SEF buys land for $4.5M net-zero office building – Lehigh Valley Business

Conceptual drawing of proposed net-zero building the Sustainable Energy Fund plans to build in Schnecksville (Contributed)

The Sustainable Energy Fund of Upper Macungie Township today closed on the sale of a parcel of land in Schnecksville where it plans to construct a net-zero office building a building that produces as much or more energy than it uses.

The project is expected to cost about $4.5 million.

John Costlow, president and CEO of the fund, said a conceptual plan has been designed for a building that will use innovative technologies for lighting and heating the building and will be run on solar power.

Sustainable Energy Fund will occupy part of the space and will lease the remaining offices to local businesses.

The construction of this building will allow Sustainable Energy Fund to further promote and fulfill our mission and educational goals while allowing local businesses to be more sustainable, Costlow said.

The fund will put out a request for proposals for an architect to design the structure and a contractor to build it.

Construction is expected to take about two years.

Costlow said by having the organization in a net-zero building, he hopes to raise awareness for such building techniques.

He said the fund also hopes to use the building to educate the public on net zero technology by hosting educational sessions about the technology, as well as additional sessions on general sustainability on-site.

Writer and online editor Stacy Wescoe has her finger on the pulse of the business community in the Greater Lehigh Valley and keeps you up-to-date with technology and trends, plus what coworkers and competitors are talking about around the water cooler and on social media. She can be reached at stacyw@lvb.com or 610-807-9619, ext. 4104. Follow her on Twitter at @morestacy and on Facebook. Circle Stacy Wescoe on Google+.

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SEF buys land for $4.5M net-zero office building - Lehigh Valley Business