will purchase environmentally preferred products including recycled content paper products and energy efficient office equipment.
Our facility design and operations reflect our commitment to minimize our impact on the environment and to be a model of conservation for the region. We will develop programs and partnerships to inform and educate the community about conservation and sustainability issues.