North Boulder Recreation Center, Boulder, Colo.: Leave It Better Than You Found It.North Boulder Recreation Center was one of the first municipal recreation centers in the U.S. to go through the arduous process of being LEED-certified. The LEED (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. ) standards encourage design and construction practices that reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment. Guidelines include sustainable site planning Site planning in landscape architecture and architecture refers to the organizational stage of the landscape design process. It involves the organization of land use zoning, access, circulation, privacy, security, shelter, land drainage, and other factors. ; safeguarding water and water efficiency; energy efficiency and an emphasis on renewable energy Renewable energy utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, and hydroelectricity to biomass and biofuels for transportation. ; conservation of materials and resources; indoor environmental quality; and innovation and design. The center's renovation and expansion--from 31,000 square feet to 61,000 square feet--cost $11.5 million. The most significant LEED-related addition was a $265,000 solar water heating Water heating is a thermodynamic process using an energy source to heat water above its initial temperature. Typical domestic uses of hot water are for cooking, cleaning, bathing, and space heating. In industry both hot water and water heated to steam have many uses. system (seen in the photo below). The system is thought to be the largest hydronic hy·dron·ic adj. Of or relating to a heating or cooling system that transfers heat by circulating a fluid through a closed system of pipes. [hydr(o)- + -onic (as in electronic).] solar unit installed in the U.S. in the last 20 years, and is expected to reduce natural gas consumption by 50 percent. Consistent with LEED standards, the center emphasizes other recycled and environmentally sustainable materials. The parking lot asphalt was recycled. The old air conditioning air conditioning, mechanical process for controlling the humidity, temperature, cleanliness, and circulation of air in buildings and rooms. Indoor air is conditioned and regulated to maintain the temperature-humidity ratio that is most comfortable and healthful. and heating units were reused in the center, sent to other city facilities or recycled for parts. New high-efficiency boilers are expected to operate at 20 percent greater efficiency than the old boilers. Drought-resistant plantings and high efficiency irrigation irrigation, in agriculture, artificial watering of the land. Although used chiefly in regions with annual rainfall of less than 20 in. (51 cm), it is also used in wetter areas to grow certain crops, e.g., rice. systems were used outside the center to conserve water. In addition, recycling bins for glass, paper and plastics are located throughout the center to encourage visitors to conserve as well. To renovate the center along LEED lines, Boulder paid considerably more upfront than normally would have been the case--the costs associated with following the LEEDS guidelines are estimated at more than $500,000. The city expects to recoup those costs at an estimated 37 percent annually Major additional costs, like the solar panels, are expected to be recovered within 12 years. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion