Low emissions parking now open

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nathan L. Maysonet
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Four new parking spots for fuel efficient and low emission vehicles have recently opened at the education center here.

The new preferred parking spots were completed by the 47th Civil Engineer Squadron as the latest piece in making the education center certifiable under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design guidelines.

"The building has a lot of LEED components that make it more energy efficient, which are not present in other buildings," said Bree Pelham, 47th CES project manager. "These parking spots are a piece of that and seeing them will help Laughlin in getting into the mindset of being more energy efficient and environmentally conscious."

While originally a civilian initiative, the federal government and the Air Force has adapted many of the policies advocated by LEED in all new building construction, said Ben Graf, 47th CES acting programs flight chief. The program assigns points to a variety of design elements including water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor quality and innovation. The building's score is then weighed against a scale. The more points a building scores, the more environmentally sound it is.

"Following these design principles saves money and shows a responsible use of our resources," Graf said. "Pursuing a responsible energy policy helps reduce cost for the government and Air Force, which in turn benefits the average person by lowering the cost of these new technologies."

The low emission parking spots are a highly visible means in meeting LEED standards and shows Laughlin's mindset towards energy use, said Graf. If the parking spots are frequently used, then it is likely they will be included in all future construction on Laughlin.

A list of vehicles that qualify for the parking can be found at http://www.greenercars.org/news.htm.

For more information, contact Graf at 298-5060.