ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SERVIDYNE, INC. (NASDAQ: SERV), a building performance efficiency and real estate company, is pleased to announce that its consulting relationship with a customer in Tampa, Fla. has resulted in a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Existing Buildings (LEED©-EB) Green Building Rating System Gold Certification. This is the first building in Florida to receive this prestigious distinction. Servidyne was hired in 2006 to manage the certification process to ensure that the upgrades to the existing infrastructure would meet the stringent LEED-EB Gold Certification standards. In this role, Servidyne developed sustainability policies for the facility, including standards for green site and exterior building management, erosion and sedimentation control, indoor air quality management, storm water management, and sustainable purchasing practices. Servidyne also benchmarked energy performance and provided professional engineering (P.E.) certification to qualify the building for the ENERGY STAR® label. To ensure the facility could improve its sustainability as well as meet the vigorous certification requirements, Servidyne completed the following efficiency and usability measurements: Calculated water efficiency Calculated the mercury content of lighting systems Inspected outside air ventilation and exhaust systems Reviewed the building automation system Coordinated a waste stream audit Provided an inventory of native plantings Audited vendor invoices to document sustainable purchases Established quarterly sustainability tracking reports Assembled and coordinated the documentation submission to LEED Successfully applied for a LEED innovation credit for employee wellness programs “Earning the first LEED-EB Gold rating in a high profile and environmentally sensitive state like Florida is a significant accomplishment,” explained Alan R. Abrams, Servidyne’s Chairman, President and CEO. “This building’s appearance is breathtaking, and knowing it is also a recognized model of environmental stewardship makes it even more striking. I am particularly proud of the high level of expertise and support we are able to provide for such a responsible building project. We are constantly striving to offer our customers sustainable solutions that allow them to immediately reduce energy consumption and improve operating results.” Awarded by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED-EB Certification provides third-party verification of an existing facility’s proven environmental sustainability. To qualify for this distinction, a building must meet stringent material and performance standards. According to the USGBC Website, LEED certified facilities demonstrate an owner's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility, and result in: Lower operating costs and increased asset values Reduced landfill waste Energy and water conservation Healthier and safer buildings for occupants Reduced greenhouse gas emissions Tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives “We are certainly pleased by the success of our efforts,” concluded Abrams. “Looking ahead, we expect to achieve similar results at other locations, as the demand for environmentally sustainable buildings and friendly workplaces continues to grow.”
