Tropical Forest Conservatory
Advanced Computer Control
- Anticipatory computer controlled weather and temperature reacting system
- Maximum energy and irrigation efficiency
- Smoother, more uniform growing conditions
- Better plant quality and uniformity
- Precise equipment control and advanced data recording system
Earth Tubes
- Totally passive cooling replaces need for HVAC
- Six 24″ diameter, 300′ long concrete tubes are installed at 15 feet below grade, where the temperature is a steady 55 degrees year round
- Hot outside air cools as it travels through the underground tubes and into the conservatory
- Vacuum created by hot air exiting the roof vents pulls the cooled air into conservatory
Energy Blankets
- Prevent convective and radiant heat loss
- Provide shade in summer and thermal insulation in winter
- Guided electronically by weather station link
- Argus computer controlled
Fuel Cell
- First fuel cell in the world in a conservatory
- Siemens & PA state funded prototype
- Reduced emissions minimize contribution to global warming
- No nitrous or sulfur dioxide
Radical Roof Design
- North sloping roof allows for insulated double-pane roof glass
- Half of the 12,000 sf roof opens to eliminate the “greenhouse effect”
- Vents are Argus computer controlled
Symbiotic Heating Systems
- Thermal massing interior concrete walls collect solar energy and release the heat at night
- Radiant root zone heating for plants allows for lower ambient air temperature
- Radiant floor heat for visitors
- Green roof over support facilities
WELCOME CENTER
At a Glance
- Historically sensitive design to highlight the original Victorian conservatory
- Green roof insulates to save energy
- Sidewalk snowmelt system uses waste-steam heat from greenhouses
- Low-flow water fixtures and waterless urinals
- Fritted sunscreen in dome reduces solar heat gain
- Innovative computerized dome venting saves on A/C costs
- Computer controlled interior environment tied into weather station
- Drought resistant lawn, environmentally friendly lawn maintenance
- Biodiesel powered maintenance equipment
- FSC-certified wood used in construction
- 100% wind powered electricity
First LEED®-certified visitor’s center in a public garden
- A high performance building
- Energy efficient
- Water efficient
- Local and sustainable construction material
- Improved indoor environmental quality
- Sustainable site development
Café at Phipps
- Features local and organic foods
- Natural light in an underground space
- Compostable corn-based food serviceware
- Biodegradable recycled paper products
- Café pre-consumer waste vermicomposted and used in gardens
Composting
- Composting program for all pre- and post-consumer food and food serviceware waste.
- Allegheny County Health Department grant provided two Nature Mill composting units for employee kitchens
- Café Phipps plans to compost all pre-consumer food leftovers in a Worm Bungalow
- Serves as an effective soil amendment
- Keeps waste out of landfills
- Phipps offers classes and free public programs in composting
Landscape
- Drought-resistant grass reduces water consumption by 81 percent
- Transplanted two mature dawn redwood trees, Metasequoia glyptostryboides, estimated to weigh 110,000 pounds each, located in the future construction site.
- Watered only when necessary using a high-efficiency drip irrigation system
- Efficient drip irrigation system in entrance beds
- Sustainable plant beds require no supplemental irrigation
- Open grid parking area maximizes permeable surface area
Green Rooftops
- Retain about 50 percent of rainfall in the water table instead of being channeled into the sewer system
- Keep the building cool and reduce the heat island effect caused by wide areas of concrete and pavement
- Last three times as long as standard roofs because temperature variations are reduced and exposure to harmful UV radiation is eliminated
High-efficiency Bathroom Fixtures
- Save between 40,000 and 45,000 gallons of water each year
Integrated Pest Management
- Uses an array of complementary methods:
- Natural predators and parasites
- Pest-resistant plant varieties
- Cultural practices
- Biological controls
- Various physical techniques
- Strategic use of pesticides
Low- and No-VOCs
- Low-volatile organic compound materials were used in construction, creating a safer work environment
- Environmentally-friendly paints, adhesives, sealants, carpets, and woods are used throughout the facility
No HCFCs
- Refrigeration and fire suppression systems use no Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) or halons, which contribute to ozone depletion
Reusing Building Materials
- Much of the construction materials are from recycled content or were manufactured or extracted regionally
- Leftover materials donated to Construction Junction, a Pittsburgh-based retail store for used and surplus building materials
Smart Lighting
- Designed to maximize interior daylight
- Outside lights point downward, thus reducing night sky pollution
Wind Power
- Does not deplete natural resources or create hazardous waste
That’s a lot of stuff! If more places implemented just a few of the energy saving and green policies Phipps uses, we could truly accomplish something great for our planet. Perhaps one of the reasons more companies don’t do this is lack of public interest. If the public is still patronizing non-green businesses and companies, they really have no reason to change. Which is why we need to speak up, on Earth Day and every day, and let our opinion be heard. I would encourage you to try to only patronize places which care about the environment when possible. Let CEO’s know that you do care about what it happening to the environment and that there are easy ways to make a difference. Thanks, Phipps, for being such a great example of environmental friendliness; here’s to hoping many places eventually follow in your footsteps.
