While yesterday's announcement that The Reds' Athletic Complex was awarded LEED© Gold Green certification may sound colorful and confusing, it's actually quite prestigious. Here's what it means: Roland Park Country School (RPCS) whose team name is The Reds, announced that the recently constructed Athletic Complex has been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).
LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED Gold certification of the RPCS Athletic Complex was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community.
Environmental Features of the RPCS Athletic Complex:
Energy Efficiency
- A reflective, white roof is an "Energy Star" roof designed to minimize the heat island effect of traditional roofs by reflecting radiant heat energy back into the atmosphere.
- The plants on the green roof absorb radiant energy so that it doesn't enter the building.
- In each room an occupancy sensor turns the lights off when people exit thus saving energy.
- The large number of windows in the athletic center harvest daylight while minimizing heat transfer.
- The cooling tower cools stored rainwater, which then passes through a compressor much like a refrigerator to cool the building.
- The Athletic Complex has a high efficiency boiler (96% efficient) that heats the building and provides hot water for the sinks and showers so no hot water heater is needed.
- CO2 sensors in the gym control the amount of outside air being brought in by the ventilation system and thus save energy.
Water Efficiency
- The green roof is planted with special grasses and sedum that absorb water, filter pollutants and reduce storm water runoff. The white roof is designed to capture rainwater and channel it into a 10,000 gallon tank where it is stored and used in the building’s cooling tower to reduce the use of city water.
- Low flow fixtures are found throughout the building in the showers, toilets and sinks.
- On the playing fields and north parking lot, the storm water runs off into large storage tanks under the fields where it is filtered before trickling slowly into the ground.
- Native plantingsare being used around the Athletic Complex reducing the need to irrigate, saving water.
Materials and Resources
By using local materials, reused materials and recycled materials, the Athletic Complex design reduces the amount of energy and natural resources used in transportation and manufacturing.
- Several rooms in the Athletic Complex have floors made from the floor of the old gym.
- The cabinetry is made from Forest Stewardship Council Certified wood. Many of the cabinets were made from wood harvested locally (within 500 miles of the school) and manufactured locally. The countertops are made from recycled paper products.
- Recycled materialwas used in the steel (biggest component of recycled materials), carpet, linoleum, ceiling tiles, and the rubber mat on the running track. All paint, caulking and adhesives used in the building have low VOC levels (volatile organic compounds). All cleaning products are biodegradable and low toxicity.
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