Green Engineering
Our use of sustainable design typically helps us minimize overall project costs, a goal we share with our clients. In our training, remedial designs and construction, we have achieved the following successes by incorporating sustainable practices:
- Reducing long-term energy and disposal costs by replacing pump-and-treat groundwater remediation systems with passive, in-situ technologies when feasible and appropriate. For example, at the National Semiconductor site in Santa Clara, Treadwell & Rollo is conducting pilot testing of vegetable oil injection which will provide bacteria the means to slowly degrade the VOCs. At a Sunnyvale redevelopment project, we are using in-situ zero-valent iron and vegetable oil to destroy and degrade VOCs.
- Optimizing remediation system performance to reduce long-term operation and maintenance costs and increase efficiency through reduced use of energy and other resources. For example, we have been successful in obtaining Central Valley RWQCB approval to use passive diffusion bags to reduce groundwater purging and disposal and to reduce the frequency of sampling monitoring wells.
- Avoiding the cost and environmental impacts associated with long-term operation of mechanical systems such as blowers associated with methane- and vapor-mitigation systems. In our engineering, we have consistently designed passive systems, thereby eliminating blowers that are typical of active systems.
- Promoting Brownfields redevelopment projects. As an example, Treadwell & Rollo took the lead in helping the Ohlone College District obtain a $200,000 US EPA Brownfields cleanup grant, one of only two cleanup grants awarded to school districts nationwide in 2004.
- Allowing use of recycled materials. We allow ground asphalt from old pavements to be incorporated into fill material. In addition, recycled, crushed concrete is allowed as aggregate base material for pavements.
