Thank you for your interest in our New Bowie Pet Clinic Reuse, Renovation, Revitalization, Energy Conservation, and Green Building Project. The overall goal of our expansion project is an attempt to create the business facilities we need through Reuse and Revitalization, and to serve as an example of Energy Conservation and Green Building for the Bowie Community.

OVERALL CLINIC EXPANSION AND GREEN BUILDING PROJECT:

Bowie Pet Clinic was established in Bowie, Texas, in 1984. I purchased and renovated an existing building on Mill Street for my original clinic facility. We have grown through the years into a thriving Veterinary practice. About 5 years ago, we outgrew our current clinic facility. We discussed all options available including the expansion of the existing facility, building a brand new facility, and purchasing an existing building to renovate as we did originally. We chose to purchase and renovate in downtown Bowie. The overall goal of our expansion project is an attempt to create the business facilities we need through Reuse, Renovation, Revitalization, Energy Conservation, and Green Building.

1) Rather than new construction for my clinic facility, I purchased an old downtown Bowie building, formerly known as "The Sweet Shop", that had been vacant for more than a year. This building is on Smythe Street, the last cobblestone street in town. Although the building was built in 1928 (?, from tax office records) as the Blackmon Implement Company (International Harvestor Dealership), and has no special historical significance to the community, it was essentially a large structurally sound building going to waste. This choice is in accordance with the spirit of the Texas Historical Commission's Texas Main Street Program.

From the Texas Historical Commission's website:

The Texas Main Street Program, part of the Texas Historical Commission's Community Heritage Development Division, helps Texas cities revitalize their historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts by utilizing preservation and economic development strategies. The program began in 1981 and is affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Texas Main Street Program is among the most successful downtown revitalization programs in the nation . . .

2) Because of our commitment to the Bowie Community and economy, we have used local lenders, suppliers, businesses, and craftsmen wherever possible in this project.

From the Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility website:

Why should people buy local? Because there are a lot of things that making that choice can do for the community. There are a number of studies that demonstrate that local retailers generate three to five times the income for the community, and there are various ways that circulates within the community. Local businesses are more involved in their communities. They're rooted in place. They often serve on local nonprofit boards. They hire more local services--their legal services, their accountants, their bankers, that sort of thing. They often create more local jobs. They more often will resource things for their stores or products more locally, so that reduces the unnecessary transportation involved. They are more personal -- they have a direct connection with their customers, and often people know each other on a first-name basis. So there are all sorts of ways local businesses strengthen the local community.

What kinds of things should people be buying locally that they probably haven't been thinking about? All kinds of products and services. It's the services people typically forget about. Our philosophy is more about building community and thinking about buying local first when you can. If you shift your purchasing behavior even a few times a week or a month, it can make a difference to benefit the community. Together we can strengthen and "green" local economies, encourage local self reliance and social equity, and improve the quality of life in our communities and the earth as a whole.

3) As was typical of the construction of that time period, the building contained asbestos in the flooring and sheetrock. We hired trained and licensed Asbestos Abatement Professionals to remove all the asbestos contamination in accordance with applicable laws and ordinances. Although this added significant cost to the remodeling of the building, it is in keeping with the spirit of the EPA's Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment Program.

From EPA's website:

Brownfields are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land, and both improves and protects the environment.

4) We are using Xeriscape landscaping to beautify our new facility. Except for the existing tree that we are retaining, all new planting is with low-water plants. Our southfacing landscaping, for example, is based heavily on iris that were collected as bulbs that were being discarded by local homeowners.

From the Texas A&M Agricultural Extension Service website:

An adequate supply of high quality water has become a critical issue for the future prosperity of Texas. Booming populations have increased the demand on the state's already limited supply of high quality water. In addition, seasonal fluctuations in rainfall and periodic droughts have created a feast-to-famine cycle in Texas. In urban areas of Texas about 25 percent of the water supply is used for landscape and garden watering. Much of this water is used to maintain traditionally high water-demanding landscapes.

