Columbia Construction and Solar Design Associates are the contractors for the 90,000 square foot project, an upgrade to the existing Martha’s Vineyard Hospital that is expected to be completed by early 2010.
The officials are going to present their certification criteria to the US Green Building Council and construction credits will be submitted once the project is completed, according to Neil Lemieux, manager of pre-construction for Columbia Construction.
The new green hospital facility will feature an array of 200 solar panels, provided by California-based SunPower. It will provide 45 kilowatts of power, or about 35% of the building’s energy needs. The panels use a unique, high-efficiency material developed by the company, which they claim produces efficiency levels of more than 17%.
The solar features incorporated in the hospital is expected to cost about $375,000, with $195,000 funding coming from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust.
Other green feature of the hospital is a roof garden which will act as an insulator and is expected to function as a ‘wellness’ area for patients. The system has made use of thermo-efficient roofing materials, and a modern water system which is supposed to reduce the water usage at the facility by 31%.
All these factors are expected to earn the hospital a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
