Sustainable Sites

The Sustainable Sites category concentrates on the impact of a building's design and exterior space.

Sustainable Sites considers whether a building is making an effort to reduce light pollution and the heat island effect through its construction materials. It rewards a building for planning and executing appropriate regional landscaping practices to minimize the building's impact on ecosystems and waterways. Landscaping practices should especially concentrate on controlling storm water runoff and reducing erosion. Sustainable Sites also focuses on the transportation practices of the occupants in a building and encourages public modes of transportation.

• 425 Market St. surveyed more than 24% of the building's occupants regarding their means of transportation to work. The response of this representative sample group indicates that more than 95% of the building population uses alternate means of transportation other than driving alone.
• 425 Market St. utilizes drip irrigation and hand watering practices in the maintenance of the exterior landscaping. Drip irrigation works by applying water slowly and directly to the soil. This system allows the water to soak into the soil and applied where it is needed most, at the plant's roots. Besides drip irrigation, the landscapers hand water the planters and small areas of vegetation. Both practices help minimize over watering and runoff.
• 425 Market St. installed a "cool roof" in 2006. A cool roof is usually white or light in color. It is a roofing system that can deliver high solar reflectance and high thermal emittance. This benefits the building and the environment in many ways.
  • A cool roof reduces the building's absorption of heat. White reflective roofs typically increase only 10-25°F above ambient temperature during the day. Buildings with black roofs however can see temperature increases as much as 50°F in the heat of a full sun.
  • A cool roof reduces both building cooling loads and the urban heat island effect. As there is less heat-gain by the building, the demand on the air conditioning system lessens and allows the building both immediate and long-term savings on energy costs.
  • A cool roof reduces air pollution and smog formation.
  • A cool roof enhances the life expectancy of the roof which allows for savings in roof maintenance and replacement expenses.