Neyer Properties headquarters at Keystone Parke in Evanston has achieved LEED® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its commercial interior space.
The $100 million Keystone Parke opened in June, 2008, and is the tri-state’s first green office campus. Keystone Parke recently attained LEED® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver status for its Phase I Core and Shell office building.
The real estate investment, land development and commercial development company is the first commercial interior in the state of Ohio to achieve LEED Gold, said Brett Kordenbrock, development associate and LEED AP at Neyer Properties.
LEED is the nation’s leading rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, high-performing buildings. The levels of achievement are Certification, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
“Neyer Properties’ LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and Neyer Properties serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish.”
Green interior attributes of the Neyer offices at Keystone Parke include high-efficiency windows, adequate daylight and views for all associates; low-flow fixtures that reduce water consumption by 40 percent; motion-detector lighting that adjusts light based on natural light penetration and movement in an office; and bamboo flooring, which renews itself rapidly compared to typical wood products from mature trees.
Fifty percent of the electricity used by Neyer Properties has been offset through the purchase of Green-e Energy certified renewable energy credits for its first two years of occupancy. This compares to planting 604 mature trees or not driving an automobile 149,651 miles, according to Renewable Choice Energy. Renewable Choice is a national leader in providing renewable energy and carbon offsets to businesses, green building (LEED) projects, and individuals across the country.
More than 40 percent of building materials were manufactured in this region, reducing transportation and its associated environmental impacts.
A significant amount of building materials contained recycled content. Paints, sealants, adhesives, and carpeting do not have volatile organic compounds (VOCs), toxins that are released into the air over time and can adversely affect worker health and productivity.
Neyer Properties also received LEED points for providing green education, signage, tours, and presentations.