Dental Tribune Nordic Edition No.4, 2016

09 Dental Tribune Nordic Edition | 4/2016 SCIENCE & PRACTICE location where one wants it. Thus, there is no wasted light. Installing motion sensors in rooms so lights are only on when someone is present also helps reduce energy usage. While these may not be practical in areas such as waiting rooms or operatories, in other less trafficked areas, such as restrooms, storage rooms or staff lounges, they can work well. Also, installing a programmable thermostat so the building is not being overly heated or cooled dur- ing off-hours helps reduce energy consumption and costs. Whether building new or ren- ovating, the building must be in- sulated properly for the climate zone of its location. Having ade- quate insulation can save up to 20 per cent on heating and cooling costs, especially when combined with proper seals on windows and doors.5 Every new building and even some renovated ones need new roof systems. Designing the roof to be light or white in colour is more energy-efficient than a dark one, as these colours reflect the solar energy away from the build- ing rather than absorbing it, which would cause the building to become a heat island. If possi- ble, one should consider install- ing a living roof system. These systems help reduce rainwater run-off, reduce cooling costs for the building, and when visible from the ground, attract and retain patients, as people find them appealing. One could also consider installing photovoltaics. Today’s solar panels are much more efficient and affordable than the panels of the 1970s and 1980s, with integrated photovol- taics possible (Fig. 4). Rather than installing a hot-water tank in the new office, one should design for in-line hot-water systems. These systems provide hot water on demand, thus eliminating the need to heat and keep hot a large tank of water. Today’s systems are small and compactenoughtofitundercoun- ters and inside cabinets. One way to design to reduce waterusageisbyinstallingmotion- sensing faucets and dual-flush toilets. Both deliver the right amount of water to do the job and eliminate or at least reduce water waste. Eco-friendly materials Making environmentally sound material and finish choices during the design of the office can help reduce the new office’s carbon footprint. Dental practices con- tain a high number of cabinets and counter-tops and these need to be able to provide a high level of sanitation and infection con- trol, especially in operatories, lab- oratories and sterilisation areas. In these areas, quartz provides an eco-friendly option. Quartz is non-absorbing and the most sani- tary material choice next to stain- less steel. Quartz will not promote the growth of bacteria or mould. One should look for a source that is within 800 km of one’s location to avoid or reduce high transpor- tation costs. Away from areas of high san- itation needs, one can consider other materials, such as reclaimed wood, concrete or terrazzo, as a counter-top material. Reclaimed barn wood is very popular right now in counters, counter-tops and floors. These materials offer a wide range of design options, are attractive and can readily be recy- cled at the end of their useful life. On the floor, one can look to eliminate unnecessary material by leaving the floor as stained or polished concrete, if possible. This gives a great aesthetic, but is prob- ably not a good choice in operato- ries and other areas of high san- itation control, as concrete tends to be porous. Furthermore, it can promote lower back and leg pain if one stands on it for long periods. In these areas consider a sheet vinyl that has a high degree of re- cycled content, can be recycled at the end of its life and is installed using welded seams. The reason for the welded seams is to elim- inate cracks that are difficult to keep clean and where bacteria can hide. On the walls, one can consider using only a zero volatile organic compound paint. While vinyl wall- coverings have been popular in health care for many years, it is one more material that requires energy to produce and adds to the carbon footprint of the office. When choosing a vinyl wallcover- ing, one should select one that has a high recycled content and is re- cyclable at the end of its useful life and with zero emissions of volatile organic compounds in the case of both it and its adhesion method. Lastly,theupholsterythrough- out the office should be designed to be green. While in a dental of- fice the upholstery needs to aid in infection control, there are plenty of fabric options available that have a high degree of recycled content, are recyclable at the end of their useful life, have a high wear factor for use in commercial settings, and are bleach cleanable to reduce the spread of infection. Whenever and wherever possi- ble, one should reuse materials such as doors, door frames, cabi- nets, cabinet and door hardware, and lighting. This reduces the amount of material going into landfills and reduces the total carbon footprint of the new office. Especially when remodelling, one can breathe new life into existing fixtures to give the office a clean, fresh appearance without having to buy everything new. When looking to build or remodel, one should search for a contractor who is on board with the project’s energy-reducing goals, one who is willing to com- mit the time to segregating waste materials and diverting them to the proper recycling centres. Many carpet, wallcovering and re- stroom fixture companies are willing to take old materials back and recycle them into their new ones. While this takes extra effort on the part of the contractor, doing so helps reduce the project’s total carbon footprint. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Now that you have decided to build a green dental office, consider having the project LEED certified. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a program by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) that has become a global standard for certifying that buildings are de- signed and built to reduce energy and water usage, as well as their carbon footprint. A 2008 study by the CoStar Group found that LEED buildings command rent premiums of US$11.33 per square foot over their non-LEED peers and have 4.1 per cent higher oc- cupancy. Additionally, LEED certi- fied buildings command a US$171 per square foot premium over non-certified ones at the time of sale.6 Designing and building a greenorenvironmentallyfriendly dental office is not more difficult than designing and building a conventional one, but it requires a bit more planning and thought up front to ensure the choices made during the design process and contractor selection promote the goal of reducing the building’s environmental impact. The selec- tion of the office’s location, its ori- entation on the building site and the design of all of its various com- ponent parts all contribute to how much energy and water will be saved during the building’s useful life. These choices affect the day- to-day operating costs of the prac- tice too. Slowing down up front and taking care in the choices made can help promote both a healthier bottom line for the prac- tice and a healthier environment to work and live in. One does not necessarily have to wait to build or renovate to at- tain operating cost improvements and help the environment. There are things that can be done im- mediately, such as installing a programmable thermostat so the building temperature is always the right temperature for the oc- cupancy at the time. There are a wide variety of LED lamps availa- ble now that can be used in almost any existing fixture, so replacing all of the bulbs in the office with LEDs will have an immediate im- pact on energy use. One can have the existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in- spected to make certain it is oper- ating at its peak efficiency and make sure all windows and doors are properly sealed. These few steps can have a dramatic impact on reducing energy usage and on the dental practice’s bottom line. Editorial note: A list of references is available from the publisher. In 2002, James Kuester founded Küster Design, which special- ises in a full range of inte- rior design ser- vices for dental offices. As a LEED Green Associate, Kuester is experienced in applying de- signprinciplesthatreduceenergycosts and carbon footprints. He can be con- tacted at james@kusterdesign.com. 3 4

Dental Tribune Nordic Edition No.4, 2016

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