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Taking a greener approach
By JOHN ANASTASI
Bucks County Courier Times
April 21, 2008
The world has become a lot more conscious of the environment since
Earth Day was born April 22, 1970.
Bucks County's business and non-profit communities are no exception.
A snapshot of local companies shows many of them have taken on
a greenish hue.
Reshetar Custom Homes in Bedminster recently unveiled
its Springtown Knoll development, a 20-home community in Springfield
that incorporated Keystone Green Building Initiative requirements
into the construction of each house.
The initiative calls for construction techniques that
are energy efficient and utilities that include a variety of energy-saving
features. The Reshetar homes have energy efficient windows, thermostats,
heating systems, dishwashers and other appliances.
“This builder is committed to going green,”
said Scott Freeman, the Nockamixon-based Coldwell Banker Real
Estate agent marketing the homes.
The houses are expected to sell in the $500,000 to $600,000
range. Freeman said the model home open houses so far have included
serious buyers and people who just want to see the green amenities.
“Half of them are coming to get an understanding
of what green is,” he said.
Bucks County Community College has worked a number of green building
practices into its new Lower Bucks County campus in Bristol Township
and the addition it has planned for its Upper Bucks campus in
East Rockhill.
“We'll have a geothermal heating system and Gold Star LEED
certification,” said college spokeswoman Jean Dolan.
The federal government's LEED certification — which stands
for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — sets
criteria for rating buildings based on a variety of green principles.
Gold is the highest level of certification.
Dolan said the building would also have vegetation on the roof
to reduce heating and cooling costs and storm water run off. It
will also feature a collection system so the runoff and water
from sinks can be gathered and used to flush toilets.
The Lower Bucks campus has sunscreens and waterless urinals.
“The whole building is glass to take advantage of the
natural light,” said Jim Sell, executive director of the
Lower Bucks campus.
Newtown Township's Law School Admissions Council Inc. is a non-profit
organization that registers students for law school admissions
tests, administers the tests and processes applications and transcripts
for 200 law schools in the United States.
It handles most of these tasks without using paper, according
to communications director Wendy Margolis.
“About 80 percent are completing their applications electronically,”
said Margolis, who added most law schools are able to accept those
applications virtually as well. “We register students for
the law school admissions test and 97 percent of those do it electronically.”
The company has eliminated about 700,000 pages of paper forms
that had been part of a year's registration packets.
“There are lots of reasons to do it and the environment
is definitely one of them,” said Margolis, who listed cost
and efficiency as others.
The First Savings Bank of Perkasie, which has eight branches
in Upper Bucks, offers customers environmentally friendly checking
accounts and savings accounts.
“They do not generate paper statements,” said marketing
director Eric Brunner, who added it is more convenient for customers
and lessens the potential for identity theft. “On top of
it, it's a win for green as well.”
The Heritage Conservancy in Doylestown Township has established
a “Green Team” to incorporate eco-friendly practices
into office management and grounds maintenance activities. They
have begun printing publications on recycled paper with environmentally-sensitive
inks, using recycled products and using florescent light bulbs.
The non-profit is also retrofitting its storm water basin to reduce
lawn mowing.
John Anastasi can be reached at 215-949-4170 or at janastasi@phillyBurbs.com.
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