91视频

They occupy massive amounts of land and are seen as enablers of fossil fuel consumption. But now parking lots 鈥� often considered antithetical to sustainability 鈥� are being recognized for their green aspects.

鈥淲e’ve had a lot of interest from people looking for recognition for the things they’ve done,鈥� said Trevyr Meade, program manager for the Green Parking Council in New Haven, Connecticut.

The council was formed five years ago by a group of parking operators and real estate professionals after the U.S. Green Building Council stopped doling out Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design ratings to developments with more than 75 percent of their space dedicated to parking.

鈥淭hey saw an opportunity to create a certification standard in the industry, and also to educate,鈥� Meade said.

The GPC spent four years developing version 1.0 of its Green Garage Certification system, and last year launched the beta version. And last week, the GPC announced that seven sites around the country were the first to earn Green Garage status. Four are located at office buildings, one is at a university (Cornell), one is at a hotel (the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Mass.) and the other is at an airport (Denver International).

As with LEED, GPC certification is awarded via a points-based rating system; the categories are management practices, programs, structure and design. Points are awarded, for instance, to owners that institute recycling programs, or encourage a 鈥渄iversity of mobility.鈥� Innovative design ideas are considered, with points awarded for provision of public open space and even community gathering areas.

New and existing structures are eligible for program participation.

TriMet achieved 鈥渘et zero鈥� status for its Southeast Park Avenue Station Park & Ride near the Oak Grove neighborhood. That means it creates as much energy through its rooftop solar array as it uses in its basic building functions, such as elevators and lighting. The multimodal transit center is among the sustainable features along the transit agency’s new orange line.

The parking garage near Oak Grove may be the greenest in Portland. It features a rooftop garden, ample bike parking and seven electric vehicle charging stations. Sixty-eight percent of the garage and station area are set aside as restored habitat, and all of the building’s stormwater runoff is captured and treated on-site.