Oconaluftee Visitor Centre secures LEED Gold
The new $3.5 million Oconaluftee Visitor Centre in Cherokee, North Carolina, US has bagged LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council.
The facility, spanning 6300 square feet, employs a host of green measures. Its roof of the building is made of reclaimed rubber and plastic and features shingles which have been applied on a cool roof technology. The technology helps carry off radiant heat before it penetrates the facility. The building has also features strategically positioned windows and solar tubes which allow maximum passage of natural light in the interior.
The facility has been equipped with efficient lighting systems which automatically adjust their intensity on the basis of availability of outside light entering inside. The offices and restrooms of the building incorporate motion sensor-controlled lighting fixtures.
The building also sports a high-performance geothermal heating and cooling system. It circulates water underground and helps it reach the earth's constant temperature of 55 degrees. The water is returned to the centre and is used to meet heating or cooling needs. The system is served by 12 wells positioned at depths of 250-300 feet. The facility also comprises computerised temperature controls to help reduce energy consumption during the nights and weekends when it is vacant.
The centre features rain gutters and an adjoining restroom funnel which runoff into an underground cistern with a capacity of 5000 gallons. This water is utilised in the toilets of the facility. The building has also been fitted with waterless or low-flow water fixtures which cut down water usage.
The floor of the building lobby is formed of recycled rubber. Its museum has been equipped with wood flooring. The flooring is made of recycled chestnut lumber from old barns procured from the surrounding area.
The exterior of the new facility has a granite cladding. Its exterior walls above the stone walls are made of cement fiberboard which is strong and offers resistance against rot and insect damage.
