Research

To even begin this Capstone project, I had to figure out what career field I wanted to enter. I selected environmental engineering because I want to make sure that there is enough environment to go around for my children and grandchildren. To dive deeper in this field, I thoroughly enjoy applying this to housing, or other buildings in general. Buildings, like the Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitors Center, that strive to be as environmentally sustainable as possible are referred to as Green Buildings. This led to my essential question: How does the Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitors Center embody an environmentally sustainable building, and what else can be done to obtain a Green Building certification?
I know that Forsyth County Parks and Recreation has little intent in getting this building certified by the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). However, this does not mean that they do not care about making a building that is environmentally friendly. They put a lot of effort into this building to make it the start of a movement in this area. That movement is defined by independent businesses and government organizations striving to make mother nature happy by lessening their carbon footprints.
The search for the answer to my essential question began by understanding exactly how the idea for a Green Building came into existence. This came about when my mentor, Kevin Smith, introduced me to Joseph Daugherty at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitors Center, who sat down with one of his colleagues, Matthew Pate, as I asked them some questions.

Q: When was the idea for a Green Building first created?

A: In 2006, we decided to begin a new project that used an earth friendly design in a building on Sawnee Mountain.

Q: How did you decide on this location?

A: We originally wanted the building to be on the top of the mountain, but soon realized that transportation up there would be very difficult, so this was the most open place on the whole mountain that had very nice road frontage.

Q: How does this building lend itself toward being a Green Building.

A: We use all concrete flooring, which is able to stay cool in the summer and warmer in the winter. We use all wood that can be grown in the southeast United States. We use recycled carpet in certain areas around the building that was harvested from other buildings in the county. The walls and ceilings are painted with low volatile paint, which contains less harmful chemicals. Double and triple pane windows are used which eliminate the need for conventional lighting without radiating as much heat with the multiple layers of glass. To got along with this, the conventional lighting that we have to use all LED lighting which are a lot more efficient than other lighting options. Outside, we have paver bricks on some of the parking spaces, which helps filtrate water into the soil to reduce runoff. All the plants that we plant are natural to this area to reduce the chance of introducing a potential invasive species. We also try to eliminate as much wasted space as possible by putting as much as we need in the smallest area possible.

Q: Was this the first Green Building to exist in Forsyth County?

A: To my knowledge, this was the first building to really strive to meet several standards that make this building different from all others. However, I am excited to say that other buildings have followed our lead and have done similar things that we did, including our fire stations.

Q: If you could do one thing different in this process, what would you do?

A: I would have not put bamboo flooring into the classroom. It seemed like a good idea when you put it on paper, but it is all cracked up and scratched up. It hurt us more than bamboo's quick growth time helped us.

After my interview with Joseph Daugherty and Matthew Pate, I dug deeper into an LEED certification and discovered what it would take for a building to obtain one, which is where my annotated bibliographies came in and helped me search for these specific details. I also tried to discover what type of wood flooring would best suit the classroom area, and I found a wood called hybrid poplar that grows all across the United States and is the fastest growing tree in our area.

4. I discovered in the end that the Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitors Center is a very successful portrait of what a Green Building should contain. Everything from the way they use efficient lighting and windows to the timed dryers and faucets in the bathroom. With all this in mind, I am fairly certain that this building has what it take to achieve, even if it may be the lowest level, a certification from LEED. I also discovered my fascination with the application of everyday items that can be used in a way that is safe for all parties involved, including us and the earth.