In an attempt to reduce the excessive water use, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service is educating Texans in Xeriscape landscaping, quality landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment. This concept is a first-of-a-kind, comprehensive approach to landscaping for water conservation.

For each person in Texas, water must always be a vital concern. Water is a limited and fragile resource. The water used to irrigate landscapes is considered a luxury use of water by many people. Nonessential use of water implies a special responsibility to efficiently use the resource and to protect its quality.

RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT:

"Maximizing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is the domestic epicenter in the War on Terror and it is imperative that we maximize the partnerships between the public and private sectors in new and creative ways with a sense of seriousness, national purpose and the urgency the situation merits." -- Alexander Karsner, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

1) Solar Energy Utilization - It is our goal to cover our southfacing roof with Solar Energy collectors for Solar Hot Water, Solar Heat, and Photovoltaic (PV) Electricity production. All of these systems look very similar -- glossy black panels that sit on top of the roof and do not detract from the appearance of the building.

From the US Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE/EERE) website:

The solar rating of your area is Great for adopting a solar system. This is based upon a solar rating of 5.528 kWh/sq-m/day.

This maximum use of Solar Energy to "spin our electric meter backwards" was in our original construction plan; however, our loan process was complicated by an original lender that took 18 months to fund a loan for this project, and then presented us with a loan package that we were forced to refuse due to the terms offered. Because of the skyrocketing costs of steel and the increased costs of all other building materials that we encountered due to the loan delay and after the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita of last year, we came up short on the funds to complete the entire project as originally planned. This section -- including all of a, b, & c below -- has been postponed pending possible funding from the USDA Rural Development Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grant (grant application submitted).

Our plan to incorporate solar energy systems in the clinic Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Project is in keeping with the spirit of the Mission, Vision, and Goals of the US Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE/EERE) Solar Energy Technologies Program and the Million Solar Roofs Initiative launched in 1997.

From the DOE/EERE Solar Energy Technologies Program website:

The Solar Energy Technologies Program leads the effort to research, develop, and deploy cost-effective technologies toward growing the use of solar energy throughout our nation and the world. Solar energy is clean, abundant, and renewable. It holds tremendous potential to benefit our nation by diversifying our energy supply, reducing our dependence on imported fuels, improving the quality of the air we breathe, and stimulating our economy by creating jobs in the manufacture and installation of solar energy systems. We see a future where: All Americans benefit from this pure and clean primary energy resource, millions of homes and commercial buildings across the nation use solar technology to provide all or much of their energy needs, [and] the southwestern states generate more electricity from solar energy than they need, enabling them to export power to other states.

a) Solar Hot Water - Our plan is to use a solar water heater on the southfacing roof of the building, in conjunction with point-of-use water heaters inside, to reduce the use of electricity in the production of hot water for the clinic to the absolute minimum.

From the DOE/EERE website:

Solar Water Heating - One of the most cost-effective ways to include renewable technologies into a building is by incorporating solar hot water. A typical solar water-heating system reduces the need for conventional water heating by about two-thirds. It minimizes the expense of electricity or fossil fuel to heat the water and reduces the associated environmental impacts. Solar hot water heaters use the sun to heat either water or a heat-transfer fluid in collectors. High-temperature solar water heaters can provide energy-efficient hot water and hot water heat for large commercial and industrial facilities. Builders, utilities, and the Department of Energy have joined together on several occasions to offer tax credits and utility rebates to encourage the use of solar hot water for residential and commercial projects.

b) Solar Heat - Our goal is to use a Solar Air Heating system to augment the heat pumps as needed during cold winter weather instead of relying on an electric heating coil.

From the DOE/EERE website:

When outdoor temperatures fall below 40°F, a less-efficient panel of electric resistance coils [inside the heat pump system], similar to those in your toaster, kicks in to provide indoor heating. This is why air-source heat pumps aren't always very efficient for heating in areas with cold winters. Some units now have gas-fired backup furnaces instead of electric resistance coils, allowing them to operate more efficiently.

