Electronic Media KitSustainabilityDr. Lillian Ostojich’s commitment to sustainability evolved in concert with the building and construction of the Personalized Wellness Center that she has created in Chicago - Zoetica.Zoetica was founded on the core principals of trust and reliability with the mission to provide the environment, tools, education and support necessary to achieve and maintain radiant health and well being, not only for her clients, but for the general public and, ultimately, the planet as well, by becoming a model for sustainable and healthy living. This began with the facility itself. Dr. Lilly feels very strongly that it is not enough to offer the purest organic products and frontier services to clients if the building conditions and the surroundings where they are provided are impure and harmful to the environment and living organisms. Consistent with this mission, Zoetica is a USGBC/LEED Project. A great deal of time, effort, research and collaboration with others will soon lead Zoetica to be awarded LEED Certification - Gold or Platinum (according to projections by an independent third party 2Point Perspective, whose Principals are LEED Accredited Professionals.) “It is much harder to achieve LEED status in an existing site. One must readjust, remodel and improve existing systems. Ideally, this would have been planned for and incorporated into the original architectural design and the costs calculated ahead of time for a brand new building on a site chosen for that purpose.” It takes commitment and dedication far beyond monetary concerns when one is building a facility of this kind. Another obstacle was Zoetica’s size. For a small to medium sized business to attempt such a goal is even more unusual as the time, effort and resources required are prohibitive and impractical for all but the most staunch advocate of sustainability. Coupled with this great achievement, Zoetica discovered that it will be the first USDA Certified Organic wellness and health facility in the country. All of Zoetica’s textiles, skin and hygiene products, produce and food are USDA/Certified Organic. Zoetica’s exclusive skin care line - “Zoetica One”, formulated with the cooperation of a seasoned cosmeceuticals formulator, innovator and manufacturer - Karen Cieser, principal and founder of Trillium Herbal Co. Inc. - - has already achieved USDA/Certified Organic status. The confirmation of purity is well documented in the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Coalition testings results and database. The brand will be expanded to include tea, coffee, chocolate and “ready made” raw food meals, linen hygiene products and supplements and any products of critical importance for health preservation. It is a distinctively singular achievement for a facility of any kind to have received LEED Certification and to be USDA Certified Organic. For a small specialized business such as Zoetica to have accomplished this, well, it simply has not been done. The menu to the left is offered to help all of those who may wish to follow in her footsteps. It is hoped that the years of research that went into this project to locate and source all of the information and products that are used in Zoetica might help others to create their dreams as well, transform their lives and benefit everyone. Here you will discover a detailed description of how Dr. Lilly employed state-of the-art, environmentally balanced, green building and construction practices according to USGBC/ LEED guidelines to create a facility that represents in both form and function all that Zoetica stands for - Pure, Radiant Health and Well Being. Site SelectionIn 2005, Dr. Lilly purchased a 5,000 square-foot space over three floors in a residential high-rise building just north of downtown in Chicago’s Gold Coast. The site for Zoetica was chosen for its urban location. It was not until after Dr. Lilly purchased the property that she became aware of LEED and the importance of all of the “green” elements that eventually became the essence of Zoetica. From the outset, Dr. Lilly wanted everything in the facility to be non-toxic and USDA Certified Organic. Ori Sivan, one of the principals - with Joe Silver - of Greenmaker Supply, a main supplier of her sustainable building materials said “Lilly, you should go for the LEED certificate, since you are already doing everything according to their requirements”. From that point on, Dr. Lilly began to deeply research LEED and everything “green” establishing the foundation of her commitment to sustainability practices.Water EfficiencyEfficient and pure water sources and systems are an essential part of any home or business. Dr. Lilly, incorporated systems into Zoetica that reduce water use by 40%.She did this by:
A special reservoir will be built to collect the water that re-flushes through the Wellness Filter. (Water flushes through every 3 - 5 days and, uncollected, would simply be eliminated into the sewer system.) This will be used for indoor and outdoor landscaping. Hot water is provided by the most energy-efficient electric water heater Marathon/Rheem (over 92% efficiency.) Heat loss is further restricted by R24-rated insulation that has been placed over the heat traps, recovery pumps and the water heater stand. Additionally, by installing instant “spot” water heaters at the locations where the demand is highest, such as, the kitchen and pedicure stations Zoetica eliminated the need for a central high capacity water heater thereby reducing the water heater capacity by 40 gallons - a significant energy and water savings. The combined use of all of Zoetica’s energy efficient appliances is projected to save between 25% and 50% of the energy required. Energy and AtmosphereAware of the fact that “green” starts with