First Platinum LEED certified building in Tarrant County

Botanic Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) is a holder of the Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The organization is completely devoted to the sustainable practices in its everyday operations.

 

What makes BRIT different from other organizations?

Obviously, BRIT’s goal to achieve the high score in sustainability rating for the Platinum certificate was not based on the idea to become famous. The minimum score to attain the LEED Platinum certification was 52 points. But their actual results were higher. BRIT’s headquarters received 56 points and, consequently, this building was more than qualified to become Platinum certified. Their strong desire to contribute to the overall well-being of the environment and society was one of the main driving forces of the organization which led BRIT to become one of the first Platinum LEED certified buildings in Tarrant County.

What did BRIT accomplish to be qualified for the Platinum LEED status?

By installing 52-killowatt energy-efficient solar panels on the roof of BRIT’s Archive Block, the organization saves approximately $37,000 per year on their electricity bills. Another part of the electricity saving comes with the advantage of using tall windows which let the natural sunlight easily stream into the building. Day lighting improves the quality of the light and helps to reduce the energy consumption. To further gain reduction in electricity usage, the organization installs fluorescent and LED lights throughout the building. In addition, sensors are attached to the lighting system. These control the amount of light to be delivered to the building in accordance with the natural light already present in the building.

 

 BRIT’s management is also concerned with smart water usage. They install huge tanks outside the building to collect rainwater runoff from the roofs. They are able to use this runoff water to irrigate their lands and, thus, reduce the consumption of clean water used in irrigation by 95 percent.

 

 

 Another 51 percent of reduced water usage is achieved by implementing low-flow faucets and dual-flush toilets. In addition to these methods of conserving the water resources, BRIT is well-known for their rain gardens. Rain gardens consist of deep-rooted plants and grasses, which helps to slow down the erosion process and decrease pollution.

 

Wool carpets and bamboo ceilings belong to the renewable materials, and they are components of BRIT’s building. To be less dependent on the non-renewable materials, the walls of this building are covered with linen and paper. Low volatile organic compounds (VOC) are used in carpets and flooring, help to improve the indoor quality of the air.  

 

There is much more to add to the full list of sustainable practices BRIT implements in its everyday activities. I recommend a visit to their site and experience for yourself their sustainable relationships between people and nature.