You are standing in a building that has been designed and constructed to meet the standards of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The purpose of LEED is to reduce energy and resource consumption, minimize environmental impact, and provide healthier, more connected buildings. Throughout the building and grounds, you will see signs like this one which highlight Forest Park’s sustainable efforts.
Garden Roof
In addition to providing over half an acre of respite for patients, visitors, and staff, this magnificent Garden Roof serves the Forest Park Medical Center in other sustainably significant ways. Through the capturing and storage of rainwater, the amount of storm water runoff diverted from storm sewers and open waterways is dramatically reduced. Because the Garden Roof covers at least 50% of the hospital roof area, temperatures inside and areas surrounding the building are kept cooler than they would have been with a typical roof system that would reflect the sun’s heat to those areas inside and surrounding the building.
FSC-Certified Wood
To encourage environmentally responsible forest management, Forest Park Medical Center has permanently incorporated wood building components that are certified in accordance with the principles and criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council. For example, just take a look up at the architectural woodwork on the ceiling.
Water Use Reduction
All restrooms in this building have been fitted with low-flow faucets and toilets that help the building reduce overall water consumption by 35% compared to a conventional building. Due to these fixtures, Forest Park will save about 596 gallons of water per year. That’s the equivalent of 4,512 bottles of drinking water saved per year!
Energy Savings
Through careful design and monitoring of the building’s energy systems, Forest Park has reduced its annual energy consumption by 22%. That’s an estimated cost savings of $100,000 per year that Forest Park Medical Center can direct toward further improving outstanding patient care.
Regional Materials
Over 33% of the materials used to construct this building were harvested, extracted, and manufactured within 500 miles of this site. Preference was given to local and regional materials to reduce the environmental impact associated with transporting materials great distances, as well as to benefit our regional economy. For example, all drywall in this building was made from gypsum extracted within 100 miles and manufactured within 250 miles of this site.
Recycled Content
Over 20% of the materials used to construct this building were made from recycled content. To continue the conservation of natural resources, recycling stations are located throughout the building for your convenience.
Indoor Air Quality
Many interior finishes contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These chemicals produce the “new car smell” or “wet paint smell.” These compounds continue to off-gas into the air even after paints and adhesives are dry and contribute to respiratory irritation and “sick building syndrome.” Use of low-emitting interior materials and finishes means that Forest Park Medical Center has cleaner indoor air quality both during and after construction, providing a safer atmosphere for the building’s inhabitants.
Construction Waste Management
Much of the waste that fills our landfills is generated by construction and demolition activities. According to a 2007 study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, building-related waste accounts for approximately 160 million tons a year. With a commitment to sustainability throughout the entire design and construction phases, Forest Park Medical Center ensured that as much waste as possible was diverted from landfills. The construction team developed and implemented a construction waste management program to accomplish that task. The results were astonishing! Activities necessary to construct this facility generated approximately 38,000 tons of waste, of which 37,000 of those tons were diverted from landfills. That’s a 97% diversion of the total construction waste! The materials that were recycled will be remade into products like composite wood, carpet tiles, and structural steel for other buildings.
Community Connectivity
Forest Park Medical Center is located within a half mile of Forest Lane Station that serves the Dallas public light rail transit system. If you would prefer to drive a fuel-efficient vehicle rather than walk, ride the bus, or take the rail, preferred parking spaces are provided for fuel-efficient and low-emitting vehicles. Additionally, to further promote a healthy lifestyle, bike racks are located on the first level inside the parking garage.
Sustainable Landscaping
The landscape has been designed with native and adapted plants. These hardy species need less water, fertilizer, and pest control than plants that are not adapted to the region. The landscape and irrigation system have been designed to reduce potable water consumption by 67% compared to a conventional design. The Weathermatic smart weather station constantly monitors the weather and adjusts the watering schedules daily for maximum efficiency. The landscape is maintained organically, with nontoxic pest control and fertilizers. This approach allows beneficial insects to thrive and keeps toxic runoff from entering storm sewers and waterways.
Storage & Collection of Recyclables
Recycle your paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and aluminum here. Forest Park Medical Center is committed to providing recycling services for staff, patients, and visitors to this facility.