News Release

November 16, 2007

North Newton receives Governor's Energy Award

The City of North Newton received the Governor's Energy Recognition Award in Energy Efficiency at the Kansas Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Conference held in Topeka.

North Newton's Vision Statement speaks of "respect for physical environment." These principles support construction of environmentally friendly green buildings --- a concept that incorporates a buildings' complete life cycle aimed at better use of energy, water and construction materials.

Benefits come through better siting, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the new structure, and eventual removal of the old structure. This concept was emphasized and strongly embraced in the design and construction of North Newton's new City Hall, a single-story structure of 4,100 square feet.

Building green of the new City Hall began with the removal of the old structure and use of the same site for the new building. Much of the interior of the old building was donated to Habitat for Humanity. The structural and exterior components were reassembled at another location thereby minimizing landfill deposits.

The old concrete floor slab was preserved. Recycled materials were used extensively in the cellulose insulation, porcelain tile floors, acoustical tile, carpeting, and manufactured stone. Extensive use was made of fly ash to lessen demand for new concrete.

Many heating and cooling efficiencies were incorporated in the rebuilding, such as insulated concrete forms in wall construction, automatic illumination sensor light fixtures, space occupancy, air quality sensors, low E window glass, computer designed sun shades on exterior walls, and shelves on interior walls that enhance control of sunlight.

The green features of North Newton City Hall added a small cost over "standard" construction technology. It is expected that these costs will be recovered in relatively few years through reduced operation expenditures.