The $7 million SUBASE Submarine Learning Center incorporated several sustainable practices during its development, based on which it secured green status.
Construction of the 16,000 square feet building was done using green materials and products, which included products with high recycled content. Recycled material was mostly used for acoustic ceilings, rigid roof insulation, and gypsum wall board, as well as for carpeting and resilient flooring. The building features low volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitting materials.
The building is 30-40% more energy eficient than any comparable building. The roof of the building features a white Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) roof membrane, which reflects sun light, thereby aids in keeping the building cool. The building has interior and exterior lighting strategies which optimize the building’s exposure to natural light.
Additional energy efficiency is delivered by means of geothermal cooling and heating system. It also features wells drilled into the earth, a closed loop glycol system, and a brazed heat exchanger, which transfers energy to a series of water-to-air heat pumps located throughout the building.
