Environmental Leader

Energy efficiency was the winning bidder in the construction of the first new building eBay has built in its 13-year history. Designed by Valerio Dewalt Train Associates and built by Webcor Builders, the 197,000-square-foot, five-story building meets the gold standard for energy efficiency and has the largest commercial solar roof in San Jose, the Mercury News reports.

Solar installer SolarCity estimates that over the next 30 years, the 650-kilowatt installation, which consists of 3,248 individual solar panels spanning 60,000 square-feet on multiple buildings, will offset 37 million pounds of carbon dioxide. SolarCity also estimates that solar-generated power will save eBay approximately $100,000 in electricity costs within its first year of operation.

EBay said meeting the LEED gold standard for green buildings added 4 percent to 5 percent to the budget.

Previously Mercury News reported that Akeena Solar is installing an 1,890-panel, 410-kilowatt system at Star Quality Concrete in downtown San Jose. And Sunpower and Macy’s unveiled a 1,500-panel, 307-kilowatt system atop the Oakridge Mall store.

General Motors said in September that it would add one of the largest solar power installations in corporate use in the U.S. to the roof of its Service and Parts Operations warehouse in Fontana, California.