CalPERS Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Products in its Sacramento Headquarters Building.News Editors/Business Editors/Environment Writers SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 12, 2004 The California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), which has made a commitment to build an environmentally friendly Environmentally friendly, also referred to as nature friendly, is a term used to refer to goods and services considered to inflict minimal harm on the environment.[1] headquarters expansion, announced today it hopes to use recycled polyurethane foam Noun 1. polyurethane foam - a foam made by adding water to polyurethane plastics polyfoam polyurethan, polyurethane - any of various polymers containing the urethane radical; a wide variety of synthetic forms are made and used as adhesives or plastics or in the construction of the new headquarters' office furniture. Most foam is currently manufactured in a process that produces a tremendous amount of waste, and until recently, waste foam was not considered recyclable re·cy·cle tr.v. re·cy·cled, re·cy·cling, re·cy·cles 1. To put or pass through a cycle again, as for further treatment. 2. To start a different cycle in. 3. a. for use in furniture. Recently, new technologies now allow these waste products to be transformed into substitutes for the chemicals used in the manufacture of new foam. "We will do our part in helping keep waste foam from landfills, and reduce the load on the environment of chemicals used in the manufacture of new foam," said Fred Buenrostro, CalPERS Chief Executive Officer. "It is our hope that this small step will demonstrate that sustainable technologies can help stimulate a larger market demand for recycled foam and other recycled materials." The new headquarters building was designed to be environmentally friendly. Among its other features will be: -- a design that takes best advantage of natural light, reducing reliance on electric lighting; -- special energy-efficient, heat reducing windows; -- air systems which will use outside air, and energy efficient systems and cooling towers; -- raised flooring located to reduce energy consumption; -- renewable and recycled materials, including photovoltaic The generation of voltage by a material that is exposed to light in the visible and invisible ranges. See photoelectric and photovoltaic cell. panels provided by SMUD SMUD Sacramento Municipal Utility District SMUD Stand-off Munitions Disruption as a demonstration project; and -- landscaping that will be designed to minimize water use and reduce heat gain. CalPERS anticipates the building will meet the certification requirements of the U.S. Green Building Council's leadership in energy and environmental design The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. program. The headquarters expansion project is a 555,000 gross square foot office building between Q & R Street, bordered between 3rd and 5th street in downtown Sacramento Downtown Sacramento is the central district of the city of Sacramento, California. The district is defined as north of R Street, south of H Street, east of the Sacramento River, and west of 16th Street. Downtown Sacramento is currently undergoing a major revitalization project. . Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2005. CalPERS is the nation's largest public pension fund with assets of approximately $167 billion. The System provides retirement and health benefits to 1.4 million State and local public employees and their families. For more on CalPERS, visit www.calpers.ca.gov. |
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