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| Tuesday, February 12, 2008 |
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Green Acres: More Nevada businesses giving green light to greenGreen building is increasingly getting a green light these days from contractors and architects as well as owners and developers. Going green, for those unaware, is an eco-friendly building approach that conserves natural resources while minimizing waste. Southern Nevada boasts few examples of green or sustainable projects, but that will soon change. Companies are now realizing the benefits of green development -- improved work performance, reduced absenteeism, lower energy bills and enhanced public image. "It's important to bring energy-efficient buildings to our market, thus decreasing our dependency on foreign fuels," said Irwin Molasky, a longtime local developer whose green office tower opened last year downtown. "We, in America, have to learn to build healthier environments in which we work." The $107 million Molasky Corporate Center at Grand Central and City parkways embodies his green philosophy. The 17-story high-rise, for example, has 150 photovoltaic panels mounted atop its roof that generate clean, emission-free electricity. It uses sun for fuel, something that's plentiful in the desert, as opposed to coal or natural gas. The solar panels produce enough power for about four homes.
"The number one complaint among employees in office buildings is the air-conditioning, so management is really going to like this building," said Bob Bingham, a senior associate with KKE Architects. "It really makes a lot of sense to create an energy-saving building, while providing a cleaner, healthier environment for all occupants." Developer Jeff LaPour is similarly following the green mantra with a $19 million sustainable office complex at Diablo Drive and Las Vegas Beltway. The three-story, 70,000-square-foot building features low-water landscaping, waterless urinals and recycled building materials. It's also being constructed with low VOC carpeting, glues and paints, resulting in fewer harmful emissions. LaPour Corporate will open later this year. "A healthier workplace results in happier, more productive employees, studies show," said LaPour. "It's also a great way to show that we care about people and the environment." The green building mindset can be applied to almost anything. The Animal Foundation, for example, uses wind-turbines and solar panels to generate 70 percent of its electrical use on-site. The 74,000-square-foot center at 655 N. Mojave Road received a $250,000 Congressional grant as a renewable energy demonstration project. "The Animal Foundation really wanted a building that wasn't going to add to pollution," says Bill Snyder, a principal at Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects. "It occurred to us, that with the right placement of solar and wind power, people could learn about animals as well as exciting new sources of energy that are completely clean and green." The seven-acre campus also uses something called a "living machine" that treats on-site wastewater through a natural filtration process for reuse in non-potable applications. The facility requires roughly 27,000 gallons of water a day to wash out the various animal kennels, but the living machine lets the nonprofit foundation recycle 80 percent of its water. "It's a virtual miracle that a city like Las Vegas can exist and thrive in the middle of one of the most inhospitable and resource-poor climates in the world," said Francis Belan, director of the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. "This anomaly makes the concept of sustainable living a very relevant topic for Las Vegas. The Springs Preserve is a newly opened 180-acre complex of energy-efficient buildings and low-water gardens at 333 Valley View Blvd., between Alta Drive and US Highway 95. The site once provided natural spring water for all of Las Vegas, but the valley's boom growth led to drawing water from Lake Mead in 1971. The springs eventually dried up and fell into disrepair before archeological discoveries rescued the site. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Today, it serves as an education and entertainment complex with sustainability displays and facilities that raise public awareness about green building practices. The parking lot, for instance, features solar-paneled carports that provide shade for 200 spaces while generating emission-free electricity. PowerLight Corp., of Berkeley, Calif., is the design-build contractor. "Over their 30-year operating life, the solar electric systems will save the equivalent of 5.8 million barrels of oil," said Ingrid Ekstrom, a PowerLight spokesperson. "By avoiding hundreds of tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the project is the equivalent of planting 1,320 acres of trees or not driving over 350 million miles." The Springs Preserve also has eight acres of low-water gardens, with 20,000 species of drought-tolerant plant life, along with a "Cienega" or desert wetland created by flood and runoff water. The Living Center, meanwhile, highlights green building methods, materials and technologies for a desert climate. Designed by Lucchesi, Galati Architects, the 76,975-square-foot complex has rammed earth and straw bail walls that lower heating and cooling bills. An angled roof built with recycled railroad trusses collects rainwater to help irrigate gardens. Walls use alternative insulation such as shredded blue jeans, while other sections demonstrate day lighting techniques. "We have had a lot more interest in green buildings since we've started this project," said Jeff Roberts, Lucchesi, Galati's project architect. "Although it may cost a little more, clients get excited when they realize that the lower energy costs will affect their bottom line." tonyillia@aol.com 303-5699 |
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