Being Green

At Cherokee Farm, researchers will not only study cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, but they will work at a campus that employs the latest environmentally-friendly technologies.

During Fall 2009, crews are expected to break ground on the Joint Institute for Advanced Materials building, which will anchor the campus, house the Tennessee Solar Institute, and set the “green” benchmark for future development.

All campus buildings must comply with Tennessee Sustainable Design Guidelines. The guidelines recommend that new campus and research buildings achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification ranking of Silver.

But a campus is more than its buildings.

The campus will be pedestrian- and bike-friendly with bike lanes, pathways and greenways throughout.

Mature trees will be preserved. Native plants will be reintroduced to the landscape. Storm water will be recycled through natural run-off and bioswales.

Vegetative, or “living,” roofs, can save money on energy efficiency, and they will be encouraged. Solar paneling, wind and geothermal energy systems will further reduce the campus’s traditional energy consumption.

Parking structures will be capable of supporting electric plug-in cars, and will accommodate bicyclists with bike lockers and showers. Parking will be near campus entrances to get employees and visitors out of their cars quickly and walking.

All “green” characteristics of the campus will be highlighted by the “community” feel at Cherokee Farm. Building layout and the creation of common green spaces will foster a collaborative environment that promotes the collective expertise at ORNL, UT and its private partners.

For more information, click here and look over the campus design presentation.