Office of the Secretary |
CONTACT: Hugh
Vickery
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For Immediate Release:July 15, 2004 |
202-501-4633
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Secretary
Norton Announces White House Award in Recognition of Environmentally-Friendly
Building at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
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(WASHINGTON) - Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton says Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and its community partners have been selected for the 2004 White House "Closing the Circle" award in recognition of the refuge's new environmentally friendly education and administrative center. "I am very proud to
announce this special award earned by the professional staff and the
community partners of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge,"
Secretary Norton said today. "This facility represents a new standard
in innovative technology and sustainable design. Every day, this facility
demonstrates how we can improve upon our stewardship of our natural
resources and provide a welcome and educational place for visitors." Collaborating with local community members, Refuge visitors, The Nature Conservancy, the National Park Service (NPS), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chincoteague staff based the design of the Bateman Center to conform to the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria. At each stage of design and construction, the group chose to minimize the building's life-cycle costs and environmental impacts. Cost savings features include a geothermal heating and cooling system, natural day lighting, solar power, energy efficient lighting, natural ventilation, and highly efficient water fixtures. Innovative technology used at the Bateman Center also provides benefits to the native habitat. The facility's wastewater treatment system is a constructed wetlands area. Filtered wastewater enters the wetland area where bacteria and other organisms living on the roots of plants clean the water. The treated water is reused for flushing toilets. In addition to providing homes for native plants and animals, this safe and efficient water treatment system is an educational tool for Chincoteague Refuge visitors. To learn more about the Bateman Center and the White House Closing the Circle Award, visit: www.doi.gov/greening. This program recognizes Federal employees and their facilities for efforts which resulted in significant contributions to or have made a significant impact on the environment. The awards focus on waste prevention, recycling, and green purchasing activities.
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