Resident s Green Manual for Putnam Court

Transcription

1 Resident s Green Manual for Putnam Court 40 Putnam Avenue Brooklyn, NY Managed by: Prestige Management Inc. 2013

2 I. Building Overview pg. 2-4 Going green My building s green features II. Green Amenities in the Common Areas pg. 5-7 Elevator Lobby & mail room Community room Recycling & rear yard Laundry Lighting III. Green Features in My Unit pg Appliances: Oven & Range Hood Refrigerator Fixtures: Faucets, showerhead & toilet Heating Air conditioner Lighting Finishes: Windows Walls & flooring Page 1

3 I. Building Overview Going Green Building Overview Going green is a phrase with many different interpretations. Commitment to going green can be shown by peoples decisions to recycle and compost their personal waste, or eat local foods, or limit their use of non-renewable resources. These actions are all different but each one makes progress toward the same goal. Going green is not any one action but an overall lifestyle decision; it is a commitment to actively care for the health of the planet on which we all so heavily depend, and in doing so to further your own welfare and that of future generations. The developers of this building have a commitment to being green and mindful about the environment throughout their operations, and this building is no exception. The developers have put forth the utmost effort in reducing costs and keeping this building affordable for tenants, all the while improving indoor and outdoor air quality and protecting the environment. Buildings, in particular, are responsible for a lot of NYC s negative environmental impact, but this building and others like it are hoping to reduce that impact by joining with residents in an effort to preserve the building, keep its systems running smoothly, and promote a healthy environment for all of us, our friends, our neighbors, and the planet. This manual is about the building, but as you increase awareness about how your choices about a healthy building relate to your own personal health and that of your neighborhood and environment you may start to realize there is much more you can do to go green in relation to food, activity, community involvement and so many other things. Page 2

4 My Building s Green Features Building Overview About my building: A building can be considered green by the choice of construction materials used, the efficiency of the energy systems implemented, and the lifestyle the building promotes. Your building incorporates all three approaches, though they may not be readily apparent as you go about your daily life. This overview highlights the green features of which you might have enjoyed the benefits without ever knowing of their existence. Materials: There is a wide variety of green materials available including those that have been or can be recycled, locally sourced materials that have minimal transportation impacts, natural or simple materials that require few resources and little energy for processing, and renewable materials that can be easily replaced without environmental harm. Your building uses high quality materials that enhance the functionality of the energy systems and tightly secure the building s envelope, which is the physical separation of the indoor and outdoor environment. A secure building envelope ensures that energy spent to establish your indoor environment stays in your building. These materials include: Roofing: Average of 6 -thick rigid insulation (avg. R-37). A well-insulated roof prevents heat exchange with outside air, which saves energy and ensures a comfortable building temperature year round. High-emissive top layer; the light color of the roof reflects light which keeps the building and its surroundings cooler, reducing cooling costs in hot weather. Walls & Insulation: 2 1/8 -thick XPS foam insulation in building walls (R-17.5); this insulation exceeds NYC standards to reduce your energy bills without reducing your comfort. 1 -thick rigid insulation on all foundation walls and floor edge walls (R-13); this insulation reduces the loss of heat through the foundations and the adjacent floor edges. Windows: Custom, Argon-filled, low-e aluminum windows (U-0.37); Argon filling between panes acts as insulation to minimize heat exchange between the indoors and out. Page 3

5 Custom, removable panels avoid the need for A/C sleeves, which let heat escape in the winter. Energy Systems: Energy systems, which provide buildings with heat, cooling and water, are the largest opportunities for a building to save or squander energy. Traditional systems relied on coal or oil burning that produces harmful chemicals and depletes non-renewable resources, the harvesting of which has also proven to be environmentally devastating. By-product minimization and resource distribution were secondary to production, but new systems have shifted focus to equally focus on all three. New systems rely on cleaner energy sources and focus on the efficient distribution and, when possible, recapture of resources. These measures reduce initial environmental impact and continue to save resources, energy and money through efficient operation. Your building implements cutting edge, high efficiency systems to maximize functionality while minimizing energy expenditure and waste. These systems include: Heat & Water: LAARS Pennant modulating smart hydronic heating boilers have an efficiency level of 87%, meaning they are significantly more energy efficient than standard boilers. Marathon Engine Systems' ecopower Combined Heat and Power unit provides heat and electrical power in a cost effective and environmentally friendly manner. This innovative system uses advanced cogeneration technology, burning natural gas to generate electricity and heating our domestic hot water using waste heat. Air: Ventilation and exhaust systems are designed to assure indoor air quality while reducing building heat loss. Special attention is paid to correctly sealing all duct joints. An Energy Recovery Ventilator on the roof captures heat from exhausted air to warm fresh air coming into the building hallways. Lifestyle Choices: The built environment impacts the lifestyle choices we make, which can significantly impact the environment. The rest of this manual outlines building and unit features that enable you, through their proper use, to make conscious decisions to live green on a daily basis. Page 4

