The Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center - LEED Silver Certified
Sustainable facts about the building
- Projected to have 20.3% in energy savings
- No ozone-depleting CFC-based refrigerants
- 92% of construction waste was recycled
- The building and campus is a smoke free environment
- Low-VOC paints, carpets, coatings, adhesives and sealants were used in construction
- Anticipated to have 41% reduction in water use
- Located near multiple bus lines with several bus stops within 1/4 mile
- The building has and will continue to serve as an educational tool for students and visitors
Interested in learning more? Consider taking a walking tour of the FRC that points out the sustainable features. Look for logos throughout the building and reference the Sustainable Features Brochure for a description of each sustainable element (you can also pick up a copy of this brochure at the Welcome Center of the FRC).
Walking Tour Sustainable Features
- Shower and Changing Facilities: Providing shower and changing facilities for the occupants encourages commuting to the building by bicycle.
- Recycling Receptacles: Recycling one ton of paper prevents the processing of 17 trees and saves three cubic yards of landfill space.
- Sustainable Wood Gym Floor: The negative environmental impacts of irresponsible forest practices can include destruction of forests, loss of wildlife habitat, soil erosion and stream sedimentation.
- Low VOC Paint: VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds are carbon compounds that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions VOCs can have a detrimental effect on human health.
- Native/Low Water Plants: Springfield receives an estimated 45" of rainfall each year. Plants native to the region can survive on rain alone and don't need additional watering.
- Bicycle Storage: Bicycle commuting produces no emissions and has zero demand for petroleum-based fuels.
- Carpet Tiles: If an area of carpet gets stained or damaged only the affected tiles can be removed and replaced which reduces the amount of carpet that is sent to the landfill.
- Controllability of systems: Providing task lighting at individual work spaces promotes productivity, comfort and well-being of building occupants.
- Natural Light: Studies show that when people live and work in a well lit environment they are happier and healthier. Natural light has been shown to limit eye strain and lessen energy consumption.
- Low-E Coating on Windows: Low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings control heat transfer through windows with insulated glazing and reduce energy loss by about 30%-50%.