Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina

This facility features the following green attributes:
Green Power

First Environments Early Learning Center

Total Facility Area: 25,400 square feet
Estimated Personnel: 41 staff members
Energy Consumption: 1,556,518,140 gallons per year
Btu per GSF per Year: 61,280
Total Water Consumption: not available
Gallons per GSF per year: not available

All energy and water data are reported as of FY 2006. For water data on the First Environments Early Learning Center, please see the RTP Main Building page.

Description

Open since November 2005, the First Environments Early Learning Center (FEELC) at RTP, North Carolina, is a state-of-the art, 25,400 square foot childcare facility. FEELC enables EPA to extend childcare services to 54 additional children, accomodating 41 FEELC staff and 188 children. The building includes 20 classrooms, a large multipurpose room, a commercial-grade kitchen, infant care rooms, and an outdoor playground.

In addition to this facility, EPA occupies several other buildings in the Research Triangle Park area, including:

Unique Environmental Features

Green Power

On November 1, 2004, EPA entered into a three-year agreement with Unicoi Energy Services, to purchase 100 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of green power in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs) annually. The contract helps support the generation of biomass power from paper pulp facilities in Port Wentworth, Georgia. The purchase offsets 100 percent of the electricity consumption at all of EPA's RTP facilities, including the Childcare Center.

Green Building

The building was designed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction (LEED®-NC) Silver standard. EPA applied for LEED-NC Silver certification in 2006 and expects to receive the rating in 2008.
RTP's Childcare Center features the following green building attributes:
- An ENERGY STAR^® roof and high albedo concrete paving, which decreases heat absorption and reduces the amount of energy required for cooling.
- Energy-efficient lighting features such as occupancy sensors and daylighting dimmers.
- Native landscaping that requires no additional watering and reduces pollution from stormwater runoff.
- Locally manufacturered materials.
- Indoor air quality monitoring to ensure a healthy learning environment.

For More Information

Steve VanHorn (vanhorn.steve@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA
Mail Code: C604-02
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Phone: (919) 541-5446

Web site: www.epa.gov/rtp/childcare/daycare.htm