Mueller Takes the LEED: Sample Sustainable Features

These row houses add to the residential mix at Mueller. (Photo by Jana Birchum)

• Two Platinum, two Gold, and two Silver LEED-certified commercial buildings.

• Highest concentration of homes with three-, four-, and five-star energy efficiency certification in the Austin Energy Green Building program.

• About 75 acres of completed parks and open spaces – more than 50% of the planned 140 acres.

• Of the national chains located in Mueller's retail center, required to conform to its high energy-efficiency standards, at least one has now adopted those standards nationally for all new stores.

• Using the Austin Water Utility's "purple pipe" reclaimed water system.

• Requires primarily native and drought-tolerant plants in all commercial, residential, and park landscaping; disallows plants designated as invasive species.

• On-site Mueller Energy Center converts "waste heat" into free energy in the form of chilled water.

• Home to Austin's largest public art project: SunFlowers: An Electric Garden, featuring solar panel "petals."

• Rescued more than 500 mature, native pecan trees destined for destruction in a nearby county and transplanted them to Mueller open spaces.

• Recycled the runways from the old airport.

For more, visit www.muelleraustin.com/green.

The LEED-ND Rating Scale

The Mueller development scored 51 out of a possible 100 points to earn designation as a LEED Silver certified plan.