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
Up to 90% of the old building will be recycled or diverted from landfill.
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.
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. Our site design will improve water quality and wildlife habitat by preventing harmful storm runoff and expanding the buffer along the river’s edge. In collaboration with local conservation groups, the Commons will take the lead on restoration work needed to bring the Little River back to health.

Resource conservation

Healthy work environment

Energy efficiency

Sustainable operations

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."

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

- An energy efficient cogeneration system will produce electricity on-site, while also generating heat that will be captured by a water source heat pump system for heating and cooling. The heat pump system has the ability to recover heat from one area of the building and utilize it in other zones, and will retain heat that is normally lost as hot water goes down the drain, or as warm air is discharged by a ventilation system. By capturing and utilizing the heat which is a by-product of electricity generation, the co-gen system can save over $30,000 annually in energy costs. Fuel options being researched include natural gas and biofuel.

- A high performance building envelope with a high R-value (high insulating properties) will maximize the efficiency of heating and cooling systems.

- Lighting accounts for over 25% of the energy consumed by a building. We will reduce energy use for lighting 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 plumbing fixtures will be used throughout the building. They include on-demand sink faucets, dual-flush toilets, ultra low consumption urinals and shower heads. The swimming pools will be equipped with high performance filters that discharge a fraction of the filter backwash and takes up one third less space compared to traditional filters. This pool filter system conserves water as well as energy required to heat the water.

- Porous asphalt pavement will be used in some of our parking parking lots to allow for quick drainage and groundwater recharge. Our comprehensive storm water management systems also include rain gardens and treatment swales, as well as below ground cisterns and open graded stone to temporarily store runoff and cool rain water. Effective drainage in parking areas will prevent runoff into the Little River and help stem the rising river temperature.

1.6 million gallons of water will be saved annually by reusing rainwater and installing water-conserving fixtures.

- Harvested rainwater will feed into a “gray water” system for non-potable water uses, like flushing toilets and outdoor irrigation. Rainwater will be collected from the roof surface, then stored in below-ground cisterns.

- 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 minimize off-gassing of pollutants into the indoor environment.

- We're pursuing renewable energy options including solar power and wind power to generate some of our electricity.

- The building will feature "cool roofs" made of materials that effectively reflect the sun's energy from the roof's surface. Cool roofs reduce the roof surface temperature by up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, reducing the heat transferred to the building below. This helps to reduce energy costs, makes the building more comfortable on hot days, cuts maintenance costs and lengthens the life of the roof.

- A green roof of living plants will be installed next to the building's entrance. Green roofs add insulating benefits, offer aesthetic appeal and require less maintenance than standard roofs.

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.

water droplet- 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 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.

RESOURCES: