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EPA Walks the Walk
Here in Arlington, Virginia, we're "talking the talk
and walking the walk." On July 26, 2006, we held the
grand opening ceremonies for our new office buildings at One
and Two Potomac Yard. While Executive Order 13101 requires
that all new federal facility construction meet the minimum
Silver certification of the US
Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design 
(LEED®)
rating system, Potomac Yard went above and beyond those requirements
and received LEED® Gold for New Commercial
Construction certification.
EPA’s developer, Crescent Resources, LLC, aimed from the start to combine accessibility, productivity, and sustainability into an aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective structure. Achieving LEED® Gold called for coordinated and intensive planning with a strong emphasis on green building and design. During the design stage, Crescent Resources worked with an environmental building consultant and a commissioning authority to educate the design team about sustainable design and to assist on LEED® criteria.
Wood and metal wastes were recycled—not thrown away—during the building's construction. In addition, more than 60 percent of the building's materials were extracted and manufactured regionally within a 500-mile radius, thus supporting the local economy and reducing energy costs associated with materials fabrication and transport. To facilitate environmentally responsible commuting, we are located close to Metrorail trains and Metro buses, and the building has shower facilities and onsite parking for 35 bicycles.
The exterior of the facility displays many "green" features. The roof is made with highly reflective, Energy Star®-compliant materials designed to reduce the amount of solar heat absorbed, which saves cooling energy. The segment of roof that joins the buildings has both an accessible patio and a 1,711-square-foot green roof, planted with sedum in 4-inch depth trays, which will help to filter pollution and reduce sun heat loads. In the rear of the facility, sand filters have been installed to intercept and treat stormwater runoff heading toward the Potomac River. The filters are expected to reduce the number of particles in the water by more than 80 percent and total phosphorus by 40 percent. The exterior landscape was designed with water conservation in mind; it uses drought-resistant and local plants and has no permanent irrigation system.
One and Two Potomac Yard demonstrates how sustainable buildings not only benefit the environment, but also the building occupants. For example, low-VOC adhesives, paints, sealant, and caulks were used to provide EPA employees with superior indoor air quality. Offices are equipped with environment- and people-friendly features such as energy-efficient task lamps and ergonomic chairs. The restrooms have low-flow faucets with electronic shutoff, low-flush urinals, and dual-flush toilets that contribute to overall water conservation. Additionally, the Agency has agreed to purchase grid-source green power for both buildings for one year.
One and Two Potomac Yard demonstrate the balance of function, cost, and sustainability that has come to represent top-quality green structures. We hope that the success of Potomac Yard will inspire other construction companies and developers to build more environmentally sustainable structures.
The buildings at Potomac Yard exemplify the type of initiative encouraged by the Resource Conservation Challenge within the national priority areas of Municipal Solid Waste Recycling and Industrial Materials Recycling.
For More Information:
- Greening EPA's Profile on Potomac Yard
- EPA's Green Building Web Site
- Resource Conservation Challenge national priority area: Municipal Solid Waste Recycling and Industrial Materials Recycling.