Upgrades Net 40% Energy Savings for Oregon Office Building

July 17, 2009

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Environmentally-friendly building upgrades at Columbia Square, a 313,000-square foot office building and flagship property of Melvin Mark Companies in Portland, Ore., have yielded a projected energy savings of up to 40 percent and a reduction in ozone-depleting refrigerants with the installation of a high-efficiency chiller.

The building has also earned Energy Star certification, which means it is 31 percent more efficient than buildings of a similar size. The office building also has implemented a recycling program that allows tenants to recycle paper, metal, glass, food waste, e-waste and construction waste.

Columbia Square recently was awarded 4 Globes designation by the Green Building Initiative (GBI) for achievements in green design and sustainable operations. The building was evaluated in six categories: energy, water, resources, emissions, indoor environment and environmental management systems.

The building was rated under the Green Globes environmental design and assessment tool for existing buildings in North America with the 4 Globes designation as the highest rating.

Columbia Square is the first existing building in the nation to be awarded the Green Globes 4 Globes rating and the first existing building in Oregon to achieve a Green Globes certification at any level, according to GRI.

To achieve a Green Globes rating, Melvin Mark Companies used Green Globes’ online tool to monitor the building upgrades. A GBI-authorized third-party building science expert was engaged to review the building documents, conduct an on-site inspection and assess an official Green Globes rating.

Columbia Square joins more than 70 buildings nationwide in achieving a Green Globes rating. Others organizations that use Green Globes include: Newell Rubbermaid, Whole Foods, Bristol-Myers Squibb, JPMorgan Chase, Arizona State University, University of Arkansas, Poudre County School district, Summit County Colorado, the General Services Administration, Department of State and Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Reader Comments

“Columbia Square is the first existing building in the nation to be awarded the Green Globes 4 Globes rating and the first existing building in Oregon to achieve a Green Globes certification at any level” Good for them! This is definitely an accomplishment worth acknowledging!

luke | July 29th, 2009