Texas Instruments
One of the most interesting sites we visited during this Sustainability Project Studio adventure is the Texas Instruments facility. This facility was neighboring the levels of a top secret government site, and while that may seem annoying, it definitely added to the intrigue of the building itself. As we walked in, we had to go through security, sign an agreement, grab a visitor’s badge and put all cameras away, which greatly saddens me because this facility’s technology is bordering indescribable. Paul Westbrook, the TI Sustainable Development Manager, has worked for Texas Instruments for the past 29 years and has a background in mechanical engineering. Mr. Westbrook truly takes sustainability way beyond his job. He’s installed a wind turbine at his home and has also included other green building elements as well. Feel free to check out his website over those personal efforts : www.enerjazz.com/house
Back to the TI facility, most people don’t have a true depiction of what TI really does. While most of us know them for their calculator production, they do much more than that. They manufacture small analog chips that can be found hundreds of everyday items such as: iPads, vehicles, LED light bulbs, smart phones, wind turbines, and e-bikes. With so much technology that is required to make these sensitive, yet extremely important chips, it’s important to consider the protective and sterile environment that is required to house this sensitive procedure. Then, one has to ponder the amount of electricity and energy that is required to run this manufacturing process. It was that concern that sparked the need for a sustainable analysis and green improvements both inside and out. TI’s facility measures roughly 1.1 million square feet, and approximately 284,000 sq. ft. of that being what Mr. Westbrook calls clean space. Clean space is the area of the building that requires regulation of human contact, continuous air circulation, static electricity control. With the continuous air circulation system and the water treatment process in making the analog chips, it’s important to make an effort to control electricity usage and water consumption. Mr. Westbrook began his sustainability plan by reviewing the Bundtland Report, and applying those principals towards their building. With that in mind, they decided to include the following sustainable elements to their facility:
1. Native Meadow Restoration
2. Rain Water Reuse Pond
3. Reflective Roof
4. Dark Skies Friendly Lighting
5. Exterior Shades
6. Day lighting
7. Efficient Lights
8. Solar Water Heating
9. Water Turbine
10. Powered Faucet
11. Bicycle Parking
12. Efficient cooling system with waste heat recovery
Once the building was completed and all sustainable aspects were included, the end result produced:
• 20 percent energy reduction (>35% for facilities systems)
• 40 percent water-use reduction
• 50 percent emissions reduction
• LEED Gold Certified Office and Fab
• Invested less than $1.5 million however saved roughly $4 million per year in water and utilities
All of these elements work in tandem with each other to not only save TI operation costs, but also conserves energy and water for neighboring communities. It was truly amazing to see the efforts that have been made in such a large complex, and to witness the technological advancements that go into producing these tiny, important chips. With TI facilities being worldwide, it’s a great example of how large companies have the unique opportunity to demonstrate sustainability on a large scale, to all faces of the world.
~
Plano Environmental Education Center
As we traveled from the huge complex that was Texas Instruments, we traveled down the road to the Plano Environmental Education Center, which a small learning center that is dedicated to educating the city of Plano and surrounding areas about sustainability and the green movement, which also happens to be the only LEED Platinum building in Dallas and one of two in the Metroplex. While the center is still in construction along the exterior landscape, the basic facility is completed and in working order. The brilliant thing about the center’s sustainable design, are the circular plaques that can be found throughout the building, both interior and exterior of the center. Their notes worth green efforts include:
Architectural site orientation and layout plan for maximum energy efficiency (roof overhangs, east-west orientation, shade) Use of recycled/renewable/nontoxic materials (low VOC paint, recycled carpet, tiles, fly ash concrete, glass) Energy efficient and renewable energy technologies (solar panels, natural lighting, photovoltaics) Water conservation (rainwater harvesting, gray water recycling, low-flow water system, efficient irrigation) Educational applications (interpretive displays, interactive programs, regional training site, workshops, public presentations) Utilization of site’s natural features (creek habitat and environmental discovery gardens)As you can see in the slide show below, the center is peppered with informational signage that educates each visitor as they experience the space and become an active participant in the center itself.
