New Hope Center Earns Certification
New Hope Center at Y-12 Earns Energy Leadership Certification
Thurs, 26 June 2008
The New Hope Center at the Y‑12 National Security Complex has been recognized as a LEED Certified facility by the U.S. Green Building Council. Achieving LEED certification is a rigorous process that only a small percentage of the buildings in the country attain. Currently, there are only eight facilities currently in Tennessee that have LEED certification. Of those eight Tennessee facilities, five are located in Oak Ridge.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program is a program of the United States Green Building Council and guides building design toward a holistic approach to sustainability. The country’s need to construct smarter, more environmentally friendly buildings is the primary focus of the program.
Wayne Roquemore, president of Lawler-Wood, the project developer, said, “We are very proud of this milestone. New Hope is the first LEED facility for Lawler-Wood. In the very early stages of the project, B&W Y‑12 expressed a strong desire for it to be designed and constructed to USGBC standards. The development team committed to the concept and the LEED design, construction and documentation requirements became a part of the project.”
Randy Spickard, vice president and executive director of Science, Technology and Partnerships for B&W Y‑12, said the LEED designation puts New Hope in select company. “It demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. The employees at Y‑12 take pride in the fact that New Hope is a LEED facility, that it is one of only a few in the state to achieve such recognition, and that its management is committed to providing a work place that is functional, efficient and environmentally responsible.”
LEED is an independent, non-governmental organization that sets standards and provides ongoing education programs for building occupants and the public. Manufacturing companies, architects, engineers, and other professionals collaborate to produce materials and designs that provide a comprehensive approach to constructing buildings that have reduced operating costs, that have healthier and more productive occupants, and that conserve our natural resources. Following are some of the green features included at New Hope Center:
- High-efficiency glass
- High-efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
- Energy Star compliant roof system
- Low or no volatile organic compounds in the carpeting, paints and furniture
- Energy-efficient lighting and lighting controls, motions sensors, etc.
- Urea formaldehyde-free casework (cabinets, countertops, etc.)
- Green Guard certified workstations with fabrics, adhesives, woods, and paints that promote good indoor air quality
- Rainwater reclamation system (4 above-ground 12,000-gallon harvesting tanks)
- High-efficiency irrigation system using only captured rainwater
- Designated parking for alternative-fuel (E-85) vehicles
- Bike racks and showers to promote alternative transportation opportunities
- A green cleaning program that helps protect building occupants from potential contaminants and chemicals and reduce the environmental impact of daily cleaning of the building
- Carbon dioxide monitoring systems (improve indoor air quality)
- Facility-wide enhanced recycling program
- Direct exhaust of custodial and copier areas (improves indoor air quality)
- Green power
B&W Technical Services Y‑12 operates the Y‑12 National Security Complex for the National Nuclear Security Administration.