energy awareness and that energy represents 30% of a typical buildings annual budget and is the single largest operating cost, all electrical equipment and appliances are Energy Star rated.One of Zoetica’s most important efforts toward sustainability is the exclusive use of wind power for its energy. Zoetica’s wind power purchase is projected to make an environmental savings equal to 972,576 miles (not driven) in an average car, the removal of 78 cars from the roads or planting 122 acres of fully mature trees. Some of Zoetica’s energy-saving techniques were recommended by AspenGreen, an environmentally friendly energy company. With their advice, Zoetica was able to implement a heat recovery system that resulted in the elimination of a 10-ton air-conditioning unit from the original architectural plans, saving significant amounts of both energy and money. Special computerized systems for automation - Life Ware™/ Exceptional Innovation - enable each treatment room to have RFID supported temperature and light control. Because of the height of the ceilings on the second and third floors, special thermal equalizers (Airius Thermal Equalizer/Avedon Engineering, INC) maintain an even temperature throughout Zoetica - Only up to 1º difference between the highest and lowest level - substantially saving energy. Zoetica is the only facility in Illinois to use it. Some simple techniques, were used to prevent outdoor air from seeping into Zoetica from entryways and windows. A vestibule was added outside the main entrance to reduce temperature changes and preserve energy in the building. Even though Zoetica’s windows are oriented toward the east - the less sunny side of the property - windows are covered with metal grille awnings to prevent over heating of the interior. Materials and ResourcesDemolitionThanks to Dr. Lilly’s extensive research, sustainability started with demolition. From the beginning, she arranged to recycle as much of the debris from demolition as possible. Recycling Systems, Inc., a Chicago company, was contracted to pick up and recycle building materials at demolition and throughout the construction process. Once all construction work was completed, Dr. Lilly learned that 83.86% of demolition particles and other building material remnants at this facility were recycled – a great foundation for Zoetica!Flooring materials were handled separately. Working with PCI FlorTech, Inc., all carpeting in the existing space was removed and recycled through an existing industry program, StarNet/Care Carpet Reclamation Program. Zoetica was awarded a certificate of participation for using this program. Construction MaterialsThrough conscientious advanced planning, Dr. Lilly was able to ensure that more than 60% of the existing space’s nonstructural components could be retained and reused for Zoetica, saving on building materials and preventing unnecessary building and energy waste. Additionally, all new construction materials and components are made of either reusable or recycled materials. For example, all metal studs and tracks (Dietrich Metal Framing) were manufactured from 57.5% post consumer and 32.5% post industrial recycled materials and all drywall sheets were manufactured from 99% recycled materials. Insulation materials (Ultratouch/Bonded Logic,Inc) are made from 85% recycled remnants of denim production effectively keeping the building warm and preventing sound transmission. The ceiling tiles are made from 27% recycled content from old ceiling material purchased from the company USG.It was very important to Dr. Lilly that nothing was overlooked in the creation of Zoetica as a place that represented purity and health from the tiniest metal stud to the most luxurious creams and the most knowledgeable practitioner. Knowing that even the transportation of building materials from geographically distant manufacturers could contribute to air pollution, she was committed to finding the right local manufacturers. More than 20% of materials were sourced in this manner. Indoor Environmental QualityIndoor Air QualityZoetica applied the highest standards when planning for environmental air quality. Air filtration is accomplished in three steps. Air filters that are already rated 13 MERVs (AeroStar MERV 13 green pleat/ Filtration Group) have been further enhanced by adding medical-grade air cleansers from the Calu Tech line of air purifiers helping to eliminate bacteria, viruses, mold, organic chemicals and other harmful elements in the air.After all construction was completed and prior to occupancy, all the air within Zoetica was flushed through MERV 13 filters to optimize air quality from the very beginning. In addition, every effort has been made to reduce or eliminate potential pollutants from entering the air in the future. VOC free and/or Low VOC sealants, adhesives and paints were used throughout construction. Only cleaning products that are chemical free and non-toxic are used. Finally, each room at Zoetica has its own air control system allowing greater personalization for client comfort and the reduction of wasted energy. The third level of air purification will be a unique concept of indoor landscaping designed by Planning Resources, Inc. consisting of almost 1000 sq. feet of the interior space using plants proven to be excellent air purifiers and detoxifiers. Materials for InteriorsDiligent research led Dr. Lilly to the latest sustainable techniques, construction and interior building materials now beautifully manifested at Zoetica. The following list is offered to give you an example of the surprisingly wide variety of excellent products that are already available thanks to the efforts of some pioneering and visionary companies and to help you get started on your own “green” construction project.
