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The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
has built a paradigm for “green” construction with their Southeast
Regional Office. This project was awarded
the “gold” certificate for performance by the Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. The site’s
impact on the environment was minimal, and a healthy atmosphere was
enhanced within the building. The stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)
on the property serve as a model of sustainability to both DEP employees and to
visitors since their presence is highly visible.
BMPs
incorporated into the PA DEP Southeastern Regional Office design as part
of a runoff capture and reuse system include 1) Green roof and
2)
Cistern. These two methods act together to greatly reduce stormwater
runoff and limit the need for municipal water usage. The green roof
absorbs rainwater and the cistern traps rooftop water for reuse in
toilets and for indoor plant watering.
1) Green
Roof
A 688-square foot green roof is a patchwork of removable sedum
plant trays with six different species represented. The sedum plants
were grown for a year before being transferred to the roof. These plants
help manage stormwater by soaking in rainwater and dispelling it through evapo-transportation. The whole roof was not covered with the plants
because covering the complete roof surface was not cost effective. In
addition, rainwater from the bare roof area is transferred to the
cistern for reuse within the facility. Weston Solutions, Inc.
conceptualized and constructed the green roof. The green roof is
seen from the 2nd floor hallway and is accessible to employees via an
outdoor walkway.
2)
Cistern
Rain water from the bare roof area flows into drains leading to
a wooden 5,000 gallon cistern located on the first floor of the DEP
premises. The water is stored in the cistern, then filtered and used for
toilets and for watering the indoor flora. During periods of heavy
rainfall, stormwater runoff can be diverted away from the cistern as
the cistern reaches its maximum storage. The cistern sits as a centerpiece on the first floor and is
overlooked by four floors within the atrium. The cistern is wooden and
resembles a hut, while verdant indoor plantings and lighting resembling tiki-torches create a tropical paradise-like atmosphere.
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