February 2013
Green Hospital Earns Recognition for Embracing Technology
ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Since opening in August 2012, the $956 million Palomar Medical Center West in Escondido has earned several accolades for its commitment to sustainable building practices.
Arizona Public Service Continues to Invest in Solar Energy
HYDER, Ariz. — Construction on another Arizona solar photovoltaic facility, the Hyder II Solar Power Plant, will begin in April and is slated for completion in December.
Norm O’Brien
After being promoted to vice president for Skanska USA Building’s northeast region, Norm O’Brien is now responsible for the environmental, health and safety plans of the company. O’Brien brings 25 years of experience as a construction safety professional to his new position. He has worked at Skanska for 13 years and operated as EHS director for the New England region for the past five years. He also served on the firm’s national EHS leadership team.
Floor Polish
The environmentally friendly FloorFront finish by Spartan provides long-term high gloss and low maintenance for high traffic floors. Providing users cost savings and durable shine, the floor solution requires half the burnishing, recoating and stripping required for other zinc-free finishes, according to the company. The product meets Green Seal’s GS-40 standards for industrial and institutional floor care products, based on reduced human and aquatic toxicity and reduced smog production potential. It also contains no heavy metals for a greener effect.
Vegetative Roof
Xero Flor America introduces its Green Roof System. The German technology-based system is 100 percent American made and grown on local farms. It uses pre-vegetated mats that have been engineered and refined for more than four decades, according to the company.
Texas Talks Wind and Solar Power
AUSTIN, Texas — Despite President Obama’s plans to increase renewable energies, such as wind and solar power, renewable energy advocates in Texas are struggling to make progress in those areas.
Colorado Charter School Installs Solar Panels
FEDERAL HEIGHTS, Colo. — On Jan. 30, a construction project began in which a 70-ton crane was used to lift 2,244 solar panels for the new 662-kilowatt solar energy system being added to The Pinnacle Charter School in Federal Heights.
The project is financed by Distributed Sun, a Washington-based commercial solar developer and platform service provider. Denver-based Bella Energy is the engineering, procurement and construction firm building the 662-kilowatt solar electric generation system for the K-12 campus.
EnergySage Launches First-of-Its-Kind Solar Shopping Platform
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — On Feb. 13, EnergySage, a Cambridge-based online marketplace for solar photovoltaic and other clean energy technologies, released its latest product, which the company dubs as the Expedia.com for the solar industry.
Jennifer Toba-Davila
Jennifer Toba-Davila, AIA, DArch, LEED AP, has been promoted to associate at Shimokawa + Nakamura. Having worked for the company since August 2009, Toba-Davila currently serves as the project architect for the University of Hawaii Cancer Center LEED program. A LEED-accredited professional, Toba-Davila is a graduate of the University of Hawaii School of Architecture Doctoral Program with a focus on urban sociology and planning.