The facility has been honoured with the green certification recognising HSSV’s efforts in reducing electricity demands and water consumption through a variety of conservation technologies and products, besides providing state-of-the-art animal care. HSSV has invested a significant amount in a premium HVAC system, high quality construction practices, and low VOC products.
The new Animal Community Center replaces HSSV’s old facility, which featured small cages, overcrowding and poor air exchange causing upper respiratory infection and kennel cough. Animals are housed in individual room-like condos with 100% air exchange. The noise factor, particularly in the dog habitats, has been significantly reduced, allowing dogs to sleep uninterrupted. Cats also are no longer subjected to the constant sound of barking of dogs. The new peaceful environment has enabled animals to perform natural behaviours like stretching, hiding, and climbing vertically.
One of the most important energy-efficient features at the facility is a solar system, which is the largest solar installation in Milpitas. Owned and operated by Tioga Energy, a provider of renewable energy services to commercial, government and non-profit institutions, the photovoltaic system went live in July 2010. The 274 kW solar parking shade structure and rooftop systems are composed of 1,335 photovoltaic (PV) modules. Starting on day one, these provide an estimated 33% of all energy used at HSSV’s Animal Community Center, creating energy savings for the lifetime of the system. In fiscal year 2011, HSSV expects the solar installation will help the organisation save up to $50,000 in energy costs.
The Animal Community Center was constructed using 90% of concrete from the old building’s foundations and incorporates a number of energy and water efficiency technologies: a highly efficient kennel cleansing system to ensure proper disinfecting of kennels while using only 2.2 gallons/minute; heat recovery wheels in the HVAC system capture and reuse heating and cooling while filtering air and providing 100% air exchange; a reflective ‘cool’ roof to minimise solar heating of the building in the winter and reduce air-conditioning costs in the summer; and strategic building placement and extensive use of windows and solar light pipes that provide natural lighting to more than 75% of the building’s interior space. Occupancy sensors manage lighting use; onsite bioswales capture and naturally cleanse rainwater run-off before it enters the water treatment system, reducing the energy needed to clean water supplies; and artificial turf in dog parks and landscaping with native plants eliminates the need to regularly water.
Established in 1929, HSSV is an independent, non-profit agency, and a first-of-its-kind in the US to offer an adoption program with a full spectrum of pet and community services under one solar roof.