Specifically:
LightingMaximizing the use of natural daylight is one of the simplest forms of energy management. Zoetica’s space was designed to maximize the use of daylight. More than 90% of the space (even isolated spaces such as storage rooms) are exposed to daylight from uncovered windows that already existed and skylights that have been added. With the minor addition of 10 CFL sconces in the interior - LCS Series/ American Fluorescent, LED lighting has been used almost exclusively throughout Zoetica: Color changing, cove lighting by Tokistar; Downlight by Permlight and Gallium Lighting; Undershelving and under counter lighting, as well as single color, cove lighting - Tetra LED System by GE; and outside wall washers by BL LED. The LED lighting choice, alone, has been calculated to save approximately 88% of current and future energy and expenses over incandescent lighting.It is extremely unique to use LED lighting exclusively in any building, because the application and choice of this technology is very new and expensive. Product availability is simply not there. Design options are few. LED lighting is just at the initial stages of being considered for common usage. The interior design of Zoetica was actually organized specifically to accommodate LED usage. The main objective was to take advantage of the high-energy efficiency of LED lighting - the most energy efficiency on the market and,at the same time, to prove its esthetic appeal as well. Sustainability In Every DetailCertified OrganicPlease note, that in order for a product to be certified organic it must also be made from a living material, raised, manufactured and processed according to specific organic standards. However, most people do not realize products that come from organic crops - besides those used for food and produce, such as insulation, towels, linens, clothing etc. must also be produced in a certified organic facility according to certified organic processes. (Even the thread must be certified organic as well as the dyes - if any - used to color the material.) It is very rare that manufacturers will go that extra step to make their products in an organically certified facility. The public can be easily taken advantage of because they simply do not understand the full implication of what organic truly means and will buy something just because it says organic. Know that Zoetica’s products have been produced according to the strictest standards set by the USDA for certified organic products.Dishes, food and Printed MatterAbove and beyond demolition and the construction process, Zoetica has made sure to incorporate sustainability into its daily operations. Glasses are made of recycled glass bottles. All food products are certified organic, including chocolates, raw food meals and juices. Zoetica’s coffee and tea is certified organic and fair trade. All take out containers are biodegradable or made out of sustainable materials. Zoetica uses computer technologies and its own proprietary compilation software programs to create a paper free environment. Any printed materials produced, including packaging and product labels, are done on stone based, treeless or recycled paper printed with vegetable or soy ink.HygieneTo further reduce paper usage and maximize hygiene and health, toilet bowls are equipped with high-tech bidets that are part of the actual seat - washlet/Toto. Certified organic towels are used for the drying of hands. In fact, all linens used in the facility – from the sheets and towels to client robes and employees uniforms are certified organic.TransportationZoetica is located in an area that contains many high-rise residences and is close to multiple forms of transportation, including commuter trains and buses, to limit energy used in reaching the facility. Bicycle stations have been installed to encourage clients to use alternative transportation.Annual equipment maintenance plans and building inspections are in place to make sure all equipment and operations retain the highest level of energy efficiency and sustainability. Zoetica will continue to conduct research and keep pace with new and emerging techniques for integrating sustainability into every aspect of operations. The company is committed to educating its clients about practical energy management techniques and will lend support to anyone interested in learning more about how to incorporate sustainability into a business environment. The Promise of Sustainability: Cradle-to-Cradle SystemsSustainability does not reside in the sphere of construction alone. It requires careful management of ongoing operations and consistent maintenance to realize the greatest returns. Dr. Lilly, through Zoetica, has taken great pains to insure that organic, recycled, recyclable materials and rapid growing renewable materials were used at every stage of construction, interior decorating operations and across all systems. This enables Zoetica to fully recycle, including composting food remnants creating its own USDA/organic landscaping fertilizer and, directly or indirectly, return product and materials back into use. This is known as achieving “Cradle-to-Cradle” sustainability. Programs and relationships have been initiated, designed and incorporated to support and protect the environment now and throughout the life cycle of the facility.Dr. Lilly's experience with Zoetica proves that creating a planet-friendly, environmentally sensitive and energy-preserving facility takes dedication and commitment more than anything else. With consistent discipline and access to people who can supply the knowledge and resources needed at every level of construction and operation, achieving cradle-to-cradle results is within anyone's reach. Innovation And Design ProcessZoetica brought numerous innovations and original approaches to the challenge of creating a luxurious high-end facility while maintaining sustainability. For example:
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