Puerto Rico Convention Center Goes Green

On the Environment


Following the recent pledge by Puerto Rico's government to convert several of its public properties into "green" buildings, the Puerto Rico Convention Center and the Coliseum of Puerto Rico are to become the first properties on the island to be modified into eco-friendly buildings.

With an investment of $250,000, the Puerto Rico Convention Center and other developments within the 113-acre District will decrease the use of water by 30 percent and the use of electricity by 50 percent, for ongoing savings of $450,000 per year once the project is completed.

After completely incorporating these initiatives, the buildings hope to receive the US Green Building Council's 'Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)' Certification, considered the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

Key elements of the Puerto Rico Convention Center “green project” include:

The installation and use of automated control systems for air-conditioning and lighting of the facility, as well as the incorporation of natural lighting to reduce overall energy consumption.
Providing preferential parking spaces around the facility for hybrid cars, as well as enhancing and encouraging the use of public transportation to the District.
Replacing conventional lamps throughout the facility and District with lighting materials that consume less energy.
Landscaping the District with native plants and other flora that require less maintenance and require less water, as well as utilizing an automated watering system to conserve the use of water.
Implementing already-established eco-friendly policies and green standards for the Center. This includes utilizing green products such as recycled paper products and eco-friendly cleaning supplies in the use and maintenance of the facility, as well as requiring contractors to apply and adhere to green standards and practices in their work with the facility and District.
Maintaining already-established waste reduction and recycling programs. -- posted by Mc Don Dees

This article was published in Donde Quiera at http://blog.dondees.com.

Theater

Featured story

Jets? Yes! Sharks? ¡Sí! in Bilingual ‘West Side’

More than 50 years after the musical “West Side Story” had its original Broadway premiere, it is set to return in February in a darker, grittier, bilingual revival, the show’s producers said (recently).
Arthur Laurents, who wrote the original book for "West Side Story," suggested the bilingual production and will direct.
In an element that its director, Arthur Laurents, said would heighten the passion and authenticity of the show, much of the dialogue — both spoken and sung — will be in Spanish.
For the complete New York Times report,
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/theater/17bway.html?ex=1231992000&en=34fa0f7e24d3c677&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=TH-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M053-ROS-0708-HDR&WT.mc_ev=click&mkt=TH-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M053-ROS-0708-HDR

Editor's Note: Gente, what do you think? Should "West Side Story" return as a bilingual production? What do you think of the idea of this musical returning as a "darker and grittier" revival? Would you go see it?

Ay Bendito, Cotto lost!

Featured story

Margarito stops Cotto in 11th, takes crown

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Antonio Margarito stopped Miguel Cotto in the 11th round Saturday night, blemishing Cotto's unbeaten record and claiming the WBA 147-pound title with one last incredible barrage of punches.
Margarito, the Mexican star so often ducked by the division's best fighters in recent years, dropped the Puerto Rican champion twice in the 11th round to win his third title belt.