And from the product website:

This Solar Heater is extremely environmentally friendly. It consists of recycled aluminium cans made into 3000 fan blades per unit. Forced convection solar air heaters cycle the home's air through the solar air collector, boosts up the indoor temperature of the air by as much as 55 degrees Fahrenheit and then blows that air back into the home. Once heated the air enters the house at approx 90-100F producing approx 1200-2400 watts of free heat energy. The solar collectors are glazed with a special UV resistant polycarbonate which allows the collector to boost the indoor temperature no matter what the temperature is outdoors. Heat of up to 10,000 BTU (or more), when the sun is out provides a warm flow of air to heat your house. This is like having 3KW of heat circulating in your home which will feel warmer than a typical 3KW electric heater. Solar Heat is environmentally friendly and does not produce any emissions into the atmosphere. Solar Heat is available whenever the sun is out and there is no cost of consumption.

c) Solar Roof Photovoltaic (PV) Panels for electricity generation - We plan to put a 26 PV panel Grid Intertie Solar Array on the southfacing roof that is rated to produce approximately 650 kWh of electricity per month, which is 75%-100% of our current estimated monthly electricity usage.

From the Million Solar Roofs website:

The Million Solar Roofs Initiative is an ambitious plan. But bringing solar energy to a million public and private U.S. rooftops and the environmental and economic benefits that come with it is worthy of everyone's attention. This large-scale U.S. deployment of solar energy technologies will reach schools, libraries, private homes, and large and small businesses. The Million Solar Roofs Initiative will increase momentum in the U.S. for more widespread use of solar power. Increasing the demand for solar energy systems, photovoltaic, solar hot water, and solar space heating systems will lower the cost of these technologies, making them accessible to more people. And this will put the American solar energy industry in a stronger position in the expanding international renewable-energy market. Slowing greenhouse gas emissions. Clean energy from the sun replaces power sources that pollute the environment. In 2010, Million Solar Roofs will reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by an amount equal to what is now produced by 850,000 automobiles. While solar energy is a long-term investment to slow greenhouse gases, the initiative is essential to drive the economies of scale of manufacturing so that significant pollution prevention can occur. Expanding our energy options. In 2010, Million Solar Roofs will produce the same electricity generating capacity as 3-5 coal-fired plants. Solar energy expands our energy options and makes us less dependent on foreign supplies of oil.

2) Roof Construction - We left the original flat roof intact, then built a prepainted metal peaked roof above it.

From the Metal Construction Association website:

With today's heightened interest in and demand for ecologically sound building materials, metal roofing rises to the top as the product of choice. Metal roofing's durability can virtually eliminate the need to use future raw materials to produce roofing. Metal roofing is unaffected by the hot-cold/wet-dry weather cycles that break down other materials. No other roofing material has greater ability to withstand a wider range of weather conditions than metal. Metal roofing's many benefits, including sustainability, recycled content, recyclability, low weight, and energy efficiency, far outweigh virtually all other roof systems from an ecological standpoint.

Metal roofing is rapidly gaining acceptance as a very energy efficient material. Property owners have reported energy savings of as high as 20% and even more after installing metal roofing. The reflectivity and subsequent energy efficiency of metal roofing has been confirmed in studies by independent organizations. Many available metal roofs are being documented to meet Energy Star requirements. Prepainted metal roofing can display solar reflectance of at least 65% and thermal emittance of 80%. This can have a tremendous impact on energy usage by reducing air conditioning costs and the smog and pollution that are created by the production of that energy. Additionally, the low thermal mass of metal roofing means that it dissipates heat very quickly once the sun goes behind a cloud or sets for the day. Other roofing materials have greater thermal mass and will continue to radiate captured heat into the structures beneath them even when the sun is not shining. Roofing is a major component of any structure, and it is a component where the product chosen can have a dramatic effect on the building's life cycle and energy costs.

