For release: July 15, 2010

For more information:
Scott Balyo, Marketing and Public Relations
Wyoming Business Council
Office:  307.777.2851
Email: scott.balyo@wybusiness.org

New northeast Wyoming Visitor Center breaks new ground in energy efficiency

CHEYENNE – The new Wyoming Travel and Tourism Visitor’s Center in Sundance, Wyo., is using state of the art renewable energy components that make it the only building of its caliber in the state and one of only a few of its kind in the country. 

The Visitor’s Center, opening July 16, is constructed as a Net Zero Energy Building, a highly energy-efficient structure that uses, over the course of a year, renewable technology to produce as much energy as it consumes.

Tim Belton, architect at Malone Belton Abel PC, the Sheridan, Wyo., engineering and design firm leading the project, said the center is designed to truly represent Wyoming.
“What Wyoming does, is provide more energy to the country and the grid than our small population ever uses,” said Belton.  “This building, if designed properly and run properly, can produce more energy on a yearly basis than it consumes on a yearly basis.  This tells the story, fundamentally, of Wyoming and tells people there are a lot of ways to generate energy.”

To achieve a Net Zero Energy Building every modern building technique available was employed to reduce heating loads in the winter and cooling loads in the summer. This includes true R-42 wall and ceiling systems using SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) panels composed of urethane and soy versus fiberglass; natural cooling with automatic operable windows and window shading; natural heating with passive solar systems; natural heating/ cooling with geothermal heat sinks; on-site electrical generation with 45KW of photovoltaic panels, and many other features.  An automated building management system for maximizing performance integrates many of these things.

The structure also works to conserve resources with low-flow bathroom fixtures; rainwater gathering/ distribution for plant watering; low-water requirement landscaping; and low energy lighting and equipment.

“I’m very excited that this new visitor center is extremely functional, attractive and energy efficient,” said Wyoming Travel and Tourism Director Diane Shober. “It’s an outstanding facility which will help us serve travelers while at the same time educate them about the importance of energy conservation.”

The State Energy Office (SEO), which helps promote energy efficiency and the adoption of renewable resources throughout Wyoming, said this building is an excellent example of what can be accomplished.

“We should lead by example with our state facilities and this building is really ahead of the game,” said Shannon Stanfill, SEO program manager.

An opening event for the building will be held July 16 at 3:30 p.m. at the new Visitor’s Center located off I-90 at exit 199.  The event is free and open to the public.  
For more information on energy efficiency programs contact the Wyoming State Energy Office at 307.777.2841 or visit www.wyomingbusiness.org.

For more information on Wyoming Travel and Tourism visit www.wyomingtourism.org.

The mission of the Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. The Business Council, a state government agency, concentrates its efforts on providing assistance for existing Wyoming companies and start-ups, helping communities meet their development and diversification needs, and recruiting new firms and industries targeted to complement the state’s assets. For more information, please visit www.wyomingbusiness.org.
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