News
Fergus Falls builders going green
06/15/2009
Fergus Falls is home to a growing number of “green” buildings as businesses turn to design and construction practices that are both environmentally responsible and profitable.
Otter Tail Power Company, for example, included several energy-saving features in the design of its Print and Mail Services addition, which was completed last fall. According to engineering firm Eugene A. Scales and Associates Inc., the addition includes energy efficient fluorescent and LED lighting, an energy efficient condensing unit, and premium efficiency motors on the air handler, among other features. Clerestory glass lets in natural light from the ceiling and helps heat the building in the winter.
According to Jon Fabre, senior market planning specialist, the addition’s total projected energy savings, when compared with the efficiencies mandated by state codes, total over 149,800 kilowatt hours — about the equivalent of 13 average residential customers’ energy use for a year.
The Lakeland Hospice and Home Care hospice house, currently under construction along County Road 27, will utilize a geothermal heating and cooling system when it opens in November, said Mary Widiger, Lakeland’s public relations coordinator. The projected heating and cooling of the facility will cost about $2,500 annually, a substantial savings over a typical home of comparable size, according to project manager Cory Pederson.
“You do pay on the front end, but it’s a substantial saving in the long run,” Widiger said.
The hospice house will also include insulated concrete forms (ICFs), which pair foam insulation with concrete to conserve energy and provide a quiet atmosphere for residents.
At least two local projects are pursuing certification through a nationally-recognized benchmark system for green building practices. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to help property owners implement design, construction and maintenance solutions that benefit both the environment and the property owner.
In order to obtain LEED certification, planners with the Lake Region Healthcare Cancer Care and Research Center are incorporating green standards into the construction process and the completed facility. According to Tom Trosvig of All Building Corp., one goal is to divert half of all construction waste away from the landfill. Another is to reduce runoff at the site by 25 percent compared to runoff amounts before construction began.
When complete, the center will utilize mechanical systems exceeding industry standards, as well as a dual-flush water closet intended to reduce water usage by 20 percent compared with similar, non-green buildings.
LEED standards are also shaping the new location of Lakeland Mental Health Center, which is scheduled to open along County Highway 1 near RDO Equipment early next year. According to architects with Shultz and Associates Ltd., the new building will utilize high-performance glass, natural sun shading from nearby trees and a ground source heat pump system. Planners are also working to reduce runoff and waste during construction.
By Lauren Radomiski - The Daily Journal
