Credit Union Pioneers Efficiency And Environmental Responsibility On Island

By Jeff Marchesseault

GUAM - In the midst of all the hype and hooplah over Government of Guam Employees Federal Credit Union changing its name to Coast360, President & CEO John Arroyo has another reason to smile.

Not only is the new name reflecting a new attitude in financial services, embracing a broader customer base, and improving the range and relevance of its financial services, but Coast360 is also now on the cutting edge of 'efficiency' design and construction. Coast360's new headquarters will be Guam's first totally 'green' commercial building.

"We'll be drawing off of island power, but building systems will be in place to reduce the amount of power we will consume," Arroyo told Guam News Factor.

Now under construction, the new headquarters for Coast360 Federal Credit Union is designed to integrate the latest green technologies for a higher level of environmental responsibility, better energy efficiency, and a smaller carbon footprint.

Along Route 8 in Maite between the Government of Guam Retirement Fund building and Kwang Hwa Shopping House, the Coast360 HQ project is moving briskly according to a regimen of best practices.

Safety, Efficiency & Environmental Responsibility...Even Before The Building's Done!

When this Guam News Factor reporter showed up on site and started snapping pictures for a story, he was sent directly to dck pacific guam's project management office to sign in, state his purpose, and don a hard hat, safety glasses and a bright orange vest for a walking tour accompanied by a careful guide.

dck Safety Representative Alvin Quan explained to Guam News Factor that the management team strictly enforces safety and environmental protection protocols during the buildout process.

This was evident in the precautions we took during our walkaround, but also in the waste separation and recycling bins on premise, as well as in the liners beneath barrels of construction compounds and a portable toilet at the site.

Progress at the site is encouraging. Workers appeared friendly, happy and alert. The foundation of the headquarters has been laid and two stories of skeletal structure have been built. A facilities management building that will store a generator, electrical systems control, and water systems control is coming together; and runoff and irrigation areas have been trenched, rebarred and partially built.

A Good Longterm Investment

"It was going to be more expensive [to build] than a standard building," Arroyo says of the decision to construct a new green headquarters. But the credit union president is proud that Coast 360 is pioneering cutting-edge commercial construction on Guam. "I think it makes a statement. With a little bit of effort, it can be done here."

Plus, who can argue with spending a little more on a building that consumes fewer resources and costs less to maintain?

Features, Benefits & Advantages

The remarkable new edifice will feature glass walls "to draw in as much light as possible to reduce power," Arroyo said.

With all that glass, you might think the building would get hot inside, but Arroyo says the efficiency design prevents that. Working in concert with the heat- and glare-reducing louvres will be other integrated features such as low-maintenance indigenous shrubbery watered by a rain-fed irrigation system that also collects water for other non-potable uses like flushing toilets. "The shrubbery will reduce heat and light from the asphalt," he said. He added that even the asphalt will be a special grade that reduces heat and glare itself.

In a surprising twist for some new members and passers by will be the intentional growth of shrubbery on the roof of the building to help deflect heat and keep the structure cool inside.

Arroyo said the building's self-adjusting airconditioning will be a water-cooled system that keeps the temperature at a "constant level throughout the day -- not freezing cold, but comfortable."

The building will also feature an exhaust system to reduce particles floating though the air, promote health, and improve air quality overall.

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