The Pentagon is that Iconic building in Arlington Country Virginia, which was constructed over a 29-acre swamp wasteland and was seen through to completion on January 15, 1943.  Apparently, this 17-building War Department complex in the United States has one of the largest areas of ground for an office complex in the whole world.  But even for a large government property, efficiency is a priority of its design.  The Pentagon’s sensitivity on the issues on climate change has fueled its vision of converting into a more environmentally sustainable building complex.  By year 2011, Pentagon’s big green renovation” project is scheduled to be finished.

The Pentagon’s 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review sites climate change as a potential source of conflict to the War Department’s vision for its missions and force structure for military operations.  The intended green renovation” will be first done in the five sections of the pentagon-shaped complex building.  The program is lead by the EPA through its Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) program, which is designed to determine and make sure that only environmentally preferable classes of products are used in the project.  The project is currently 80 percent complete.  Renovations of Section 1 mainly involved the replacement of blast-resistant windows for more energy efficient designs of infrastructure.  Since a portion of this area was destroyed by the 9/11 attack, the project will also involve the taking away and elimination of hazardous materials and debris.  On the lighter side, the damage brought by the attack has opened the opportunities for using products environmentally friendly.  Materials like wood are planned to be sourced from forests that are managed to maintain ecological balance.  The new plumbing is designed for fixtures that are known for low-water use.  Other details include the use of low VOC paints, lighting that is energy efficient, mineral wood insulation, and labeling, packaging, and instructions supplies created from recycled materials.  To establish modern measures for water conservation, the Wedge 2 Pentagon renovation project has changed and moved 50% of its construction refuse to recycling centers and away from landfills, via a LEED certified Remote Delivery Facility (RDF).  This move hopes to demonstrate that there is a greener alternative solution.  To make use of control systems for advanced energy, the Pentagon renovation project also have replaced old windows with insulated windows to cut air conditioning system use, which is projected to reduce the monthly electric consumption of the building by $1.1 million USD.  In addition, all lighting systems are poised to be replaced with LED lights.

The Department of Defense has contracted Cree, a LED light manufacturer, to provide them with a whopping 4,200 recessed LED lights for the renovation project of Section 5.  Cree’s LR24 recessed LED lights gives a energy reduction of 22%, as compared to customary fluorescent lights.  This in turn reduces the Pentagon’s annual carbon dioxide emission by 140 tons.  The US Defense Department building has found more ways to save energy.  As of late, it has installed one of the most advanced energy systems in the country.

In 1996 the New Heating and Refrigeration Plant (NHRP), which operates on natural gas, is computer controlled to ensure efficient operations.  In addition to this the NHRP is one of the most technologically highly developed solar energy systems in the USA.  It has 12 highly developed features, including the solar thermal tile air heating roof system, rainwater collector to assist with the cooling stages, and all use solar energy.  By 2011, the newly renovated Pentagon will emerge not only as one of the world’s largest office buildings, but also as one of the most energy efficient and environmentally sustainable facilities in the world.  Hopefully, this big project will initiate a country-wide move for everyone to convert into more environmental-friendly designs of abode.