GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDING IN VIEQUES

The Issues of Sustainability

In straight forward, no-nonsense terms, the goals of sustainable development and green building are several and can be distilled for us locally as:

These criteria are integral with the entire life-cycle of the building from the harvesting, manufacturing, distribution, and installation of the construction products to their reuse, recycling, and disposal of the building and its contents at the end of its life. The operation of the building must likewise adhere to these goals as well.

Environmental impact

Environmental impact can take many forms. The selection of the property and the location of the house on site represent the first steps in appropriate design. Is the property appropriate for the specific development? Is the building orientation taking advantage of the sun and the wind? Is the location on the lot efficient for road and utility access? How does the proposed building work with the natural drainage and landscape?

In the construction of a house, the creation of the products installed (from appliances to cabinets, and from concrete to plumbing systems, etc.) requires harvesting and manufacturing that can be eco-friendly or not. Do the processes create pollution, deplete natural resources, or use high energy? Does the distribution (transportation) result in high energy usage?

The installation process of products in the building needs to be considered. Are there negative environmental effects or health hazards in the construction? Can wastes from the construction be recycled? Does the design provide flexibility for changes, repairs, and expansions?

The operation of the building must be designed to not adversely effect the environment. How is rain water handled? How are solid and liquid plumbing wastes processed and/or transported? How is potable water managed and conserved? Is the building a source of pollution to the community?

Energy usage

The design of the building is a major determinant in overall energy efficiency. The major sources of energy usage in the house generally include: cooling (A/C), water heating, appliance (refrigerator, dishwasher, washer/dryer) operation, and lighting. Some items, like refrigerators and dishwashers are not really design dependent, but most others are positively effected by appropriate design methods. Which design elements and philosophies have positive impacts on energy efficiency? What is required to have a "net zero" energy use footprint?

Improved health

The design of a building, and the selection of products used to construct it, dictate the manner of our human interaction with it. Is the layout conducive to healthy airflow? Are the materials used in any way toxic? Does the building provide comfortable levels of temperature and humidity? Does the home protect the users from danger (natural and man induced) and does it contribute to a safe and restful existence? Are the end products truly healthy for the end users?

Other Vieques Issues

On our tropical island, we face additional factors that influence the design and construction of our buildings:

• Severe storms - hurricanes and tornadoes,
• Earthquakes,
• High humidity and corrosive salt air,
• Termites (and other destructive insects),
• Security (protection from criminal trespass and theft),
• Labor limitations, and
• Logistics - having reasonable access to only a limited variety of products.

The probability of a hurricane hitting the island and destroying a number of buildings is high enough that one cannot even secure a mortgage on a wood frame building. Concrete or concrete block construction is virtually mandatory at this point. FEMA will not provide funds for replacing wooden buildings after a storm, either.

While almost everyone here is complacent with regard to earthquakes, we're in a very high risk zone. Inadequate lateral design reinforcement will ensure the collapse of many buildings with unsupported columns when we fall victim to a significant shaker, which is just a matter of time.

Relentless flow of moist salt air through our buildings may be employed to provide excellent ventilation and cooling, but the downside is accelerated corrosion and mildew formation during much of the year.

Termites, powder beetles, and other annoying creatures render to dust many normal wood products. While it is possible to purchase treated and natural termite resistant wood, the chemically treated materials are not exactly green, and the natural products are not always economically available.

Vieques is poor and has the highest unemployment rate in Puerto Rico. It should come as no surprise that petty crime is high here. The majority is burglary - break-ins to steal almost anything. Defensive design is required.

Formal training for the local labor force is completely absent. Techniques and standards are passed along from family member, friend, and coworker. The result is not always that satisfying.

Products available in Vieques are very limited and include primarily traditional items that turn over quickly. Isla Grande has a wider selection, but nothing like the variety that those living in the "upper 48" are accustomed to selecting from.

Sustainable Design Elements

There is no single "right" design, form, or element. Vieques has few historical buildings that reflect any particular form that would be considered green or sustainable, however, the small size of many houses does contribute to reduced footprints and "greenness". There are several principles that work to improve sustainability, and they should be evaluated for appropriateness in each project.

Siting

Siting, the positioning and orientation of new buildings, is governed first by the type of parcel: small, city lot versus larger rural acreage. Zoning setbacks define the areas allowed for building. City lots provide little flexibility in placing the house, but most custom homes are built on larger parcels and should be sited carefully. Almost all such houses have important views (panoramas, water, island, mountains, or maybe just a beautiful tree or stand of bamboo) which must be considered. Access to the parcel may be flexible or not, but clearly will influence siting decisions. Most parcels also have breezes that are available for substantial periods. The best orientation for control of solar heat gains is to the south. Natural site drainage is a factor that one wants to work with, not against. These criteria may be in conflict and will require informed compromise and conscious decision making. These issues are seldom trivial, but receive far too little attention by many property owners working without professional guidance.

