Sonoma County, Calif., has unveiled a $6.4 million Fleet and Materials Lab Facility. The 21,000-ft. facility houses the county's General Services Fleet Operation Division and Transportation and Public Works Materials Lab and will be used to service vehicle and equipment for Sonoma County and other jurisdictions. It will also be used for testing and analysis of soil and paving materials.
Construction began in October 2015, and was completed this month. The new facility features an environmentally friendly design, with a pending Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver building certification. Radiant heating and insulation were incorporated to minimize energy use and reduce operating costs. The roof is solar-ready, and the county hopes to install solar panels in the next year.
The project received $40,996 in grant funding to install 20 electric vehicle charging stations for its 49 electric vehicles, as well as $40,950 for bioswales comprised of tire waste byproducts to capture rainwater on site.
