By Marilyn Pitts

Sustainable building design is becoming an increasingly viable and visible component of parks throughout the National Park System--not just in the sunny Southwest, but throughout all states. These installations run the gamut from solar parking lot lighting installations to full-blown sustainable buildings. The following are a few examples:

New River Gorge National River: The Sandstone Visitor Center for this West Virginia park opened in 2003. Built on a filled quarry, the building was constructed using recycled and regional source materials. The structure uses geothermal energy to reduce the cost of heating and cooling, features a light-colored roof to reflect sunlight, and employs down-facing and auto-dimmed lighting. It is estimated that the building uses 60 percent less energy than the industry standard. "Green messages" associated with the principles of sustainable design and operations are placed throughout the building. (Total project cost was $10.8 million.)

Assateague Island National Seashore: The Tom's Cove District of this National Seashore (Virginia) features sustainable bathhouses. Due to the area’s rapidly moving shoreline, the lightweight cabana structures are composed of stainless steel tubes wrapped with synthetic canvas to provide portable rooms. Solar-powered transportable trailers house the self-contained power and controls that power well pumps and lighting systems for the mobile toilets and cabanas. The bathhouse also includes prefabricated vault toilets equipped with a passive ventilation system. Also, the roadway pavement is made from crushed clam shells (a waste product from local seafood industries) rather than petroleum-based asphalt.

USS Arizona Memorial: Located in Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), the visitors’ parking lot features 19 solar safety light units. The electronic components, including the solar panels, are housed in the fixture frame mounted on top of the lightpole.

Fort McHenry National Monument: In 1996, Fort McHenry (Maryland) obtained a recycled building from Gettysburg National Battlefield and erected it as a new maintenance headquarters. Energy-efficient utility systems, passive solar lighting and a system to retain heat by recycling exhaust air in the building were installed. In the shop's construction, the park "super insulated" the walls and roof areas with a recycled-newspaper cellulose material to reduce heating and cooling loads.

Channel Islands National Park: Located just off the coast of Southern California, this park has an operational goal to eliminate any reliance on nonrenewable energy wherever possible and, as new facilities are constructed, defer the use and incorporate green technology. There are more than 70 renewable energy applications in operation in the park, ranging from single module solar installations that power remote communications, weather stations and provide lighting/ventilation for pit toilets, to a large scale hybrid wind/PV system on Santa Rosa Island.

The White House: In 2002, the White House installed its first solar electric system, which included 167 solar electric panels on the roof of the complex's primary maintenance building and two solar thermal systems to heat the pool and spa and provide domestic hot water.

Eielson Visitor Center: The Eielson Visitor Center, the most visited site within Denali National Park, is located 60 miles from the park entrance and is off the power grid. Construction on a new 8,900-square-foot facility commenced this year (scheduled to open in 2008). The LEED evaluation process was utilized throughout the design process. Features include a low-profile building design, a steep slope allowing the building to be partially buried, a green roof (tundra mats salvaged from the construction site relocated to planters dispersed on the roof terrace) to aid thermal energy conservation and assist in storm water run-off reduction, optimally placed clerestory windows to maximize natural delighting, energy-efficient heating and venting systems, and a selection of recycled and locally produced material. In addition, the plans call for expansion of the solar photovoltaic panels and battery bank currently in use at the visitor center, installation of a solar hot water heating system for the restrooms, and construction of a small hydroelectric system in a nearby stream. Remote site concerns and construction costs have led to consideration of ways to re-use portions of the existing visitor center by grinding up the concrete block and using it as fill in the parking area.

Return to Zion
Zion National Park and its visitor’s center was one of the first places on my trip where I truly noticed how sustainable design has become a key component of the National Parks. And it’s the perfect place to finish this series.

While I saw the sustainable design visitor’s center, what I didn’t see was the newer Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Completed in 2004, the center accommodates up to 45 employees as well as serving as a field office and headquarters for medical services, structural fire crews, and search and rescue personnel. It incorporates a conference and training room, a fitness room and climbing wall, storage, and emergency vehicle bays.

Construction on the split-level, 13,167-square-foot facility commenced in November 2002, and sustainability was a defining feature of the design from the start. The $3.5 million building features high-efficiency and alternative heating and cooling systems, combined with maximized delighting, thermal massing and other site considerations, which are anticipated to reduce energy consumption by 70 percent and energy costs by 51 percent.

The following are some of the sustainable design features incorporated in the building:

--The site was designed to optimize solar orientation to maximize delighting capabilities while reducing heat gain in the summer months.
--The building shell is constructed of split-face concrete block. Enhanced insulation throughout the building reduces temperature fluctuations. A white Johns Manville thermoplastic membrane system with tapered insulation on the roof increases reflectivity.
--Lighting design considerations include Viracon low-emissivity insulating windows in office spaces, light shelves and louvers to bounce light from clerestory windows, solar tubes in the main corridors and stairwell, occupancy light sensors to turn on light fixtures, and dimming sensors.
--Photovoltaics provide 10 percent of the total power load for the building.
--Energy Star-rated appliances are used, and solar water heaters preheat all the hot water for the building. A ground-source heat pump reduces energy loads by providing alternative heating and cooling.
--The restrooms utilize Kohler brand low-flow or automatic fixtures to save water. Waterless Co. waterless urinals in the men's restroom further reduce water use.
--The tile (Terra Green) used throughout the building contains 58 percent recycled glass, and the Mohawk brand carpet features polyester yarn made from recycled plastic bottles.
--Paints, adhesives, and sealants containing low levels of or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were used to reduce emissions.

Not only do sustainable and green buildings help the National Park Service in its mission to save resources, they also serve as showcases to educate the public about environmental concerns. This provides the NPS with the opportunity to educate more than 280 million visitors each year about sustainable and green design and practices.

Published 11/04/2005 00:00:00

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