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33 <br />Shading <br />Passive solar shading is useful for conserving energy, animates buildings and public spaces, and creates <br />additional design opportunities (e.g., a deep -set window shaded by the building frame or by the addition <br />of sunscreens), and will be considered as designs for future buildings on the site are developed. <br />Water Efficiency <br />Water use reduction and irrigation efficiency measures limit or eliminate the use of potable water for <br />landscape irrigation. Designs should reduce the volume and slow the flow of storm water runoff <br />through the landscape with vegetated swales and sequences of check dams and catchments, cisterns <br />and water collection points in parking lots. Rainwater collection is widely used in existing Orange County <br />facilities and should be considered for toilet flushing and irrigation. <br />Landscape <br />Reduce site disturbance and /or restore damaged areas. Choose landscaping which reduces the heat <br />island effect and that is native to North Carolina. <br />Materials <br />Where possible, use durable, recyclable materials made from recycled content that are locally produced. <br />Energy Management Plan <br />The design of future buildings and its systems shall provide energy efficiency of 20 percent above what <br />is required by ASHRAE Standards. The use of sustainable forms of energy (such as solar, wind, <br />geothermal and biofuels) shall be utilized where possible. <br />Any proposed efforts to increase energy efficiency will include investigation of possible participation in <br />the NC Green Power Program or similar programs. Projects shall be monitored over time to help <br />evaluate achievement of goals related to energy efficiency, reduction of carbon footprints, and <br />reduction of single automobile trips. <br />BUILDINGS <br />Building Flexibility <br />Flexible building design that accommodates change is very important and is a proven way to respond to <br />programmatic needs that evolve over time. Initial building phases should be designed as a first step in a <br />larger collection of integrated buildings. To accomplish this, consider the following: <br />1) Simple Forms: Simple rectilinear forms are preferred because these forms are more easily <br />adaptable to change than buildings with complicated forms. Individual forms should be <br />designed to complement one another as well as their surroundings. <br />2) Planned Expansion (Additions and Renovations): As site permits, each future building should <br />allow for growth. <br />3) Massing: Buildings shall be set back off all internal streets and driveways in a consistent manner <br />to produce visual unity. <br />Building Entry <br />An Entrance is a primary building design feature and should be well defined and easily recognizable as a <br />point of entry, regardless of the size of the building. Building entrances provide links between individual <br />building design and site design and should be well defined. At ground level, building design should focus <br />Southern Orange County Government Services Campus I MASTER PLAN Page 10 <br />