Living & Building Green Expo

               

The Swaner EcoCenter, a non-profit organization founded in 1993, is home to a 1200 acre Nature Preserve as well as a new, LEED Platinum, nationally acclaimed green building.  The opening of the Swaner EcoCenter in 2009 has enabled the organization to become something quite unique – a “Green Building that Teaches.”  Our EcoCenter is a living demonstration of green building, and was designed to test new materials and energy technologies.  It houses the Swaner educational series that began long ago as one focused on traditional environmental education and now includes sustainable living topics for learners of all levels.  The Swaner EcoCenter’s deep understanding of “green” began with our restoration of the land.  This, coupled with the first LEED new construction building in Utah, and our green education mission, make us a vital part of the Summit County community.

The EcoCenter design is based upon the same elements critical to our Preserve and a healthy ecosystem – sunlight, earth, air, and water.  Our building’s design enables visitors to view the Preserve from every interior space – keeping the importance of the land, and our connection to it, top of mind.

The four ecosystem elements were incorporated into the EcoCenter as follows:

Sunlight

Optimizing EcoCenter energy performance:

• Rooftop photovoltaic array produces onsite electricity

• Innovative evaporative cooling system decreases annual energy use by 42%

• Solar power heats hot water

• High efficiency glazed windows filled with argon gas for unparalleled insulation

• Radiant floor heating—up to 40% more efficient than forced air

• Deep roof overhangs provide passive shading

• Light-colored roofing and decking decrease building heat gain

Earth

Optimizing building material choices – Renew, Restore, Recycle:

• Sunflower seed composite countertops

• Sorghum stalk composite board cabinetry

• High recycled-content steel

• High recycled-content carpet

• Cementitious siding with post-industrial and post-consumer recycled content

• Toilet partitions made with 40% recycled content

• Recycled cotton insulation made from denim scrap material

• Dense ipe (e-pay) wood durable without the need for stains or sealants

• Rapidly renewable bamboo flooring and cabinetry

• Wood timbers salvaged from the Great Salt Lake

Air

Optimizing indoor air quality:

• Low-emitting materials avoid odors, off-gassing, and harmful chemicals

• Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints, primers, and stains

• No urea-formaldehyde

• Passive ventilation through observation tower

• Operable windows provide natural ventilation

Water

Optimizing water conservation:

• Innovative rooftop water collection system collects 40,000 gallons annually

• Cisterns store 15,000 gallons of rainwater/snowmelt for later use

• Stored water utilized for toilet flushing and irrigation

• Low-flow toilets, faucets and shower save water

• Waterless urinals

• Porous pavement allows for groundwater recharge

The U.S. Green Building Council recently certified the Swaner EcoCenter as LEED Platinum, the highest level of certification, and we received all 61 points submitted.  52 points are required for Platinum status.