6 Elevator Green Amenities About my Elevator: Make: Kone Model: Ecospace II. Green Amenities in the Common Areas What s special about this elevator? Most people probably don t think of energy consumption in an elevator, but elevators can be large energy consumers. For instance, it takes a lot of force to move several hundred pounds straight up and down at a constant rate. Elevators also have no light switches, so the lights are always on. This elevator has been engineered to be as efficient as possible while moving people and cargo between floors. All of the lights in the elevator are LED, so they use as little energy and emit as little heat as technology allows. How can I save energy on the elevator? The most energy-efficient elevator is the unused one. Elevators are intended for use by the eldery or disabled and those bearing heavy loads; if you are none of those, try taking the stairs. Stairs are located at the ends of the hallway, and taking them saves energy and boosts your personal health. Do not press the Close Door button unless you are truly in an urgent situation. The door closes best on its own mechanism. Contact your super. Lobby & Mailroom, Community Room Amenities About my Lobby & Mailroom: Though the lobby and mailroom are more passive spaces, care was taken to make them as green as possible. As with the building s structure, materials were specially chosen to make these spaces green. What are the green materials? The walls of the lobby are surfaced with Bamboo wall panels and wainscot. These Page 5

7 panels are free of harmful chemicals, and Bamboo is quickly grown, and easily harvested. The mailbox shelf, security desk counter and community room kitchen counter are made of CaesarStone. Quartz is one of nature s most abundant minerals, and is available in quantities far greater than any other stone. Nonporous by design, Caesarstone naturally prevents the growth of surface mold and microbes without the need for harmful treatments or chemicals. Like all common areas of the building, all lighting fixtures in the lobby & mailroom are outfitted with CFL bulbs and are ENERGY STAR-rated or equivalent. About my Community Room: The community room has a climate control system that is optimized to provide clean, temperature-regulated air and create a healthy indoor environment. How can I keep the community room green? Please do not touch the climate controls. All climate controls are preset to maintain a comfortable temperature in the most efficient manner. Contact the super if you are not comfortable with the temperature. Recycling & Rear Yard About my recycling area: Each floor includes a Refuse Room where you can take all of your recycling and garbage for disposal. Bagged and sealed garbage goes down the chute with the silver door; a nondisposables list is above on a red sign. What can I recycle? Paper, newspaper, and clean cardboard go in the container labeled with a green sign. Plastic bottle and jugs, glass bottles, cans, tin foil, other household metals, and other household hard plastic containers go in the container with the blue sign. What do I need to do to recycle? All items should be cleaned prior to recycling; soup cans are recyclable, soup is not. Sharp or broken objects should be wrapped in cardboard or double-bagged and labeled. Green Amenities About my rear yard: The seating areas, planted areas, and garden planters have numerous green benefits. Unilock Rivenstone paving stones are made with recycled materials, which preserve resources while preventing waste. Page 6

8 Soil allows rainwater return to the groundwater system instead of causing runoff and overflow into the city s already overburdened pipes. Plants absorb and naturally filter water; they also emit oxygen and improve air quality. Large boulders remained onsite as part of the landscaping rather than being disposed of, avoiding consumption of fossil fuels and preserving a natural element of the neighborhood. Outdoor activity, like gardening, aside from requiring no consumption of fossil fuels, promotes physical, mental and emotional health. Residents may use the outdoor planters to plant decorative plants or vegetables, allowing for a truly local and sustainable food source. Laundry, Lighting About my laundry room: Your laundry room is equipped with high efficiency (HE) washing machines (which are also ENERGY STAR-labeled) and dryers. HE machines are designed to save energy and money when maintained and used correctly. Though instructions are posted on the bulletin board, here are a few reminders: HE washers use less water and need less detergent. If using regular detergent, only use half the recommended amount. Special HE detergents are available at large retailers. Clean lint traps save energy and ensure your clothes dry more quickly. Washing clothes in cold water prevents color-bleeding and saves heating energy. Air drying saves energy and helps maintain fabrics like wool or athletic material. About my building s lighting: All lighting in the communal areas of the building is either light emitting diode (LED) or compact fluorescent (CFL). LEDs & CFLs use far less energy and last much longer than ordinary bulbs, while emitting purer light! LEDs & CFLs even save on cooling bills because they create so little heat. Hall lights are set to conserve energy. When unoccupied, hallways are only partially lit. Motion sensors detect movement to light the halls when in use; outdoor and stairwell lights also operate on a sensor system to eliminate energy waste. If a sensor is defective, please inform the super. Exterior lights are on photocells, only turning on when it is dark outside. Most common area lights are on switched motion sensors, only turning on when someone is nearby and the light switches are on. Page 7

