Smart Lighting
While natural light can be the one of the most energy efficient way to light an office, LED lights provide a more logistical and effective alternative, helping your business lower their environmental impact. A switch to LED lights reduces energy cost and usage, but also provides a benefit to the employees. Studies show that LED lighting also contributes to increased employee productivity, making it a great step in a company's energy-efficient goals.
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Energy Star Appliances
The Energy Star program defines strict energy efficiency requirements set by the United States EPA. Energy Star certified appliances are built to these standards, making them more energy efficient. While these appliances are often associated with slightly higher upfront costs, they save the company money in the long run by reducing operating costs.
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Environmental Investment: Gujarat Solar Project
Centered in the Charanka Village in the state of Gujarat, this solar grid project is the first of its kind for India. The solar plant produces 25 megawatts (MW) of electricity and is connected to the Indian electricity grid - meaning the country is diversifying its energy sources and creating a more resilient grid. Through the use of power purchase agreements, nearby residents and workplaces can choose to have their energy sourced from this sustainable energy solution.
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Sustainable Backsplash, Bathroom Tile, and Cabinets
Our office also features sustainably produced backsplash and tile, as well as locally sourced cabinetry:
Backsplash -- 40% recycled product from plate trimmings.
Bathroom Tile -- Comes from a state of the art, green manufacturer in Tennessee.
Cabinets -- Custom Cabinet Shop in Wilmington, FSC certified, formaldehyde-free adhesives.
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Recycling
We have an in-office recycling program.
From recycling at home to much larger corporate recycling and waste management programs, there are many benefits to utilizing recycling programs. Recycling diverts waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or incinerators, both high carbon producers. When recycled materials are made into new items, natural resources and the emissions used to manufacture new products are saved.
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Environmental Investment: Burnt Mountain Forestry Project
This project, which is overseen by The Nature Conservancy, is centered around the conservation and protection of Burnt Mountain Natural Area. Burnt Mountain Natural Area is a 5,408-acre forest plot that will remain “forever wild.” “Forever wild” is the highest available legal protection for land in the United States, meaning that the forest
must be protected in its natural condition in perpetuity.
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Smart Thermostat
Leaving the AC or heating on is a major way in which businesses obtain unwanted expenses and raise their carbon footprint. Smart thermostats are a great way to combat the costs and carbon emissions. Not only will it help keep the office a comfortable temperature for employees, but it will also ensure your business is not spending more than necessary on heating and cooling. By scheduling, or manually adjusting the thermostat via your cell phone, you can eliminate the use of unnecessary power, lowering your carbon footprint and expenses in the process.
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LEED-Certified Office Building with Planted Rooftop
Our office building is a LEED-certified structure. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings.
The Greenbridge planted rooftops will contain a variety of hearty sedum plants that quickly absorb water and prove highly drought tolerant. A roof such as this one can absorb and retain 35-90% of typical rainfall. Green Roofs reduce the heat island effect in urban areas, reduce the strain on the city’s water infrastructure during storms, increase air quality, prolong a building’s roof life, and contribute to the efficiency of a building’s heating and colling system. Often they become safe nesting grounds for the local aviary population. In addition they can help in the reduction in non-point source (NPS) pollution such as oil, fertilizer, and pet waste that otherwise deposits into our wetlands and underground water sources.
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Carbon Neutral
Being carbon neutral means your carbon emissions are balanced by carbon negative projects to eliminate your impact on the environment. Research shows that sustainable businesses have an advantage over others. By becoming a carbon neutral business, you can help fight climate change, increase your company value, improve employee recruiting and retention, build brand loyalty, attract more customers and improve the overall community. Investing in carbon negative projects offers a effective solution to take action against emissions from essential business operations that can't be eliminated.
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Water-Source Heat Pump for HVAC
Water is a much more efficient conductor than traditional air sourced heat pumps. The heating and cooling system at Greenbridge will include state-of-the-art variable air volume and speed compressor packaged water-source heat pumps. This works by circulating a closed loop of water through Greenbridge at 500 gallons per minute, moving each unit owners heating/cooling needs from one area to another. Will you be in command of the temp in your individual unit? Yes. Every unit has its own heat pump pack that extracts your desired heat / chill from the building’s water loop intake, and in turn transfers your undesired heat/chill into the exiting water loop. On extremely hot days when everyone desires a blast of cool air, the heat injected water loop is cooled by a cooling tower (like an industrial waterfall). On chilly nights, the cold infused water loop gets a hot boost by a gas boiler. A cooperative water sourced heat pump system means high efficiency, low carbon emissions, and a huge savings to the tenants. The Greenbridge HVAC system is designed to be at least 30% more efficient that today’s standard systems.
