The Amherst County Adult Detention Centre of the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority has received LEED certification from USGBC. The facility, which has been designed by Moseley Architects, is the first such facility owned by the Authority to achieve LEED certification.
The facility, opened in December 2011, covers a total area of 170,000 sq. ft. and can accommodate 380 male and female inmates.
Amenities inside the building include medical unit, kitchen and laundry areas, magistrate offices, intake and booking areas, administration and support areas and educational services. Green features of the building are appropriate management of storm water, use of naturally occurring vegetated space, usage of high performance mechanical equipment, usage of energy efficient lighting which has led to a 16% reduction in energy usage, and implementing locally sourced materials to support the local economy. About 80% of construction waste from landfills has been diverted and around 2,000 tons of waste was sorted and recycled.
The building uses the AcornVac system instead of the regular plumbing system to control wastage of water. With the use of this system, wastewater can be reduced by 70% and overall water usage can be reduced by 60%.
According to the Authority Administrator, Elton Blackstock, though controlling costs in a building that is open all through the year is difficult but implementation of such energy efficient features is bound to reduce operational costs in terms of energy and water usage.
Source: http://www.moseleyarchitects.com