Jacobs Engineering declared that the 6.5 MW cogeneration energy facilities it developed and constructed for the Oregon State University (OSU) has enabled the University to receive the LEED Platinum Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The Energy Center of OSU has earned the distinction of becoming the first LEED Platinum power plant in the USA as well as the first on-campus LEED Platinum construction.
Jacobs, who worked as an engineer-of-record for the OSU Energy Center, has offered services such as initial designing and consulting, formal drawings, preparation of documents, design development, support and management of the construction for the project. The eco-friendly, energy- saving features incorporated in the building include rainwater conservation, installation of heat recovery systems to produce hot water and a white reflective roof to keep the building cool and a landscaping that uses less quantity of water. Increased level of natural ventilation and lighting enables the building to become energy-efficient and achieve 52% better results than the stipulated Oregon Building Code.
The installed cogeneration facility has improved the energy production efficiency of the building. It generates enough power to meet nearly 50% of the electricity requirement of the University and enables the OSU to save over $600,000 every year on its power spending. It also cuts the carbon dioxide emission levels by nearly 38% when compared to the old plant.
Source: http://www.jacobs.com/