PROJECT OVERVIEW

In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint and increase its sustainability and energy efficiency, the US Forestry Service decided to consolidate three regional offices of the Pemigewasset Ranger District. With an eye on achieving a minimum US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating of Silver, the architect incorporated many green technologies including a Clivus composting system, foam-flush toilets, and a greywater filtering/recycling system. The result is a 23,400-square foot building with offices for 100 year-round and seasonal employees and a visitor information center with restroom facilities.

The Clivus composting waste treatment system retains and reduces solid waste by 95%. Since no solids leave the composters, the size of the outdoor soil absorption system is greatly reduced and a higher quality effluent is discharged to it. Greywater from sinks is filtered and recycled to indoor planter beds where it is treated by biologically active soil and where plants take up nutrients present in the wastewater. Overall water usage is significantly reduced and there is much less impact on the environment from polluting wastewater and efficient land utilization.

USGBC LEED certification pending.

Architect:
E. Bradford Gellert, RA, Cleveland, OH
Mechanical Engineer:
URS Corporation, Cleveland, OH