Endangered Animals Hinder Solar Development
NIPTON, Calif. — Solar power plant developers hoping to expand their operations in to the California desert are finding that endangered species such as the desert tortoise and the bighorn sheep are becoming a major obstacle in project licensing and construction.
Read More USGBC Preps Virtual Tour of Headquarters
CHICAGO — The U.S. Green Building Council Education Department announced at the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo that it will offer a virtual tour of its Washington, DC headquarters. The tour is still being tested but will be available to users in December.
The tour’s three-dimensional model format will feature complimentary courses, videos, podcasts and 3D models of building products and materials.
Read More USGBC Unveils Programs for Retail, High-Volume Developers
CHICAGO — The U.S. Green Building Council announced last week the launch of LEED for Retail, its latest green building rating system, and the LEED Volume Program, a certification program for high-volume property developers.
Nearly 100 retailers and franchisees, including Bank of America, Best Buy, Citigroup, Target, Starbucks and McDonald’s participated in the LEED for Retail three-year pilot program. The program, the USGBC says, will allow retailers to integrate green building design, construction and operations into retail interior and build-out projects.
Flush Valve
M-Power from Moen Inc. offers a full line of sensor-operated flush valves that provide water savings and sanitary protection in restrooms. The line provides several options, including standard-flow, high-efficiency, dual-flush and pint-flush models. The flush valves can contribute to LEED credit, earning up to two points in the Water Use Reduction category.
Contact Moen Inc.
Virginia Hospital Receives Coveted LEED Gold Designation
HARRISONBURG, Va.— Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg is the first inpatient healthcare facility in the state of Virginia, and the second of its size in the nation to receive LEED Gold Certification, according to reports.
Dennis Coffman, director of facility planning and development at RMH, called the certification a culmination of years of dedicated work to make sure the new 630,000-square-foot hospital would meet LEED guidelines.
“We are extremely pleased to be named the first ‘green’ hospita
Read More Philadelphia Eagles Look for Savings With Green Stadium
PHILADELPHIA — Renewable energy firm Solar Blue has contracted with the Philadelphia Eagles football team to transform their 70,000-seat stadium into one that generates its own electricity from renewable energy sources, the team announced late last week.
Solar Blue, which is based in Orlando, Fla., will fit the Lincoln Financial Field with 2,500 solar panels, 80 20-foot wind turbines and an alternative-fuels power plant that is estimated will save the team $60 million in electricity costs over 20 years.
The 20-year contra
Read More Racetrack, Panasonic Agree to Green Sponsorship Deal
SONOMA, Calif. — Officials with Infineon Raceway in Sonoma County announced that racetrack officials will install solar panels to produce 41 percent of its energy needs.
Installation of the solar panels is part of a five-year sponsorship deal with Panasonic Corp. of North America.
Read More Organization Explores Solar Power in Sapce
MUMBAI — India’s Space Research Organization and America’s National Space Society announced the launch earlier this month of the Kalam-NSS Initiative to explore the possibility of harvesting solar energy through space satellites for use on Earth. The initiative, spearheaded by former Indian president A.P.J.
Read More Mass. Solar Power Projects Bring Power, Jobs to State
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Western Massachusetts Electric Co.’s new 6,500 panel solar-powered electric facility will begin producing enough electricity for 300 homes later this month.
The plant and a larger project slated to go online in Springfield next year are expected to bolster job growth in the solar industry and bring the high cost of solar power in line with oil-produced electricity in New England.
Read More Green Hong Kong Prison Draws Criticism
HONG KONG — Hong Kong opened its first green jail last August, featuring a green roof, solar panels, natural lighting system and enhanced ventilation system but the environmentally friendly attributes drew a barrage of criticism from the public and press earlier this month.
After winning a green building award in early November, critics seized on Lo Wu to accuse the government of favoring the prison population over law-abiding citizens.
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