A major goal for the new LEED Platinum-certified Environmental Center is to consume little more, if any, energy than is produced on site. More than 85 percent of the energy we use is generated from on-site renewable sources. The following are some of the key sustainable strategies we employ in the new center.
Geothermal Heating and Cooling uses the Earth’s relatively constant temperature to help provide heat in the winter and cooling in the summer. Fluid will circulate through a network of pipes that are sunk in fourteen 400-foot deep wells. The system uses a heat pump to force the transfer of heat from and to the ground. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal systems can reduce energy use in heating by 30-70 percent and in cooling by 20-50 percent.
Our Green Roof will reduce stormwater runoff, improve insulation and extend the life of the roofing materials. By absorbing and storing water before returning it to the atmosphere, green roofs can reduce stormwater runoff by as much as 70 percent, according to US EPA.
Photovoltaic Panels generate non-polluting renewable energy from the sun to meet most, if not all, of our electricity needs.
Natural Passive Solar Day Lighting serve most of the building’s interior lighting needs on sunny days.
The Solar Hot Water System uses an array of evacuated tubes to greatly reduce the convection and conduction heat loss of solar heated water, thereby achieving greater efficiency than other solar hot water systems.
Rainwater Harvesting. Water is collected from the building’s roof to use in flushing toilets, thereby reducing our consumption of groundwater and the energy associated with pumping it, and reducing the amount of stormwater we produce.
Rain Gardens employ water-loving plants and soil amendments to reduce and purify stormwater runoff and help recharge our aquifer.
Our innovative Wetlands-Based Wastewater Treatment System employs the natural cleansing action of plants, soil, and microorganisms to result in water that is cleaner than what is produced from traditional wastewater treatment systems and is more effective in infiltrating water into the aquifer.
Certified LEED Platinum from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, the Watershed Center demonstrates responsible technologies in areas including water conservation, energy efficiency, sustainable materials and resources, and innovation. Click to read more about our LEED certification.
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