The color green has had a long association with the fire service. During the 1970s, lime-green apparatus began finding their way into our engine rooms. And, because of the ancestry of many of our brothers and sisters, it is not uncommon to see shades of emerald decorating helmets, rigs and firehouses. However, when the term "green" is now used as a reference, it is typically linked to environmentally friendly initiatives.
A close look at firefighters suggests that, when it comes to green, St. Patrick's Day is more likely to be celebrated than Earth Day. For years, we operated under what could most charitably be called "uneducated practices." Many a line has been pulled to wash the toxic remnants of an auto accident into the nearest drain, and even some of our more effective agents of the past like halon and AFFF (aqueous film forming foam) had unintended side effects.
In retrospect, much of our initial environmental awareness was triggered more by our growing concern and knowledge of how the environment was affecting us rather than by how we were affecting the environment. Accordingly, the use of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) increased, and the concept of positive pressure was introduced to provide even greater respiratory protection. Covers were placed on sliding pole openings and ventilation systems installed to reduce the levels of engine exhaust discharged inside the firehouse. Washing machines to decontaminate turnout gear were purchased, and apparatus room drains were provided with oil-separators and properly plumbed. On the fireground, steps were taken to reduce the runoff from buildings and lots containing toxic content, and spill kits for mopping up small problems became commonly carried in the side compartment.
It is obvious, though, that our impact on the planet extends far outside the tools we use and how well we contain pollutants at the scene of an emergency. After all, it is estimated that buildings account for almost 40% of our energy use and over two-thirds of our electrical consumption. One way to lessen this impact is by upgrading our current facilities and designing our new ones to be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. While some might suggest that harnessing the hot air inside our stations might by itself bring an end to global warming, there are much better examples of how technology can be used to our advantage.
The U.S. Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org), a non-profit organization that focuses on sustainable building design and construction, has adopted guidelines that rate the effectiveness of new construction and renovations. Much as the Insurance Services Organization (ISO) analyzes key measures of fire department performance, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) examines a series of variables in a building's performance. Instead of rating communications, training, staffing, equipment and water supply, the focus is placed on sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Rather than following a numeric scale like ISO, LEED certification is granted in the ascending categories of Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum, based on points awarded for compliance.
How does all this relate to fire station planning? Since water is a familiar topic to firefighters, let's begin with the issue of water conservation. While under normal circumstances our idea of saving water is to shut down a line when it is not needed, and to concentrate on applying streams directly to the fire rather than aiming them at smoke, there are greater global concerns. Many regions are facing dilemmas regarding the availability of adequate water supplies, and this past summer saw several communities forced to enact restrictions on use. When these problems are added to the savings that can be realized from minimizing water use, the concept of reducing demand makes even more sense.
But water conservation is only part of the issue. Heating, cooling and lighting a fire station can place sizable demands on electricity, natural gas, and other energy sources. One means of reducing the need for artificial light is to increase the presence of natural light. However, this also means utilizing appropriate glazing materials that maintain reasonable insulating values and allow maximum transfer of illumination with a minimum transfer of heat. Not only is the type of glass important, but so is the placement of the glass in the building as well. Overhangs, setbacks and awnings can all be used to increase the efficiency of openings.
In addition to using sunlight to augment electrical fixtures, there are several means of producing the greatest amount of lumens achieved per watt. Fluorescent lamps are typically more efficient than their incandescent counterparts and generate less heat, a fact that proves doubly rewarding in warmer climates where much of the energy bill goes toward cooling. However, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can bring efficiency to an even higher levels.
Many of us first became acquainted with LEDs as the blinking "lights" on our radios and scanners. However, in the past decade, the use of these devices has taken off, and they are now commonly used in traffic lights (where they can offer a 90% energy savings), and are a familiar component in apparatus warning signals. A recent upgrade in LED technology has been the development of components that give off a purer white light, making them now a perfect means of cost-effective general illumination. An added benefit of LEDs is that their operating life is significantly longer than a bulb. While the filament in the so-called "Centennial Light" at the Livermore-Pleasanton, CA, Fire Department may have been burning for more than a century, its longevity is certainly an exception to the rule.
