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ENCINITAS: City Hall flips switch on new green roof
By North County Times | ∞
ENCINITAS --- As part of its goal to become the first "green" silver-accredited civic center in Southern California, the Encinitas Civic Center has a new "cool" roof.
The $3.5 million roof project was completed in October. Civic leaders and city staff dedicated it in an informal ceremony at City Hall on Wednesday.
The silver accreditation would come from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.
The council sets standards for environmentally sustainable construction and the program rates projects based on a strict criteria.
The Encinitas project was designed by two local firms, PE Consulting and Xnergy, and replaced City Hall's previous aging roof with solar panels and a chiller system.
A 120-ton, water-cooled central plant also chills water and ice at night when electricity rates are 50 percent of daytime costs.
The stored ice is used the following day to cool the building.
Other improvements include skylights that provide natural lighting inside and an integrated solar system that enhances building automation and aesthetics.
The project is expected to pay for itself in 12 years and save taxpayers about $4 million over a 25-year period.
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SurfCityTimes wrote on Nov 16, 2008 9:33 AM:I don't thing this project was worth the money. Spend more money on the vistors center, our staff needs a raise.
cut the coffeecig breaks wrote on Nov 16, 2008 9:47 AM:You can normally find city staffers at Pannikin, Starbucks, or outside the environmentally friendly building, smoking. There are many positions that could be cut to save real dollars.
Anti tax Encinitan wrote on Nov 16, 2008 10:51 AM:I think this type of project is the only type worth paying for. I have solar panels on my roof that have paid for themselves in five years. I do not have an electrical bill. If all city, state and federal offices would do this type of investment, jobs would be created and we will have a cheaper future. I can't believe this happened with Dan Dalager in there. He has been against solar panels and did not believe there was a payoff with them! I am happy to pay for this because eventually it will reduce our tax bills. Go Encinitas!
Old Timer wrote on Nov 16, 2008 11:06 AM:The Visitor Center operates out of a new City supported building, at least $90,000+ per year, and their subsidies continue.
Pedro wrote on Nov 16, 2008 2:24 PM:We may save a few buck on electricity; however; it doesn't matter. We will be out of water especially when the 70 new homes off Saxony Road the City Council just approved are built.
Zyphon wrote on Nov 17, 2008 6:15 AM:You can save more money by recalling the City Council that have sold their souls to developers!
JMil wrote on Nov 17, 2008 8:23 AM:Happy to see a city as forward thinking and progressive toward their energy use. As Encinitas found out, their are plenty of rebate & incentive programs to take advantage of to make a project like this fiscally advantageous as well as environmentally friendly. Thanks to Xnergy & PE for the design.
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