EPIC Long Island Provides Innovative Services In Newly Renovated Green Space Building
Long Island, New York (PRWEB) September 04, 2014 -- EPIC, Extraordinary People in Care of Long Island provides a wide range of clinical, community, habilitation and residential services to those with epilepsy, developmental disabilities and mental health challenges.
EPIC purchased and completely “green-ovated” the building at 1500 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow, formerly occupied by Snapple and Lukoil. The move to the new location took place over Memorial Day weekend of this year.
Environmentally friendly initiatives were incorporated inside and out, from the underground parking garage up to the roof. The decision to go green was motivated by several factors. Paul Giotis, Chief Operating Officer of EPIC, focused on the social responsibility aspect.
“We are in the business of helping people, so the concepts of social responsibility and going green go hand in hand with that. When the opportunity to go green presents itself, it's backed by government incentives and it results in saving dollars to support more people, I call that a no-brainer.”
Compliance with updated ASHRAE (formerly the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers) lighting codes and available government incentive programs also factored into EPIC’s decision.
Giotis and EPIC’s Facilities Manager, Charles Pulver, put together a team for the renovation, including Fusion Architects of Plainview, Majestic Solar of Medford, Schwing Electric of Bohemia and Enterprise Lighting Sales (ELS) of Hicksville. Ram Hemraj, of ELS, was instrumental in advising EPIC on the best lighting options for its needs.
The first step was upgrading the lighting in the underground parking garage from “old school” fluorescent tube lighting to new energy efficient lighting.
Lighting throughout the building was replaced to take advantage of “daylight harvesting,” a new standard in the field of green initiatives. Energy efficient LED lighting fixtures and controls were installed in each room and area of the building, so that the lights automatically dim and/or shut-off based on occupancy and available natural light. These lights require no maintenance for ten to fifteen years, and should pay for themselves within two years.
Moving upward, a majority of the energy efficient renovations were made to the roof. The heat intensity of the sun can raise the temperature of a black tar roof by ninety degrees, which can make the interior of a building much hotter.
The old roof was replaced with a “Cool Roof” which reflects sunlight and significantly decreases the surface temperature. EPIC chose to use “Acrymax” – a liquid acrylic roofing system, which is extremely durable and provides moisture and thermal protection.
Once the “Cool Roof” was in place, a 50,000 watt solar panel system consisting of 204 panels mounted via a ballast system was installed, along with five inverters. The “Cool Roof” reflects sunlight onto the solar panels, increasing the energy efficiency and cost savings.
EPIC’s green initiatives put energy back into the grid, earning it credits from PSEG Long Island, literally “giving back” to the community in another way. While it is too early to calculate specific cost savings, EPIC hopes to recoup its investment from energy savings in approximately eight years.
About EPIC Long Island
EPIC began in 1953 with a small group of parents whose mission was to help children with epilepsy lead productive lives. Over sixty years later, the organization has fulfilled that promise with 15 residences, two clinics, and dozens of programs that serve over 10,000 individuals annually. EPIC has broadened its mission to offer more social and health services across Long Island and has grown to serve not only individuals with epilepsy, but also those with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. While epilepsy is at its core, the organization offers a spectrum of superior services for individuals and families with different needs. EPIC’s mission is to enrich the lives of those they serve through quality care, a broad range of services and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
Ron Gold, Marketing Works, http://www.marketingworkspr.com, +1 (516) 297-1637, [email protected]
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