Most metal roofs have recycled content ranging from 25% to 95%. The recycled content of metal roofing has been a compelling reason for several state and local entities, such as solid waste districts and departments of natural resources, to include metal roofing on their list of "green" and recycled content products. While metal roofing is known for its extremely long life, it does have the added benefit of being 100% recyclable if it is ever removed in the future, perhaps as part of a building renovation. Whereas other old roofing materials are disposed of by the ton in landfills across the country each year, the steel, aluminum, and copper used in metal roofing can be recycled in their entirety. With retrofit applications, many metal roofs can be installed over the old roofing material. This prevents the need to remove the old roof and fill up valuable landfill space. Each year, about 20 billion pounds of old composition roofing shingles are dumped into U.S. landfills. Metal roofing is the way to avoid this degradation of the environment.

Metal roofing has a weight that is 1/3 to as little as 1/8 the weight of conventional roofing shingles, which puts less weight load on a structure. This helps extend the life of buildings and it also provides invaluable protection against roof cave-in threat in the event of seismic activity. Metal roofing and the finishes used on it are inert, safe materials that do not pose a health risk. Furthermore, metal roofing is noncombustible, which provides additional fire protection. Also, many consumers with chemical sensitivities are turning to metal roofing and finding that it does not have the allergy problems associated with other roofing materials.

3) Roof Insulation - The metal roof is insulated with 3 1/2 inches minimum of "Sealection 500" brand expanded foam, creating a well insulated attic airspace.

From the product website:

Sealection 500 is a non-toxic spray foam which has undergone extensive testing. This insulation provides a reduction of heating and air conditioning tonnage by as much as 40% without the loss of efficiency or comfort, so heating and cooling costs can be reduced by as much as 50%. It is an open cell semi-rigid spay-applied polyurethane foam insulation system which is made up of millions of microscopic cells that simultaneously insulate and air-seal. This creates a stable insulation that is not subject to structural deterioration or decomposition. It has been specifically designed to make homes more energy efficient, comfortable, quiet and less dusty. Applied as a liquid, it expands within seconds into a semi-rigid mass up to 120 times its original volume to fill every nook and cranny, providing superior energy efficiency and improved indoor air quality by eliminating air movement through walls and minimizing uncontrolled air leakage throughout the building, thereby reducing energy losses. Sealection 500 reduces airborne noise and dust making it the healthy choice for those who suffer from allergies, asthma or chemical sensitivity. The insulation r-value of Sealection 500 does not diminish over time and remains the same even at lowered temperatures; and its cellular structure and monolithic surface (no joints or seams) make it ideal for energy conservation.

4) Attic Ventilation - Insulation and ventilation work together, and both are needed to properly ensure that a building is energy efficient. We added multiple soffit air vents around the edge of the roof between rafters and installed a large gable wall vent on the gable west end of the attic for ventilation into the attic to dissipate subroof heat and moisture buildup. These allow air to flow in and out of the attic, depending on the season.

5) HVAC - The clinic is zoned for optimum HVAC efficiency and heated/cooled by 4 high efficiency Split System Trane heat pumps, each on a separate thermostat within its zone.

From the DOE/EERE website:

Heat pumps are the most efficient form of electric heating. An air-source heat pump can provide efficient heating and cooling, especially in a warm climate. For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Because they move heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide up to 4 times the amount of energy they consume. The most common type of heat pump is the air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between your house and the outside air. Most central heat pumps are split-systems; that is, they each have one coil indoors and one outdoors. Supply and return ducts connect to a central fan, which is located indoors. If you heat with electricity, a heat pump can trim the amount of electricity you use for heating by as much as 30%-40%. High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer months.

And from the product website:

With a zoning system, you can actually divide the building into two, three or four separate "zones" with similar comfort needs. Then, a system of electronic thermostats and electronically controlled dampers automatically adjusts the level of comfort in each of those zones. Zoning is especially beneficial if you have certain rooms or areas that are always warmer or cooler than the rest of the building. You can direct your system to automatically provide more heating or cooling to that area without wasting energy to heat or cool your entire building. In many cases, proper zoning can result in operating cost savings of as much as 30%. While zoning does not actually increase the efficiency of your heat pump, it does increase the overall efficiency of your system by directing heating or cooling only where you need it. Plus, since you don’t need extra capacity to heat or cool areas that don't need it, zoning may allow you to install a smaller unit. Smaller-capacity equipment costs less to install and to operate. That translates into even more savings!