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Environmental Investment: Kootznoowoo Forestry Project
The Kootznoowoo Project protects 20,159 acres of forest located on the Dolomi and Dora Bay stretches of Prince of Wales Island in Alaska. 8,000 acres of this project are classified as an old-growth forest - forests with large, old (alive and dead) trees that are virtually undisturbed by human impact. These forests serve as an ecological staple to local animals and nearby communities. This project is unique because it is owned by the native Haida and Tlingit people, who have inhabited this land for over 1,000 years, and managed alongside the United States Forest Service. This joint protection responsibility ensures that indigenous territories are protected and natives voices are heard. This land is home
to twelve fish bearing streams and is saturated with various types of berry bushes that are historically significant in the Dolomi and Dora Bay.
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Solar Thermal Hot Water System
Mounted on the east rooftop of the Greenbridge will be 90 solar panels that centrally heat 4.750 gallons of hot water per day. This FLS Energy brand system continually circulates the solar heated water so that it is always ready and waiting for you. What if there isn’t enough sun? For example, during long winter nights the system gets a boost from a gas backup boiler. Solar thermal water heating significantly reduces global warming pollutant emissions, promotes energy independence, and saves you money.
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Sustainable Countertops
The countertops in our office are sustainably produced:
Meld – has been around for ten years and are the leaders in concrete technology; they air dry as opposed to bake to reduce their carbon footprint. All sand is sourced from within 500 mi. Exposed is ground down to expose pebbles. Glass aggregate is either recycled colored glass from our blue recycle bins or recycled clear glass from window companies. 70% recycled glass, 30% concrete. 1-1/2″ thick.
EcoTerr – 70% recycled granite and marble chips, old-fashioned European terrazzo technology, lasts forever. 1-1/4″ thick.
Both use the best sealer available.
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Sustainable Flooring
Our office flooring is made from reclaimed wood and sustainably sourced bamboo:
Cherry – millwork company from outside Charlotte, NC, using reclaimed wood from 17 barns (due to the large quantity requested by GB, using reclaimed wood actually helped keep cherry prices stabilized). Multi-plank construction, has the same wear (3-4 refinishes, 90 yr. life) as solid wood construction (solid could not be used due to slab). A 100% recycled acousta mat is used between the slab and wood.
Maple – reclaimed from the Makers Mark barrel house from the beams, posts, and mechanisms used to hold the barrels, with wormy parts used in the lobby. The whitest maple available was used.
Bamboo – from a province in China where bamboo grows prolifically (not enough can be grown in NC), MOSO bamboo, formaldehyde free glue (toxic glue in some bamboo products have been linked to asthma. reproductive and developmental problems). Forest Stewardship Certification (FSC) means no more than 20% of a forest is harvested at one time, workers are treated and paid fairly, sustainable.
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Low-Emissivity Window Glass
80 Low-E Window Glass – We chose the Solabrban80 brand of glass for its clear color and impressive performance. It’s considered one of the best Low-E glasses on the market available today. Low-emissivity (Low-E) refers to building materials designed to reduce heat transfer through thermal conductivity. In typical glazed glass marked as “energy efficient,” the low-e coating is found on only one of the interior faces of the glass. A simple low-e coating helps to reduce heat loss but still allows the room to be warmed by sunshine. To achieve solar control the outside pane of glass must also include either a film or a body tint to reflect solar radiation. Solarban80 is unique because it prevents heat loss, achieves solar control, but does not require a reflective surface or body tint. The Greenbridge floor-to-ceiling windows will provide maximum natural light while the radiant indoor heat is reflected back inside, thus keeping heat inside in the winter, and infrared radiation from the sun is reflected away, keeping it cooler inside in the summer.
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Fresh Air Exchange System
While the Water Sourced Heat Pump regulates each unit’s desired temperature, the Fresh Air Exchange system keeps residential units supplied with clean filtered fresh air. An intake at the top of the building draws fresh air in, passes it through a series of allergen and particulate filters, and delivers it to each unit right above the front door. As new air refreshes the unit, the older stale air exits out vents in each bathroom. This system prevents one neighbor’s scents from reaching another neighbor. Today’s most common air filters reduce allergens to 10 microns, this sophisticated system lowers it to only two microns.
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