Sustainability
There are 5 renewable energy systems employed at Mead:
- Photovoltaic-solar panel
- Wood Biomass-fireplace
- Wind Turbine
- Solar Hot Water
- Geothermal
Selected sustainable design measures employed in the design and construction of the Mead facility include:
- Reduced site disturbance at building, site access roads, parking & utilities to reduce erosion.
- Panelized construction to reduce construction waste.
- On-site construction waste management, with 95% recycled and diverted from landfill.
- Reduced energy load and renewable energy sources for heating & cooling.
- Cut-off exterior lighting fixtures to eliminate glare and light pollution.
- Operable windows for light, views and ventilation.
- Physically-isolated and separately-ventilated janitor and copier rooms for indoor air quality.
- Fundamental Building Commissioning for optimal system performance.
- Zero Net Energy goal, based on intermittent occupancy patterns.
- High-performance building envelope.
- Cool day-lighting and advanced lighting controls.
- High-performance mechanical systems.
- Environmentally-responsible building materials and construction methods.
- Water-conserving fixtures and landscaping.
But it is the little things that make this an award-winning facility modeling conservation and energy efficiency: a high-performance building envelope, low-toxin recycled and recyclable materials, energy-efficient lighting and appliances, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, and much more. They are all detailed inside this brochure.
Visit Architect Thomas Brown’s website for more information about the 5 renewable systems employed at the Mead. The complete case study can also be viewed.