A "Green" Building
Our new sanctuary will incorporate many environmentally friendly features, and we believe it will be one of the “greenest” buildings in Contra Costa County.
- The Earth Itself Helps Heat and Cool
Placing two-thirds of the building under ground allows us to take advantage of the earth’s more constant temperatures to keep the building cooler in summer and insulated in winter. - New HVAC System Reduces Energy Use
An innovative new heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system will, capture heat generated in the process of cooling the building and use it to heat other parts of the building at the same timemaking it more energy efficient than traditional systems. It is similar to one installed recently in the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. - No Noise Pollution
Most buildings of this size have unattractive and noisy cooling towers. Our system does not require any. - No Asphalt
Asphalt is a source of ground and air pollutants, including carcinogens. Our property will contain no asphalt. We will use only pervious concrete and pavers on our driveways and in a portion of our parking areas. Pervious materials allow water to pass through them into the ground and be filtered before entering the storm-drain system. They are considered as beneficial as grass with respect to water runoff. - A Lawn Parking Lot
For our other parking areas, we will use a new technology called GrassPave2, an underground plastic grid that allows grass to grow through it. Vehicles can park on it and drive over it without damaging the grass.
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| GrassPave2 enables vehicles to park on a lawn without damaging the grass. |
Pervious concrete allows water to pass through it and be filtered. |
- Lower “Heat-Island” Effect
Hard surfaces absorb heat from the sun and radiate it back into the atmosphere. This is known as the heat-island effect. With two-thirds of the building under ground, a GrassPave2 parking lot, and a reflective off-white roof, the Sufism Reoriented project will have a lower heat-island impact than might other projects that make more dense use of the property. - Less Water Runoff
Because of our expansive lawn areas and our use of pervious materials, less rainwater will leave the property than currently, and almost all will be filtered first to reduce pollutants. There will be eighteen percent less impervious surface compared to what now exists on the property. - Energy Conserved
Energy efficient electrical equipment, motors, and lighting will be used wherever practicable. Much of the lighting system will be controlled automatically. Natural light from generous skylights and windows will illuminate large portions of the ground floor and the lower level, reducing energy usage. Eighty percent of the hot water in the building will be provided through tankless water heaters.