 The NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California has a long history of innovation and their new building embodies this history. The Ames Research Center focuses on information technology research, with a special focus on supercomputing, networking and intelligent systems. They also research nanotechnology, fundamental space biology, biotechnology, aerospace and thermal protection systems and human factors research. They also work to make air travel safer, cheaper and more efficient.
EnviroCitizen.org has found that their new building is widely credited to be the greenest building ever built by the federal government! The new building, called the Sustainability Base, pays homage to the Tranquility Base, which is the site of the first moon landing in 1969. The Sustainability Base will be finished in 2011 and is filled with the greenest building technologies available. There will be energy conservation features as well as solar photovoltaic energy and geothermal energy technologies, which will help the building to approach zero-net energy consumption. Zero-net energy buildings produce as much energy as they consume. One of the most unique things about the Sustainability Base is that it will use technology that was developed in space. They also hope that the technology used in this building will help NASA to develop a base on Mars! The building is positioned to take advantage of the cool breezes and uses smart management of heating and cooling systems.
The Sustainability Base, when complete, will most likely be certified Platinum by the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The building will use 90% less water than other office buildings of the same size. The Sustainability Base is a perfect example of how, when people are given the opportunity to unleash their potential, they can create green buildings that are good for the environment and for people on a large scale. The building utilizes a combination of high-tech and low-tech features, which is the perfect blend of technology. For example, they plan to use state-of-the-art sensors that were originally developed for space missions while also using the surprisingly simple technology of opening windows to cool or heat the building. These kinds of strategies illuminate the fact that green buildings don't have to be built by, ironically, rocket scientists. By positioning the building tactfully, it utilizes natural sun light and wind to be energy efficient. It's a simple step in the construction process, but makes a huge difference when it comes to energy needs.
EnviroCitizen.org firmly believes that the Sustainability Base will definitely be a highly regarded example for green building projects in the future.
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