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College Energy Plant Earns National Sustainability Award
Wake Tech East Facility Named Green Globes Project of the Year
WENDELL, N.C. (April 29, 2024) – The Central Energy Plant at Wake Tech East has been named Green Globes® Project of the Year by the Green Building Initiative.
Designed by HH Architecture and constructed by Skanska, the 15,700-square-foot facility provides heating and cooling for the entire campus. The honor was announced at a virtual awards ceremony on April 25.
"Wake Tech is known for providing education and training in the latest sustainability technologies and protocols," said Jeff Carter, Wake Tech's vice president of facilities. "But our commitment goes further. The college offers a model of environmentally responsible growth as it continues to expand its reach in the region, with sustainable construction and energy-saving best practices and operations collegewide. We are proud to receive this recognition."
Thanks to its many energy-saving features, the Central Energy Plant is also the first facility in North Carolina to earn a Four Green Globes® certification for sustainability. Those features include the following:
- Sustainable building materials
- Nearly 300 geothermal wells that create a district heating and cooling system where water is pumped underground to all buildings, reducing the energy needed to heat and cool the campus
- Rooftop solar photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight into electricity
- High-efficiency lighting design
- Natural daylight and connection to nature
- Low volatile organic compound (VOC) materials, such as paint, sealers and cleaning products, which make the air healthier to breathe
- Electric vehicle charging stations
Administered by the Green Building Initiative, Green Globes is a nationally recognized green rating assessment and certification system that ensures projects meet clearly defined criteria in seven assessment areas: Project Management, Site, Energy, Water, Resources, Emissions and Indoor Environment. In addition to evaluating documentation in each of these performance areas, the Green Globes certification process includes an onsite third-party assessment to verify implementation.
The Central Energy Plant has also been honored with a 2023 City of Raleigh Climate Action Award for Energy.
