 The Banner Bank Building is an attractive, efficient, commercial office building in Boise, Idaho. The Banner Bank building, which EnviroCitizen.org discovered was built by Christensen Corporation, holds a Platinum certification from the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program! It's a good example of how green practices can be put into practice when building. Because the building is so efficient, Christensen Corporation can lease spaces to families and businesses as an affordable rate, while still making a profit.
The building is close to public transit and downtown amenities and parking fees are charged on a sliding scale based on a vehicle's fuel efficiency. The Banner Bank building uses about 70% less water than similar buildings. Their rainwater capturing system catches and stores storm water from downtown streets and parking lots, which is then used to provide water to the low-flow toilets and urinals in the building.
The Banner Bank building is heated by a geothermal energy system and a smart lighting system that automatically adjusts itself in response to natural daylight, which can automatically turn on or off depending on occupancy. Thus, the building uses about half of the amount of electricity that similarly sized buildings use. The Banner Bank building was finished with no-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system frequently changes and filters the air so that the quality of the indoor air is incredibly high.
Gary Christensen, the owner of the Christensen Corporation, once remarked on their effort to gain LEED Platinum Certification, saying, "If we hadn't committed to a high level of LEED certification, it would have been easy to cut corners here and there. But when you have the plaque, you know that the project was held to a high standard. We take great satisfaction in that."
EnviroCitizen.org believes that the Banner Bank building is the kind of example that enables environmentalists to realize the success of the modern green revolution. People are making great, green changes all over the country, including in the Banner Bank building's city of Boise, Idaho. It's great to see these kinds of progressive, green buildings pop up in all sorts of towns because it highlights the fact that change really is happening. We might really be on our way to a greener future faster than we originally anticipated!
|
