Sustainable Design of EPA's Campus in Research Triangle Park, NC
When EPA developed its campus in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, more than a decade ago, environmental performance was not typically specified in construction documents. Therefore, EPA included the following detailed requirements in most of the technical specification sections in the construction contract for its National Computer Center (NCC) and First Environments Early Learning Center (FEELC):
- Environmental Requirements
- Environmental Impact of Materials
- Testing for Indoor Air Quality, Baseline IAQ, and Materials
- Sequence of Finishes Installation
- Waste Materials Management and Recycling
Through these efforts, NCC and FEELC both eared a LEED Silver rating for new construction.
As sustainable building technologies have evolved, EPA has updated it specifications to reflect state-of-the-art practices and technologies that help achieve the most environmentally responsible facilities possible and created Guidance Documents from these efforts.