Conservation and sustainable energy are driving forces in new development projects. Whether motivated by environmentally friendly designs, cost saving opportunities, or both, more companies are looking to Prince William County as a sound location for green development projects.
Green Energy
Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) received a $5 million grant for investment in smart grid technology from the United States Department of Energy. The grant will help fund the replacement of older, technically obsolete equipment with digital-based, smart grid equipment, and will allow NOVEC to improve power quality, reduce electricity losses, and save more than $100,000 annually in distribution and substation maintenance.
The County makes use of the methane gas emissions of the County’s landfill to create 1.9 megawatts of energy to heat nearby government facilities. “I want Prince William to become the gold standard in the U.S. for the development and implementation of alternative energy,” Coles District Supervisor Martin Nohe told The Washington Post.
Green Facilities
The first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified facility in Prince William County was Wetland Studies and Solutions’ office in Gainesville, which was awarded LEED Gold Certification in 2006. In the years since, the number of green facilities in Prince William County has grown rapidly. Recently, the GSA adopted sustainable design as a core tenant of their site selection and development processes for federal facilities. This commitment is evidenced by the FBI’s new Northern Virginia Resident Agency facility in Prince William County, which is the first FBI building to be awarded LEED Gold Certification.
Another exciting environmentally friendly project to come online in 2009 was Power Loft @ Innovation data center. While able to deliver more than enough power to meet the needs of the most demanding IT hardware, the facility uses 30% less electricity than traditional data centers. Power Loft is LEED Certified and was recently awarded the first Northern Virginia Technology Council’s Green Award.
Going green is not only for large business. In December 2009, The Smart Car Wash broke ground in Dale City. Opening in summer 2010, The Smart Car Wash will be the first LEED certified car wash in Virginia. At the ground breaking, Neabsco District Supervisor John D. Jenkins noted that the facility marked a continuation in the County’s effort to continue to promote LEED certified development.
Committed to green government facilities, Prince William County is undertaking a broad effort, funded by a $3.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, to conserve energy by retrofitting county buildings with technology that improves efficiency.
Recycling
In October, Canusa Hershman opened its state-of-the-art single stream recycling facility in Prince William County. “This facility not only makes a positive impact on our local economy,” commented Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart, “but more importantly makes a positive impact on our environment.” The facility joins the County’s other recycling facility, Broad Run Recycling, which is LEED compliant.