Data Center
The newest addition to the Lincoln campus, the Data Center, is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold-rated building that houses the Sandhills Publishing system’s servers. The Data Center, built with recycled and reclaimed materials, utilizes geothermal heating and cooling, solar power, and purified air.
"LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building, home or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality." Source:
www.usgbc.org/LEED
Solar Panels
The solar panels provide enough electricity to power 37 laptops. The panels move on a passive tracking system powered by thermal expansion, rather than by electricity, so they’re always pointed directly at the sun.
Utilities
State-of-the-art building utilities are 39% more efficient. High-efficiency water heaters and motors keep power consumption to a minimum.
Water Usage
The Data Center uses 52% less water than a standard building of the same size.
Building Cleaning
No harsh cleaning chemicals are allowed inside the building. Ionized water is used for cleaning. Any other chemicals necessary are green seal certified.
No Or Low VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds)
The materials used to construct the building, as well as the building contents themselves, were specially selected for their no- or low-VOC rating.
Purified Air Sensors
Sensors inside the ventilation system constantly monitor air quality for CO and CO2 levels; the sensors ventilate the building and send alarms if necessary.
Lighting
50% of the illumination in the building is from natural lighting, and 100% of fluorescent lights are reduced mercury.
Geothermal Well Field
Water is constantly cycled through underground pipes in a closed-loop system, using the naturally constant temperature that exists underground to either heat or cool the circulating water. This efficient system is used to maintain a comfortable environment inside the building.
Water To Cool Servers
The same geothermal system that maintains the temperature in the building keeps the company servers at a constant 66°F.
Server Farm
The company servers are housed in an underground, tornado-proof room as a precaution against natural disasters. This system of servers is mirrored in our facility in Arizona, which serves as a redundant backup.
72-Stall Underground Parking
Underground parking provides a constant temperature year ‘round for vehicles and equipment. The air quality is constantly monitored and automatic ventilation keeps the air fresh.
Native Grasses And Plants
The landscaping consists of plants native to Nebraska, which greatly reduces the need for irrigation. Using naturally shorter and slower-growing grasses also minimizes the need for mowing.
3 Living Roofs, One A UNL Class
The University of Nebraska conducts testing to see which natural grasses grow best on rooftops, providing information for future “green roof” construction. One of these living roofs is used as an outdoor classroom.
Rainwater Collection
A cistern collects rainwater used on the living roof, reducing the amount of irrigation needed for shrubs and flower beds.
