Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill, NC

On September 16, 2004, the vestry approved the charge to the Next Step Committee (NSC) to carry out the recommendations of the Parish Long-Range Plan. As explained in the 2004 annual report of the Chapel of the Cross, the NSC has been focused on the facilities recommendations of the Long- Range Plan, with the consensus of the committee being that our church does not need to make changes in the worship space but that "all non-worship space is inadequate to serve the needs of the present, much less the future." Quoting further, the Chapel of the Cross "must rebuild and expand our facility at its current location to serve our needs," with that specifically meaning "a new fellowship hall, new office space and new classroom space, all to accommodate the program needs that are foreseen in the Long Range Plan" (p. 23-24).

This leads us to the subject of this article on environmental stewardship: green buildings.

The buildings in which we live, work, and play provide us space to gather and protect us from the weather. They also affect both our health and the environment in a multitude of ways. The design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal of buildings consume enormous amounts of energy, water, and materials and generate large quantities of wastes. Building roofs and the surrounding paved parking areas create impervious surfaces that guarantee large quantities of run-off when it rains. This "storm water run-off" reduces water quality, erodes stream banks and ultimately diminishes water quantity because the rain has no opportunity to be absorbed and recharge our ground water aquifers.

Buildings in cities and towns also contribute toward the creation of "urban heat islands," a term that reflects the fact that on warm sunny days, the air in an urban area can be 6 to 8 degrees warmer than the surrounding area. This extra heat can reduce air quality through the creation of more ground level ozone, while increasing our energy use when we crank up our air conditioners.

Impacts of the built environment on the natural environment do not stop here. Where and how buildings are constructed affect outdoor habitat for both animals and plants, while the building materials used for construction and furnishings significantly impact the quality of the indoor air for those inhabiting the building.

Buildings in the United States account for approximately 39% of the energy used, 68% of total electricity, and 12% of the total water used. According to the Department of Energy, buildings account for 49% of sulfur dioxide emissions, 25% of nitrous oxide emissions, and 10% of particulate emissions, while producing 35% of the country's carbon dioxide emissions, the primary substance contributing toward climate change.

Before you conclude that we are advocating a return to cave dwelling, you need to know that it doesn't have to be this way! Increasingly architects and engineers are embracing "green" or sustainable building practices that use healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and even demolition. Green buildings have environmental, economic, and social benefits.

Environmental benefits include: improved air and water quality, reduced waste streams, energy and water conservation, restoration of natural resources, and enhanced biodiversity and ecosystems.

Economic benefits include: reduced operating costs, improved occupant productivity, optimized life-cycle economic performance, and expanded markets for green products and services.

Social benefits include: enhanced occupant comfort and health, heightened aesthetic qualities, minimized strain on local infrastructure, and improved quality of life. http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/whybuild.htm

As regularly reported in Crossings, the Next Step Committee has been interviewing architects and master planners to help fulfill the needs of our parish for the long term. In the June Cross Roads we will explore more about green buildings, and the efforts the Next Step Committee is taking to ensure that stewardship of God's creation will be foremost as we "build and expand" our facility to meet our future needs.

Send items for inclusion in future "Cross Roads."
The deadline is the first Thursday of the preceeding month.