Saturday, March 16, 2013

SESB is LEED Certified - The Sentinel


March 16, 2013 7:00 am  •  
The new Shippensburg Emergency Services Building was recognized for its silver level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification during a special ceremony last week.
“We are the first emergency service in Pennsylvania to obtain any type of certification like this,” said Heather Franzoni, Shippensburg Area EMS public relations officer.
Ground was broken in 2011 for the Shippensburg Emergency Services Building now housing Shippensburg Area EMS and Vigilant Hose Volunteer Fire Company. Local personnel moved into their new home June 6, 2012.
Franzoni said having a green building was a goal from the start.
“We knew we wanted to make it energy-efficient because it’s a building that’s going to be around a long time,” she said. “We wanted to give back to the community.”
Franzoni said the Shippensburg Emergency Services Building was evaluated under version LEED 2009, which awarded points in five major credit categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials, and resources and indoor environmental quality. An additional six points were awarded for innovation in design, and four more were given for regional priority.
Levels of certification were: certified (40–49 points), silver (50–59), gold (60–79) and platinum (80 points and above).
The Shippensburg Emergency Services Building received 52 points.
“Notable green items for the project include a 10,000-gallon rainwater collection tank used to fill tanker trucks and wash equipment, low-flow plumbing, occupancy sensors for lighting, local materials with recycled content, and low VOC products,” said Franzoni.
She said the rainwater collection tank is especially impressive “because we’re not wasting any water to clean the apparatus.” There are motion-sensored lights in all the hallways, and heat and lighting are automatically controlled in the bunkrooms.
“When the bunkrooms are empty, the heat goes to a lower level ... and the lighting shuts down,” said Franzoni. “The bathrooms have energy-efficient hand dryers so we don’t need paper towels ...”
The shower heads are energy-efficient. “Everything is automatic. We’ve done a lot to save energy, especially with it being a large building. It’s working out well,” she said.
Last week’s ceremony included building tours and a short program presented by engineers, architects and construction company representatives. Among those in attendance were personnel from Shippensburg EMS and Vigilant Hose, Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner Ed Mann, state Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-89; Shippensburg Mayor Bruce Hockersmith, Shippensburg Township Supervisor Stephen Oldt, Southampton Township Cumberland County Supervisor Jerry Shoap and Denny Sowers of SGS Architects.

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