The Naval Base Ventura County Public Works Department exemplifies outstanding environmental stewardship with the finished construction of Building 850. The building was awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold rating award in 2005 for its achievement in sustainable design, construction, and operation. The $3 million building project consisted of a 10,000 square foot renovation and a 7,000 square foot addition.
Special features of the design include maximized day-lighting and natural ventilation, which reduces the demand of electrical and mechanical systems. Sustainability construction techniques include adaptability for alternate future uses with mechanisms for easy dis- and re-assembly that will reduce future costs of occupant moves or churn. Construction measures were also taken to minimize soil erosion, maximize the recycling of scrap materials, and maximize the usage of recycled content and environmentally preferable materials throughout the building itself.
One of the priorities in the Building 850 design was energy and water efficiency, and simulation results show a 55 percent consumption improvement over CA’s 1995 Title 24 Energy Efficiency Standards. Hot water is provided entirely by a solar hot water heater. There is limited exterior lighting and the window design provides 100 percent day-lit occupied spaces.
The building orientation, configuration, and windows minimize cooling and heat loads through various tempering strategies such as reciprocating compressors that deliver cool air through a variable air volume underfloor air distribution system.
Water conservation in Building 850 is ensured through a combination of efficient plumbing features such as waterless urinals and automatic lavatory faucets, the use of reclaimed and captured rain water, and efficient landscaping and irrigation systems. In addition, Building 850 made transportation more sustainable with features such as five new electric vehicle charging stations.
For more information, please contact Dennis Talton at 757-322-4211 or dennis.talton@navy.mil.
