Goin' Green
Some of Moseley Architects' exciting projects that are pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification include:
  • Blue Ridge Regional Jail, Amherst, Virginia


  • Community Recreation Center, Roanoke, Virginia


  • Elementary School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina


  • New High School, Glen Allen, Virginia


  • Hillandale Elementary School, East Flat Rock, North Carolina


  • Isle of Wight Courts Facility, Isle of Wight, Virginia


  • Mills River Elementary School, Horse Shoe, North Carolina


  • Moseley Architects' New Corporate Headquarters, Richmond, Virginia


  • Northwestern K-8 School, Hampton, Virginia


  • Orange County Middle School, Orange, Virginia


  • Paint Branch High School, Burtonsville, Maryland


  • Rockingham County Judicial Center, Wentworth, North Carolina


  • Sentara K-8 School, Hampton, Virginia


  • Shenandoah District Courts Building, Woodstock, Virginia


  • T.C. Williams High School, Alexandria, Virginia


  • Transylvania County Public Safety Facility, Brevard, North Carolina


  • West Area Middle School, Richmond, Virginia

Department of Energy Announces $6.6M in Grants for Innovative State Efficiency, Renewable Energy Initiatives
The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced $6.6 million in competitive grants for innovative state-level energy efficiency and renewable energy policies and projects.

The projects chosen will focus on building utility energy capacity from renewable energy sources, reducing demand, and advancing building energy codes.

For additional information on the Department of Energy's State Energy Program or to learn more about the specific programs chosen, please visit their Website at www.energy.gov.
Isle of Wight New Court's Facility Sanctions Safe and Sound Innovation
The 47,000-square-foot Isle of Wight County Courts Facility and Sheriff’s Building renovation is edging closer to construction. Located east of the new Administration Building on Route 258, the new facility will contain three courtrooms and office space to serve the Circuit Court and Circuit Court Clerk, General District Court and Clerk, and J&DR Court and Clerk. The existing Sheriff’s Building will be renovated to house the Magistrate, Sheriff’s Department, and the Sheriff’s E911 function.
The facility will include sustainable, high performance features to reduce energy use, water use, and impact on the land while providing a safer and more comfortable environment for occupants and visitors. The project has been registered with the U.S. Green Building Council to pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The county has already established standards and policies that lend themselves to the LEED rating system, such as reducing water use by not installing permanent irrigation systems, implementing a recycling program, prohibiting smoking in county buildings, and using non-toxic and biodegradable cleaning products.
Additional high performance and sustainable design elements proposed for the facilty include:
  • Providing bicycle storage and preferred parking areas for HOV-2 carpools and vanpools, as well as low-emitting/fuel-efficient vehicles.
  • Landscaping with native and drought-resistant vegetation.
  • Implementing stormwater management strategies that will minimize the quantity and improve the quality of discharge to the surrounding watershed.
  • Installing low-flow plumbing fixtures to reduce building water consumption.
  • Reducing energy use by at least 14 percent through the selection of mechanical equipment, installation of an air barrier system building envelope, and the use of high performance glazing and energy efficient interior lighting fixtures.
  • Selecting air conditioning refrigerants to reduce their impact on the ozone layer and greenhouse effect.
  • Diverting construction waste from landfills.
  • Utilizing regionally-produced construction materials composed of recycled content.
  • Managing indoor air quality during construction.
  • Using low-toxicity adhesives, carpets, and composite wood materials during construction.
  • Designing mechanical systems to optimize thermal comfort.
The project is scheduled to bid in the winter of 2009 with construction of the new Courts Building beginning in the spring of 2009.

For more information regarding the Isle of Wight Courts Facility, please contact Jay Moore at 804.794.7555.
Green Tips - Green Your Holidays
With the holidays quickly approaching, it’s time to think about how you are going to celebrate this year. Holidays usually come with a large amount waste: plastic Halloween masks are worn once and then discarded; food travels thousands of miles to reach your table for Thanksgiving; and Christmas trees end up in landfills. The holidays are a time to have fun and enjoy being with friends and family, but they don’t have to increase your environmental footprint. Here are some things you can do to green your holidays.

Fall Holidays
  • Rather than purchase a new costume, sift through thrift store finds and create your own costume. You can also check eBay – chances are, it’s only been worn once!
  • Buy an organically grown pumpkin for carving.
  • Don’t toss those pumpkin seeds. Compost them or, better yet, use them in seasonal recipes, like pumpkin pie or toast them for a healthy snack.
  • Carry a reusable bag for trick-or-treating instead of a plastic container.
  • Hand out candy made with organic or fair trade ingredients.
  • Buy locally grown and/or organic produce rather than canned goods.
  • Go for all natural turkey, raised on a vegetarian diet without hormones and antibiotics. If you’re feeling adventurous, go meatless and try another dish as a substitution.
  • Don’t waste money on decorations that will just be thrown away. Use nature as your decorator! Gourds, leaves, or pumpkins can be composted after use. You can also use construction paper and recycle when you’re finished.
  • Bring plenty of reusable bags to the store when going grocery shopping for your Thanksgiving meal.
Winter Holidays
  • Take your Christmas tree to be ground up for mulch rather than putting it in the trash. Visit www.earth911.org to find a place that will take your tree.
  • Buy a living tree that can be planted after Christmas.
  • If you’re in need of new lights, invest in LED lights, which are much more efficient than traditional lights. Go one step further and decorate your tree with natural and biodegradable materials such as dried berries and popcorn.
  • Wrap presents in newspaper, magazine pages, or recycled paper instead of new wrapping paper. Another option is to use containers such as boxes and baskets that gift recipients can reuse.
  • Send cards made from recycled paper.
  • Use soy or beeswax candles, which burn cleaner than candles made from paraffin wax.
  • Always carry reusable shopping bags with you. They’re not just for grocery shopping and cut way down on plastic bag use!
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