Green Design Features
Opened in January of 2011, the Recreation and Wellness Center (RAW) was designed and built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Standards and maintains green and sustainable practices. Some of the many Green Design Features are described in narrative and photograph flip tiles below. If you'd like to learn more, or see any of these features for yourself, first-hand, stop by the RAW and ask for a tour.
Nearly half of the RAW is naturally ventilated. In the summer the top set of louvers open to allow the cooler outside air in. Vents and fans in the ceiling open as well to allow the hot air rising to escape. When the building needs to bring in fresh air during the cooler months hot water runs through the coils in front of the lower set of louvers, heating the outside air as it enters. This system significantly lowers cooling and ventilation costs.
The maple wood used on the courts & the fitness studios was sourced from a responsibly harvested forest certified by the forest stewardship council.
The perforated paneling affixed to the exterior breaks up direct sunlight and minimizes heat gain while preserving the view & natural light.
The cloth like shades in the Fitness Center filter direct sunlight to lower the solar heat gain indoors without compromising the view outside.
The RAW supports the use of refillable water bottles; reducing the amount of plastic in landfills & the perceived need to bottle a natural resource.
The floors the lobby, lounge, hallways and locker rooms contain snake like piping. In the winter hot water is pumped through the pipes. The heat generated emanates from the floor, maintaining a comfortable temperature in the RAW. Conversely, in the summer, cold water flows through the piping and works to maintain a cool environment.
When cleaning, we use H2Orange2, a combination of orange oil/hydrogen peroxide that is less volatile & free of harsh cleaning agents such as bleach.
Using the concrete slab/recycled glass as the finish, the RAW saved money and resources on materials, maintenance, and labor.
On sunny days the studios & gymnasium require little to no artificial light. Optical domes in the roof harvest daylight into these space.
The RAW encourages biking to reduce pollution and land development impacts from automobile use.
Additional Exterior Green Features
Landscaping Site Design:
Storm water drainage from the parking lot, landscape areas and roof drains is all directed to a planted bioswale on site where pollutants and oils can be filtered out by the plant fibers in the swale. Water then soaks in through a sand layer beneath the swale surface before it reaches a subsurface drainage system. This sand layer further cleans out oils and pollutants from the storm water. The bioswale system naturally regulates entry of water into the storm drainpipe system allowing the water to trickle into the system slowly. This reduces the potential to overwhelm the pipe system in the event of heavy rains.
Planting:
Around the perimeter of the building, we planted No-Mow Fescue grass. The longer grass covers the root zone and reduces drying out of the soil helping us minimize our need for irrigation water (approximately 30% less). No-Mow Fescue grass also reduces the use of fossil fuels and reduces air pollution as it requires No-Mowing for its maintenance. Our Cork Oak Trees further reduces our water demand and the tree itself is the source for commercial cork.
Irrigation:
The grounds control system is connected to a weather station allowing daily adjustments based on the actual weather that day. “Rotator” sprinkler nozzles were installed which reduce the application rate of water allowing it to more closely match the infiltration rate of the soil. More water in the soil and less runoff into the gutter.
The Trombe Wall:
This wall, located on the west side of the gymnasium, is easily recognizable from the exterior. Combined with an air space, insulated glazing and vents, it forms a large solar thermal collector. During the day, sunlight shines through the insulated glazing and warms the surface of the thermal mass (the concrete wall). At night, the average temperature of the thermal mass will be significantly higher than room temperature, thus, heat will flow into the interior space. A great passive heating system for the largest RAW facility.