NRG Systems - NRG Holds Grand Opening for New Building

Hinesburg, VT - NRG Systems, Inc., manufacturer of wind assessment systems for the global wind energy industry, celebrated the grand opening of its new 46,000 square foot manufacturing facility and office building with an open house on October 13. Vermont Congressional delegates, Senator Patrick Leahy (D) and Representative Bernie Sanders (I) were in attendance to congratulate company owners Jan and David Blittersdorf and to participate in a “plug pulling” ribbon cutting befitting NRG's new green building. The $8 million building, located in Hinesburg, is powered primarily by renewable energy and features the latest in energy efficiency technology and green building design.

“We needed a new space to accommodate our company's growth,” said Jan Blittersdorf, president and CEO of NRG Systems, Inc. “We also wanted to create a workplace that was healthy, functional and beautiful for our employees, while supporting our company's mission of furthering the use of renewable energy.”

Two-thirds of the building's electricity is supplied by a 67-kilowatt solar photovoltaic installation, which will avoid the emission of up to 105,000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. The $450,000 solar installation is the largest of its kind in Vermont. The building will also use another renewable resource-wood pellets made from lumber milling waste-for its heating needs.

Conventional buildings use more than three times the energy as this building uses. Water-saving devices, such as dual-flushing toilets and faucet aerators, will save more than 100,000 gallons of water per year.

“We spent more money to build our facility green, but we see it as a long-term investment that will more than pay for itself in terms of productivity gains and energy and operating cost savings,” said David Blittersdorf, founder of NRG Systems. “We have essentially prepaid our energy bill by relying on renewable energy and, as a result, we won't have to worry about rising energy costs in the future.”

According to NRG Systems, the cost of building to green standards was $13.81 per square foot or 8.21% more. NRG expects these additional costs to be paid for in five years.

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, stained concrete flooring, certified wood and recycled glass bathroom tiles. The building features a first floor commons area that includes a cafe, double kitchen and 3-story stone fireplace; the third floor features an endless swimming pool and fitness area for employees.

In addition to the building's green features, the new facility includes greatly expanded space to accommodate NRG's administrative and sales offices, shipping, manufacturing, tower production and assembly areas, more than four times the area of its former facility. NRG also plans to develop recreation paths around its facility and eventually throughout Hinesburg for community use.

NRG's new facility is LEED-registered and seeking gold level certification. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the nationally accepted standard and rating system for high performance, sustainable (green) buildings developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. If successful, NRG's building would be the highest LEED-certified building in Vermont and one of only a handful of manufacturing facilities in North America to receive this designation.

The design team included William Maclay Architects and Planners, Breadloaf Construction, Energy Balance, Salem Engineering, Krebs and Lansing Consulting Engineers, Engineering Ventures, Erickson Consulting, and Naomi Miller Lighting Design. NRG Systems received energy efficiency services and qualified for rebates from Efficiency Vermont. NRG's new building is located at 110 Riggs Road on the east side of Rt. 116 just north of the village of Hinesburg.

NRG Systems, owned by David and Jan Blittersdorf of Charlotte, has grown steadily since its formation in 1982. The company has 45 employees and expects to more than double its workforce within five years. NRG wind assessment systems and products can be found in 106 countries, serving electric utilities, wind farm developers, research institutes, universities, government agencies and homeowners. For more information, visit www.nrgsystems.com. ###

Photos and a building fact sheet are available at:
http://www.marketing-partners.com/nrg/preview/

For more information, contact:
Sally Kieny or Michelle Edelbaum, (802) 864-6710
skieny@marketing-partners.com
medelbaum@marketing-partners.com