For Release: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
DEC Unveils "Green" Building, Announces Mileage Reduction, Green Purchasing and Other Highlights
Commissioner Dedicates New Regional HQ in New Paltz
Commissioner Pete Grannis today officially opened the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) new environmentally friendly regional office in New Paltz and announced recent DEC "green" achievements in reducing energy use, increasing the use of renewable energy and increasing green purchasing.
The new DEC Hudson Valley/Catskill regional office incorporates state-of-the-art design practices such as a geothermal heating-and-cooling system, windows and insulation that maximize natural light and save energy, and plumbing that reduces water consumption by 20 percent. This is the first DEC regional headquarters built to U.S. Green Building Council certifications, also known as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) specifications.
"When it comes to safer, healthier communities, there's a simple rule: the greener, the better. And that's especially true for buildings," Commission Grannis said. "Clearly, to protect our environment, we need to construct buildings that use less energy, use less natural resources and emit less greenhouse gases. That's exactly what this new building does. Additionally, the state-of-the-art technology provides a healthy environment for employees to work and the public to visit. This project builds on Governor Paterson's commitment to put New York on the leading edge of the fight to combat climate change and build a sustainable future for generations to come."
Commissioner Grannis thanked DEC's partners at the State Office of General Services (OGS) who made the project possible.
"This is the first DEC regional headquarters built to LEED-certified standards. This puts OGS and DEC at the forefront of fostering sustainability and energy savings," said OGS Commissioner John Egan. "This new building was designed to use 42 percent less energy, which will save an estimated $26,000 per year in energy costs."
DEC broke ground on the first phase of new regional office in April 2007. The renovation of the existing building (phase 2) now officially completes the project. The building serves as the center of operations for DEC's Region 3, which covers Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties. DEC's central office in Albany is also a LEED-certified building.
Commissioner Grannis also announced other "green" highlights for the Department:
-- DEC travel mileage has been reduced 10 percent since last August, when Governor Paterson called for belt-tightening measures in response to the economic downturn and the record state deficit. In this region the vehicle fleet has been reduced from over 250 to 208.
-- DEC's "green purchasing" program has been honored in May by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The program helps reduce the environmental impact of use and disposal of computer equipment, by implementing the recycling of old materials and facilitating the purchase of EnergyStar compliant products.
-- DEC now has nine "green building" projects in various stages of design, construction or application for LEED certification all across New York State.
-- DEC now operates more than 500 alternative-fuel, light-duty vehicles.
-- DEC has surpassed a Governor's Executive Order that at least 20 percent of agency electricity purchases come from renewable energy sources by 2010. At this point in 2009, 24 percent of the electricity DEC uses now comes from renewables.
