Contrary to Kermit the Frog’s song “It’s not easy being green,” The Aspiria Campus Aspiria has made it easy. The campus’s well-thought-out and executed plan has returned a better than net-zero consumption outcome.
Not long after Occidental Management purchased the former Sprint World Headquarters, the new owners partnered with Evergy to supply 100% renewable energy to the now-named Aspiria. First, the campus joined Evergy’s Renewables Direct program as part of this commitment to the Overland Park community to use the Aspiria campus as a live-work-play destination.
Just two years and counting.
This partnership was announced two years ago this month. Since then, numerous improvements and changes have been instituted. Foremost among them was Aspiria’s reliance on renewable energy brought in from Kansas and Oklahoma windfarms. The 200+ turbines created more than 30 full-time workers and 450 construction jobs. The campus now generates nearly 89,500,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, while at the same time, consuming approximately 75,000,000 kWh. That’s better than net-zero consumption result!
In addition, to the renewal energy production, Aspiria has also reduced consumption by:
- Retrofitting more than 5600 lighting fixtures in parking garages from High Pressure Sodium fixtures to LED.
- Upgrading exterior street lighting to accept LED.
- Adjusting operational building changes such as tighter power usage schedules, favorable consistent temperature settings and other adjustable parameters.
- Requiring LED lighting and making advanced occupancy/daylight harvesting control requirements for new tenant projects and remodels.
What does this mean?
Since 2019, energy consumption at Aspiria has been reduced by more than 30,000,000 kWh per year, and according to statistics published by the Environmental Protection Agency, this significant reduction is equivalent to:
- 2,392,312 gallons of gasoline
- 23,522,785 pounds of coal
- 4137 home’s electricity each year
- 49,222 barrels of oil
The greening of the campus is more than just electricity.
All water from precipitation on the grounds to roofs and condensation from air conditioning systems is piped underground to three campus lakes. A pumping system uses the water for irrigating the 4-million-square-foot campus. Last year, this resulted in an astonishing 30,000,000 gallons of repurposed water instead of wasting the resources of the local domestic water provider or wells that could deplete the aquifer beneath us.
Honestly, Kermit’s little frog friends are thankful for our campus commitment to the flourishment of natural habitat.
I invite you to celebrate Earth Day 2023 by experiencing the beauty of our campus. Recharge your personal batteries as you stroll our lush grounds, filled with walkways and restful alcoves. Take a morning or midday walk through the campus. And, of course, stop by Aspiria NOW. I’d be happy to give you a guided tour.