NAVFAC in-house design team achieves LEED Silver certification on project

Jacksonville, Fla. — Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast received notification March 19 a project designed in-house for Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field, Fla. has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification as established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

"NAVFAC Southeast has a strong capable team that performs in-house design," said Jack McCarthy, NAVFAC Southeast Capital Improvements Business Line Coordinator. "Eight of the 11 team members are LEED accredited professionals.

McCarthy explained that this work enhances the team's design skills, reduces cost to the Navy and allows responsive fluctuation to workload rquirements.

LEED Silver certification of the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) Training OPS Paraloft facility was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include water use reduction of 30 percent, increased energy performance, and day lighting and day lighting sensors.

The building achieved LEED Silver certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, LEED certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

The JPATS Training Operations Paraloft Facility is an approximately 17,200 square-foot single-story reinforced concrete block structure with brick facing, concrete floor slab and foundation, and standing seam metal roofing. The new facility provides support space for the new T-6BTexan II airframe and associated flight gear. Construction includes state-of-the-art paraloft featuring 700 cubbies for instructor and student Aviation Life Support Systems (ALSS), test benches and repair/inspection tables.

The new facility also includes electrical and mechanical utilities, plumbing, fire protection and alarm systems connected to the main base, sound attenuation, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, local area network, fiber optic, telephone, inter-communication systems, energy management system, and operation and maintenance support information.

"The Paraloft's state-of-the-art combined Aviation Life Support System storage and centralized repair facility has greatly enhanced the instructor and student pre-flight and post-flight process," Training Air Wing 5 Chief Staff Officer Cmdr. Eric Seib. "A flight crew can walk together to what many Fleet-experienced naval aviators now say is the nicest paraloft they have seen."

The one stop location with technicians available to troubleshoot items is an added benefit to assist inexperienced students with flight gear concerns. The central location between the three Primary Squadrons and Instructor Training Unit minimizes the distance traveled during ground operations by five percent.

"The JPATS Training OPS Paraloft facility's LEED Silver certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. "With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC's vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation. As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, the JPATS Training OPS Paraloft facility is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement."

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39 percent of CO2 emissions, 40 percent of energy consumption, 13 percent water consumption and 15 percent of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85 percent of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

LEED is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. There are four levels of LEED Certification — Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.