Reusing and Recycling

The principles of sustainable design can go beyond actual construction techniques. In Washington state, for example, sustainable elements are woven throughout a project to construct a massive plant that will treat hazardous waste left over from almost a half-century of plutonium production. The ongoing efforts begin with “green purchasing,” which includes procuring recycled materials and waste from industrial processes for use in construction.

More stats: In 2009, the project recycled 500 tons of nonregulated waste, cut the number of disposal containers almost in half, and used vanpools to ferry employees to and from the site, replacing more than 600 cars.

One of the most important benefits of sustainable design is reducing carbon emissions, and nowhere is that more evident than at Duke Energy's power plant in Edwardsport, Indiana. The Edwardsport plant is the first fruit of Bechtel and GE’s alliance to develop a lower-cost standardized design for integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) plants. The plant will use the IGCC “cleaner coal” technology to dramatically reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere.