Fluid Dynamics Study | Radical Roof Design | Energy Blankets | Earth Tubes
Sophisticated Computer Control | First Fuel Cell | Symbiotic Heating Systems
On The Boards | LEED | First LEED Visitors Center | Café Phipps
Behind the Scenes | Saving Trees | Green Rooftops | Drought-resistant Grass
High-Efficiency Bathroom Fixtures | Wind Power | Reusing Building Materials
Smart Lighting | No HCFCS/Low-VOC | Air Scrubbers | Composting
Integrated Pest Management
 
Fluid Dynamics Study
• Computational fluid dynamics study by Architectural Energy Corporation, Boulder, CO
• Top: Traditional design with two-vent openings – hot inside
• Bottom: Phipps design with every other row of roof glass opening – cool inside
• Brilliant use of winds from local ravine assists in cooling
 
 
Radical Roof Design
• North sloping roof allows for insulated double-pane roof glass
• Half of the 12,000 sf roof opens
• Eliminates the “greenhouse effect”
• Inspired by open-roof greenhouse technology
• First ever computer-controlled Venturi effect
• Totally passive system to suck hot air out of the conservatory
• No enormous energy-consuming exhaust fans
• Vents run by Argus Control System
 
 
Energy Blankets
• Prevent convective and radiant heat loss
• Provide shade in summer
• Thermal insulation in winter
• Argus computer controlled
• Tied electronically to weather station
 
 
 
Earth Tubes
• Totally passive cooling
• Uses the earth to cool the air
• Replaces need for HVAC
• Largest conservatory installation in USA
• Six 24” diameter concrete tubes each 300’ long/ German technology
• Earth at 15’ below grade is a steady 55° year round
• Hot outside air cools as it travels through the tubes into the conservatory
• Vacuum created by hot air exiting the roof vents pulls the cooled air into conservatory
• In the winter, makeup air is partially heated as it travels through the tubes
 
 
Sophisticated Computer Control
• Uses Argus, a fully integrated environmental control system
• Computer system opens and closes vents according to internal conditions and outside wind direction & speed
• Anticipatory computer controlled weather & temperature reacting system
• Maximum energy and irrigation efficiency
• Smoother, more uniform growing conditions
• Better plant quality and uniformity
• More comfortable environment for visitors
• Precise equipment control and advanced data recording system
 
 
First Fuel Cell
• First fuel cell in the world in a conservatory
• 5kW Solid Oxide Fuel Cell efficiently produces electricity from natural gas
• Siemens & PA state funded prototype
• Waste heat captured and used to heat tempered water system
• Reduced emissions minimize contribution to global warming
• No nitrous or sulfur dioxide
   
On the Boards
• CO2 pumped back into greenhouses
• Carbon sequestered by plants
• Second fuel cell powered by methane generated from anaerobic waste digester
 
 
Symbiotic Heating Systems
• Thermal massing in NW and NE walls collects passive solar energy daytime
• Foot-thick concrete wall insulated on outside
• Slowly releases heat back into exhibit at night
• Radiant root zone heating for plants
• Radiant floor heat for visitors
• Minimal fin tube heating system
• Green roof over support facilities
• Selective double-pane glass and energy blankets conserve heat
• Earth tubes pre-heat makeup air
• Argus controlled for maximum efficiency
   
On the Boards
• 200,000 gallon cistern used as a heat sink to heat and cool future Education/Administration building
 
 
On the Boards:
Eco-Innovation Zone includes
• Living MachineTM to treat all sanitary water on site
• Anaerobic Waste Digester to compost all organic matter and create methane for electricity
• Center for Sustainable Landscapes for environmental research and education programs
• Phyto-Remediation garden to demonstrate how plants can clean brownfields
• Green Roof trial garden
• Rain Garden to collect parking lot surface run off
• Sustainable Plants demonstration garden
• On-site wind power
• On-site photovoltaic systems
 
    LEED
The Welcome Center is a Silver LEED certified building. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and was developed by the United States Green Building Council to provide a rating system to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible and healthy places to work.
 