6) Windows and Doors - The original building envelope was very energy inefficient with old single pane wood framed windows and with two large openings for overhead garage doors.

a) Seal the envelope - To decrease both heat uptake and HVAC loss, we closed in most of the windows on the southfacing and westfacing walls of the building. We also completely closed in the westfacing overhead garage door opening, and replaced the southfacing garage door with insulated steel double doors.

b) Glass Block replacement windows - In the remaining windows on the southfacing and westfacing walls of the building, we replaced the existing windows with glass block grid system windows.

From the IBP Glass Block Grid System website:

IBP Glass Block Grid System windows outperform most conventional windows in thermal efficiency, air infiltration, water penetration, and security. The acceptable standard, according to the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), for a double-pane window is .69. The IBP Glass Block Grid System has a U-value of .49, more than 25 percent better than the accepted standard. Additionally, this system has an air and water infiltration rate of 0.00. Traditional windows transmit more than light. They transmit or possibly amplify sounds from raindrops, hailstorms, traffic, and aircraft. When the IBP Glass Block Grid System is utilized, sounds are subdued and muted by the mass of the block. Light passes freely, but sound doesn't. The patented IBP grid enhances the appearance of glass block windows and wall installations. It assures a proper, uniformly spaced glass block installation without using the time-consuming method of mortar and spacers. The IBP Glass Block Grid System offers the same advantage as security bars, making it one of the most secure components of any building structure. Even if block are broken and removed, the grid system performs like burglar bars and impedes entry.

7) Lowered ceilings - The building originally had 11' ceilings throughout. Except in the Reception Atrium, where we retained the 11' ceiling, we lowered the ceiling height to the standard 8' throughout the remainder of the building. Lowering the ceilings substantially cut the energy use for HVAC due not only to decreasing the amount of airspace that needed to be heated/cooled, but also by creating a second insulated airspace between the original flat roof and the new 8' ceilings throughout more than 80% of the facility.

From the "On the House" AP News Features website:

If you haven't figured it out yet, no matter how modern and energy efficient the home, the more area there is to heat and cool -- and the more it will cost to heat and cool it. The increase in floor area is only one factor. Ceiling height is another; 10- to 24-foot-high ceilings are becoming more and more commonplace. And high ceilings can be a heating and cooling nightmare. Heating and cooling costs are directly proportional to the volume of the space you live in. More floor area means more cost; more height even more cost.

8) Insulation throughout - We chose to insulate all walls, including all interior as well as exterior walls, with R-13 JM Formaldehyde-free Kraft-faced insulation. Ceilings throughout are insulated with R-19 JM Formaldehyde-free Kraft-faced insulation

From the Johns Manville website:

At Johns Manville, Health, Safety and Environmental issues are important to us. JM Formaldehyde-free insulation uses an innovative new acrylic binder that eliminates binder-related formaldehyde emissions during manufacturing, and after installation will not off-gas formaldehyde inside your home. And our insulation contains 20% post-consumer recycled glass. JM Formaldehyde-free insulation provides the same high-quality thermal and acoustical properties as conventional JM fiberglass. As a result, the beneficial effects of our formaldehyde-free insulation are also felt in the home, conserving enough energy annually to fuel North America's electric consumption for an entire month. JM Formaldehyde-free insulation is naturally mold and mildew resistant.

9) Ceiling fans - To maximize the efficiency in heating and cooling the Reception Atrium, we installed multiple Energy Star rated ceiling fans.

From the product website:

How much can I expect to save in heating/cooling costs using ceiling fans? Ceiling fans can provide year-round energy efficiency and cost savings. A ceiling fan can save up to 40% on summer cooling costs, and up to 10% on winter heating costs. During winter, it can move heat trapped near the ceiling back into the living area, reducing heating costs by up to 10%. This is especially valuable in rooms with high or vaulted ceilings.

