Houston has taken another step in the direction of green education.
The Green Building Resource Center opened its doors to visitors April 22 ‘- Earth Day ‘- to help set a new path to laying a greener foundation for a greener Houston.
The center’s building may look similar to others, but in reality its green benefits extend far beyond the structure’s walls. ‘
‘The intent is to educate the public about green building by two methods,’ program director Steve Stelzer said. ‘One, through informative displays, and two, the space itself is registered to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Commercial Interiors’ certification.’
The center currently has 33 displays that are divided into four areas: energy efficiency, water conservation, building components and site.’
There is also a conference room and public workspace.
Visitors can touch and feel many of the display items and product samples during their interactive museum experience. ‘
The center is an example of how to use green materials for the public, utilizing features such as sensor-controlled lighting.
Sensors can brighten or dim a light based on how much daylight is passing through the windows.’ Incorporating outdoor lighting into living or workspace can help conserve energy.
‘The reason I like to focus on energy conservation is that it has user friendly payback in the form of bills going down, and when energy bills go down, people notice,’ Stelzer said. ‘Some of the energy conserving techniques are straightforward and almost intuitive.’
The center also uses little to no volatile organic compound paints. VOCs are chemicals released into the air from products, such as paint.
‘VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short and long-term adverse health effects,’ the Environmental Protection Agency said on its Web site. ‘Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors.’
Outside the center, visitors will find a solar-powered rainwater cistern which waters several planters based on the moisture in the soil. ‘
Ana Aguinaco and Gina DeLeon support the idea of Houston going green.
‘I think it’s awesome,’ Aguinaco said.’ ‘My sister works for a green company.’
A greener city may help strengthen Houston’s position in the green community.
‘I think it’s good,’ DeLeon said.’ ‘We need something to make Houston iconic.’
Overall, it seems Houstonians are becoming more interested in living green.
‘The big difference is that it seemed like very few people understood green and cared,’ Stelzer said. ‘Now more and more do (care).’
Opening the center offers a new way to connect with the public.
‘The problem has been lack of exposure,’ said Stelzer, ‘so come to the center, be exposed; learn.’
The center is hoping to reach out to all areas of the community.
For those involved in construction, the center can review preliminary plans and offer recommendations for green-building strategies. ‘
Programs, panel discussions, lectures and organized tours for small groups are also offered.
‘I’d like to engage the university community,’ Stelzer said. ‘I’d like to pursue displaying green student work at the center in some fashion.’
