North Boulder Recreation Center, Boulder, Colo.: Leave It Better Than You Found It

Parks & Recreation, June, 2003

North Boulder Recreation Center was one of the first municipal recreation centers in the U.S. to go through the arduous process of being LEED-certified. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards encourage design and construction practices that reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment. Guidelines include sustainable site planning; safeguarding water and water efficiency; energy efficiency and an emphasis on renewable energy; conservation of materials and resources; indoor environmental quality; and innovation and design.

The center's renovation and expansion--from 31,000 square feet to 61,000 square feet--cost $11.5 million. The most significant LEED-related addition was a $265,000 solar water heating system (seen in the photo below). The system is thought to be the largest hydronic solar unit installed in the U.S. in the last 20 years, and is expected to reduce natural gas consumption by 50 percent.

Consistent with LEED standards, the center emphasizes other recycled and environmentally sustainable materials. The parking lot asphalt was recycled. The old air conditioning and heating units were reused in the center, sent to other city facilities or recycled for parts. New high-efficiency boilers are expected to operate at 20 percent greater efficiency than the old boilers. Drought-resistant plantings and high efficiency irrigation systems were used outside the center to conserve water. In addition, recycling bins for glass, paper and plastics are located throughout the center to encourage visitors to conserve as well.

To renovate the center along LEED lines, Boulder paid considerably more upfront than normally would have been the case--the costs associated with following the LEEDS guidelines are estimated at more than $500,000. The city expects to recoup those costs at an estimated 37 percent annually Major additional costs, like the solar panels, are expected to be recovered within 12 years.