Going Green

EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS

Portland/Vancouver Metropolitan Area

	Lighting	Over the past seven years we retro fitted at least 25 Office Buildings to T-8 & T-5 lighting fixtures, resulting in 15% to 25% operating cost savings. Over the past two years we retro fitted at least 9 Industrial Buildings to T-5 fixtures with motion sensors with an average savings of 20% to 40%. The largest project was a 180,000 square foot warehouse facility at 5000 North Basin, Portland, OR. This project should result in savings of over 50%.
	Water	When taking over management of a property we look for ways to reduce costs. A good place to start is to search out water source heat pumps. An example of this is the Postal Building, at 510 SW 3rd Portland, OR, which had an exceptionally high water bill. We found 2 water source heat pumps that were using domestic water. We connected them to the building water loop and had a 9 month payback. This resulted in a direct savings of 42% of the water consumed in the building.
	HVAC	A new HVAC system is considerably more efficient than a 25 year old system. At the 9400 Building, 9400 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway, we replaced the old existing eight Mammoth units with eight new Carrier units, resulting in a 80% reduction in gas costs.
	HVAC Controls	In recent years, HVAC control systems evolved from the standard set point thermostat to Direct Digital Control systems, which control the system at each thermostat in the system. We have installed the Direct Digital Control systems in multiple buildings including the Yeon Building (522 SW 5th Ave. Portland, OR), Paulson Building (811 SW Naito Parkway Portland, OR), and 9400 Place (9400 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway), to name a few. In each installation we were able to reduce energy costs by 20% to 30%, and at the same time increase the tenants comfort level.
	Landscaping	While working with our landscapers we have been able to reduce our landscaping and watering costs by developing watering schedules that reduce water consumption and mowing frequency. Examples of this are the Lincoln Business Center, in the Omark Industrial area in Miwaukie, OR, and Wilsonville Town Center in Wilsonville, OR, where we have reduced the landscaping water consumption by 30%.
	Janitorial	To reduce the use of energy, natural resources and waste production, we have implemented Janitorial Service Requirements. All janitorial service providers are encouraged to follow the minimal requirements illustrated below when providing their services: • Cleaning products are to be low VOC and Green Certified • Use vacuums with HEPA Filters • Use paper products that are of a high quality with a high recycled paper content
	Recycling	We have implemented Recycling Programs for all of our managed office buildings, including the following: • Desk-side paper recycling bins for each desk • Cardboard, Glass & Tin recycling containers for each tenant • Signage explaining What Can and Cannot be Recycled for each tenant
	Tax Credits	Most of the retrofits reducing energy consumption have qualified for extensive tax incentives which have decreased the capital expenditures significantly.