The new Pingree Grove Police Facility, which opened in 2008 in the Village of Pingree Grove, Illinois, has recently received a LEED Silver® rating certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The certification represents one of the highest ratings for sustainability in building design and construction.
Designed by the Elgin, Illinois, office of PSA-Dewberry/BCA, a nationally ranked architectural and engineering firm, the facility is a 10,000-square-foot, single story structure that includes personnel offices, classrooms, evidence and arms storage, staff showers/ lockers, conference and interview rooms, as well as a processing area and holding facilities. The building is a secure location in emergency situations and is able to accommodate intergovernmental task force needs. Design of this facility includes room for expansion up to 20,000 square feet.
Sustainable design highlights of the police facility include landscaping which does not require permanent irrigation systems and any temporary irrigation systems will be removed within one year of installation. Only "native" trees and shrubs were chosen for this project since they can be found in the natural local environment. Assuming they will adapt to the environment over time, these plants will require minimal care and maintenance.
Solar and wind energy provide green power equal to 70 percent of the building's total annual electrical energy usage through a two-year renewable energy contract. The round-the-clock operations within the facility are projected to have a 23-percent energy cost savings based on an energy efficient mechanical system.
The building's exterior and interior lighting fixtures reduce light pollution and save energy by automatically switching on or off when a person enters or leaves a room. Individuals are able to control their environment by adjusting lighting and temperature to their needs. Employees are provided bicycle racks and changing rooms if they choose to bike to work, thereby reducing their carbon footprint. The facility also features charging stations with electrical plugs to recharge hybrid police vehicles.
Plumbing fixtures such as low-flow sinks and dual-flush water closets were chosen to reduce the amount of water usage by approximately 30 percent. An "airing out period," prior to building occupancy, enhanced indoor air quality, and low-emitting materials and finishes were used throughout the facility. All furniture and seating are Greenguard certified and were manufactured using low-emitting materials.
The facility has a recycling collection and storage area that accommodates plastics, metal, paper, cardboard, and glass. The project diverted 80 tons of on-site generated construction waste from entering a landfill. Twenty-five percent of the total building materials and or products were extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured within 500 miles of the project site.
All indoor adhesive and sealant products, paint and coating products, installed carpet and indoor composite wood, and agrifiber materials used on the project comply with their respective low-emitting volatile organic compound (VOC) limits. To further enhance the well-being of the cleaning staff and building occupants, sustainable cleaning products and materials are only used in the facility.