ACT is Going for the Gold

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By Erin Leach

Story Created: Apr 23, 2007 at 11:19 AM CST

Story Updated: Apr 23, 2007 at 1:10 PM CST

IOWA CITY - A local company is going for the gold in its effort to go green.

ACT’s new data center will be among the nation's "greenest" buildings.
The Iowa City-based company has committed $4 million to the new, environmentally friendly facility. ACT Spokesperson Ken Gullette says, "It's more feasible to go green now. The technologies are getting better."

Some of the highlights include using recycled materials in construction or capturing rain water to flush toilets. Going "green" adds about $300,000 to $400,000 to the final price tag but that money should be recovered in energy savings over the next five years or so. Gullette says, "Less water use, less electricity, more energy efficiency and we're also going to have a geothermal unit to cool the building so in the long run it'll pay for itself."

The U.S. Green Building Council uses the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. Once construction is complete, buildings are rated on a scale from bronze to platinum. ACT is hoping for a gold. It could be the first data center in the nation to receive that designation. "You have to meet quite a few criteria to be certified gold," adds Gullette.

That criteria emphasizes six primary areas. The projects are awarded points for how well they follow the guidelines. The higher the points, the better the rating.

The 10,000 square foot building will achieve it's rating as soon as construction is complete. That should be fall of this year.

Right now, there are more than 40 projects in Iowa registered with the U.S. Green Building Council.

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