SAN ANTONIO, TX — City Public Services (CPS), San Antonio’s publicly owned natural gas and electric utility, is on the verge of opening “one of the nation’s most innovative and environmentally friendly buildings.”

CPS is transforming a San Antonio landmark — a vacant Solo Service department store — into a 75,000-square-foot customer service facility. Its Northside Customer Service Center will be equipped with the latest in alternative energy systems and is intended to be a national showcase of energy-efficient design, construction, and operation.

Some features include:

7,000 square feet of solar panels — believed to be the largest combined-capacity, solar power roof system in South Central Texas;

Two gas-fired, 100-ton absorption chiller-heater units;

30,000-gallon collection system on the rooftop to capture rain, irrigate the landscape, and reduce reliance on the area’s primary source of potable water;

Lobby displays of live meter readouts showing energy consumption and cost of information of every sustainable technology in use in the building;

High R-value materials for wall and roof insulation; energy-efficient, insulated-glass, tinted windows; window shading; and 52 trees to reduce heat gain; and

A number of environmentally friendly features including recycled carpet and tile, among other things.

Publication date: 08/19/2002