The Plano Environmental Educational Center is a prime example of what can be done to educate the local community. Its primary purpose is to provide environmental education, but it’s also available to rent out for special events as well. To take a note from their facility, I wish other LEED certified buildings would utilize the same educational properties, proudly displaying and educating everyone that walked through the doors about LEED and sustainability. Game on DFW, with only two LEED Platinum Buildings in the area, it’s time for architects and builders to step up their game and start adding their buildings to the list!
~
The Trinity River Audubon Center
Our two weeks of amazing site visits, learning experiences, and memorable guest speakers ended with one of the most gorgeous buildings I have ever seen. We had the pleasure of visiting the Trinity River Audubon Center (TRAC), just outside of Dallas, which is one of the LEED Gold buildings in the DFW area. The Trinity River Audubon Center is a non-profit that offers “something for the whole family – an interactive exhibit hall inviting hands-on exploration; 4 – 5 miles of hiking trails through the Great Trinity Forest and our prairies and wetlands; even our nature store offers enticing artwork from local artists and fun kids games”.
As we walked up to the center, the architecture was just astounding! As an architecture graduate, I simply wandered around with my jaw dropped for the first 15 mins. Most architects design their buildings not only as a form follow function mentality, but often aiming for a simple piece of art. As you walk up to this building, it looks just that, a gorgeous piece of art that happens to house a business working towards a specific purpose. To move beyond the beautiful ascetics of the building, you begin to notice signs posted along various points of the entrance. Similar to those to the Plano Environmental Education Center, the TRAC proudly displays their sustainable features, pointing them out along the way. Some of those sustainability features include:
1. Remediation of a Brownfield Site
2. Permeable Paving/Stormwater Control
3. Water-Efficient Landscaping and the Use of Rainwater Harvesting for Irrigation
4. Minimized Heat Island Effect
5. Water Use Reduction
6. High-Efficiency Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Electrical Systems Daylighting and Views
As you look through the photos included in the slide show below, pay close attention to the materials used throughout the building. The TRAC’s focus is to preserve the natural habitat, celebrating not only the native prairieland but the nature surrounding it, both vegetation and wildlife. Even the building itself is shaped similar to a large bird soaring over the grasslands. While it’s important to discuss the green aspects of this building, I can’t help but enjoy the simple beauty of this facility. With the use of native wood veneers lining some of the research room walls, natural denim insulation, fly-ash concrete castings lining the walls of the main hall, angled exterior walls with windows to minimize solar impact, solar panels, cradle to cradle furniture, and the use of natural waste filtration within the neighboring ground, this building truly as site to be hold and the architects deserve a kudos for not only designing a gorgeous building but including all the necessary features to lessen its impact on the environment around it.
I would like to take a moment to not only thank all of the business owners, lecturers, visitors, tour guides and staff for their hospitality, but I would like to thank our wonderful professor, Mr. Brant Mullen! This has been an experience I will never forget and have truly enjoyed every second of it. To be given the chance to see each site, both big and small and everyone in between has been indescribable. Thank you Professor Mullen for taking the time to organize each visit, ensuring that not only do we get the greatest learning experience possible, but ensuring that each of us arrived safely and at the correct location. :) The memories I’ll take away from the last two weeks is something that I will hold dear for the rest of my life and now I can honestly say, the fire in my belly has never burned so bright.
Resources
Texas Instruments - http://www.ti.com/
Texas Instruments – Sustainability - http://www.ti.com/corp/docs/csr/company/sustainability.shtml
Plano Environmental Education Center - http://www.plano.gov/Departments/Environmental%20Services/Pages/EEC.aspx
Trinity River Audubon Center - http://www.trinityriveraudubon.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Home
No comments:
Post a Comment