WMS Gaming office highlights sustainable techniques

The U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System encourages global adoption of sustainable green development practices through the creation and implementation of universally accepted tools and performance criteria. WMS Gaming achieved a LEED for New Construction Gold Certification in June 2011 in their building designed and built by United Construction.

The environmental impact of building design, construction and operations industry is enormous. Buildings in the United States consume nearly 40 percent of the total energy and more than 70 percent of the electricity used annually. In 2006, the commercial building sector produced more than 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, an increase of more than 30 percent over 1990 levels.

By choosing to incorporate sustainable techniques in the design and construction of the WMS Gaming building, a significant amount of resources were saved. In comparison to the average commercial building designed to meet code requirements, WMS Gaming's facility consumes approximately 28 percent less energy (in gas and power consumption) and 47 percent less water per year. In addition, the implementation of a construction waste management program during construction diverted 83 percent of the waste generated from overflowing landfills.

WMS Gaming and United Construction incorporated the following sustainable design and construction methods to achieve the USGBC's LEED Gold Certification:

* Construction activity pollution control measures

* Bicycle storage and shower/changing rooms

* Dedicated and reserved parking spaces for low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicle parking

* Car/van pool parking spaces provided at the facility

* Forty percent more open space at the site than local code requires

* Quantity and quality control for storm water management at the site

* Reduction of heat island effect by utilizing a white roof membrane on the facility

* Water efficient landscaping that utilizes reclaimed water for irrigation

* Reduction of potable water use in the facility by 47 percent over normal baseline via low-flow plumbing fixtures

* Fundamental and enhanced commissioning and balancing of the air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems in the facility

* Refrigerant and HVAC equipment selection that minimized or eliminated emission of compounds that contribute to ozone depletion and global warming

* Energy optimization performance strategies and controls to achieve a 28-percent energy consumption savings relative to the baseline building benchmark

* On-site generated renewable energy (solar panels)

* Dedicated areas at the facility for the collection and storage of recycling materials, including cardboard, paper, plastic, glass and metals

* Diverting 141 tons (83 percent) of on-site generated construction waste to recycling center in lieu of dumping construction waste in a landfill

* Utilizing 28 percent of the total building material content (by value) of materials that are manufactured from recycled or renewable materials

* Twenty-two percent of total building materials value is comprised of building materials and/or products that have been extracted, harvested, recovered or manufactured within 500 miles of the facility's location

* Ventilation and fresh air intake systems that provides higher indoor air quality in the facility

* Use of low-emitting and low volatile organic compound (VOC) adhesives/sealants, paints/coatings, carpet and composite wood/agrifiber

* Indoor chemical and pollutant control measures

* Lighting controls for individual work stations and shared multi-occupant spaces, including interlocked light detection, window blind/shade control and light harvesting system

* Thermal comfort via HVAC system zoning and controls

Green design not only makes a positive impact on public health and the environment, it also reduces facility operating costs, enhances building marketability, increases occupant productivity and helps create a sustainable community.

Michael Russell is chief operating officer of United Construction, which is headquartered in Reno.