West-MEC has the first NET Zero energy certified educational building in AZ

Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC) – a public career technical education district – and integrated design firm, DLR Group, announced that West-MEC’s NEX Building at the Southwest Campus is the first Net Positive Energy certified educational building in Arizona.

“Over the course of the year, this building produces more energy than it consumes,” said Premnath Sundharam, a sustainability leader for DLR Group.

The NEX Building, located on the West-MEC Southwest Campus at 500 N. Verrado Way, in Buckeye, hosts students and staff daily for classes and events. Architects and sustainability planners placed several solar panels atop the roof. Additionally, they created ceilings and shading that reduced the need for energy inside.

With a new Environmental Sustainability Program having begun instruction this academic year on the campus, there was no better spot than West-MEC’s Southwest Campus to craft such innovation.

“This was a vision that started in 2014, and we were able to finally accomplish this six years later, it’s very impressive,” Sundharam said.

“This is such an honor. We are certainly seen out here and recognized as a point of pride by this community,” West-MEC Superintendent Greg Donovan added.

About West-MEC:

West-MEC is a career technical education public school district that focuses solely on innovative career and technical education (CTE) programs that prepare students to enter the workforce and pursue continuing education. West-MEC CTE programs provide students opportunities to earn college credit and industry credentials.

West-MEC serves more than 37,000 students from 48 high schools, across 3,600 square miles in the northern and western cities of the Phoenix Metropolitan area. West-MEC now also offers adult education programs.

Visit www.west-mec.edu for more information about West-MEC’s career-driven education opportunities or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.