Building Green Branches

During the summer of 2008, Columbia Credit Union opened its Grand Central and Washougal branches. Both were built to meet strict green building standards set by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Both received LEED Gold Certification, the first local financial buildings to do so.

Building green becomes standard

Featured Articles

• LEED gold branch for a true-green credit union - The Financial Brand
• Columbia Credit Union Earns LEED Gold Certification - Yahoo! Finance
• EHS Green Project Goes Gold - EHS Design
• Video of Washougal Branch, Community Pride Award winner - EHS design

Green Construction Practices

From there to here
Because building materials can change many hands and travel great distances, a Chain of Custody form is filled out for nearly every material that makes its way to our branch. This ensures our materials come from the correct location and were collected in a sustainable manner. Wood used in the building frame is documented from the forest, to the lumber mill, to our supplier, to our site. The same is done for metals, concrete and other materials.

Our builders and subcontractors review materials lists to ensure our supplies contain the right percentage of post-consumer recycled content. For example, the recycled metals that makes up the siding on the Washougal branch may have come from recycled soda cans or automobiles.

Saving waste
To meet strict LEED standards, 75 percent of construction waste must be diverted from the landfill. Our builders carefully separate scrap metal, wood and concrete to be transported to certified recyclers in the area. The construction sites must also be contained to protect drainage systems from soil runoff.

Exterior

Porous concrete
We designed our site to protect our precious rivers, streams and ponds during and after construction. You might notice that the concrete in our parking lot looks a little like Rice Krispies Treats. The porous quality of the concrete and proper drainage of the site prevents runoff from contaminating local bodies of water.

Rainwater recycling
A rainwater cistern helps us harvest one of our most abundant natural resources in the Northwest – our rain! Rainwater is collected and filtered for landscape irrigation and non-potable plumbing indoor use. This reduces our need for public water and lowers monthly water bills. Compared with a typical branch, we'll save about 13,500 gallons of water each year – that's enough to supply a day's worth of drinking water to 27,000 people!

Native plants and local materials
If it's indigenous to the Northwest, it's good for our branch! Native landscaping requires less frequent irrigation and fertilization, while the beautiful, locally quarried Camas stone decorating the Washougal branch entry requires less energy to make its short trip to our site.

Interior

Sky & light
Look up! In the center of our branch, our beautiful pyramid-shaped skylight is both a mood booster and an energy saver.  The omni directional shape allows light to pour in from many angles, allowing both members and staff to enjoy natural sunlight. Auto-dimming lights cut electricity use.

The right stuff
Not only are these wood floors gorgeous, but they are also sustainable! The wood was certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which ensures it was harvested in a way that protects the environment. We've also used FSC-certified lumber throughout the building, such as in the building frame. FSC-certified lumber is a key requirement of LEED certification.

Fresh air
Vented windows offer a breath of fresh air! They also provide natural ventilation, reducing our need for air conditioning and the amount of energy used during warmer days.

A bright idea
We use automatic dimmers and compact fluorescent lighting (CFLs) to drastically reduce our need for electricity. In addition, we purchase 100 percent of our energy from Clark Public Utilities' Green Lights program, which supports the development of renewable energy in our own backyard.

Breathe easy
Ensuring excellent indoor air quality is a key component of LEED certification. Our paint, flooring and other finishes and materials emit zero or low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which may irritate the eyes or respiratory system, so you can breathe easy.

Hot and cold
Behind the scenes, our heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is working efficiently to keep members and staff comfortable. Although you can't see it, it plays a huge role in reducing our energy consumption. Additionally, CO² sensors monitor indoor air quality to bring in fresh air when needed.

Recycled and sustainable furniture
Most of the furniture at the Washougal branch was certified by Greenguard, ensuring high standards for indoor air quality. Some pieces come to us after long and varied histories. A table in the waiting area was made of lumber salvaged from urban parks and neighborhoods. Our lounge chairs feature 100 percent post-industrial recycled fabric. Guest chairs were made from recycled seat belts, and our staff's furniture system is up to 69 percent recyclable at the end of its useful life.

Corn cubes
Amazingly enough, the fabric on our workstation panels comes from 100 percent renewable, corn-based fiber, making the fabric completely biodegradable! And, no, insects will not attack it and neither will mold. It's naturally stain resistant, and it doesn't hold odors. When we're done using these panels, the fabric may be completely composted in just three days.

Sustainable casework
Casework, like our teller-row cabinetry, features Kirei board made from the leftover stalks of Sorghum plants, a food crop grown around the world. Other parts of the casework were made from wood industry waste and recycled wood fibers.