Innovation
Green buildings use creative strategies to continually improve sustainable building design
Strategies for balancing environmental sensitivity,
resource efficiency, and community responsiveness can
always be improved. CNT seeks out innovative solutions
and encourages new ideas and technologies for creating
more sustainable designs and healthier buildings.
1. Flexible lighting
Staff can turn on lights in darker areas where they are needed, but leave them off near windows and skylights. The fixtures also allow multiple dimming options: switching on one, two or three bulbs. Staff can make adjustments when needed.
2. More bike storage
CNT provides enough bike storage space for 38% of our staff to safely park a bike at work. A shower makes biking an even more appealing option.
3. Staff training
Green systems often depend on the awareness and actions of those who use the building. At CNT, a Green Office committee facilitates staff training and encourages new ideas to improve the building's comfort and efficiency.
4. Ice-ball thermal storage
In an underground tank, water-filled balls are frozen at night, using off-peak, lower cost energy. During higher-cost hours, a food-grade, glycol-based fluid transfers the chill from the ice balls to the building's cooling system.Did you know...
- To keep ice balls from cracking, the balls have flexible dimpled walls that expand when the water inside freezes.