Turbine OEM wins “cool building” certification

Siemens Energy has been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification for its recently opened wind-turbine-nacelle assembly plant in Hutchinson, Kansas, for its environmentally responsible design and efficient operations. The 300,000-square-foot facility is Siemens’ first LEED Gold certified production facility in the U.S. It also holds the distinction of being the first LEED Gold new construction/industrial site in the state of Kansas. The certification program is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance, green buildings.

Siemens Real Estate facilitated the project and Gray Construction built the facility. The plant opened in December 2010 and produces nacelles for the company’s 2.3-MW and 3.0-MW wind turbines. The factory achieved Gold certification for energy use, lighting, water, and material use, as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies.

Highlights:

• Insulation resulting in minimal heat loss in the winter and minimal air conditioning (AC) losses in the summer
• No CFC or HCFC (Hydro chlorofluorocarbons) refrigerants used in AC systems
• Intelligent water management, 48.7% better than Energy Policy Act baseline
• Daylight provided through skylights (75% of all regular occupied areas)
• “Sage Glass” system controls solar heat gain (reducing energy consumption), blocks glare, and increases day lighting potential
• Use of low-emitting materials in sealants, adhesives, paints, carpet, wood and finishes
• During construction avoided 50% of construction waste from disposal; use of recycled and regional materials

Siemens
www.siemens.com/energy