Quoting:
'Green' research farm to focus on sustainability
When completed, the Central Md. Research Farm will serve as a model for sustainable and energy-neutral practices. Univ. of Md. plans to begin construction on the proposed "green" research center in 3-5 years. The farm will be the 1st Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified green building on a land grant university property. The facility will feature research and demonstration gardens, commercial research trials and hort. conferences, organic gardening classes and sustainability workshops.
The preliminary design includes:
* "green" roofs covered in vegetation;
* active and passive solar strategies;
* water-pervious surfaces in parking lots to reduce runoff;
* a silo wind turbine to generate energy for the building;
* a living machine that biologically treats waste and waste water;
* light tubes that channel natural light into the building, reducing energy usage; and
• rain collection systems that conserve and recycle water for cooling the building and irrigation.
http://www.greenbuilding.umd.edu/