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2004 Closing the Circle Award Honorable Mention, Sustainable Design
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not only believes in greening the country, but also in greening itself. Thus, when constructing the EPA Kansas City Science & Technology Center, Kansas City, Kansas, EPA created a sustainable and energy efficient structure. To achieve the best results, EPA organized a design competition. Teams were graded on their ability to finance, design, and construct a safe, attractive, and functional laboratory. The chosen floor plan would become the latest edition to the EPA's buildings.
Siting: The Unified Government of Kansas City and Wyandotte County donated a brownfield site to EPA to encourage a revitalization movement in the industrial area in Kansas City. EPA modified the site so that by the completion of the construction, 64 percent of the non-building site was unpaved and contained native and adapted species. Additionally the site included a storm water management plan that reduced runoff by 32 percent through an increase in impervious surfaces. EPA encourages its employees to use greener transportation by locating the building close to numerous bus stops, providing bike racks and showers, and providing three alternative fuel recharging stations for hybrid vehicles. Construction and Demolition Recycling: During construction, EPA tried to reduce and reuse as much construction waste as possible. Seventy-six percent of the materials were derived locally to reduce transportation and fuel use. Also, through the use of EPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines, the laboratory achieved a 97 percent recycled content level. Besides using recycled materials to build, much of the waste was recycled. A plan was developed to manage asphalt, steel, concrete, wood, paper, corrugated materials, and land clearing waste. The option to recycle was voluntary; however, there was a cost incentive reason to participate. This system found such success and resulted in a total of 96 percent of all construction, demolition, and land clearing waste being recycled, which saved nearly $50,000. Energy Efficiency: Laboratories typically use much more energy than office space. To reduce energy usage, EPA chose to operate the facility with five natural gas-fired boilers with sophisticated Variable Air Volume (VAV) fume hoods. These systems allow ventilation, heating, and cooling processes to be reduced during nights, weekends, and when the fume hoods are closed. To reduce energy use further, EPA took full advantage of natural light and installed windows with low-e glass. EPA also installed light dimmers and occupancy sensors so that excess lighting is not wasted. Water Efficiency: To conserve water, EPA installed low-flow plumbing fixtures throughout the science and technology center. The sanitary flush fixtures are connected to a rooftop rainwater recapture system. This innovative system collects rainwater where it is redirected to a holding tank. This tank then redistributes the water to landscape faucets, flush fixtures, and cooling towers which saves EPA $2,800 annually. Indoor Air Quality: To ensure the safety of the building occupants, only products containing low volatile organic compounds were used. Finished sections were installed sequentially so that off-gassing materials were not absorbed into fabrics. Also, constant ventilation flowed throughout construction so that contaminants would be limited.
For more information please contact, Cathy Berlow (202) 564-4600 or berlow.cathy@epa.gov or Bucky Green (202) 564-6371 or Green.bucky@epa.gov.
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