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Phoenix — Dec. 18, 2014 — Green Ideas Sustainability Consultants played an essential role in the recent LEED Gold level certification of Garmin's Corporate Campus Phase I in Chandler, Ariz. As the sustainability strategist and LEED consultant, Green Ideas guided the project through the certification process and helped it achieve 99 percent energy cost savings above the LEED benchmark.
Upon the project achieving certification, President Charlie Popeck said, "Because of the smart business decisions Garmin made regarding the design and construction of their new facility, the company will enjoy much lower operating and maintenance costs, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars over the long term. That savings will go straight to their bottom line. It's exciting to see a commitment to green building at this level from a major corporation like Garmin."
The new 60,000-square-foot building is the first of two high-performance buildings at the Chandler Corporate Center that will house Garmin's professional staff working in product research and development. Phase I is nearly "net-zero energy" partly due to parking canopies that generate more than 607,000 kWh of renewable energy with on-site solar panels. Other state-of-the-art green building strategies that contribute to the project's energy efficiency include high-performance building envelope materials and glass, efficient lighting, and a highly reflective roofing system. The project will generate 99 percent energy cost savings above the ASHRAE 90.1 standard, which is the benchmark for LEED certified projects.
Phase I also uses strategies to conserve water, which is critical in the southwest desert region. Low-flow plumbing fixtures provide a 38 percent overall reduction in potable water use for domestic purposes and xeriscaping strategies produce a 63 percent reduction in potable water use for irrigation purposes. Garmin used materials with high recycled content throughout the project and low VOC-emitting materials for the building's interior, providing a healthy working environment for employees.
Green Ideas is an industry leader specializing in LEED consulting, including charrette facilitation, programming assistance, and certification services. Its clients are building owners, architects, engineers, contractors, utilities, and green-product manufacturers as well as corporate entities wishing to establish business advantages through sustainable practices.
