DEP’s Cambria District Mining Office will be part of the October 1 National Solar Tour as an example of green building construction. When it opened in 2000, it was the first building in the United States to meet LEED 2.0 Gold Certification.

The Cambria office building uses 40 percent less energy and has 43 percent lower energy costs than typical buildings of similar size. It has a geothermal ground source heat pump system that heats or cools the building through a closed loop system with water wells, tile floors made from recycled rubber, waterless urinals in the men’s room and biofiber hard board made from sunflower seed shells used for trim on the building walls.

As part of the National Solar Tour, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association is coordinating open houses all across the Northeast. As an added incentive, all individuals registering at any of the open houses will be entered into a drawing for door prizes from BuildingGreen, a $200 gift certificate from A Reclaimed Lumber Co., and a $50 gift certificate from The ReStore, a construction reuse outlet.

Directions to the Cambria office are available online.

For more information, visit the Cambria District Mining Office webpage.

9/30/2005