FirstEnergy sees Akron campus in a new light

FirstEnergy Corp.`s West Akron campus has green features. Photo credit: PHOTO PROVIDED

By STAN BULLARD

for Crain`s Cleveland

4:30 am, August 3, 2009

FirstEnergy Corp.`s new West Akron campus at 341 White Pond Drive boasts green building elements from its windows to its parking lot and floors.

The $33 million, 208,000-square-foot building includes three bands of awning-like aluminum sunshades above the windows on each of its floors.

Michael Molinski, project manager at Cleveland-based architectural firm Vocon who worked on the structure, said the tilt of the sunshades blocks direct sunlight in the summer, reducing heat buildup, yet sunlight can enter directly in the winter because the sun is lower in the sky.

Besides a white plastic roof, the parking lot for the 600- employee building is concrete, which reduces heat absorption compared to asphalt.

Another major element is a “raised floor” in the building — a new version of the old raised floor in computer rooms — which allows heated and cooled air to flow up rather than down, Mr. Molinski said. That allows air conditioners to cool air to 68 degrees rather than the 55 degrees that is typically required for pushing cold air down from a ceiling.

Anthony Alexander, FirstEnergy president and CEO, said in a statement that the company had the project constructed to give employees “the best in technology, energy efficiency and innovative design.”

The Akron-headquartered utility is pursuing at least a Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ranking for the building, which it has registered as a LEED project with the U.S. Green Building Council.

Neither Mr. Molinski nor FirstEnergy have an estimate for how much more green elements cost, but Mr. Molinski said that is becoming less an issue, as green products grow more available.

The company estimates the design slashes energy costs 20% below similar buildings. However, it does not have a year of operating experience to calculate annual savings because it occupied the structure last October, said Ellen Raines, a FirstEnergy spokeswoman.