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8 CoNNECTICUT GREEN GUIDE • WinTer 2014 www.CTGreenGuide.com Condi- tions in Connecticut improved this year — from 27 ozone days in 2012 to 18 in 2013 to eight this year — because lower temperatures kept emissions at bay; cloudier days prevented sunlight from interacting with pol- lutants; stronger winds kept the pollutants from settling; and the overall efforts to reduce emissions from cars and power plants. "Any energy efficiency measures would help," Arnold said. The number of unhealthy air quality days continues to trend downward from its high of 113 un- healthy days in New England in 1983. In 2012, New England had 62 smog days. In 2013, the region had 39. This year saw nine total. As for the downwind problems in Connecticut caused by the heavily populated metropolis to the south- west, Arnold said EPA is working with all states to cut down on emis- sions, which eventually will lessen the impact Greater New York has on Connecticut. In related news, the water pollution in Long Island Sound seems to be dropping, according to EPA. For the second summer in a row, concen- trations of dissolved oxygen in the sound are higher than the long-term average, which indicates better water quality and conditions for the plants and animals living in the water. The water pollution reduction is part of a 14-year-old program devel- oped by Connecticut and New York state to reduce daily discharges of nitrogen 58 percent by 2017. Last year, wastewater treatment facilities in the two states dumped 35 million fewer pounds of nitrogen into the sound compared to the early 1990s. Farmington Firm Completes $95M Healthcare Project Farmington construction manager KBE Building has completed work on the $95 mil- lion, 200,000-square-foot surgical tower for St. Joseph's hospital health Center in Syracuse, built to LEED Silver standards. The critical care Christina m. Nappi Surgical Tower features 110 private rooms and a wait- ing room with seating for up to 135 people. It joins the 431-bed hospital serving patients in central New York. The sustainable features of the new build- ing will reduce water usage and increase stormwater retention. The facility was built using recycled materials; no volatile organic compounds in paints, carpets or finishes; and be entirely powered by renewable energy. News Cycle The Christina M. Nappi Surgical Tower in Syracause took one year to build. PhoToS | KING AND KING ARChITECTS One Century Tower Earns Energy Star The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Energy Star certification to one Century Tower in New haven. The 20-story, 270,000-square-foot Class A office tower owned by New haven law firm Wiggin and Dana received the honor for its 20 percent reduction in energy consumption through a series of conservation measures. The building, at 265 Church St. in New haven, is managed by Konover Commercial Corp. of West hartford.