KTLA reported today on the unveiling of a new green police station in the San Fernando Valley. The building has a white coating on the roof to reflect the sun and is internally climate-controlled. Moreover, the building is made mostly of concrete, which allows it to keep in heat in the winter and cool air in the summer.

Coming off of various other “green” buildings around the world like Verbena Heights in Hong Kong (1996), green architecture has proven to be more sustainable and affordable in the long run. The new green police station actually allows the government to follow through on its preaching of conserving energy.

Many government buildings could actually be doing more to go green. Green technology has allowed for the invention of atriums, which not only let in natural light, but open at night to let out excess heat. The concept of climate-controlled rooms would work well for many businesses in the Los Angeles summer heat to set rooms to automatically stay at 78 degrees. Overhead lighting in homes and businesses can be dimmed when there is a sense of natural light and motion sensors can turn off lights when no one is in the room.

Recyclable building materials are often cheaper than their counterparts, which is good news for taxpayer money for government buildings. Furniture can be made out of bamboo, a better alternative compared to other kinds of wood. Concrete is cheaper than other materials for basic infrastructure and allows for increased insulation.

The new police station is the first of its kind in the area, but future buildings could grasp sustainability at an even further level.

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by Cristina Cordova