Share thisThe following article is an excerpt from “The Green Vivarium: Strategies for Sustainability” being developed by the Green Vivarium Foundation. The intent of these guidelines is to encourage the implementation of sustainable strategies and to illustrate the benefits of sustainable design in vivarium facilities.
The environmental benefits of green buildings are clear: less energy and water used, reduced emissions of greenhouse gases, implementing ways that reduce, recycle, or reuse natural resources so that the lifestyles of future generations may be sustained. The concept of being ‘green’ is no longer a novel one for the built environment; high-performance buildings, including vivariums, are no exception.
In the initial stages of designing a vivarium, whether it is a new stand-alone building, an integral part of a research building, or a renovation project, there are key concepts relative to the selection of building materials to consider. When programs are formulated that frame flow patterns and functional adjacencies, think of how to best incorporate the use of sustainable building materials into your vivarium project. Pay special attention to: embodied energy, life cycles, carbon generation, recycling and waste management, regional and community product sources, regional and community impacts, transportation, indoor environmental quality, durability, maintainability, and functionality.
Sustainable strategies have become the norm rather than the exception, and a LEED Silver certification is now required on all government- funded, public sector projects; vivarium projects linked to NIH grant monies are no exception. Given the competitive nature of the industry, green building materials and trends are driving market change that in turn provides the design professional with multiple opportunities to meet the sustainable challenge of today and future generations.
Think Holistically
In a vivarium facility, the material selection is critically linked to how the space is used (specie type) as well as how it needs to be maintained. There are many environmentally preferred products on the market, but suitability and durability in vivarium protocols are paramount when evaluating the appropriateness of materials to be installed. The economics of durability will trump sustainability especially if the corporate bottom line is at stake.
If the materials used in a vivarium project are to be environmentally responsible, they should at the very least work holistically to promote:
- Use of regional materials that are high in recycled content.
- Use of eco-friendly cleaning practices and maintenance protocols.
- Healthier environments for the building inhabitants, both research animal and human.
- Energy efficiency.
- Implementation of a used materials recycling plan.
- Sustainable practices of waste management.
Today’s building industry is using smarter, more energy-efficient construction materials, such as energy-saving windows or environmentally friendly substitutes for sheet rock. The shift toward more sustainable research is evident when we find a host of “revolutionary innovations” being marketed daily; examples still being developed are:
- High-efficiency insulation wall systems with micro-encapsulated phase change materials that can stabilize indoor temperatures by releasing heat that is absorbed during the day, at night, when the outside air cools.
- Ventilated double-skin facades that use inner and outer glass walls with a thin gas-cavity in between for the exterior shell of the building.