Video Credit, Cory Schouten, IBJ
The Indiana Business Journal has a tour of the new Nature Conservancy building in Indianapolis that's on track to achieve LEED Gold status.
The Nature Conservancy will live its principles by employing the following green features:
- A basement cistern that collects storm water from roof; recycled water will be used to flush toilets and irrigate landscaping
- Trees and shrubs native to Indiana
- Permeable paving to avoid runoff into the city's problematic storm water system
- Geothermal heat is the principal heat source, w/electric heat only as backup
- Green roof featuring 10 varieties of cedum plants (this may conflict with cistern rain water collection; green roofs are notable for not allowing runoff; they also help keep the building cooler in summer and warmer in winter)
- Live wall in the basement, contributing to air quality and allowing natural light to conference rooms
- Abundant windows and lighting that only kicks on when daylighting is insufficient
- 8,000 square feet of brick were recycled from the original structure on this site; that building was ruled unsafe to inhabit
- Indiana Limestone was donated by Rich and Alice Johnson through the Indiana Limestone Company
- Wind turbines will be added later
