Health & Fitness Going Green Washtenaw JCC makes environment a top priority in renovations. Karen Kohn Special to the Jewish News Ann Arbor G reen is the color of the day, and the Jewish Community Center of Washtenaw County is brimming with it. "The JCC is embarking on an effort to go as green as possible," says Leslie Bash, director of the JCC. The green initiative is much more than just recycling paper or turning down the thermostats at night. In fact, several recent building renovations include state-of-the-art green technologies that are making the JCC more environmen- tally friendly. "We often think about saving energy by driving energy-efficient cars, but the energy used in buildings exceeds the energy used to operate cars by about three to four times',' says Seth Penchansky, vice president of the JCC board and a member of the facilities committee for the last five years. As a principal of Penchansky Whisler Architects, a firm which specializes in sus- tainable architecture, Penchansky oversaw the design and installation of the recent renovations at the JCC. Energy-efficient building design is not a new concept for the JCC. Since the JCC purchased its current home in 1987— a former Ann Arbor public school building built in 1969 — several upgrades have been necessary. The largest expansion, completed in 1998, added significant class- room space to the building, but only met the minimal energy-efficiency standards of the time. Four years ago, the gym was renovated and featured the first energy-efficient rooftop heating and air-conditioning unit with fresh air exchanges to reduce carbon dioxide levels inside. In the construction completed last fall, which updated the Maas Lounge and staff offices and added a con- ference room, the JCC went even further. The renovation included the latest energy-efficient lighting. In the Maas Lounge, 21 fixtures with four lamps each were replaced by eight fixtures with three lamps each, which also use lower-wattage bulbs. The result was a lighting system that uses one quarter of the energy previously required. The conference room features the new lighting, as well. Maas Lounge floors were replaced with more sustainable and longer-lasting building materials, such as Marmoleum, a natural linoleum flooring made from linseed oil. In areas where carpeting was needed, carpet tiles made from recycled nylon were used so that small sections can be swapped if needed without replacing the entire area. Some of the carpet tiles are held in place by friction to lower harmful fumes from glue. New insulation was added in the lounge where drywall was used so the heating and cooling system doesn't have to work as hard. Wails were painted with low VOC (volatile organic compound) paint, which reduces the risk of respiratory and other illnesses. Shatter-proof, insulated windows were installed in the conference room. They also will be installed across the The Kids' Konnection group shows off the artwork they created in the renovated Maas Lounge. front of the building thanks to a Federal Homeland Security grant. The windows offer added safety and increased energy- efficiency Insulated glazing and tinted glass reflect the sun's heat during warmer weather and keep heat inside in winter. The most ambitious of the JCC's green initiatives, however, is the installation of geothermal heating and cooling in the overhaul of the Maas Lounge. Geothermal systems send coolant through piping buried underground to extract the natural heat. A minimal amount of electricity is used to operate a compressor, pump and fan. In warm weather, the system is reversed. The new heating system also works with an energy recovery ventilator, drawing in fresh air from a vent in the roof. The unit runs only when a carbon dioxide sensor indicates fresh air is needed, and it recov- ers 70 percent of the energy that would otherwise be lost by conventional air cir- culation systems. The system can pay for itself within five years in recouped energy costs. Geothermal heating is twice as efficient as standard equipment, has twice the life span, and requires less maintenance. According to Penchansky, it just makes good business sense. The JCC intends to upgrade the building further in the coming years. The spring auction "Raise the Roof," which was held on March 28, raised funds to replace the JCC's 23-year-old roof and install thicker insulation. Eventually, the JCC must replace the 40- year-old boiler that heats the main part of the original building. "When the boiler expires, we'd consider using geothermal heating again," says Leslie Bash. The geothermal heating system in the Maas Lounge serves as a pilot project for that possibility. _ Karen Kohn is a marketing consultant for the JCC of Washtenaw County. The renovation of the Maas Lounge was made possible by a grant from the Benard L. Maas Foundation and funds raised from the 2007 JCC Auction fundraiser. The JCC office and conference room construction was partially funded by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Washtenaw County. The new windows are made possible by a federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security. Bonds Cites Dentist, Doctors T Sackler School of Medicine. he State of Israel Bonds Dr. Berris, D.D.S., is a 1974 Professional Health graduate of the University of Services Division will Michigan Dental School a mem- honor Dr. Ronald Berris, Dr. Miles ber of the Alpha Omega Dental Singer and Dr. Jeffrey Zaks with its Fraternity In addition to his 2009 Maimonides Award. family dentistry practice, he has They will be cited at a tribute been team dentist for the Detroit dinner 6 p.m. Wednesday, April Pistons and Detroit Shock. 29, at Congregation Shaarey Zedek Dr. Berris Dr. Singer, D.O., gradu- Southfield. ated from Des Moines University Event chairmen Drs. William Leuchter, Medical School in 1990. He Arthur Lieberman and Harris Mainster completed his internship and said the keynote speaker will be Dr. residency at Botsford Hospital Gabriel Barbash, director general of the and a spine fellowship at Southern Tel Aviv Ichilov Sourasky Medical Center Illinois University. He is in private and professor of epidemiology and pre- practice at the Michigan Spine ventative medicine at Tel Aviv University's Institute in Waterford, on staff at Huron Valley Sinai Hospital and is a clinical assistant professor at Michigan State University. Dr. Zaks, M.D., earned his medical degree from Wayne State University in 1973. He completed his residency in internal medi- Dr. Zaks cine and a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at Providence Hospital in 1978. He is an affiliate faculty mem- ber at the University of Detroit- Mercy and a clinical associate pro- fessor at Wayne State University. He has authored and co-authored numerous articles, papers and sci- entific presentations. Dr. Zaks is in private prac- tice with Heart Cardiology Consultants, P.C. in Southfield and Novi and has been a member of the Providence Hospital medical staff for 35 years. Within the St. John Health System, he has been corporate vice president for clini- cal decision support, vice presi- dent of medical affairs and chief medical officer at Providence from 2000-2007. For information about the event or the securities offered by Development Corporation for Israel/State of Israel Bonds, contact (248) 352-6555, or (888) 352-6556 or www.israelbonds.com . April 16 • 2009 A33