Caterpillar Visitors Center: A sustainable project

Solar panels

Solar panels on an adjacent parking deck provide about 100,000 kilowatt-hours of electric energy per year, about 10 percent of the Visitors Center's projected annual energy usage. On sunny days, however, the solar panels may fulfill up to 75 percent of the Visitors Center power needs at any given time. The solar panels electric energy production reduces greenhouse gas emissions by about 80 metric tons per year.

Energy-saving features

Through a variety of energy-saving techniques such as external sunshades, automatic daylight controls, enthalpy wheels and heat recovery chillers, the Caterpillar Visitors Center uses almost 35 percent less energy than a typical building of its size.

Water management

The Caterpillar Visitors Center includes onsite rainwater retention, high efficiency irrigation and drought tolerant native plantings. In combination, these features reduce potable water usage by 85 percent.