Awarded LEED GOLD for New Construction | July 2018
The Water Treatment Plant 4’s Administration Building incorporates simple but effective measures to reduce energy usage, and subsequently energy costs. Strategies include an improved thermal envelope, high efficiency glazing, reduced lighting power, occupancy sensors, and water source heat pumps. The project’s total refrigerant impact is 55.8 per ton, which is significantly less than the maximum allowable value of 100. All heating and cooling are achieved through water source heat pumps using raw lake water from the water plant as a heat sink.
Water Treatment Plant 4's Administration Building is an exemplary LEED project that reduces water consumption by using strategies such as rotating stream sprinklers and check valves in the irrigation system, as well as low-flow fixtures for admin building functions, saving thousands of gallons of potable water annually.
86% of WTP4 Administration Building's construction waste are diverted from the landfill to off-site uses or collection services. Construction and demolition costs were reduced through lower landfill dumping fees and reusing materials.
The WTP4's Admin Building is committed to recycled materials for at least 50% of total construction materials, 11% of which are purchased regionally. This mitigates the need to transport large quantities of materials, saving carbon emissions otherwise created by vehicle use.
A portion of the materials are purchased from within 500 miles of the site.
Strategies of promoting alternative methods of travel are important design decisions to incorporate into each project, because these strategies reduce the carbon emissions associated with vehicular commutes. The WTP4 Admin building reduces vehicular carbon emissions by reserving preferred parking for carpooling employees and visitors to encourage emissions savings. 2 alternative fuel charging stations and plenty of bicycle parking with easy access to showers create an advantageous environment for commuters to help save the environment.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that evaporate at room temperature which are emitted by a wide array of products including paints, cleaning supplies, air fresheners and building materials. They can be injurious to the central nervous system and are suspected carcinogens. WTP4's design boasts 4 out of 4 LEED credits for low VOC content in their choice of materials, including composite wood and AgriFiber products that contain no added urea-formaldehyde content, as well as carpet systems that meet the standards of Carpet and Rug Institute's Green Label Plus program.
A well-lit work environment creates a better working experience for employees. At WTP4's Administration building, an 99% of regularly occupied rooms have access to views of the surrounding preserved habitat on which it is situated. Furthermore, 100% of the rooms have lighting controls which include roll up mesh shades, blackout shades, dimmable light switches and task lamps for adjustable lighting conditions.