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Fairfax Center Fire Station Receives LEED Certification

Oct. 22, 2008

News Highlights 

• Fairfax Center Fire Station 40 gets official green building certification.
• Its green design will cut an estimated $15,000 per year from energy and water bills combined compared to a traditionally constructed station.
• Fairfax County has a green building policy, and the station is just one of five green buildings already built.

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More Information  Green Building Policy Environmental Improvement Program Cool Counties Fire and Rescue - Stations and Facilities

FairfaxCounty’s largest fire station recently received official certification as a green building. Built in 2006, Fairfax Center Fire Station 40 was certified this month under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

The station incorporated green features in six areas, including water efficiency, energy efficiency and use of recycled materials.

The building’s materials and design cut energy use. The roof is covered with a reflective material to help reduce cooling costs in the summer, and the station has natural daylight in 75 percent of living spaces to cut lighting costs. The building also is powered with 100 percent green energy. Outside, native, drought-tolerant plants are used in the landscaping to save water.

These features will cut an estimated $15,000 per year from energy and water bills combined, compared to a traditionally designed station. County officials calculate that per year, green buildings slash energy costs by 15-25 percent and water consumption by 20 percent.

Earlier this year, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted a green building policy for county facilities. The policy requires that buildings be constructed to meet green building standards, if not exceed them. The county uses the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system.

The Fairfax Center station is just one of five green buildings built by the county so far. The station services day-to-day fire and rescue operations, and it houses two hazardous materi­als response units. The station is located at 4621 Legato Road, Fairfax.

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