NASA’s New LEED Platinum Sustainability Base is the Greenest Federal Building in the US – PHOTOS

<a href="http://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a> has charted the stars and sent humans into outer space - and now they're breaking ground here on Earth by launching the greenest federal building in the United States. Opened last month, the LEED Platinum <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/sustainability-base/">NASA Sustainability Base</a> is a thinking, learning building that puts the space-age technologies of tomorrow to work on earth today. The landmark project generates more energy that it consumes using a photovoltaic array, a small wind turbine, and a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/bloom-energy/">Bloom Energy Box</a> fuel cell, and it utilizes a super efficient greywater recycling system (designed for the International Space Station) to cut water use by <b>90%</b> compared to a traditional building. It also features an extensive network of wireless sensors that allow the building to automatically react to changes in temperature, sunlight, wind, weather, and occupancy to provide a comfortable interior environment. Inhabitat recently had a chance to take a sneak peek at the new building, which was designed by <a href="http://www.mcdonoughpartners.com/">William McDonough + Partners</a> with integrated design and engineering by <a href="http://www.aecom.com/">AECOM</a> - read on for a look!

Situated at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moffett_Federal_Airfield">Moffet Field</a> in Mountain View, California, the $25 million <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/sustainability-base/">NASA Sustainability Base</a> is the greenest federal building in the United States.

An abundance of skylights dot the top story of the base, allowing so much light to flood the floor that it only needs artificial lighting about 40 days per year.

The building is powered in part by a massive <a href="http://us.sunpowercorp.com/">Sunpower</a> photovoltaic array that can produce 85 KW during peak hours.

Manually operable windows are set below a bank of computer-controlled windows that automatically open and close to regulate the building's interior climate.

The 50,000 square-foot structure features a front facade that takes design cues from the International Space Station.

The building's interior is outfitted exclusively with nontoxic recycled and recyclable materials. The building's Cradle to Cradle certified <a href="http://www.steelcase.com/en/Pages/Homepage.aspx">Steelcase</a> furniture is designed for disassembly and easy recycling.

Steven Zornetzer and William Mcdonough led a special media tour of the new building on April 19th, 2012.

Operable shades block out sunlight to help regulate the interior climate.

The Sustainability Base's green program extends to its site, which is planted with native California plants and drought-tolerant species. On-site <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioswale">bioswales</a> help filter pollution and ease rainwater runoff, and a series of 99 geothermal heat wells in a nearby field help to regulate the building's temperature.

The building's relatively narrow 54-foot width allows daylight to reach the middle of each floor, and the entire building is wrapped in an an exoskeleton that provides shade while allowing <a href="http://inhabitat.com/daylighting">light</a> and air to flow inside the building. This exoskeleton also provides great seismic stability and allows the interior to have a column-free floor plan.

Green architect and <a href="http://www.mbdc.com/">Cradle to Cradle</a> founder <a href="http://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-interview-green-architect-cradle-to-cradle-founder-william-mcdonough/">William McDonough</a> was on hand to explain that his team sought to design a building that was "native to place" - meaning that it was carefully designed to suit its site while maximizing efficiency and actually creating a positive impact upon the environment.

The NASA Sustainability Base was built from the ground up to meld with its surrounding environment and make the most of available daylight, natural ventilation, and shading.

California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom arrived to greet William McDonough and check out the building before its ribbon cutting ceremony on April 20th, 2012.

58-degree water from geothermal wells is pumped through a series of panels in the building to cool it in the summer and warm it in the winter.

An emission-free <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/bloom-energy/">Bloom Energy</a> fuel cell provides on-demand power when the sun isn't shining.

The white oak flooring on the ground level was reclaimed from a old wind tunnel dating back to 1953.

Ample skylights suffuse the Sustainability Base with light

NASA is known for its cutting edge technology, and its new Sustainability Base is a test bed and proving ground for some of its most impressive systems.

An aerial view of the new NASA Sustainability Base.

NASA Sustainability Base plan by McDonough + Partners.