SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS & PRACTICES

Behind the scenes, Phipps has become one of the world's most energy efficient and sustainable conservatories, serving as a model for visitors and other public gardens. Green building design couple with sustainable operations and practices to create an environment committed to conservation and biodiversity.

Welcome Center

First LEED^® certified visitor center in a public garden

• A high performance building
• Energy efficient
• Water efficient
• Improved indoor environmental quality
• Local and sustainable construction material
• Sustainable site development

Energy Efficiency

• Computer simulations used in design process to effectively design the mechanical systems and daylighting controls
• Insulated and low-e glass used throughout
• Fritted glass in the dome further reduces heat transfer
• High and low window vents tied into cooling system
• Green roof insulates to cool building in summer and minimize heating needs in winter

High-efficiency Bathroom Fixtures

• Low-flow toilets use 1.5 gallons of water per flush
• Waterless urinals in men's restroom - each can save as much as 67,000 gallons of water per year
• Automatic sensor faucets use only 0.5 gallons of water per minute

Café Phipps

• Features local, organic, sustainable and vegetarian foods
• Natural light in an underground space
• Compostable vegetable starch-based food serviceware
• Biodegradable recycled paper products
• Café pre-consumer organic waste is vermicomposted and later used in gardens
• Café post-consumer organic waste is composted off site

Composting

• Composting program for all pre- and post-consumer food and food serviceware waste
• Serves as an effective soil amendment
• Keeps waste out of landfills and minimizes water, soil and air contaminated with landfill use
• Phipps offers classes and free public programs on composting

Landscape

• Drought-resistant, organically managed lawn reduces water consumption
• Efficient drip irrigation system in entrance beds
• Sustainable plant beds feature plants with non-invasive habits, high disease and insect resistance, and requiring minimal water and pesticides. No supplemental irrigation is needed
• Open grid parking area maximizes permeable surface area

Green Rooftops

• Planted with drought-resistant endophytic-enhanced grass and sustainable plant beds
• 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

Integrated Pest Management

• Conservatory-wide program uses an array of complementary methods:
  • Least toxic method
  • 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

Recycled, Reused and Local Building Materials

• 8.5% of the materials contain post-consumer and post-industrial recycled content
• Recycled materials include: steel, aluminum and glass in the skylight, concrete rebar in the walls, floor and roof, steel studs, dry wall, and ceiling tile
• 24% of the materials were manufactured regionally within 500 miles
• Local materials include: steel, concrete, limestone, block and bricks; of these materials, 22% were extracted, harvested or recovered within 500 miles
• Leftover materials donated to Construction Junction, a Pittsburgh-based retail store for used and surplus building materials

Smart Lighting

• Designed to maximize interior daylight and reduce need for artificial lighting
• Outside lights point downward, thus reducing night sky pollution

Renewable Energy

• 100% of Phipps' electricity is either produced on site with solar and wind, or offset by offsite renewable resources
• Does not deplete natural resources or create hazardous waste
• Visit our website to purchase renewable energy credits and carbon offsets for your home or travel

Tropical Forest Conservatory

Advanced Computer Control

• Anticipatory computer controlled weather and temperature reacting system
• Maximum energy 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° F (13°C) 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

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

• Radiant root zone heating for plants allows for lower ambient air temperature
• Radiant floor heat for visitors
• Thermal massing interior concrete walls collect solar energy and release the heat at night
• Green roof over support facilities

Production Greenhouse

Energy Efficiency

• State of the art open-roof design allows temperature and ventilation control
• Anticipatory computer controlled weather and temperature reacting system by Argus Controls
• Open roof allows escape of hot air so interior air is never warmer than exterior air
• Heated through economical radiant floor heating system

Energy Blankets and Shade Cloths

• Energy blankets prevent convective and radiant heat loss
• Shade cloths respond to the natural sunlight and cloud cover
• Guided electronically by weather station link and Argus

Water Filtration and Efficiency

• Reverse osmosis system filters water, balances pH levels and reduces fluoride
• Future plans include water capture and reuse for greenhouse irrigation

PRACTICES

Energy

• Energy reduction strategies are integrated into all conservatory architecture and operations
• Energy Star compliant equipment (appliances, computers, etc.) are continually phased in
• Compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs), motions sensors and individual task lamps provide lighting throughout the Conservatory and offices
• Computers and electronics are set to energy saving modes during working hours, and turned off and unplugged at night

Sustainable Landscapes

• Project Green Heart teams Phipps with local nurseries to educate consumers and promote sustainable plants
• Phipps' Recommended Top 10 Sustainable Plants features 10 plants each year chosen for their low maintenance requirements
• Educational classes, certificate programs and public programs for adults, professionals, children and school groups include topics on sustainable landscape and greener living practices
• Integrated Pest Management is coupled with supplemental target applications of soaps and oils throughout the conservatory, outdoors gardens and lawn
• Sustainable plant beds and organically-managed lawn provide green roof vegetation atop the Welcome Center
• Front lawn is underplanted with Alcoa Geoblock® recycled plastic permeable parking grid
• Front lawn grass variety is drought-resistant and endophytic-enhanced; it does not require supplemental irrigation, and is amended with compost yearly

Water Efficiency

• High efficiency plumbing fixtures reduce water usage
• Recirculating ponds, drip irrigation and water metering programs maximize water efficiency
• Rain barrels are installed in the children's Discovery Garden and at the Phipps Garden Center

Sustainable Maintenance

• Waste heat condensate channeled under Welcome Center sidewalk melts snow
• Potassium chloride is used as a deicer in winter instead of salt in areas other than the Welcome Center front walk
• Chemical-free pressure washing is used throughout the Conservatory
• Oil from equipment is recycled
• 90% of cleaning products and paper supplies are GreenSeal approved

Material Reuse and Recycling

• All plant material from flower shows and landscape is composted
• Recycling of cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, aluminum, fluorescent bulbs, batteries, hard-to-recycle and construction materials
• Abitibi Paper Recycling program provides bins for staff and community
• Many exhibit materials are reused or recycled, in whole or part
• Children's projects are created out of reusable and recycled materials
• A compost bin is prominent in the children's Discovery Garden
• Bottled water is banned from the entire facility; filtered water and reusable bottles are offered

Sustainable Purchasing

• Purchasing preference is given to sustainably harvested and produced products
• Non-toxic materials are used for signage, including soy-based inks with UV protection
• All paper contains recycled content, with preference given to 100% recycled and Forest Stewardship Council products
• Recycled, unbleached paper towels are provided in manually operated towel dispensers
• Non-antibacterial soap is used throughout facility
• The Shop at Phipps offers sustainable, fair trade and organic products
• Growing Greener Events offers sustainable special events programming