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All the United States California Los Angeles Helios House

Helios House

First LEED-certified gas station in the United States.

Los Angeles, California

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anhie
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Helios House   Detlef Schobert / CC BY-ND 2.0
Fascinating design!   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Pulling up to the pumps   Avoiding Regret
Now a Speedway   Avoiding Regret
Around the back way   Avoiding Regret
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About

"Eco-friendly" is probably one of the last adjectives one would use to describe a gas station, but the BP gas company has taken on its first green gas station initiative with the Helios House.

Located in Los Angeles, California, on the busy intersection of Robertson and Olympic, the futuristic-looking Helios House is an environmentally friendly gas station that incorporates green themes into its design and operating structure.

Simply advertised as a "little greener" than the average pump station, the Helios House features a LEED-certified gas pump, ninety solar panels, and attendants who dish out tips on sustainability instead of pumping gas.

The building features a geometric stainless steel design that was partially constructed using salvaged materials from the former gas station on site. The pavement consists of concrete mixed with recycled glass, which reduces the amount of heat absorption throughout the day. The public restroom also features tiles made from recycled glass, as well as a digital jukebox that allows occupants to create a music playlist while inside.

The Helios House is an experimental project designed to inform and encourage people on the balance between using energy and exercising social responsibility. To that end, patrons are free to pick up a "postcard you can plant," which contains seeds embedded into the paper fibers.

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Gas Station Shops Architectural Oddities Architecture

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anhie

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Avoiding Regret, Michelle Cassidy, blimpcaptain

  • Avoiding Regret
  • Michelle Cassidy
  • blimpcaptain

Published

February 1, 2010

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Sources
  • http://thegreencurve.com
  • http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/11/29/helios-house-gas-station-of-the-future/
Helios House
8770 W. Olympic
Los Angeles, California, 90035
United States
34.059099, -118.383282
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