Just as the Centennial Light continues to burn, we can be reasonably sure that the sun will come up tomorrow. When it does, it will bring with it the catalyst behind solar power. Solar applications can be classified into passive, whereby construction materials are used to reflect or store the sun's energy, and active, whereby other equipment such as fans or blowers may be involved, and photovoltaics that convert sunlight into energy. The Mill Valley station of the Marin County, CA, Fire Department generates 40% of its electrical needs through solar panels. An even more impressive use of this application can be found in Roseville, CA, where, Fire Station 6 actually pumps power back into the local grid.
A great impact can be made through the use of recycled materials in construction. Today, an almost unlimited variety of items meet this definition. Paving products that contain ground-up tires and crushed used brick for landscaping are just two examples of what can be used outside the station. On the inside, insulation, cabinets, ceiling tiles and floor coverings are again but a few of the hundreds of readily available items that are totally or partially the results of recycling. Phoenix Fire Station 50 is a good example of putting this technology to work; its roof finish is made from reprocessed aluminum cans.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can be major energy hogs. The strategy here is two-fold. First, provide as much insulation as possible to reduce the heating and cooling needs. Second, utilize systems that are highly efficient and have low operating costs. Insulation is typically provided by filling voids in walls and ceilings, but can also be provided by the structural components. Additionally, earthen berms and subterranean walls can be used to further improve R-value. Recessing the fire station into the natural landscape has allowed Paradise Valley, AZ, to save energy and to lower the roofline to better blend in with their residential surroundings.
Radiant heat is a potential choice for apparatus bays where a quick recovery is needed. Hydronic radiant heat is a particular variant that uses warm water pumped through tubes buried in the floor, and was chosen by the Lake Valley Fire Department in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Because the water is heated to a lower temperature than is required by baseboard systems, a variety of fuels can be used, and utility savings of 20% to 40% are possible. And, although it refers to hot water and not heat, on-demand water heaters can also be a good fit for certain applications. However, it is geothermal energy that is doubtless the most efficient, calling on relatively steady underground temperatures to provide both heating and cooling. Because a boiler is not required, there are no greenhouse gas emissions, and no chimney is needed. Geothermal systems may be the closest thing there is to the perfect machine, typically producing more energy than they consume.
Measurable savings can also be realized from the most basic of strategies. Properly sized units that are not constantly cycling and use outside air temperature to assist in heating and cooling are included here. The appropriate "zoning" of buildings to reflect differing heating and cooling needs within the structure and programmable thermostats to address normal times of occupancy are common solutions. Additional considerations of green construction include the use of renewable local resources and the elimination of toxic off-gassing from construction materials.
Currently, the list of green fire stations is small, but growing. Still, there are some impressive successes. Boise, ID's green station looks more like a condominium clubhouse or garden apartment than a municipal building, while Fairfax, VA, Station 40 — with its Silver LEED Certificate — has five drive-through bays. Issaquah, WA, has a biodiesel refueling station, and Eugene, OR, opted for a mix of a traditional fire service look and high-tech features.
Among the midwestern entries going green are North Menomonie, WI, and Evanston, IL. To the northeast, Portsmouth, NH, has earmarked $3.65 million for a new facility, and to the south, Denton, TX, and Kissimmee, FL, are also on board. But, perhaps no fire department has a more ambitious environmental program than that of the London Fire Brigade, which received an Energy Efficiency Accreditation for its $8 million (U.S.) program to upgrade 70 stations. In addition to installing solar panels and windmills to provide electrical power, the agency offers energy conservation training for firefighters.
While the environmental case for saving energy has always been there, the business case for green construction is coming to the forefront. With reasonable break-even points on many initiatives, there is little reason not to go green. Although initial construction costs may be slightly higher, there are often sufficient operational savings to make these expenses worthwhile. With the focus on climatic change and global warming, municipalities are increasingly assuming the leadership role in environmental stewardship. And when it comes to cooling things down, where better to begin than with the fire department?
BARRY FUREY, a Firehouse® contributing editor, is director of the Raleigh-Wake Emergency Communications Center in North Carolina. During his 35-year public safety career, he has managed 911 centers and served as a volunteer fire officer in three other states. In 2002, Furey chaired the Association of Public-safety Communications Officials (APCO) International conference in Nashville, TN, and in 2005 he received an APCO life membership for his continued work in emergency communications.
