Sustainable Design Experience

Green is a big buzz word in the architectural and engineering communities. Sustainable Design plays a major role in many of the projects that are designed today. Building owners and developers have become more educated in the long term benefits of a green building, and are no longer treating it as just a passing trend. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is the measuring stick for Sustainable Design.

At ESG, we realize the importance of preserving our environment, and understand the roles of each design team member involved in creating a green building. Our engineers and designers are proficient in utilizing the latest LEED criteria. We also offer our clients Life Cycle Cost Analyses, Energy Modeling, and Fundamental Building Commissioning.

ESG has designed numerous projects utilizing LEED criteria. In 2006, ESG was selected as the engineering firm to provide the design for the mechanical and plumbing systems for Cherokee Ravensford K-12 School in Cherokee, North Carolina. This project was designed for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on a 144 acre site at the base of the Blue Ridge Parkway. At 480,000 square feet, and at a cost of $117M, it is one of the largest LEED projects constructed in the southeast. This project is LEED “Silver” certified by the USGBC.

ESG has utilized the following design strategies for Green Building designs:

• Geothermal mechanical systems
• Instantaneous domestic water heaters
• Water conserving plumbing fixtures
• Grey water recycling
• Rainwater harvesting
• Solar thermal
• Solar photovoltaic
• Occupancy sensors
• Daylight sensors
• Circuit switching control

USGBC Registered LEED Projects

• TANG 241st Engineering Installation Squadron Facility – Chattanooga, TN – GOLD
• TANG 134th Air Refueling Wing Squadron Operations Facility – Knoxville, TN – GOLD
• Oak Ridge National Laboratories Building 7018 – Oak Ridge, TN – GOLD
• Melton Valley Maintenance Facility – Oak Ridge, TN – SILVER
• Cherokee Ravensford K-12 School – Cherokee, NC – SILVER
• Kingsport Higher Education Facility – Kingsport, TN – SILVER
• TANG Bldg. B102 Base Operations Center 134th ARW – Knoxville, TN – SILVER
• University of Tennessee Ayres Hall – Knoxville, TN – SILVER
• Military Entrance Processing Station – Tampa, FL – SILVER
• Social Security Administration Building – Wytheville, VA – CERTIFIED
• Cumberland County Business Incubator – Crossville, TN – CERTIFIED
• Snowbird Youth Center – Robbinsville, NC – CERTIFIED
• Lake James Paddy’s Creek Recreational Area – Nebo, NC – CERTIFIED