(Charlotte, N.C.) Eight suburban office buildings developed and managed by Childress Klein Properties have qualified for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) prestigious ENERGY STAR, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. Commercial buildings that rate in the top 25 percent of facilities in the nation for energy efficiency may qualify for the ENERGY STAR.
“Childress Klein’s success in earning the EPA’s ENERGY STAR is a measure of our commitment to energy efficiency,” said David Pitser, Partner and Director of Office Property Management. “This is one of many ways we promote environmental stewardship while lowering energy costs for our tenants and clients.”
EPA awarded the ENERGY STAR to buildings at LakePointe Office Park and LakePointe Corporate Center ranging in size from 60,000 sq ft to over 150,000 sq ft. Five of the six recognized buildings are repeat award winners and two buildings are in the process of re-certification.
In 2007, LakePointe Office Park was recognized by BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) with an International TOBY (The Office Building of the Year) Award – Childress Klein’s third international honor for excellence in property management.
“The key to success truly has been the support and cooperation of our building owners and tenants”, said Pitser. “What we achieve is as much a reflection on them as it is on us.”
In an example of partnership with tenants, Childress Klein and anchor tenant General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products (GDATP) worked together on a multi-year energy reduction initiative at the GDATP headquarters at Four LakePointe Plaza. A combination of lighting retrofits, operational changes, HVAC optimization and occupant education reduced electricity consumption by almost 10% and helped the building earn its first ENERGY STAR.
According to EPA, commercial buildings earning the ENERGY STAR use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Childress Klein actively monitors each suburban building’s energy consumption using monthly data from utility bills and detailed load profiles generated from data recorded every 15 minutes. This data is used to optimize building operations, maximize efficiency and minimize operating expenses.
“Our industry promotes the concept of ‘intelligent buildings’ but it’s important not to take that term literally,” said Regional Property Manager and Mechanical Engineer Jeff Crane, PE, LEED AP, “We equip our properties with sophisticated systems and controls to maximize efficiency and reduce operating costs but we recognize that intelligent people are essential for success with utilities (energy and water) management and environmental initiatives. Complex building systems without deliberate and continuous management and validation can be even less efficient than relatively simple systems.”
EPA’s national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building scoring a rating of 75 or higher is eligible to apply for ENERGY STAR.
Childress Klein Properties is an Energy Star Partner organization and is a member of U.S. Green Building Council.