And from the Energy Star website:

Energy Star qualified ceiling fans use energy-efficient motors and advanced blade design to move more air with less power. Using Energy Star qualified ceiling fans uses 20 - 50 percent less energy to cool, saves $ every year in energy costs, and helps the environment by reducing pollution caused by the generation of energy.

10) Fluorescent lighting - We replaced all the existing lighting throughout the facility with high efficiency fluorescent light fixtures. We chose T-8 fixtures with one electronic ballast, instead of the standard 2 magnetic ballasts, which provides more lumens per kW.

From the DOE/EERE website:

Making improvements to your lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bills. An average household dedicates 11% of its energy budget to lighting. Using new lighting technologies can reduce lighting energy use in your home by 50% to 75%. Use tube fluorescent and energy efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in fixtures throughout your home to provide high-quality and high-efficiency lighting. Fluorescent lamps are much more efficient than incandescent (standard) bulbs and last about 4 to 10 times longer. Although fluorescent and compact fluorescent lamps cost a bit more than incandescent bulbs, they pay for themselves by saving energy over their lifetime.

And from the product website:

Lighting systems are responsible for about 35 percent of the electricity costs in a typical commercial building and 10 percent in industrial settings. In an effort to reduce lighting energy costs, T8 fluorescent lamps with electronic ballast have quickly become the standard for new fixtures and retrofits in commercial office buildings, schools, and a substantial portion of industrial lighting. Magnetic ballasts, found in a T12 fixture, are less efficient, noisier, and heavier than the electronic ballasts in T8 fixtures. Over the past several years, costs of electronic ballasts have decreased dramatically making them comparable to magnetic ballasts.

RECYCLE/REUSE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT:

We are keenly aware of the amount of reusable waste that enters landfills unnecessarily. We chose building materials that contain recycled content and could be recycled in the future if necessary. Plus, we kept our eyes and ears open for unused surplus building supplies available as discard at other jobsites from other construction projects. Although a greater percentage of our building materials were purchased new, we were able to acquire and use some steel studs that were surplus, some sheet rock, structural pipe, cinder blocks, and glass blocks.

1) We chose to renovate with steel stud construction throughout greater than 90% of the interior of the facility.

From the Metal Construction Association website:

The United States Green Building Council has recognized the importance of sustainable building by developing the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. Metal construction products contribute considerably to the sustainable building movement. Its high recycled content, total recyclability, and energy efficiency allow metal to qualify for points in the LEED program, and metal construction components are one construction product that can help gain higher levels of certification for LEED-qualified buildings.

2) For the best energy efficiency, we built the roof framework out of wood, since wood does not conduct heat inward as metal studs would. We saved the reusable lumber we removed from the existing interior walls during the remodeling, and used it in the construction of the new roof as joists and bracing. The new roof is approximately 30% reused lumber.

3) We acquired used cinder blocks during the demolition of a wall at the local High School. We reused these cinder blocks to close up window and door openings in the southfacing and westfacing walls.

4) We acquired used 4" oilfield drill stem pipe to add loadbearing and diaphragm walls to the interior of the building to greatly increase structural integrity.

5) Rather than buy all new equipment and fixtures for the new clinic facility, we moved the in-use fixtures from our original clinic into the new clinic. We also purchased used stainless steel kennel cages and fixtures as needed from other clinics dispersal sales rather than buy new whenever possible.

OUR OVERALL SUCCESS:

We believe that once our Project is complete, we will have:

1) Helped to revitalize "downtown" Bowie, Texas, with a thriving business that will draw people into the downtown area for services;

2) Created an Energy Efficiency example in a refurbished existing downtown commercial building;

3) Decreased the environmental contamination burden through asbestos abatement and the landfill burden by the recycling/reuse of building materials and fixtures;

4) Demonstrated the usefulness and aesthetics of Solar Energy equipment; and,

5) Provided a positive example of Energy Conservation and Green Building for the Bowie Community.