LONDONDERRY — Gary Hirshberg, president and "CE-Yo" of Stonyfield Yogurt Works, said his employees seem to be even happier these days.
"Must be all the daylight," he said.
The plant's new addition on Burton Drive houses offices, a cafeteria and locker rooms. It was designed with heating and cooling efficiency and by using many recycled materials. This all goes along with the company's philosophy of being as organic and green as possible for future generations.
The current crop of employees is benefitting from the design.
"We oriented the building so that its long side faces south, taking advantage of the sun's warmth during cold seasons, and its light throughout the year," Hirshberg said.
External solar shades on the south-facing windows and the canopy over the main entrance block the hottest summer sun, but let in the warming winter sun. There are six solar collectors on the south-facing canopy that collect energy from the sun and use it to preheat cold incoming water before it enters the building's domestic water heater. This renewable energy technology reduces natural gas consumption and decreases reliance on fossil fuels.
"You'll notice the panels on the windows," Hirshberg said during a recent visit to the plant, pointing to white, rectangular objects hanging in front of the cafeteria windows. "They are radiant and provide heat on cold days, and also act as light shelves by reflecting more daylight into the building, making our offices an even brighter place to work."
The lights in the two-story building automatically dim when there's sufficient daylight to save on electricity.
The porcelain tile floor is made from 100 percent post-industrial waste and the wooden floor in the cafeteria was made from wood salvaged in 2005 from former offices. The wood also was originally harvested from a certified forest, following Forest Stewardship Council guidelines for healthy forest management.
In the bathrooms, there are recycled countertops, waterless urinals, and dual flush toilets that can give the option of a lighter or heavier flush to save water.
In the offices, desks and tables are made from sawdust and shavings left over from lumber yards. The furniture fabric is made from plastic bottles and the steel legs of desks and tables from recycled auto parts.
"There is a full air exchange in this building every hour," Hirshberg said.
The "greening" of Stonyfield extends into the porous asphalt parking lot that was built in 2006.
"Unlike standard asphalt, porous asphalt is permeable," Hirshberg said.
Porous asphalt contains 18 to 22 percent air voids that allow water to infiltrate into the ground, instead of flowing over the pavement and into storm drains. Porous asphalt mimics what would happen to water and snow melt under natural conditions, as if the area remained unpaved.
This technology is relatively new to the region, Hirshberg said.
"We worked with town officials to gain approval to install this as a demonstration project," he said. "We are implementing a monitoring program to measure how the porous asphalt performs in our region and climate versus the impermeable type of asphalt."
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