For More Information Contact:
Karen Buckoski
920.574.3253
Karen.Buckoski@miron-construction.com
Rhinelander, Wis. – Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPS) announced that its new service center in Rhinelander, Wis., has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification as established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
WPS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group, Inc., has provided electric and natural gas services to about 436,000 electric customers and 316,000 natural gas customers in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Committed to helping their customers conserve energy and provide reliable renewable and alternative sources of energy, WPS chose to consolidate multiple facilities on two operation sites in Rhinelander into a single, 76,000-square-foot “green” office, warehouse and vehicle service facility located on a 20 acre natively landscaped site along Highway 17 in Rhinelander. The new WPS Service Center will be utilized as an interactive learning center showcasing solutions to promote energy conservation and environmentally-friendly solutions.
Having earned 47 points under the LEED for New Construction v2.2 Green Building rating system, the new service center is the second addition to the Integrys / WPS LEED certified building portfolio, with the first being the addition and renovation to the facility they lease in De Pere, both built by Miron Construction Co., Inc.
Built to serve as an example, the facility was designed to maximize long-term energy savings, including investing in a high-performance building envelope and high-efficiency mechanical and electrical systems.
Additional environmentally-features include:
* Properly placed clerestory windows throughout the office, warehouse, and service areas of the facility allow for natural daylight in lieu of artificial lighting. Additionally, occupancy sensors for mechanical and lighting systems also contribute to the project, reducing its energy consumption to 42% below a baseline building, designed and constructed to meet code (ASHRAE 90.1-2007). To ensure the facility continues to achieve their energy reduction goals, computer equipment that trends and logs energy consumption was integrated into the Building Automation System.
* Dual-flush toilets, waterless urinals, and low-flow faucets have reduced potable (drinkable) water consumption to more than 40% below standard plumbing fixtures.
* Miron implemented their company-wide Construction Waste Management Plan, diverting more than 90% of construction waste from landfill. WPS will continue the recycling effort by implementing an occupant recycling program. * Selected and installed materials with high pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled content and locally sourced within a 500-mile radius of Rhinelander to encourage manufacturers to continue sound environmental manufacturing practices and to support the local economy.
* Purchased and installed Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood products to encourage sustainable forest practices.
* To ensure the highest indoor air quality possible and enhance occupant comfort, an outside air delivery monitoring system was installed, as well as individual lighting and temperature, ventilation and humidity controls. Additionally, low-emitting adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, and flooring systems, and installed urea-formaldehyde free composite wood products were used throughout the facility eliminating the off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). To further WPS’s commitment to creating a healthy environment, they will implement a green cleaning program using environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies and equipment.
* Miron implemented their company-wide Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan throughout construction and flushed the building with 100% outside air immediately prior to occupancy to eliminate any potential indoor air dust or contaminants, and installed MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) 14 filtration media in the air handling system.
* Encourage alternative transportation for the staff and visitors by providing preferred parking spaces for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles and car-pooling as well as bicycle storage and changing facilities, thereby reducing carbon emissions.
* The 20-acre site was designed to maximize open space and was restored with native landscaping to eliminate the need for irrigation and minimize landscape maintenance. Additionally, the site was designed to promote stormwater infiltration eliminating the costly need for stormwater infrastructure.
“With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC’s vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, the WPS Service Center is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement.”
U.S. Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 78 local affiliates, more than 20,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 100,000 LEED Accredited Professionals, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to soar to $60 billion by 2010. The USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students. Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.
LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system is the preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. 35,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED system, comprising over 5.6 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 91 countries. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. For more information, visit http://www.usgbc.org.
MIRON CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
Miron is one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, as well as Wisconsin’s largest general contractor. Headquartered in Neenah, Wis., with regional offices in Madison, Wausau and Milwaukee, Wis., and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, last year Miron posted sales exceeding half a billion dollars. Miron provides innovative pre-construction, construction management, design-build, and general construction services. For more information please visit http://www.miron-construction.com
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