"LEED matches the core values this company has held since its founding," said RenewAire's president Chuck Gates. "We believe LEED will be a major market driver for growing energy recovery ventilator (ERV) sales."

LEED certification is a voluntary program that awards points for superior energy efficiency and green building practices. In total, the RenewAire facility is expected to earn approximately 35 points out of the 69 maximum possible points and earn a Silver certification, the first in Madison, Wis., according to the company. The extra cost is currently estimated to be $1 per square foot with an expected payback period of one to two years.

A number of products and design features contribute to certification. Some of these include: daylighting, multistage high-efficiency artificial lighting, sealed combustion radiant heat, 14 SEER CFC- and HCFC-free air conditioning, recycled soda bottle carpeting, corn based office dividers, wheat straw board cabinets, and more.

A LEED fact sheet is available at the RenewAire Web site at www.renewaire.com/LEED.pdf.

Publication date: 11/07/2005