Intel Makes A Green Debut In Haifa, Israel
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 12. 8.06
After much internal debate and analysis, says Intel’s website, the company moved a step closer towards obtaining its first “LEED certified” green building. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Located in Haifa, Israel this building will be home to Intel’s latest Development Design Center. According to the JPost the new development center, which is due to be completed in 2008, will be Intel's first building in Israel or anywhere else in the world to be registered as a green building. ::JPost
The new design center will use environmentally friendly building materials and construction methods, natural and controlled lighting by means of an internal patio, which infuses light into all levels from an atrium; air-conditioning and electrical system, which both save and recycle energy and an irrigation system which utilizes only recycled water.
In addition, the reduction in operating costs means that return on the extra investment will be possible within 3 years.
"During the history of Israel's hi-tech industry, a special position has been reserved for Intel," said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. "The Israeli Development Center is Intel's best in the whole world and a significant part of the innovations that made Intel the world's leading semiconductor corporation in the world, are based on the Haifa center of research and development." ::JPost
I never even knew such a thing existed. This is wonderful. I wonder how many other companies would be willing to follow?
This is a great new facility, but contrary to what this post implies, Intel has had a large development team in Isreal for a long time.
The entire post-Pentium processor line was designed there, including the popular Core 2 processors.
LEEDs certified buildings are fast becoming very popular in the high tech world, and are now mandatory in some areas like San Jose (Silicon Valley). Even the City of Chicago mandates every new city building be LEEDs certified.