Green Building Leads Economic Resurgence
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA)
Is your organization looking for ways to create high performance buildings through building renovation projects as well as to help stimulate the local economy? Check out how the NOAA is doing this and demonstrating sustainable building use to the general public.
The redevelopment of a portion of the former Fletcher Paper Mill in Alpena, Michigan turned a derelict building into a high quality Federal operations center and community resource known as the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center for the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS). The utilization of existing infrastructure represents sustainable and innovative asset management for the TBNMS and serves as a model for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) site operations. Of even greater significance are the lessons learned from this project about the benefits that result from high performance building design.
The greatest and most easily measured benefit from this high performance building is the energy savings that result from many innovations, with the geothermal system its feature element. Monthly energy bills have averaged less than $2K/month while other Alpena buildings of comparable size are roughly $8K/month. This allows more of the tight TBNMS budget to be devoted to programmatic needs such as research, public education and outreach, and resource protection. The excellent quality of the indoor environment stimulates greater productivity and higher morale on the part of TBNMS staff, volunteers, and visiting scientists using the research and dormitory facilities. In addition, TBNMS has attracted visiting K-12 school classes and other members of the local community to use the classroom facility and take advantage of the theater and exhibits hall.
Exhibits are placed throughout the building to demonstrate to visitors the various innovative techniques used to reuse/recycle materials, save energy, reduce water consumption, employ rapidly renewable materials, take advantage of solar heat and light, and use landscaping and exterior design to reduce energy requirements.
The creation of the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center has stimulated close cooperation between the Federal Government, State of Michigan, City of Alpena, County of Alpena, and local community leaders. This cooperation has resulted in an economic revitalization of the community. Outside funding has been attracted to expand the utility infrastructure leading into the site and to build a Heritage Riverwalk (opening July 4, 2007). Alpena has also been designated as a Preserve America city and a Michigan “Cool City.”
The excitement and enthusiasm generated by this building within the NMSP has helped to contribute to an even broader ‘green ethic’ movement within the program. The NMSP includes Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building techniques in all construction activities, seeks LEED certification when possible, and highlights LEED features in its building to the public by use of exhibits. The NMSP currently occupies or seeks access to older buildings owned by other coastal oriented Federal agencies such as the National Park Service and United States Coast Guard. NMSP attempts through building renovation projects to create high performance buildings that meet programmatic needs, but also help stimulate the local economy, and demonstrate sustainable building use to the general public.
Contact:
Christopher L. Ostrom
Project Manger
Department of Commerce/NOAA
chris.ostrom@noaa.gov
