**Green Building Construction and \"Energy Showcase\"**

**National Conservation Training Center**

**Shepherdstown, West Virginia**

by David Guthrie, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="3.0in" height="2.0in"}**Overview**

The Fish and Wildlife Service\'s National Conservation Training Center
is a training campus of 16 buildings comprising 350,000 energy-using
gross square feet. It will meet fish and wildlife related training needs
for professionals in the Service as well as other Federal, State and
private entities. Elements of the facility include classroom and
laboratory training facilities, dormitories, dining facilities, an
education outreach component, day care, site infrastructure, support
facilities, and utilities. Approximately 250 students could attend the
Center at any given time to take comprehensive technical and management
training courses in support of environmental activities.

Construction of the Center began in July 1994. The Center opened in
September 1997 with completion of the fourth dormitory scheduled for the
spring of 1998.

The Service\'s goal for construction of the Center was to utilize
low-risk energy conservation management technologies and applications
that are readily available, easily maintained, and cost effective. In
addition, siting of the project met a number of goals such as: increased
biodiversity on the site; new meadows; enhanced woodlands (and no net
loss of trees); reinforced hedgerows; and maintenance of cropland for
demonstration farming.

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.0in" height="2.0in"}Engineering design
work included analyzing building envelopes and lighting for energy
efficiency using two new computer programs developed by the Department
of Energy and Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories. Designs for the
nineteen buildings at the Center were analyzed. All buildings passed
program requirements, and thus were in compliance with \"Energy
Conservation Performance Standards for New Buildings\" (10 CFR 435). In
addition, another computer program developed by the

Trane Corporation (TRACE) confirmed that the FY 2000 building energy use
goal would be achieved, which it was.

The following are some of the key energy management and green Federal
purchasing features of the Center.

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="3.125in"
height="2.1041666666666665in"}**Passive Solar Energy Design**

-   Buildings oriented on an east/west axis to take advantage of
    southern exposure;

-   Larger window area on south side of the buildings than on the north
    side;

-   Sun screens for windows;

-   Brick floors behind windows for solar gain;

-   Extended roof lines (overhangs) for summer shading without
    precluding winter sun; and

-   Landscaping for optimum summer shading and wind breaks;

**Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)**

-   The lowest life-cycle cost effective HVAC system was specified,
    including:

    -   Water is chilled using cheaper off-peak electricity and stored
        for use during peak hours when electricity is more expensive;

    -   Heat pumps supplemented with electric heat; and

    -   Centralized mechanical controls and variable speed motors.

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-   Use of non-chlorofluorocarbons (CFC\'s) or CFC substitutes in HVAC
    systems.

**Lighting**

-   Lighting uses energy-efficient electronic ballasts and T-8 lamps.

-   ![](media/image4.jpeg){width="3.0in" height="2.0in"}Ambient and task
    lighting are specified throughout.

-   Clerestory lighting provides natural light.

-   Lighting complies with 10 CFR 435, as determined by LTGSTD 2.4.

**Insulation**

-   Center is \"superinsulated\":

-   Argon-filled, double-pane (not \"low e\") windows with high
    insulation values (R = 6-7) are used;

-   Insulation in ceiling and walls exceeds code requirements (up to R =
    52); and

-   Floors, foundations, and masonry voids are filled with insulation
    (up to R = 25).

-   Building envelopes comply with 10 CFR 435, as determined by ENVSTD
    2.4.

**Use of Recycled Materials**

Many of the materials were selected for sustainability, within the
limitations of Federal procurement and \"Buy America\" requirements.
Initial ideas for low-maintenance natural wood siding (i.e., redwood and
red cedar) were not chosen for environmental reasons such as limited
second growth and maintenance of spotted owl habitat.

-   Specifications require:

    -   Use of 100% fly ash as an additive in normal proportion in the
        cement;

    -   Reclaimed metals in low-maintenance metal (all-steel) siding
        instead of redwood and red cedar;

    -   Available range is approximately 30 - 70% recycled steel:

        -   Due to contracting requirements, more than one supplier had
            to be specified (i.e., we couldn\'t isolate the highest
            percentage recycled steel supplier);

        -   As such, an approximately 30% recycled steel content
            specified by 3 manufacturers was selected;

    -   Recovered materials in the insulation:

        -   For example, cellulose material in acoustic tile is 100%
            recycled material;

    -   Resilient flooring made from recycled tires for high impact and
        physical training areas:

        -   Except for pigmentation, additives, and adhesives, 100% of
            material in these areas was recycled tires; and

    -   Drywall with high content of recycled gypsum (made from recycled
        drywall).

        -   Did not specify gypsum, which is calcium sulfate,
            CaSO~4~**^.^**H~2~O, manufactured as a byproduct from sulfur
            dioxide air pollution control processes.

    -   Use of other recycled materials was encouraged.

**Indoor Air Quality**

-   Interior finishes and related systems such as adhesives, laminates,
    and inherent materials were specified with the intent of reducing
    Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC\'s), which could result in
    deterioration of indoor air quality.

-   Air flushing of all Center buildings will occur after installation
    of materials and prior to occupancy.

**Aesthetics**

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="3.15625in"
height="2.1666666666666665in"}Aesthetically, the buildings were designed
to fit the scale and character of surrounding rural structures such as
the Hendrix farm, which was built in the 1700\'s. View corridors, areas
immediate to the historic farm, and a historic race track located next
to the farm were protected. In response to local concerns about
maintaining the agricultural character of the area, the farmland in the
foreground was maintained.

**Protection of Cultural Resources**

Before construction was initiated, archeological surveys and studies
were conducted to protect and record cultural resources. Prehistoric
artifacts, Native American encampments, homestead sites from the 18th
and 19th centuries, and two cemeteries were found.

For more information, see <http://training.fws.gov/>