Hinesburg, VT – NRG Systems, manufacturer of wind measurement equipment for the global wind energy industry, celebrated the grand opening of 60 Riggs Road, the newest addition to its green campus, on Saturday, November 1. The event included a keynote address by Bill McKibben and tours of both green buildings. While the company celebrated its expansion, it also marked another milestone: surpassing the 100-employee mark.
“This is truly a highpoint for our company,” said Jan Blittersdorf, CEO and President of NRG Systems. “Reaching 100 employees and opening 60 Riggs Road is a real source of pride.”
The 60 Riggs Road facility represents the next evolution of environmental and energy efficient design. It uses state-of-the-art technology to reduce energy consumption and harmful environmental impacts, while producing almost all of its electricity with an on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) system. With the addition of the 70.6-kilowatt solar PV system, the company's green campus now boasts the largest solar PV installation in the state at 149.1 kilowatts.
“Buildings alone account for nearly half of the green-house gas emissions and energy consumption in the U.S.,” said David Blittersdorf, Founder and co-owner of NRG Systems. “As a country, we need to get off the dime and change the way we construct our buildings. We’re here to say it’s possible.”
“Buildings like these should be the norm not the exception,” said Bill McKibben, environmental advocate and author. “It’s inspiring to see the work they’ve done with this building especially knowing the very important work they’re doing inside this building for the wind energy industry.”
The 31,000 square-foot manufacturing and office facility features a super-insulated building envelope, solar photovoltaics, two wood-pellet boilers, and a radiant heating and cooling system. According to the company, several innovative design features make the second building even greener than the first. This includes an open-loop, ground-source cooling system that draws water from two 100-foot wells and feeds it through radiant tubing, representing a significant energy savings. It also features thicker walls and cellulosic insulation, making the building 50% tighter than the first, and wood furniture constructed from trees cut down on the building site.
“We learned some things in the first building that allowed us to increase efficiency and add further conservation measures in our second building,” said David Blittersdorf.
In addition to technological improvements, the building incorporates aesthetic details that make it a welcoming, beautiful, and productive place to work. It features unique floor murals and three-dimensional, mixed media floor tiles, created by Sarah Lee-Terrat and Carolyn Shapiro. Some represent the mission of the company, while others provide whimsical and social commentary on our times.
“We wanted to do something completely different with the floor art,” said Jan Blittersdorf. “When I presented the idea to Sarah-Lee, I had no idea what she would come back with. I couldn’t be more pleased with the result – the tiles are masterpieces in and of themselves.”
The building features dozens of skylights and operable windows designed to take advantage of natural light, allow for natural ventilation and provide employees with views of the outdoors. Laptop computers and Energy Star-rated office equipment were selected to reduce electricity usage and heat gain. Earth- and human-friendly materials were used throughout the building, including low- or no-VOC stains, paints and adhesives, polished concrete floors, certified wood and recycled bathroom tiles. The building features a first floor café, a second floor library, informal meeting and gathering spaces, and a 40-person training room. The company plans to seek LEED-gold certification, the same designation they received for their first green building at 110 Riggs Road.
The design team included William Maclay Architects and Planners, HP Cummings Construction Company, Energy Balance, Engineering Ventures, LN Consulting, Erickson Consulting, Naomi Miller Lighting Design, and TJ Boyle and Associates.
About NRG Systems
NRG Systems, an independently-owned company, has served the wind energy industry for more than 25 years. Its wind measurement systems can be found in 130 countries, serving electric utilities, wind farm developers, research institutes, government agencies, and universities. With the recent hiring of its 100th employee, NRG Systems has doubled its workforce in just two years.