|
Robertson Park Youth Center - Green Aspects
|
|
 Green building is a collection of land use, building design, construction, and operation and maintenance strategies that maximizes environmental and economic performance. For example, green building principles include environmentally-sensitive site design, conserving and reusing water, treating stormwater on-site, maximizing the use of local materials, purchasing recycled materials, optimizing energy performance by installing energy efficient equipment and systems; optimizing climatic control through site orientation and design, integrating natural day-lighting and ventilation, improving indoor air quality to enhance occupant health and comfort, and using renewable energy. At its best, green building regards a building as a system, and choices made in construction or renovation consider the overall function of the system.
The Gaithersburg Youth Center at Robertson Park is Gaithersburg's first green building. Designed to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification status, the building’s green features include a geothermal heating and cooling system that saves energy and reduces air pollution; cabinets made from rapidly-renewable wheatboard; floors made from recycled tires and rubber; ENERGY STAR windows; light sensors to control lighting and save energy; forest certified wood to promote sustainable forestry techniques; and insulation made from recycled blue jeans. The building also features an educational signage program to highlight the building’s environmentally friendly features and provide tips on how everyone can include green features in their homes.
Not only is the building green, but staff has incorporated environmental principals into the Center’s regular programming. Recently the center hosted a youth community service project where members created a Youth Garden that includes a variety of native flowers selected to provide wildlife benefits.
Click on the images below to learn more about the Youth Center's environmentally friendly features:
|
|
Exterior Building Features |
The Main Activity Room |
|
|
The Arts & Crafts Room |
The Computer Study Room |
|
