Expanded Colo. Spinal Center Opens
LONE TREE, Colo. — A renovated and expanded spine and joint center opened at Sky Ridge Medical Center in June, improving a variety of services at the facility.
2009
Guided by Green
When planners sat down to design the new Jefferson County Health Center in Fairfield, Iowa, they started with a unique repertoire of tools and direction.
The 115,000 square-foot, $25 million replacement facility for the existing 25-bed acute care hospital needed to make the most of its rural attributes while ascribing to the Green Guide for Health Care — a best practices guide for healthy and sustainable building design, construction and operations.
The Rural Angle
Solar Thermal Air Conditioning
DuHybrid air-conditioning system from DuCool is powered by solar thermal energy or electricity to reduce the energy required for cooling by up to 60 percent, compared to standard air conditioning, according to the company. The system combines desiccant dehumidification with evaporative or geothermal cooling to eliminate the need for conventional mechanical cooling. It utilizes solar thermal energy when available and automatically switches to electric power when needed.
Design Considerations Balance Sustainability, Safety Needs
The following article is based on an excerpt from “Security Design for Sustainable Buildings and Campuses,” a book released this year by security consulting firm Applied Risk Management. It outlines several areas where sustainability and security collide, and solutions for both areas of facility management.
Outdoor Lighting
With respect to security, the more outdoor lighting a building has, the better. Lighting is considered a deterrent to crime because criminals prefer to carry out their activities under the cover of darkness.
Changes Made to LEED Program
WASHINGTON — A revamped LEED accreditation system was introduced by the U.S. Green Building Council as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the organization’s green building rating and certification system.
Platinum Update: Community College Achives 70 Percent Energy Reduction
SAN FRANCISCO — Utility records at the LEED Platinum certified Ohlone College Newark Center for Health Sciences and Technology reveal that the campus achieved a nearly 70 percent reduction in gas and electricity consumption during its first year of operation.
Green Retrofit Makes Cents for Virginia DOC
RICHMOND, Va. — A large-scale water and energy efficiency project under way here is expected to save the Virginia Department of Corrections more than $3.1 million during the next 15 years.
Trendspotting: Declining Enrollment
Enrollment in most school districts across the country is declining. This change in enrollment, coupled with changes in program delivery, is causing district administrators to rethink, resize and retool their school facilities.