Knox Heritage's Victorian "Green House" and the city's new transit center will showcase the energy-efficient building practices that make them unique as Knoxville takes part in the national "Green Buildings for Cool Cities" campaign this Saturday.

The two structures, designed to be economical, energy efficient and environmentally-friendly, will be the attractions of the Knoxville "Green Buildings for Cool Cities" Tour. There will be an open house at the Victorian Green House from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and guided tours at the John J. Duncan Jr. Knoxville Station Transit Center at 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., on March 26.

The Knoxville Green Building Tour is being sponsored by the East Tennessee Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council the Harvey Broome Group, the Knoxville branch of the Sierra Club's Tennessee chapter and the City of Knoxville.

The national "Green Buildings for Cool Cities" effort is a partnership between the U.S. Green Building Council and the Sierra Club and has featured dozens of similar tours around the nation during March.

"People have read and heard about green building practices and the difference they can make in the energy savings and operating costs of homes and businesses," said Tim Dimick, housing manager for the city's Community Development Department. "This is a great way to show off some practical examples of green building design here in Knoxville. It's also important to the city because we are committed to "green" building practices in the buildings that we operate, build, and renovate."

"We're really looking forward to Saturday and we're grateful to Knox Heritage, Knoxville Area Transit and the Public Building Authority for participating in this event," Dimick added.

The Victorian Green House is located in the Fort Sanders neighborhood on the corner of Laurel Avenue and 11th Street (1011 Victorian Way). Knox Heritage began renovating the 2250-square-foot house in 2009 to be a single family dwelling and a model for energy efficient building techniques.

The 120-year-old home features Energy Star-rated windows, water conservation features, solar powered hot water and electricity and energy-saving insulation among other features. Knox Heritage is currently seeking LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for the house.

The City of Knoxville opened the Duncan Knoxville Station Transit Center in August. The transit center is located at 301 Church Avenue. The environmentally-friendly 108,000-square-foot station includes several elements that make it more energy efficient and cost-effective including a geothermal heating and cooling system.

The system uses 47 wells, roughly 300-feet deep, to help heat and cool the building. The designers estimate the system will save the city 90 percent of the conventional system costs for cooling the building and about 50 percent in heating costs. It is expected to pay for itself in about five years.

The station also uses other features like high-efficiency glass treated to allow in light, but not heat, a green roof on one part of the station and solar panels on another to make the building more efficient and less-costly to operate.