Norman Foster is one of Great Britain's most prolific architects, and his work is in high demand around the world. Whilst his buildings are rarely cheap, the new Apple headquarters that he has designed may be a record. It has already surpassed its $3 billion project cost by $2 billion, and construction has not even begun yet!
The extra cost may not bother Apple (NYSE: AAPL) too much as it comfortably sits atop a $137 billion pile of cash, but it is still an impressive feat to achieve. One could only guess at what the total project cost will be upon completion.
Related article: Renewable Energy, the Mafia's Newest Playground
The Apple Headquarters aims to be a net zero energy campus, and as part of this the entire roof of the giant building will contain 700,000 square feet of solar panels, with a capacity to generate 8 megawatts of power (enough to meet the energy needs of 4,000 houses). Not satisfied with this frankly huge energy generating capacity from one building, Apple is also negotiating contracts to receive additional solar and wind power.
Apple looks set to meet its energy needs, and the headquarters will truly become a zero net energy building, although there has been no mention of the fact that Steve Jobs stated "that there will be an energy center on the campus that will use natural gas as its main energy supply." Not exactly within the ethos of 'net zero energy'.
By. Joao Peixe of Oilprice.com
Joao is a writer for Oilprice.com More