The plant designed to manufacture nacelles for the 2.3 MW and 3.0 MW wind turbines produced by the company was opened in December 2010. The nacelle placed at the top of a wind turbine tower holds the necessary components that convert the rotation of the blades in to power. The project was facilitated by Siemens Real Estate and construction was completed by Gray Construction.
Siemens Energy has been awarded LEED® Gold Certification for its recently opened wind turbine nacelle assembly plant in Hutchinson, Kansas, for its environmentally responsible design and efficient operating systems. The 300,000-square-foot facility is Siemens’ first LEED® Gold certified production facility in the U.S. It also holds the distinction of being the first LEED® Gold new construction/industrial site in the state of Kansas. The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance, green buildings.
"On behalf of the State of Kansas, I am pleased to offer my congratulations to Siemens Energy on this tremendous achievement," said Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback. "This is yet another example of the private sector and the state’s workforce leading the way to do what’s best for both the Kansas economy and the environment."
"With our portfolio of products and services that produce and support demand for clean, renewable energy, LEED® certification was very important to Siemens as we built this new nacelle facility in Hutchinson," said Kevin Hazel, head of Siemens Energy’s Americas Wind Power supply chain management. "We are honored to receive this recognition and feel that it stands for our commitment to sustainable, energy-efficient technologies as both a user and a producer."
"With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC’s vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, Siemens’ Wind Turbine Nacelle Assembly Facility is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement."
Siemens Real Estate facilitated the project and Gray Construction handled construction. The plant opened in December 2010 and produces nacelles for the company’s 2.3-MW and 3.0-MW wind turbines. The nacelle is the structure atop of a wind turbine tower that houses the components converting the blades’ rotation into electricity. The factory achieved LEED® Gold certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use, as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, LEED®-certified buildings across the country save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.
Sustainable highlights:
•Insulation resulting in minimal heat loss in the winter and minimal AC loss in the summer
•No CFC or HCFC (Hydro chlorofluorocarbons) refrigerants used in AC systems
•Intelligent water management, 48.7% better than Energy Policy Act baseline
•Daylight provided through skylights (75% of all regular occupied areas)
•"Sage Glass" system controls solar heat gain (reducing energy consumption), blocks glare and increases day lighting potential
•Use of low-emitting materials in sealants, adhesives, paints, carpet, wood and finishes
•During construction avoided 50% of construction waste from disposal; use of recycled and regional materials
"Siemens embraces corporate social responsibility around the globe," stated Stephen Gray, President & Chief Executive Officer, Gray Construction. "The LEED Gold Certification of their Hutchinson, Kansas, facility is another example of the company’s commitment to environmental awareness. Gray is proud to have worked side by side with the talented Siemens staff to achieve this high level of recognition."
Wind power is part of Siemens’ Environmental Portfolio. In fiscal 2010, revenue from the Portfolio totaled about EUR28 billion, making Siemens the world’s largest supplier of ecofriendly technologies. In the same period, our products and solutions enabled customers to reduce their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 270 million tons, an amount equal to the total annual CO2 emissions of the megacities Hong Kong, London, New York, Tokyo, Delhi and Singapore.
The Siemens Energy Sector is the world’s leading supplier of a complete spectrum of products, services and solutions for the generation, transmission and distribution of power and for the extraction, conversion and transport of oil and gas. In fiscal 2010 (ended September 30), the Energy Sector had revenues of approximately EUR25.5 billion and received new orders totaling more than EUR30.1 billion and posted a profit of more than EUR3.3 billion. On September 30, 2010, the Energy Sector had a work force of more than 88,000.
By José Santamarta, www.siemens.com/energy
