FORT MYERS, Fla.–Suncoast Credit Union here has opened two “green” buildings here that are, appropriately, largely sun-powered. The new facilities include the credit union’s service center and training center buildings.
“Both our training center and the new Fort Myers branch are a part of Suncoast’s goal to be an active and responsible member of the community through our green initiatives,” said Bakari Kennedy, director of facilities, in a statement. “These two buildings are expected to be net zero—meaning they will use zero electricity to power the building, saving the credit union a total of approximately $32,000 annually.”
The buildings rely on:
- A total of 696 rooftop solar panels, providing a total of 185,071 kilowatt-hours of energy per year
- Interfaced recycled carpet
- Interior and exterior LED lighting
- Low-flow water fixtures
Suncoast reported it has now constructed 13 “green” buildings since 2013 — five of which are net zero buildings. In total, Suncoast said its green and solar initiatives save the credit union $305,000 annually.