Materials

In many locales, homes are constructed from a wide variety of materials. Green options in the US tend to focus on wood from sustainable forestry practices. In Vieques, the common denominator is not wood but cement based construction. Concrete block is, and has been, the preferred product. Reinforced block construction can be very suitable to address structural and sustainability issues. Unfortunately, the local practices used with concrete block render the structures dramatically inferior to poured in place (PIP) concrete. In any event, the basic components (block, sand, rock, cement, and steel) of both processes are readily available from local suppliers and are generally considered sustainable. Although the energy required to produce cement is high, if properly constructed, the structures are long lasting, potentially with a life of several times the length of wood or other choices. Imported hard surfaces such as tile and stone have high transportation costs due to their weights.

The use of concrete throughout the building as both the structural and finish material has a list of benefits for different areas:

• Walls and ceilings. Covering the concrete wall with stucco (plaster) that includes integral color pigment eliminates painting both initially and as a maintenance item in the future. This reduces the time and cost of construction and removes the issue of VOC's associated with paint options. It is green and sustainable.
• Floors. Finishing concrete floors smooth, although uncommon on the island, allows several finish options that eliminate the need for tile or other flooring surfaces. The concrete can be ground and polished and/or stained to provide a beautiful, yet more natural, finish. This reduces the time and cost of construction and reduces the heavy materials that must be manufactured and shipped to complete an alternative floor surface. It is green and sustainable.
• Roofs. Sealed (reflective waterproof membrane/coating) concrete roofs with a slope of at least 1/8" per foot are very cost effective and can provide a structurally sound completed surface or can be the first layer of green roof. While higher sloped concrete slabs can also provide excellent roofs, the lower sloped slabs allow for viewing decks and gardens. It is a green and sustainable solution.
• Kitchen counters & cabinets. Various concrete finishing alternatives are available to provide beautiful and durable counters for kitchen (and baths). Smooth, polished surfaces of various colors offer options for everything but the cabinet doors. This can reduce the time and cost of construction and mitigate or eliminate the issues of wood products in both procurement and durability in our extreme environment.

Form

Given the climate in Vieques, we have the opportunity to share and merge the inside with the outside spaces. Integration of the house with the environment creates the mood that people come to the island to experience. The outdoor spaces can be gardens, views, beach, pool, or whatever amenity that is part of the site. Orientation of the home and its openings is better for controlling the rays of the sun when facing south, but the reality is that we definitely want to optimize the view.

In order to effectively extend the interior spaces to include the outdoors, the home must be open, and the thermal environment mitigated without air conditioning. This can be facilitated through the use of large roof (or balcony) overhangs and expansive door and window openings. The overhangs shade the walls and openings to reduce heat build up and glare from reflections and are more optimal on the south side of the house. It is not possible with overhangs alone to shade the sunrise or sunset. Additionally, overhangs can provide shelter from the rain so that windows and doors can be left open during minor storms.

The roof and the overhangs need to be insulated to reflect away as much sunlight as possible while reducing the absorption and conduction of heat into the space. The large openings allow greater airflow. High ceilings and ceiling fans can be quite effective in making interior rooms, and even balconies, much more comfortable. "Air chimneys" for individual rooms or the entire building can be used to enhance airflow.

In the layout of the home, it's best to place rooms that must be air conditioned (computer and media rooms, offices, art storage, medical requirement, etc.) in the areas with the worst air circulation opportunities so that the other rooms without A/C can take better advantage of the flows. Insect screening is important to most people and is of maximum benefit if placed at the perimeter of the balconies to expand the indoor-outdoor flow functionally and visually. Consideration should be given to the use of roll down shutters at the perimeters, too. The shutters provide storm and burglary protection and may eliminate the need for doors and/or windows in some rooms. Both shutters and insect screens may be automated.

Health issues reinforce the concepts of easy cleaning and reduction of mold and insect infestation. Cabinetry should be either totally sealed or, better still, very open. Closets need to foster air flow to prevent mildew. Furniture selection should lean toward outdoor types.

Resource Management

Resource management favors recycling of rain water, typically requiring collection from the roof through drains to downspouts to cisterns. Gutters are not typical due to the high water volumes during massive storms we tend to get a regular sampling of. Reuse of gray water for gardens is also encouraged, unless building in a densely built up neighborhood with sewers.

The use of solar for water heating or electrical generation is a natural fit here. Cost effective water heating is a no-brainer. Collectors and cisterns typically do not alter the form of the building since most homes have near flat roofs. The island is located at about 18 degrees north, so the optimal angle for any collector will also be at 18 degrees.