Projects
During the early planning stages of our building, Madrid Engineering Group, Inc, applied to the US Green Building Council to register the building for "new construction" certification. We are still in the process of certification and only lack "commissioning", several design elements are described below as an overview of the steps we have taken to be environmentally responsible corporate citizens.
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- Air conditioning units are two SEER ratings more efficient than minimum required, "Humidistats" balance temperature and humidity for optimal cooling efficiency.
- Indoor Air Quality - Air Conditioning filters remove particulates while also providing UV light to kill germs.
- Use of recycled materials (such as certified "green" carpets) and/or recyclable materials (wood/steel framing materials can be recycled).
- Lowflush "AuquSaver" commodes in the restrooms save water.
- Small water heaters located above the restrooms are more efficient to supply hot water.
- Florida-friendly vegetation/landscaping is eco-friendly and drought tolerant.
- As many trees as possible were preserved during the layout, and new trees were planted.
- "SolaTube" skylights were installed for a more natural light ins certain areas.
- Electric Switch sensors were placed in the room to automatically turn off te lights when the room becomes unoccupied.
- The offic building qualifies as a "green" building in the LEED-NC program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - New Construction).
The St. Johns Riverkeeper has recently contracted with GD&E to provide a review of a report by Georgia Pacific Paper Mill in Palatka, Florida. The report justifies the construction of a pipeline that proposes moving their wastewater effluent from its original location in Rice Creek into the St Johns River. The following is a press release by the Riverkeeper:
For the River,
Your St. Johns Riverkeeper
Today, we are launching the Cleaner GP awareness campaign to encourage Georgia-Pacific (GP) to abandon its plans to build a pipeline to the St. Johns River and to pursue alternative solutions to its wastewater pollution problems. As part of the CleanerGP.com campaign, we are asking our members and the public to sign a petition to Governor Rick Scott asking him to require further toxicity testing of Georgia-Pacific’s wastewater and to require GP to find an acceptable alternative that will protect the health of our river. You can access the online petition at www.CleanerGP.com
The Georgia-Pacific paper mill in Palatka has been discharging its wastewater into Rice Creek, a tributary of the St. Johns, since 1947. Unable to meet water quality standards in Rice Creek, Georgia-Pacific (GP) has been proposing a pipeline for over a decade to divert its wastewater into the heart of the St. Johns River. Recently, GP announced that they are ready to begin construction of the pipeline.
Building a pipeline is not a solution to a pollution problem and would be a major setback to the ongoing efforts to restore the health of our river. This will only add additional pollutants to a river that is already sick. We believe that viable alternatives exist that would allow GP to meet water quality standards in Rice Creek, keep jobs in Putnam County , and help protect the St. Johns River.
In fact, St. Johns RIVERKEEPER recently hired a team of engineers and water-quality experts to analyze the GP study that was used to justify the pipeline. The preliminary findings of the analysis indicate that viable alternatives exist and important questions about the pipeline remain unanswered. The final results of our technical review will be released soon.
We are also pleased to announce that Peter Thliveros (aka Peter "T"), one of bass fishing's elite professional anglers, is participating in the campaign with us. As someone who grew up on the river and makes his living fishing, he has real concerns about the health of the St. Johns and the potential impacts from the pipeline. You can read more about Peter and the campaign at www.CleanerGP.com.
Get informed and get involved by contacting Governor Scott. Together, we can stop the pipeline and find a reasonable solution - one that protects our river and everyone downstream of the mill who has a stake in this important issue.
For the River,
Your St. Johns Riverkeeper