Innovative Water Solutions for Schools - Innovative Design

Innovative Water Solutions for Schools 

Northern Guilford Middle School Case Study 

ulia Janaro, AIA, LEED AP 

Innovative Design

nnovative Design… 

leader in environmentally sensitive design 

32 years of sustainability based on individual and collective global responsibilities 

4750 energy-efficient, environmentally sound buildings 

17 new high performance, sustainable schools 

41 green school renovations 

green school consultant to 47 other A&E firms 

$960 million of work in green educational facilities

nnovative Design… 

leader in environmentally sensitive design 

Annually, Innovative Design’s sustainable buildings save: 

$6.5 million in energy bills 

54,000 tons of CO2 

33 million gallons of water

Innovative Design’s water savings 

123 million gallons 

33 million gallons per year

Innovative Design’s cost savings 

Even with extensive green 

strategies and rising prices, our 

construction costs have averaged 

5% below budget. 

Approaching energy, water, and site 

issues simultaneously leads to 

greater and more cost-effective 

performance of the entire system.

US Environmental Protection Agency 

2006 and 2007 recipient of the USEPA 

national Energy Star Award. 

Innovative Design is the first architectural 

company to receive this award.

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council 

Best Sustainable Building in US 

2005 Heritage Middle School 

Best Sustainable School in US 

2008 Northern Guilford Middle School

nnovative Water Solutions… 

…an Integrated Approach 

Replace with 

Acknowledging the effect of new 

construction on: 

Natural water filtration cycles 

(Stormwater runoff) 

Municipal Water supply 

(Potable water usage) 

Well Water dependability 

(Aquifer depletion) 

Embodied energy costs 

(Energy usage) 

Northern Guilford Middle School 

The right design will consider all 

these concerns simultaneously.

ater cycle issues…… 

Stormwater Runoff 

Water Quality: 

Because our wetlands have been destroyed, 

we have lost much of our nature’s filtering 

system that has previously protected our 

rivers, sounds, and ocean. 

This means that controlling rainwater (and the 

nitrogen) run-off becomes even more critical. 


Northern Guilford Middle School

ater cycle affects issues…… … 


Nitrogen: 

Increasing roof surface area increases the 

amount of runoff to be treated. 

One pound of nitrogen runoff is reduced for 

every 8,660 square feet of rainwater 

catchment roof area. 



ater cycle affects issues…… … 

Potable Water Supply 

Personal water consumption: 

The minimal annual water intake to 

sustain life is 7,500 gallons per year. 

(includes food production) 

3x 

6x 

US water use : 

500,000 gallons / person / year. 

1,370 gallons / person / day. 

Population 

Growth 

1900-1999 

Water 

Use 




Energy Consumption 

80% of the cost of delivering water is energy. 

Source: Sandia National Lab 





Reduce water consumption to reduce energy consumption: 

7% to 8% of our country’s total energy consumption is tied to water treatment 

or transport. 

Saving 10% of the water used in the US would reduce our energy 

consumption by 1% - equal to 1 quad. 

The energy content of water is typically between 5-25 Btus/ gallon of water. 

Desalination requires 50 Btus per gallon. 





Energy production increases water consumption: 

During the 2002 drought, both Duke and Progress Energy had to cut back 

hydroelectric power by 70%. 

During 2003, European utilities had to reduce nuclear power output because 

they lacked water for cooling. 

TVA had to shut down their 

Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 

because of lack of water. 

Duke had to shut down their 

Riverbend Coal Plant because 

of lack of water. 




Aquifer Pollution and Depletion 

xxxxx: 

Aquifers are increasingly becoming polluted 

from nitrogen, pesticides and toxic chemicals. 

97% of fresh water is in our aquifers. 

The aquifers are rapidly being depleted. 

The remaining aquifer water is becoming 

more polluted. 




