The Chicago Center for Green Technology is a 34000 square feet (3,158.7 m²) US Green Building Council LEED Platinum certified building located on a plot of 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) in Chicago’s East Garfield Park Community built to showcase green technologies. This was the first municipal and brownfield site to win a LEED Platinum award . This project was completed as part of Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Chicago Brownfield Initiative (CBI). The center offers workshops focusing on green technology and sustainable design, a green building resource center, and self-guided or guided tours to visitors.

History

Originally constructed in 1952, the site and building have been owned by many different companies. In 1995, the Sacramento Crushing Company, a construction and demolition debris recycling company occupied the site. Sacramento Crushing had exceeded the scope of its permit and the Chicago Department of Environment began an investigation. The 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) site was filled more than 600,000 cubic yards of waste that had been illegally dumped over three decades. This debris was piled 70 feet (21.3 m) high and caused 15 feet (4.6 m) compaction on some areas of the site. The Illinois EPA cited the company for illegal dumping and operation of a waste storage and treatment facility.

Renovation

Renovation of the 32000 sq ft (2,972.9 m²). building cost a total of $5.4 million and lasted from 1999 to 2003, at which point it was opened to the public. Before the formal design process began, it was decided that the main goal of the renovation was going to be that the building had to pass the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Platinum rating, which is the highest LEED rating a building can get. The goal to have the building be LEED Platinum certified was the determining factor in all building decisions, such as mechanical, electrical, and ventilation systems. All aspects of the building were optimized in order to reduce waste during the construction process, and energy waste during the operation of the building once it was completely renovated.

Sustainable features

The Chicago Center for Green Technology

Environmental technology

Environmental technology or green technology or clean technology is the application of one or more of environmental science, green chemistry, environmental monitoring and electronic devices to monitor, model and conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of...

 uses about 40% less energy than a building of the same size due to the multiple ways it gathers and conserves its energy. Solar panels on the roof, on awnings around the building, and an array of solar panels in a lot behind the building provide 20% of the building's energy. Passive heating is provided by large double-paned and insulated glass

Insulated glazing

Insulated glazing also known as double glazing are double or triple glass window panes separated by an air or other gas filled space to reduce heat transfer across a part of the building envelope....

 windows that also provide large amounts of light. Another source of heat or air-conditioning

Air conditioning

An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...

, depending on what season it is, comes from 28 vertical wells beneath the building that go to a depth of 200 feet, at which point the temperature is relatively constant. Water is pumped down the wells and then extracted, which helps cool the building in the summer and heat it in the winter. A smart lighting system throughout the building detects the amount of natural light and adjusts the amount of light provided by electricity. Scrap cork flooring and recycled glass bathroom tiles make up part of the building material

Building material

Building material is any material which is used for a construction purpose. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, sand, wood and rocks, even twigs and leaves have been used to construct buildings. Apart from naturally occurring materials, many man-made products are in use, some more...

s, which come from more than 40% recycled material. The Center for Green Technology has a green roof

Green roof

A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems...

, which consists of 3 inches (76.2 mm) of soil and plant matter. The green roof helps to absorb rainwater and insulate the building. Rainwater is released from downspouts into the soil, as opposed to the public sewer system, in order to reduce the amount of run-off contaminants in the sewers. The landscaping around the building is irrigated with rain water that is stored in cisterns, which helps reduce the amount of treated water from the city.

Community involvement

A few of Chicago’s most environmentally friendly businesses operate out of the Chicago Center for Green Technology. Chicago Department of Environment’s Greencorps Chicago Program is located at CCGT. The Greencorps program is a community landscaping and job training program, which provides instruction, workshops, and assistance for anyone in Chicago that wants to develop a garden site or improve the natural environment in Chicago.