Sustainable Facilities Tool

Under 10,000 SF Interiors Gut Rehab Project

Follow these overall sustainable strategies if your project involves a major tenant gut rehab for spaces under 10,000 SF. Use a current version of LEED for Commercial Interiors for tenant improvement projects over 10,000 SF. Refer to the Share Section for a representative project Case Study to discover key practices, benefits, results and checklists.

References/Resources:

• Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 23: 23.703 Policy: Government policy on the acquisition of environmentally preferable, energy efficient, and water conserving products and services, including EPEAT-registered products
• LEED for Commercial Interiors Rating System and LEED Reference Guide for Green Interior Design and Construction
• City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development
• Creating a High Performance Workplace: Portland's Green Tenant Improvement Guide

Sustainable Strategies

Following are Sustainable Strategies to consider as the space has or will undergo a major tenant gut rehab for projects under 10,000 SF. Note to use a current version of LEED for Commercial Interiors for tenant improvement projects over 10,000 SF. Refer to the Share Section for a represented project Case Study to discover key practices, benefits, results and checklists.

Sustainable Strategies

Gut Rehab Projects

• Get started by defining the key green strategies for the renovation early
• Gather a team of creative, dedicated professionals who spur new ideas and ensure a collaborative, integrated design process
• Include green strategies, materials and practices in the construction documents and specifications
• If relocating, choose a green building with sustainable site attributes such as mass transit, services and amenities for your workers, and a property management company using green practices
• Test-fit space against your green criteria and space optimization
• If renovating in place, phase work to minimize potential for cross contamination between occupied and construction areas
• Test for hazardous materials and appropriately handle hazardous materials removal
• Implement dust and contaminant control measures, including high-efficiency vacuum filtrations, a high frequency of cleaning and dust removal during construction
• Separate areas of contamination from clean or finished areas of work and provide temporary barriers to limit the construction area impact
• Protect all ductwork and HVAC equipment during construction from pollutants and dust infiltration
• Protect materials stored on site from moisture and animal infiltrations by establishing dry, secure storage both inside the building and out
• Divert construction waste from landfills and facilitate the recycling of construction waste through the standardization of processes
• When construction is complete, replace the filtration media in the HVAC systems with highest appropriate MERV value filters to maintain clean indoor air
• Ventilate with 100 percent of outside air when temperature and humidity allow, especially when VOC-containing materials are being installed
• Use materials, finishes, furniture and furnishings that meet low emitting requirements by 3rd party certifications
• Install CO2 sensors in densely populated areas to monitor ventilation rates
• Use glazing on interior offices and shared spaces to maximize access to daylight and views from all locations and provide privacy with opaque glazing or applied polyester opaque film up to 48" height. Consider lowering the height of the workstation panels to 48" maximum height in an open office environment.
• Increase comfort and worker productivity through noise reduction strategies by using acoustical insulation, sound absorbing materials, sound masking and locating noisy equipment away from quiet areas
• Select materials made with post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled materials including carpet, gypsum board, ceiling tiles, millwork, furniture and furnishings
• Use composite wood and agrifiber products containing no added urea-formaldehyde
• Use appropriate zoning and controls to separate HVAC space use and automatically sense and modulate energy use in open and private offices, conference rooms and common areas
• Consider energy reduction through setting greater acceptable temperature ranges in zones not continuously occupied such as corridors
• Consider wireless thermostats that can be easily relocated, and managed remotely
• Reduce energy use through passive strategies such as maximizing natural daylighting with lighter colors to reflect light and active strategies such as daylight and occupant responsive sensors
• Reduce water use by changing out water fixtures to low flow water-efficient models
• Limit permanent walls to functional areas of the building such as restrooms, storage or data rooms and placing them to the core of the building; instead, consider movable walls for easy reconfiguration and reduction of construction waste
• Plan for modularity with space types that can be interchanged such as private office to open space and to conference room
• Consider lighting systems that can accommodate both office, conference room and open office arrangements without modification
• Provide indoor plants to enhance the visual appeal of the space and promote health
• Promote exercise with a workout facility and encourage use of the stairs for both health and energy savings