Aquifer Pollution and Depletion 

Aquifer Pollution: 

Contamination threats to groundwater: 

Pollutant : Nitrates 

Source : Septic Tanks, Fertilizer 

Livestock Manure 

Contamination threats to groundwater 

Pollutant: Heavy Metals, Salt, 

Chlorinated solvents 

Source: Coal Mining Wastes, 

Manufacturing Processes, 

Seawater Intrusion 



ater cycle affects … 

Aquifer depletion and pollution 

Source: News and Observer 



Case Study : Northern Guilford Middle Schools 



Project Team – Integrated Design & Construction 

Owner: Guilford County Schools 

CM: HICAPS 

Architect: Innovative Design, Inc. 

General: New Atlantic 

MEP: Padia Consulting 

Mechanical: Mechworks 

Structural: Lysaght Associates 

Electrical: Starr 

Civil: B+F Consulting 

Plumbing: Cam-Ful 

Landscape: Landis, Inc. 

Technology: CoMor 

Living Machine: Worrell Water Technology 

Cost Management: Mulford Cost Management 


orthern Guilford Middle School 

Innovative Water Strategies 

Rainwater Harvesting 

- Reduce Potable Water Demand 

- Reduce Energy Consumption associated with municipal water supply 

Constructed Wetland 

- Reduce stormwater runoff and associated pollution 

- Reduce erosion associated with uncontrolled runoff. 

Living Machine 

- Reduce Energy Consumption associated with wastewater treatment 

- Recharge aquifer. 

High-Efficiency Irrigation 

- Reduce Potable Water Demand 

- Enhance aquifer recharge. 



nnovative Water Solutions…… 

Integrated water savings 

LIVING MACHINE 

SUB-SURFACE 

IRRIGATION 

ETLAND 

SEPTIC TANK 

TRENCH 

CISTERN 

Rainwater Constructed Living Sub-surface Machine Harvesting Irrigation Wetland 

AQUIFER



Multiple uses represent large savings.: 

360,000 gallon underground cistern 

(308,000 usable). 

Water serves for flushing toliets and 

fire protections. 

Saves 5 million gallons / year. 




Multiple uses represent enhanced cost savings: 

First cost: $1.39/gallon 

$500,000 construction cost 

360,000 gallons 

Long-term savings: 

Effective payback when considering 

infrastructure, utility bills, and 

increasing water costs. 



Replicating natural filtration processes: 

Naturally filtered water returns to stream 

Erosion control 

Constructed Wetland 

Constructed Wetlands 





Immediate cost savings: 

Option 1: $4-5 million 

Extend waste line 10 miles to site 

Option 2: $700,000. 

Treat wastewater on site with 

environmentally-sound 

‘Living Machine’ 





Alternative Treatment Cycle: 

Capable of treating 

30,000 gallons of waste / day 

from high school and middle school. 

Hybrid Wetland Living Machine ® 

- Horizontal Flow Wetland 

- (3) cell Tidal Flow Wetlands 




High-efficiency Irrigation 

Sub-surface Irrigation: 

Sports fields are irrigated with 

moisture-sensitive controls. 

Saves 40% of water compared to a 

conventional sprinkler system. 

Supply water is from the living 

machine, reducing potable water use 

by 5 million gallons / year. 

Irrigation water flows into the aquifer . 




High-efficiency Irrigation 

Minimal irrigation : 

Irrigation system only at sports fields, otherwise xeriscape in place of irrigation. 

Landscape design is native to Greensboro and compatible with existing plantings. 

. 




Design resources 

Green Design Guidelines: 

Daylighting dividends. 

Raincatcher. 




Rainwater System Design Tool: 

Optimized Cistern Size and Collection Area 

Non-Potable Water Demand Evaluation 

Comparative Costs with/without System 

Projection of Water and Cost Savings 

(First year and Long-term) 

Volume of Nitrogen Diverted from 


System Return on Investment (ROI) 




Rainwater System Design 

Assess annual and monthly 

supply and demand. 

Supply : climate and 

collection area. 

Demand : system uses and 

number of occupants. 




Design guidelines: 

Similar user groups and 

locations can use graphs to 

estimate collection area and 

cistern size. 


Thank you !

Innovative Water Solutions for Schools - Innovative Design

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