One Stop Solar Shop – Grocery Market Chain Goes Solar
30 Jul 2010, posted by Chathri Munasinghe 0 Comments,%20June%202009%20174%20thumb.jpg)
Stop & Shop announced yesterday that it has completed the installation of solar panels on eight of its stores in Mass., Conn. and N.J. The solar panels will reduce the amount of energy consumed by these stores by more than seven percent. The completion of this project marks an extension of the company’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2015 using 2008 as a baseline.
The photovoltaic (PV) solar power generating systems were developed by Alteris Renewables, Inc., the largest design-build renewable energy company in the Northeast. The amount of electricity that will be generated by all eight stores annually is estimated to be 1,759,572 kWh, offsetting 1,264 metric tons of CO2. This is equivalent to the CO2 emissions from the total electricity use of 153 homes over the course of a year.
The solar project is among a series of green solutions Stop & Shop is rolling out across its 375 stores in the Northeast. (more…)
Kaiser Coughs Up $1M for Green Health Clinic
20 Jul 2010, posted by Chathri Munasinghe 0 Comments
A $1 million grant from Kaiser Permanente helped to construct a community health clinic that could be the first of its kind to earn LEED certification.
The newest La Maestra Community Health Center located in the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego will sport a slew of green features expected to earn the facility a LEED Gold certification. Project designers had a goal of constructing a building that would play many roles: Aside from providing a high level of comfort and using less energy, the building would also serve to introduce the concept of green building to the community.
Green elements include high performance insulated glass, a rooftop solar photovoltaic array expected to generate 15 percent of its energy needs, recycled materials, energy management system, and materials with low volatile organic compounds. The site was the building was chosen for its solar orientation and prevailing breezes. A high-efficiency landscape irrigation system was installed, in addition to drought resistant and native plants.
For more on this story, visit GreenBiz here.
The Most High-Tech Green Buildings
10 Jul 2010, posted by Amanda Crater 0 Comments
Jonathan Fahey in Forbes Magazine writes about buildings that communicate and change shape to keep their occupants comfortable and safe.