Palomar College\u2019s latest expansion project, designed for LEED Platinum certification, named Engineering News-Record Magazine\u2019s Best Green Project in Southern California.<\/p>\n
SAN MARCOS, CA \u2015 The soon-to-open Maintenance & Operations (M&O) building at Palomar College has been named \u201cBest Green Project\u201d in Southern California by the prestigious Engineering News-Record (ENR) Magazine, Director of Facilities Chris Miller told the Palomar Community College District Governing Board on Tuesday, Sept. 11.<\/p>\n
As a \u201cNet Zero\u201d project, M&O will be the first community college building in the world to earn Living Building Petal certification, and was designed to achieve LEED Platinum status. On the average day it will generate 105 percent of its own energy demand, making it a Zero Net Energy building.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt Palomar College, we\u2019re committed to sustainability, and this award recognizes the great work done by our Facilities team and our partners to realize the vision of an environmentally-friendly campus,\u201d said Superintendent\/President Dr. Joi Lin Blake.<\/p>\n
Located on the corner of Mission and Las Posas roads, the project uses a unique passive design system to embrace the Southern California climate, and a narrow footprint helps achieve optimal temperatures throughout the building year-round. Innovative features like thermal chimneys and electronic roof monitors create increased natural ventilation and lower building<\/p>\n
energy consumption. Together, these features provide an 85 percent reduction in cooling hours and a 30 percent heating load reduction on a typical winter day.<\/p>\n
Other sustainable strategies, such as rainwater harvesting, renewable energy, and daylight harvesting, further enhance the value of the building and add tremendous value for the community for years to come.<\/p>\n
The award will be presented the morning of October 11 at an event in downtown Los Angeles. With this award, the M&O building will be entered into ENR\u2019s national competition for Best Green Project, the winner of which will be announced later this year.<\/p>\n
Engineering News-Record is the premier national magazine concentrating on engineering and construction. ENR provides engineering and construction news, analysis, commentary and data that construction industry professionals need to do their jobs more effectively.<\/p>\n
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Media contacts:<\/p>\n
Laura Gropen, Public Affairs, lgropen@palomar.edu, 760-744-1150 x2152<\/p>\n
Tom Pfingsten, Public Affairs, tpfingsten@palomar.edu, 760-744-1150 x2960<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"