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Dale City VFD open 'green station'
Station 10, Dale City’s new “green” fire station, will open its doors for the first time on Saturday, June 20, at 9:00 a.m. for an open house and demonstration of its sustainable design features. The green firestation is only the second of its kind on the East Coast. Designed and constructed to meet the goals for a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Rating from the United States Green Building Council, Station 10’s sustainable design takes into consideration the development of the site, water use, energy efficiency, materials, and indoor environmental quality.
Many of the department’s 250 volunteer fire fighters will be in attendance to provide public tours of the station.
Dale City Fire Station 10 is located at 14975 Catalpa Court, Dale City.
Dale City’s VFD Station 10 is the second “green” fire station on the East Coast and only the ninth developed and built in the United States. Station 10 is designed and constructed to meet the goals for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Rating from the United States Green
Building Council. Key environmental elements of Station 10 include:
SITE: Over an acre of land on the property has been designated a
consertion area that will remain open space within the neighborhood,
enabling the restoration of local species’ habitats. The station has two
“green” balconies to support the growth of vegetation that absorbs
rainwater and helps insulate the building.
WATER: An 11,000 gallon cistern is buried in the front yard of the station
to collect and store rainwater for irrigation; there is no other source of
water for landscaping. The bathroom fixtures are “low flow” except for the
urinals, which are completely waterless. The water consertion measures
enable the building to use more than 40 percent less water than a
comparable facility.
ENERGY: A number of energy-saving features, including motion-sensor
lights, energy-efficient heating and air conditioning equipment and
windows designed to reduce heat buildup, are used throughout the
station. The building’s exterior walls and roof have high levels of insulation
reducing the need for heating and cooling. Station 10 is expected to be
more than 20 percent more efficient than a comparable standard building.
MATERIALS: More than 10 percent of the materials used in building the
station are recycled; for example, the floor tile is 100% recycled glass.
The station’s construction also utilized “regional materials” that were
harvested or manufactured within a 500-mile radius of the county.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY: The building’s interior finishes, including paints,
carpets, adhesives, sealants and composite wood systems are made with
low VOC (volatile organic compound) materials. This helps ensure the air
inside the building is clean and safe to breathe.
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