NRG Systems - Water

A 1.3 million gallon pond collects and treats stormwater runoff and acts as a heat sink for our radiant cooling system.

Our world’s water supply, like other natural resources, is becoming increasingly stretched. Water quality is a global issue. Buildings use 15 trillion gallons of water per year, representing about 12.2% of all potable water, according to the U.S. Geological Service (1995 data). Here in Vermont we sit along the shores of beautiful Lake Champlain. Protecting the quality of this precious resource is a top priority and one that we addressed with our new building.

Water Quality

A grassy, pervious parking surface allows rainwater to soak into the ground, reducing stormwater run-off, which can affect the quality of our rivers, streams and lakes. Minimal hard (paved) surfaces around the building further avoid stormwater run-off problems. A 1.3 million gallon pond in front of the building collects stormwater run-off and treats it before releasing it into the surrounding watershed. For our building’s cleaning needs, we work with a cleaning service that uses phosphorus-free and environmentally friendly products for all of its cleaning. Phosphorus, found in lawn and garden fertilizers and cleaning products, contributes to algae growth, which has been an increasing problem in Lake Champlain.

Water Use

Our new building features dual flushing toilets and water-saving devices that reduce water usage by 30% over typical practice and save more than 100,000 gallons of water per year. Our landscaping features native vegetation and growth that eliminates the need for irrigation. Six solar collectors and 240-gallon storage provide 80% of our building’s domestic hot water needs.