2006

Fuel Cell, Solar Panels Save Energy at Santa Rita

3 mins

DUBLIN, CALIF. — A new fuel cell power plant, coupled with an extensive solar panel system, is capable of providing up to 80 percent of electricity needed at the Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County.

The power plant, which was dedicated in August and started producing energy last May, is the first megawatt-class fuel cell cogeneration plant in California and the second plant of its kind in the United States. It is located on-site behind the jail’s kitchen and also provides for the facility’s hot-water needs.

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District Plans to Generate Its Own Electricity

2 mins

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Community College District recently introduced a plan that would allow the district’s nine campuses to generate all of their electricity with solar panels.

The plan could cost up to $9 million and would include installation of photovoltaic panels that would produce one megawatt of power at each campus. Currently, each campus uses less than one megawatt.

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Greenguard Certifies Smith System Products

1 mins

PLANO, Texas — The Greenguard Environmental Institute has certified Smith System’s entire product portfolio of desks, chairs and library furniture.

GEI is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air quality. The certification program was created to recognize companies that have products that meet or exceed requirements for low chemical emissions.

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Duke Lab Facility Designed to Meet LEED Silver Standards

3 mins

DURHAM, N.C. — A new medical research facility at Duke University is the latest building on campus designed to meet LEED certification, a requirement for all new construction projects at the university.

The $64 million Medical Science Research Building II, designed by Hillier Architecture of Princeton, N.J., was designed to meet LEED silver certification. It posed a challenge for designers because lab spaces don’t typically allow for efficient use of daylighting, or water or air circulation, according to the firm.

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Former Office Building Converted to Elementary School Could Achieve LEED Silver Certification

3 mins

BRIGHTON, Mass. — Officials are hoping a renovated office building that was converted to serve as the main component of the new home for the St. Patrick School will be awarded LEED silver certification.

In addition to the 36,000-square-foot former office building, the new $10 million campus for first through eighth graders includes a new 14,000-square-foot gymnasium and a 6,000-square-foot lab and studio.

Teachers at the school, which opened in September, will incorporate many of the building’s sustainable design components into course curriculum.

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OSU Facility is First Gold Certified Academic Engineering Building

2 mins

CORVALLIS, Ore. — The Kelley Engineering Center at Oregon State University is the first academic engineering building in the United States to receive LEED gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The $45 million, four-story center opened in fall 2005. The building is designed to have a minimized environmental footprint.

The 153,000-square-foot structure is home to the university’s school of electrical engineering and design, and it provides a research laboratory, classrooms and office space for more than 450 people.

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Dubai Tower to Feature Passive Solar Cooling Technique

3 mins

DUBAI — O-14, a twenty-two story commercial tower perched on a two-story podium, is slated to break ground during the first week of December 2006 in the heart of Business Bay in Dubai. The building, which will contains 300,000 square feet of space, is a collaboration between RUR Architecture of New York and developer Shabah Lutfi. O-14 will be located along the extension of Dubai Creek, occupying a prominent location on the waterfront esplanade.

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