Spokane Teachers CU New Branch Features Electric Car Charging

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Spokane Teachers CU said its new branch will feature an electric car charging station.

The Valley branch will offer a 240-volt charging station for electric cars, believed to be the first charging station in Spokane Valley.

That station goes live on Monday Dec. 12.

The charge station, paired with two parking spaces reserved for electric cars or chargeable hybrids, is one of a number of green features in the new branch. Others include:

• Panels that at times will generate a surplus of power.

• A rooftop and parking lot that reflect heat, rather than absorbing it.

• A shower for employees who walk or pedal to work. (It's also situated on a bus route.)

• Lights and a heating system that are highly energy efficient.

• A no-smoking policy that includes the parking lot.

Spokane's Nystrom+Olson Architecture designed the 3,496-square-foot branch to meet U.S. Green Building Council standards for LEED Gold certification for sustainable building and development practices.