9 III. Green Features in My Unit Appliances: Oven & Range Hood Green Features in My Unit About my oven & rangehood: Oven Make: General Electric Oven Model: JGBP27DEM Hood Make: Broan What s special about this oven & hood? Gas ranges like yours are far more energy efficient than electric ones. This model s solid surface and simplicity of materials also makes it easier to clean. The range hood has been certified by the Home Ventilation Institute, HVI, for excellent performance. How do I take proper care of it? Keep the oven door closed while it is in use; opening a hot oven releases a lot of heat and reduces the oven temperature by upwards of 20 degrees. Make sure gas heads remain clean; spilled foods could clog holes and create ignition problems. Heads should only be cleaned when the stove top is off and cool. Clean heads and the oven or hood surfaces with dish soap and a cloth or sponge. Foods, especially those high in acidity, are best removed promptly; they could damage the oven surface if left on too long. Check the owner s manual, which should be in your kitchen. Check the manufacturers websites for more information: & Contact your super. Appliances: Refrigerator About my refrigerator: Make: General Electric Model: GTH18IBD What s special about this refrigerator? An ordinary refrigerator can use more energy than any other appliance in your home. These ENERGY STAR models save energy and money through better insulation, an efficient motor and more precise temperature control. How do I take proper care of it? Keep the temperature in your refrigerator between 35 and 38ºF. Keep your freezer at Page 8

10 precisely 0º F. This will save the most energy and best preserve your foods. Consider buying thermometers for your fridge and freezer to monitor temperature. Minimize the time the doors are open, and make sure the doors are firmly closed when not in use. Clean surfaces, including the door gasketing, with mild, non-abrasive cleaner such as Clorox Green Works, Simple Green, or Mrs. Meyer s Clean Day. These cleaners are readily available at most retailers. Check the owner s manual, which should be in your kitchen. Check the manufacturer s website for more information: Contact your super. Fixtures: Faucets, Showerhead & Toilet About my water fixtures: Your faucets, both in your kitchen and bathroom, and showerhead are all outfitted with low flow heads, meaning that they have been engineered to use less water while performing to the same standard as any other faucet. Your toilet is also water-efficient, using only 1.28 gallons per flush. Using low flow fixtures is an extremely helpful, everyday way to help conserve the less than 1% of the world s water that all of humanity has to share. How do I take proper care of them? Care is just like any other faucet. Using natural cleaners from Clorox Green Works, Seventh Generation or Mrs. Meyer s Clean Day keeps harmful chemicals out of the water supply and reduces strain on filtration systems. These cleaners are readily available at most retailers. How else can I save water? Turn the water off while brushing your teeth, and don t leave running water unattended. While it does not save water, washing dishes or showering at night helps reduce strain on local water systems since peak demand generally occurs during the day. Drink tap water. More water goes into the production of a bottle of water than the bottle itself contains. Contact your super. Page 9

11 Fixtures: Heating About my heating system: By definition, heating systems use energy to maintain your indoor environment at a comfortable level. Typically, sixty percent of residential energy use is devoted to heating and cooling, which means that efficient systems and proper use can save a lot of energy and money. Banded heating systems like yours are more efficient than many systems because they release heat low to the ground and over a long area, thus supporting an easy-to-monitor environment that is created in large part by natural heat transfer instead of pushing air around with motorized fans. How can I help my system work? Keep the temperature steady around 68 to 75ºF. This middle-range takes less energy to achieve and maintain while keeping you warm and comfortable in cold weather. Minimize the time the refrigerator or freezer door is open; the introduction of cold air can put undue strain on your system. Don t open your windows. If you are too warm, simply lower your thermostat a few degrees. Opening your windows allows heated air to escape without passing through the heat recovery ventilator and makes your system work harder. Keep furniture and other items clear of the baseboard heaters, as they will hinder air flow. Keep your vents clean with a duster or damp rag. Contact your super. Fixtures: Air Conditioning About air conditioning systems: By definition, air conditioning uses energy to pull in atmospheric air, lower its temperature and disperse it through your home in order to maintain your indoor environment at a comfortable level. While this function is not necessarily green, it is necessary. Proper use, especially in relation to other features of your apartment, can maximize your system s efficiency and minimize unnecessary energy loss. How can I help my system work? Only your super can properly size and install a window air conditioning unit. If you desire a window unit, contact him first. An inappropriately sized or installed unit will waste energy and fail to meet your needs. Keep the temperature steady at around 73 to 79ºF. This middle-range takes less energy to achieve and maintain while keeping you comfortable in warm weather. Minimize the time the oven door is open; the introduction of very hot air into your apartment can put undue strain on your system. Page 10

