Palomar College was given an SDG&E award for its Maintenance & Operations (M&O) building on the San Marcos campus. Not only did Palomar College win the Excellence in Energy Leadership Award, Palomar’s M&O building was also named the “Best of the Best” in Green Design by the “Engineering News-Record Magazine.”

The building opened on April 2019 and is “net-zero,” which means the removing of any unavoidable emissions, such as those used in aviation or manufacturing. It is one of the most energy-efficient facilities in the region.

The M&O is recognized nationally due to its “passive” features that decrease energy usage for heating and cooling.

“Palomar College is committed to being a leader in sustainability within our region, and we are thrilled to receive this award for our team’s dedicated work on the M&O building,” said interim President Dr. Jack Kahn. “We are also grateful to SDG&E, which has been a great partner in Palomar’s pursuit of sustainability.”

This “passive” design allows daylight to be the main lighting instead of artificial light.

The building also features an 180 kilowatt solar array.