Children's Museum to attain green certification.Striving to be New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of City's first "green" cultural institution, Brooklyn Children's Museum Coordinates: The Brooklyn Children's Museum is a general purpose museum in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Founded in 1899, it was the first museum in the world to cater specifically to children. The museum is currently undergoing renovation. will seek silver certification by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. (LEED) program of the U.S. Green Building Council following completion of the expansion and renovation project now under construction. The project will add more than 53,000 s/f of space to the building, which will house new galleries for science and cultural exhibitions, education workshops, a new media center and a Kids Cafe. Among the notable "firsts" for a New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. cultural institution is a geothermal heating Geothermal heating has been used since Roman times as a way of heating buildings and spas by utilizing sources of hot water and hot steam that exist near the earth's surface. and cooling system cooling system: see air conditioning; internal-combustion engine; refrigeration. cooling system Apparatus used to keep the temperature of a structure or device from exceeding limits imposed by needs of safety and efficiency. and a photovoltaic The generation of voltage by a material that is exposed to light in the visible and invisible ranges. See photoelectric and photovoltaic cell. system to convert solar energy solar energy, any form of energy radiated by the sun, including light, radio waves, and X rays, although the term usually refers to the visible light of the sun. directly into electrical power. The museum will tap into geothermal wells for its heating and cooling needs, using water from aquifers underneath Brooklyn as an efficient heating and cooling medium. Less energy will be required to heat or cool the building because water from aquifers remains at a constant temperature. Photovoltaic (PV) systems will convert solar energy captured through rooftop PV panels into electrical power, providing approximately 2.5% of the museum's electricity each year. State-of-the-art carbon dioxide carbon dioxide, chemical compound, CO2, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is about one and one-half times as dense as air under ordinary conditions of temperature and pressure. and occupancy sensors will automatically control the performance of the heating and lighting systems, providing a comfortable environment for visitors and staff while reducing energy consumption. Carbon dioxide sensors and computerized controls will automatically adjust the ventilation system ventilation system Public health An air system designed to maintain negative pressure and exhaust air properly, to minimize the spread of TB and other respiratory pathogens in a health care facility according to the number of visitors in each space at any given time based on the level of carbon dioxide in the air. Similarly, occupancy sensors that detect the presence of body heat or motion will automatically control office lights. Sustainability has been deemed an important part of the construction process as well. For example, special attention has been given to construction materials with high levels of renewable or recycled content, such as bamboo and rubber flooring. As construction manager for the project, Skanska has implemented a number of sustainable construction practices, including a goal of recycling 50-75% of all project waste. In addition, the project will incorporate green building guidelines that will affect maintenance and clean-up of the construction site. One challenge of the project is that construction work will be performed while the facility hosts hundreds of visitors each day. Skanska is working closely with the museum, project team and subcontractors to ensure the safety of visitors and staff while accommodating the changing schedule and requirements of the active museum. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is a public benefit corporation that was created by the New York State Legislature in 1975. The purpose of the NYSERDA is to provide funding for the research of energy development. is providing approximately $250,000 toward the cost of the PV panels and energy analyses. The New York Power Authority is providing $500,000 of financing for the geothermal heating system and other high-performance features. The museum estimates that the City of New York, which owns the building, could save as much as $103,000 a year in energy costs. The museum is looking forward to educating its growing audience about the building's high-performance features through interactive exhibits and signage, such as an Energy Adventure, which will demonstrate how the museum converts solar energy into electricity. The project team comprises Brooklyn Children's Museum, owner; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, client; New York City Department of Design and Construction, managing agency; Skanska USA Building Inc., construction manager; Rafael Vinoly Architects, architect of record; Dewhurst MacFarland & Partners, structural engineer; ARUP, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer; Signe Nielsen Architects, landscape architect; and Steven Winter Associates, consultant for sustainable design. DAN KOLAKOWSKI PROJECT EXECUTIVE SKANSKA USA BUILDING INC. |
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