FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov 13 2013 12:00:00:000AM
News Media Contact: Joseph Barrios, (520) 884-3725, jbarrios@tep.com
TEP Recognized at Award Ceremony for LEED Gold Corporate Headquarters
Tucson, Ariz. – Tucson Electric Power (TEP) was among dozens of honorees today at an award ceremony to recognize accomplishments in sustainable design and construction.
TEP’s solar-powered, energy-efficient Corporate Headquarters was certified in October 2012 by the U.S. Green Building Council as a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold property. The certification signifies the building meets high standards for energy-efficient construction and environmentally sensitive design. Today, the U.S. Green Building Council’s three Arizona chapters hosted the “Heavy Medals” award ceremony and luncheon in Phoenix to recognize owners, contractors, architects and consultants involved in building projects that achieved LEED certification.
TEP’s Corporate Headquarters, at 88 E. Broadway Blvd. in Tucson, features more than 230,000 square feet of office space designed to accommodate more than 500 employees. The building incorporates a long list of environmentally responsible features, including:
- Efficient Heating and Cooling. The building’s high-efficiency HVAC system operates at a level comparable to a 20-SEER residential system.
- Natural Lighting. The building layout and interior office design maximizes the use of natural daylight, which streams into every floor through low-e, high-performance glass windows.
- Solar Power. The building incorporates a solar water heating system and a 50-kilowatt photovoltaic array featuring low-profile, high-efficiency panels.
- Water Harvesting. Rainwater is directed through a series of filters into a 150,000-gallon cistern embedded beneath the building’s main entrance, where it can be tapped to provide irrigation for on-site landscaping.
- Water Conservation. Dual-flush toilets, low-flush urinals, sensor-equipped faucets and other features are designed to reduce water usage by 33 percent.
- Encouraging Lower Vehicle Emissions. The integrated garage offers electric vehicle chargers and preferred parking for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles.
- Recycled Construction Waste. The building’s demolition and construction process resulted in the recycling of nearly 80 percent of waste materials. The vast majority of concrete, metal and paper-based waste were routed to separate bins and reprocessed for use in future projects.
- Green Building Materials. Low-emitting paint, carpeting, tiles and other finish materials were used for better interior air quality. The company also committed to a “green” cleaning program that employs environmentally friendly products.
TEP employees have occupied the building for slightly over two years. The completion of the building marked a milestone for both the company and the city of Tucson. It was the most significant addition to the downtown skyline in decades and brought hundreds of professionals into the heart of downtown. The building also has been used as a site for community gatherings sponsored by a variety of charitable nonprofit, government and civic organizations.
Tucson Electric Power provides safe, reliable electric service to approximately 412,000 customers in southern Arizona. To learn more, visit tep.com. For more information about TEP’s parent company, UNS Energy Corporation (NYSE: UNS), visit uns.com.
