Pirtle Construction Company Builds First Green Building in Broward County
BROWARD COUNTY, Florida ? Pirtle Construction has built the first green building in Broward County, Florida ? the South Regional/Broward Community College Library in Pembroke Pines. The building follows standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The USGBC?s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines address water and energy efficiency, site sustainability, indoor environmental quality, and materials selection.
Green buildings are designed to minimize their ecological impacts while providing healthier places to live and work. These environmentally friendly buildings use an average of 30 percent less energy than conventional buildings, thus lowering the operating costs for the owner.
At the South Regional/BCC Library, Pirtle coordinated jobsite recycling efforts to divert 96 percent of project waste from landfills. Pirtle ensured that the adhesives, sealants, paints, and cleaning supplies used during construction emitted low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are odorous contaminants that can be irritating and/or harmful to builders and building occupants. Pirtle also helped maintain indoor air quality for the library?s future users by sealing ductwork and vents with special filters during construction.
The library?s walls consist of insulation sandwiched between two layers of concrete, a system that saves energy and helps control indoor humidity. The windows are designed to reduce heat emission while still allowing natural light. The roof is covered with a reflective white coating to reduce the heat load. The exterior landscaping incorporates native and drought-tolerant plants to reduce the amount of water needed for maintenance.
Of the four levels of LEED certification ? Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum ? the library project team is striving for Silver. Project documentation is currently under review by the USGBC.
The South Regional/BCC Library joins a small but growing list of green buildings in Florida. Pirtle Construction is committed to building facilities that serve community needs and is leading the South Florida construction industry in doing so. Pirtle Construction is a member of the USGBC and has five full-time LEED Accredited Professionals on staff.
Pirtle?s next green project is breaking ground in West Palm Beach this spring. A partnership with the School District of Palm Beach County and Florida Atlantic University, this project will yield the first green elementary school in the state.
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