Green Building

Rio Grande Campus Parking Garage is ACC's First Green Building

Rio Grande Campus Parking Garage

Can a parking garage really be green? Sure it can! There are plenty of ways garages can contribute to sustainability. They allow for more density and better use of space in cities by eliminating the need for large street-level parking lots. When it came to the structure of the Rio Grande garage, being green meant everything from using eco-conscious construction materials and conserving energy and water to ensuring indoor environmental quality and waste diversion. As a result, ACC's Rio Grande garage received a 3-star rating from Austin Energy's Green Building program.

Here are some of the factors that make our garage green:

80% Construction waste diversion	Approximately 80% of the construction waste - including demolition debris, scrap, damaged or spoiled material, and packaging material - was diverted from the landfill for reuse or recycling.
90% Locally harvested materials	More than 90% of the construction material used in the project was sourced from within Texas, reducing transportation expenses, fuel consumption, and pollution creating a comfortable environment with a view.
40% Recycled material	Materials selected for this project contain over 40% recycled content. The primary material for the garage, concrete, contains a high percentage of fly ash, which is a waste material left over when coal is burned to make electricity. There is also very little concrete waste, as the amount required for the job can be estimated very accurately.
Heat island effect-reducing building surface	Surface materials are reflective to reduce the amount of heat absorbed and radiated by the garage– a phenomenon known as the heat island effect. Metal Galvalume awnings, tent-like thermoplastic olefin (TPO) canopies, light-colored concrete paving, and native landscaping all help reduce the urban heat island effect.
High density development	The building type itself–a parking garage–is inherently sustainable, requiring considerably less area than an equivalent amount of street-level surface parking. As such, it contributes to urban density and generates far less heat gain and water runoff.
80% Water consumption reduction for irrigation	Potable water required for irrigation is reduced by 80% through the use of native and drought-tolerant landscaping, a high-efficiency watering system, and low-maintenance, decomposed granite gravel xeriscaping.
Low VOC coating	Quality construction also prevents moisture and pollutants from entering the building. To enhance occupant health, comfort, and productivity, the indoor environmental quality of the bookstore is improved through the use low-VOC (volatile organic compound) building materials and paints, which can reduce asthma attacks and irritated airways.
Daylighting	Daylighting from the south-facing glass storefront reduces the need for electric lighting and saves energy while creating a comfortable environment with a view.
	The Rio Grande Garage and Bookstore is the first ACC building to achieve a green building rating.