Thursday, September 3, 2009

LEED Construction Process

In all aspects of the construction for the new Richland County facility, LRADAC is pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. This includes everything from energy efficiency designs to recyclable construction principles to help the environment. In doing so, clean air and recycling are two very important factors. As you see in the photo of the HVAC duct (rectangular metal box) the ends are sealed with a cellophane-type material to keep the duct work clean and contaminant free until it is installed. The blue material is removed immediately prior to installation to help keep the ventilation system clean, thereby increasing the indoor air quality. Indoor air quality is continuously monitored even during the construction process.


Recycling is another very important part of the LEED construction process. As of today, 90% of all construction debris has been diverted from the landfill and sent to recycling centers; therefore, reducing wasted as the result of the construction process. Below is a picture of containers located inside the facility for recycling.
The brickwork on the exterior is moving right along.



The view below is from just inside the main entrance. The skylight will provide an openness when clients enter the new facility.