* What: Fire Station 7, the city's newest firefighting facility, was built to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. The station is equipped with a rainwater irrigation system, rooftop solar panels and high-efficiency heating and cooling, among other features.
* Operator: Chattanooga Fire Department
* Location: 6911 Discovery Drive at Enterprise South industrial park
* How it's green: By fitting the building with rooftop solar panels, painting it white for maximum reflectivity and installing rainwater irrigation and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, the fire department will use 52 percent less in energy and water consumption compared to a standard building of its size, said Fire Chief Randy Parker. Features such as natural wood and bamboo, recycling bins within the station and abundant windows to let in daylight add to the environmentally friendly philosophy of the building, he said.
* How long will it last: "We're going to be here 40 to 50 years," Parker said. "So we chose a lot of passive features that don't require a lot of maintenance .... Once it's built, it's done. There's no additional cost."
* Why do it this way? In addition to being environmentally friendly, the station will save the city money, Parker said. Since firefighters work around the clock, he wanted to find ways to save on water and energy, adding that the department will "save money every year we're here."
* Advice for others considering green initiatives: Parker encouraged others to incorporate green thinking into a building project as early on as possible. "You can save a large amount of money in the long run by making small changes in design and selection of materials in the planning phase," he said.
- Compiled by staff writer Brittany Cofer, bcofer@timesfreepress.com, 423-757-6476. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/brittanycofer