A floating building is the first of its kind to register for LEED certification from the US Green Building Council.
The building, at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada, will serve as the operations office for the marina at the Cottonwood Cove Resort. It is expected to be certified at the LEED Gold rating.
It was built by Forever Resorts for the National Park Service.
The floating green building features sustainable modular construction and energy-efficient and environmentally responsible materials and fixtures. Decking is made of a composite of rice hulls and recycled plastic and the exterior stucco is made of recycled tires. Use of low or no volatile organic compound materials, paints and adhesives will rid the building of the typical "new building" smell improving the overall indoor air quality.
"It was a visionary team made up of private industry and government led by our partner Forever Resorts that transformed this idea into action," says Superintendent Bill Dickinson. "We’re setting the standard for eco-friendly floating buildings. There is no better place than in a national park to do that."
Other green features include:
- Green Cleaning Program throughout the resort
- Green Purchasing Program
- Energy and Environmental Education Programs for boaters and community members
- Extensive energy saving materials and systems, including high-performance insulated glass
- High-efficient HVAC equipment and delivery systems
- Extensive use of recycled and regionally extracted and/or manufactured materials, such as concrete, steel, drywall, metal studs, carpet, etc.
- Finish materials, paints, adhesives, caulks and sealants that contain low or no volatile organic compounds to ensure healthy indoor air quality
- Extensive natural daylight and views to the outdoors throughout, maximizing east/west orientation
- Recycled and recyclable building and landscape materials
- Prevention of night sky pollution
Cottonwood Cove Resort and Marina is located 90 minutes from Las Vegas on Lake Mohave, part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
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How can they seek LEED certification when the project does not meet the Minimum Project Requirement no. 2?
All Rating Systems: All LEED projects must be designed for, constructed on, and operated on a permanent location on already existing land. LEED projects shall not consist of mobile structures, equipment, or vehicles. No building or space that is designed to move at any point in its lifetime may pursue LEED Certification.
Another LEED faux pas?
Just today I have seen an ASHRAE report saying Green buildings could create negative health effects, according to IOM(Institute of Medicine of National Academics). Looks like that business opportunity is surpassing human welfare.We hear that LEED ratings costs a fortune.In thelong run some of these buildings do not save power.If trumpetting the green rating fetches more business–why not on water or even on air(Airlines beware– fares likely to go up).We need scientists’s to get involved to know the truth.Otherwise it is just an uncontrolled business spin-off and fad. As Bernard Shaw said “Fashion is an induced epidemic”-so is Green and LEEDs.
LEED does not require that you make a better building but that you follow their rules and pay their fees. Heat Transfer, Thermodynamics, Building Material Sciences, and Closed-Loop Manufacturing are the topics covered to create an efficient and sustainable futures for structures. Let them float! Water is a great heat sink for heat pump applications and the pumping losses on a lake are easily minimized. Let’s hope Lake Mead is around long enough for them to see a ROI!!