Green Animal Shelter

In Silicon Valley, a new animal shelter is about to open and it is revolutionary. It is an animal shelter without cages in a 48,000 sg. ft building on 5 acres of land. 

The Animal Community Center also has grooming facilities, a vetrinary hospital, a Spay/Neuter Medical Center, a Community Dog Park and Training Center, Doggie Daycare, Boarding and Grooming, Education Center, Community Events Room, Pet store, and a Pet-friendly cafe. 

The purpose of the shelter is to create more of a home-like environment while the animals are waiting to find their new homes. ”We wanted to make Humane Society Silicon Valley not only the best place to adopt a pet, but the best place to learn about, engage with, and celebrate animals,” says HSSV President Christine Benninger. This Animal Community Center also has a lot of green features including:

• Onsite solar system expected to generate 40% of the center’s energy needs
• Highly efficient kennel cleansing system that reduces water usage while still properly disenfecting
• Reflective “cool” roof to decrease solar heating of the building and lower energy usage
• Heat recovery wheels in all HVAC systems to capture and reuse heating & cooling during the frequent air ventilation cycles required to prevent the spread of illness
• Stained concrete flooring to reduce the amount of chemicals and water needed for cleaning as well as lower power bills by retaining heating and cooling
• On-site bioswales to naturally clean rainwater run-off before water enters the sewage treatment system
• Artificial turf and native plants in the dog park areas to lower the demand for irrigation water

I think Berringer describes the shelter in the perfect way, ”We believe our new center will be an inspiring model of humane care, community involvement and green building design for shelters and non-profits nationwide.” Not only is the Humaine Society of Silicon Valley a sustainable building, it also sets an example for animal shelters throughout the United States.