 
First LEED® Visitor Center
• First LEED®-certified visitor’s center in a public garden
• A high performance building
• Energy efficient
• Water efficient
• Local and sustainable construction material
• Improved indoor environmental quality
• Sustainable site development
 
 
Café Phipps
• Features local and organic foods
• Natural light in an underground space
• Corn-based “plastic” cups
• Biodegradable recycled paper products
• Café pre-consumer waste vermicomposted and used in gardens
• Fair trade items featured in Gift Shop
   
On the Boards
• First Conservatory to use an anaerobic organic waste digester to compost pre- and post-consumer café waste
 
 
Behind the Scenes
• Historically sensitive design to highlight the classic Victorian conservatory
• Green roof saves energy
• Sidewalk snowmelt system uses waste-steam heat from greenhouses
• Low-flow water fixtures and waterless urinals
• Fritted sunscreen in dome reduces solar heat gain
• Innovative computerized dome venting saves on A/C costs
• Computer controlled interior environment tied into weather station
• Drought resistant lawn, environmentally friendly lawn maintenance
• Biodiesel powered maintenance equipment
• FSC-certified wood used in construction
• 100% wind powered electricity
 
  Saving Trees
Before construction even began, the staff at Phipps had to first move two mature dawn redwood trees, Metasequoia glyptostryboides, estimated to weight 110,000 pounds each, located in the future construction site. The move took two weeks and exorbitant amount of manpower but it is important to Phipps to maintain these gorgeous trees that were once thought extinct.
 
  Green Rooftops
The specially designed roof covering much of the building retains about 50 percent of rainfall which is kept in the water table instead of being channeled into the sewer system. The green roofs keep the building cool and even reduce the heat island effect caused by wide areas of concrete and pavement. Interestingly, green roofs tend to last three times as long as standard roofs because temperature variations are reduced and exposure to harmful UV radiation is eliminated.
 
  Drought Resistant Grass
The front lawn of the Welcome Center was planted with drought resistant turf which reduces water consumption by 81 percent. The landscaped beds in front of the Welcome Center will be watered only when necessary using a high-efficiency drip irrigation system.
 
  High-efficiency Bathroom Fixtures
The Welcome Center is outfitted with automatic faucets and toilets and even waterless urinals. These fixtures save between 40,000 and 45,000 gallons of water each year.
 
  Wind Power
The Welcome Center is run on wind power and this renewable, pollution-free energy source does not deplete natural resources nor does it cause environmental damage or hazardous waste.
 
  Reusing Building Materials
Much of the construction materials are from recycled content or were manufactured or extracted regionally. Any leftover construction materials were donated to Construction Junction, a Pittsburgh-based retail store for used and surplus building materials.
 
  Smart Lighting
The Welcome Center is designed to maximize interior daylight. The low-e fritted glass walls save on energy and in the gift shop and café provide natural daylight. The magnificent glass dome, aside from its central jewel status, further reduces the need for supplemental lighting. Outside lights point downward, thus reducing night sky pollution.
 
 

No HCFCS
Refrigeration and fire suppression systems in the Welcome Center use no Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) or halons, which contribute to ozone depletion.

Low-VOC
During construction, low-volatile organic compound materials were used in construction, thus creating a safer work environment. Furthermore, environmentally-friendly paints, adhesives, sealants, carpets, and woods are used throughout the facility.
 
  Air Scrubbers
The air quality inside the Phipps is some of the best in Pittsburgh. Many plants actually clean the air better than others. Some toxic and dangerous poisons can be removed from the air by simply adding plants to a space. A few common house plants are Boston Fern, Spider Plant, Pothos, Dwarf Date Palm, and Moth Orchid and they remove things like formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene.
 
  Composting
When we talk about sustainability, we can’t help but talk about composting. Truth be told, we love this stuff! It’s so easy to compost. It makes a great soil amendment and you won’t believe how much household waste is kept out of landfills when garbage day rolls around. Thanks to a grant from the Allegheny County Health Department, Phipps has obtained to two Nature Mill composting units for our employee kitchens for food scraps. Plans are underway for Café Phipps to compost all the pre-consumer food leftovers in a Worm Bungalow. This composter is designed to handle the large amounts of food wastes from commercial kitchens. Also, at Phipps we offer classes and free public programs in composting, go to our education section to learn more.
 
  Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the pest control strategy that Phipps employs Conservatory-wide to keep our plant collection healthy and beautiful.  IPM uses an array of complementary methods: natural predators and parasites, pest-resistant varieties, cultural practices, biological controls, various physical techniques, and the strategic use of pesticides.  To learn more about using IPM in your home or garden go to the Penn State Cooperative Extension site.