12 Don t open your windows while the air conditioner is running. The seal around your windows ensures stability of your indoor environment, and introducing so much unconditioned air will make your system incapable of doing its job. Contact your super. Fixtures: Lighting What s different about my lights? All of the lighting fixtures in your apartment are outfitted with compact fluorescent lightbulbs. CFLs use far less energy and last around ten times longer than ordinary bulbs, while emitting purer light. CFLs even save on cooling bills, as they create so little heat. How can I save more energy through lighting? Don t light an empty room or an empty apartment. Turn lights off as you leave a room or your apartment. When possible, during daylight hours save energy by leaving overhead lights off and using natural light. When replacing bulbs, use the right bulb for the fixture; compatibility means efficiency. If a light bulb burns out, check for the model number at the base of the bulb. Home improvement stores, like Lowes or Home Depot, should carry the bulb, but you can search the company s website before making a trip. Don t try to replace burnt out bulbs with a standard light bulb. Your fixtures are designed for use with specific bulb types and may not function properly if other types are substituted. When recycling an old bulb, wrap it in paper or shopping bags to ensure workers safety. If you have trouble locating the bulb s model number, contact your super. Finishes: Windows About my windows: Windows affect energy consumption directly and indirectly. All windows let in outdoor light, which reduces need for electric lighting. Some windows waste energy by transferring heat into or out of the indoor environment, but your custom-made windows are double-paned and insulated with Argon gas to minimize heat exchange and cut energy costs. How can my windows save energy? The tight seal around your windows ensures stability of your indoor environment, which helps your heating and air conditioning system expend less energy. Page 11

13 The Argon insulation minimizes heat exchange with the outdoors, making sure you stay cool when it s hot outside and vice versa. During the day, your windows can replace overhead lights. If it s too bright, adjust the curtains or blinds before turning on a light. How do I care for my windows? Cleaning your windows with natural cleaners keeps chemicals out of the air and your lungs. Clorox Green Works, Seventh Generation and Mrs. Meyer s Clean Day, are natural cleaners available at many retailers and large stores like Home Depot or Lowes. Window cleaner can be made from 4 tablespoons of lemon juice to 1 gallon of water. Coffee filters are compostable and make good window wipes. Contact your super. Finishes: Walls, Flooring How can walls and floors be green; they re just walls and floors, right? Walls and floors do not actively expend energy, but a lot of energy and resources can go in to their production. Additionally, some finishes can emit harmful chemicals into your home. Your floors are bamboo. It looks great and also happens to be a sustainable rapidly renewable material. Your tiles are composites of recycled materials; they are made largely from recycled materials and required few new resources. Your wall paint was formulated to emit fewer VOCs than most wall paints. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are emitted from certain products such as paints or cleaners. VOCs in high quantities can be damaging to health and the environment. How do I take proper care of it? A first step in preserving the look of your bamboo floors is prevention. It is important to avoid walking on your floors in spiked heels, or shoes that have heel taps or sharp objects protruding from their soles An additional measure you can employ to keep your floors looking fresh is to place an area rug in frequently trafficked spots such as by the side of your bed. To protect your bamboo floors from fading caused by overexposure to direct sunlight, it is a wise idea to use curtains and UV-resistant film on large glass doors and windows. Aside from spot cleaning your bamboo floors as necessary, it is also suggested that you vacuum, sweep, or dust mop weekly. It is crucial to never clean or wet mop your floors with water, as that may result in permanent damage. To remove stains caused by food, grease, lipstick, crayons, etc. it is recommended to use a Page 12

14 cleaner specifically intended for bamboo floors. When doing so, always follow the manufacturer s direction precisely. While most hardwood floor cleaners can be used on a bamboo floor, you want to make sure that anything you use is non-alkaline, non-abrasive, and is not a floor wax. You should also avoid using oil soap or scouring powder. Bamboo is slightly more resistant to water damage than regular hardwood floors; however it is still susceptible to warping if excessive moisture is present. When using a cleaning agent that needs to be mixed with water follow the directions carefully. Avoid using steel wool when cleaning a bamboo floor. A sponge or clean rag can be dipped in the solution, then wrung dry so that the material is only slightly damp. Make sure that the cleanser is applied to all parts of the floor evenly. Do not allow it to pool or puddle. When you are done a dry towel can be used to wipe up any excess moisture that may be present. You may not know this, but an effective, all natural bamboo floor cleaning agent might already be sitting in your home. If you mix ¼ of a cup of white vinegar, into a quart of water, you will create a solution that will allow you to safely clean the surface of your bamboo floors. This cleanser should be applied using a damp sponge or rag wrung dry before application. Green Features in My Unit Green Resources Page 13