The Building
The 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) facility is powered, in part, by a fuel cell and a micro turbine, which turn natural gas into electricity. In addition, the building's photovoltaic solar roof tiles harness the solar power generated by the sun to create useful energy. MAREC then uses a nickel metal hydride battery system to store some of the energy produced by these sources for use during peak energy consumption periods.
The building was also constructed using many alternative and renewable building materials including flooring surfaces produced from fast-growing bamboo and recycled tires, and rigid wall surfaces made from pressed wheat. These materials were used to conserve and recycle valuable natural resources.
Read more about this topic: Michigan Alternative And Renewable Energy Center
Famous quotes containing the word building:
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—Colin Haycraft (b. 1929)
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—David Webb Peoples, screenwriter. Little Bill Daggett (Gene Hackman)