CONTACT: Greg Sowell, 972-744-4218

(Richardson, TX) To commemorate Earth Day, on April 22 the City of Richardson held an official ribbon cutting celebrating the completion of the Huffhines Recreation Center Renewable Energy Project. The project was one of several made possible by the City of Richardson’s award of a grant totaling over $1 million from the 2009 Federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. The grant is being used for the implementation of energy-saving projects across the City.

“The Richardson City Council is dedicated to environmental management, and the Huffhines Renewable Energy Project is dramatic proof of our strong commitment in this area,” said Richardson Mayor Bob Townsend at the ribbon cutting celebration. “We are proud to offer this great amenity to our residents and invite them all to join in our efforts to implement energy-saving projects throughout the City.”

After much planning and design, the Renewable Energy Project went under construction in late 2011, and the project was completed in early 2012. Its latest renewable energy features are expected to reduce the facility’s energy usage an additional 10 percent and helped the center earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. The new components added to the recreation center include:

• Solar photovoltaic panels – 91 solar panels were installed on the gymnasium roof and create a 22.75 kilowatt grid. The panels were sourced from a Dallas/Fort Worth vendor.
• Wind energy system – A 2.4-kilowatt, grid-tied, wind energy generation system is situated on the southeast corner of the recreation center. 
• Solar thermal hot water heating – The system houses a 200-gallon solar storage tank that supplements an existing natural gas water heating system for added efficiency. 
• Electric vehicle charging stations – Two electric vehicle charging stations (220- and 110-volt options) are available in the parking lot of Huffhines. These are part of a regional expansion that includes 71 active public charging stations. 
• Educational kiosk – An interactive educational display is available onsite and on the web portal for use by schools and other educational programs. Real-time historical data is displayed, including information about the LEED program and other sustainable development practices employed at the recreation center.

Other Richardson projects that will benefit from the EECBG grant include an energy conservation study and greenhouse gas inventory, energy monitoring systems at key City facilities, LED lighting retrofit at the Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts parking garage, an LED street light pilot project, general HVAC and lighting enhancements, and the hiring of environmental policy coordinators for the City.

The Huffhines Recreation Center was originally built in 2009 and was funded through the 2006 Bond Program at a cost of $6 million. Prior to the latest enhancements, the recreation center already featured many eco-friendly design elements, including energy-saving features that lower the need for artificial lighting and optimize energy use, and construction of 29 percent of the building with recycled material.

As part of its commitment to leadership and innovation in environmental management, the Richardson City Council has directed that all new municipal buildings should be build to LEED certification standards. Today, the Huffhines Recreation Center is the second LEED-certified municipal building in the City, in addition to Fire Station #2. Other Richardson municipal buildings currently being constructed to LEED standards are the Heights Recreation and Aquatics Center, the Richardson Gymnastics Center and Fire Station #4. The LEED program, established by the U.S. Green Building Council, measures buildings against environmental criteria regarding construction features and methods, waste disposal, energy efficiency, land use and various other design and building characteristics.

About the City of Richardson
With nearly 100,000 residents, the City of Richardson is widely recognized for its commitment to excellence, its rich history and its bright future, all of which make Richardson a smart choice for residents and businesses. Known globally for its high-tech business leadership, the City of Richardson also offers a high quality of life, diverse array of neighborhoods, convenient Metroplex location, multi-modal transportation infrastructure and outstanding City services. Richardson has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top places to live and work by the national media, and the City remains dedicated to continuous improvement, as well as to the principles of open government and two-way communications with residents. To learn more, visit www.cor.net.

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