County building gets $500,000 federal grant to make it greener

Beaufort County recently was awarded nearly $500,000 in federal stimulus money to pay for environmentally friendly features for the new Disabilities and Special Needs Department building.

The county learned in late June it was selected to receive the money, said Morris Campbell, head of the Community Services Division. The funds come as part of a Community Development Block Grant officials applied for in May.

The 25,000-square-foot DSN building is slated to open in September 2010 on 10 acres at Castle Rock and Grober Hill roads in Burton. The building has several sustainable features in its design, including:

• Low-flow plumbing fixtures

• Geothermal heat pumps

• Recycled building materials

• Diversion from landfills of at least half of the construction waste

• Prevention of pollution from construction activity

• Heat-rejecting roofing materials

• Extended use of natural light

County officials must meet federal guidelines before the grant is provided, Campbell said.

Total costs for the new building could reach $8.6 million. The County Council approved $5.2 million for the project in 2006.

"We're headed to the bid process, we hope, within the next 30 days," Campbell said.