Thursday, May 14, 2009

One Highly Successful DOD Building

I don't often write about facilities energy issues unless discussing the brittle grid problem and the need for smart grid technology and islanding micro grids. However, I'm willing to make an exception when something really good comes along.

Best known for being home to STRATCOM, Offutt AFB now has another claim to fame. It's the Air Force Weather Agency's new HQ, and it's the first USAF building to be certified at the LEED Gold level. Those unfamiliar with the massively successfully LEED sustainable building initiative can find out more here.

No, this one is not a net zero facility (meaning it still requires energy to make it run). But it does use new technologies and other creative design factors to cut its expected energy appetite in half. Multiple that type of efficiency through the tens of thousands of facilities DOD currently maintains and you can begin to imagine the impact. Click here for the the award summary for this great new structure.

Photo: USAF Weather

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