The First LEED-Certified Building In Kauai
Green Chip Stocks
Back in July, I had the opportunity to take a tour of theheadquarters for the National Tropical Botanical Gardens (NTBG) inKauai.
Why would I want to tour the headquarters of the NTBG?
Because it’s the first LEED-certified building on the island. Andwith a gold rating, it’s a pretty spectacular building, boastingserious green credentials. . .
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Certified tropical hardwood which was used for exterior siding and interior stairs
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A 30 Kw photovoltaic system on the roof
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Rainwater catchment
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Plumbing system that uses 30 percent less potable water than standard fixtures
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No chlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerants used in air-conditioning or refrigeration systems
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Motion sensor lighting systems
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Environmentally-friendly paints, sealants and carpeting
The inside of the building also gets exceptional lighting by utilizing overhead clerestory windows.
I’ve seen a lot of LEED-certified buildings, but I have to admitthat the lighting in this building was truly impressive. Strollingthrough the NTBG’s library, I was convinced that this really will bethe status quo in lighting in the very near future. It’s just ano-brainer.
The NTBG had some pretty impressive landscaping too.
In an effort to allow the land around the building to absorb morewater and diffuse it to the surrounding landscaping, permeable outdoorsurfaces were created by embedding hollow plastic rings in a gravelpavesystem.
Of course, the landscaping boasts drought-tolerant native Hawaiianspecies that are well-suited for the environment. And it helpseliminate the need for permanent outside irrigation too.
The building was also designed to reduce the release of sediment,minimize soil erosion, and lessen the overall environmental footprint.And throughout construction, more than 65 percent of all wastematerials were diverted from the island’s only landfill.
Though I have to admit, my favorite part was probably this…
As a strong supporter of electric and plug-in hybrid electricvehicle integration, few things impress me more than charging stations.
To learn more about the NTBG, check out their website here.
Green Chip Stocks Editors & Contributors
Jeff Siegel
Jeff Siegel is the managing editor of Green Chip Stocks, an independent investment research service that focuses exclusively on renewable energy and organic and natural food markets.
Nick Hodge
One of the bright young minds in today's cleantech industry, Nick is putting his knowledge of nascent green markets to use in several ways... Nick is the co-author of a best-selling book and has interviewed dozens of times for TV and Web; his keen insight, uncanny foresight, and global contacts have led to double- and triple-digit wins for his readers, time after time.