Recently, Eaton’s Electrical Group headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA recognized a need to expand their technology center. Instead of building on a new site, they chose to add onto their existing headquarters located in Moon Township, PA. Due to Eaton’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing manufacturing waste, the decision to build green was an easy one.

Eaton anticipates the addition, completed in 2008, will receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC.) To qualify for LEED Silver
Certification, Eaton incorporated many sustainable design elements and more than a dozen Eaton products into the building.

Another important focus of the building is being able to monitor the use of energy and water. The building features low-flow plumbing fixtures and water-efficient landscaping, which exceeds 40 percent water use reduction. Energy optimization was essential to the addition as well. The building features Eaton Power Xpert metering for measurement and verification of energy use. Furthermore, 70 percent of the building energy comes from off-site wind energy power from regional wind farms. Light pollution is reduced by the use of Eaton Pow-R-Command lighting controls. In all, these efforts result in the reduction of energy use by 50 percent compared to the previous tech center building.

In the construction of the building addition, material resources were also a significant factor. In an effort to manage construction waste, over 75 percent was diverted from disposal. Recycled materials were used whenever possible (down to the recycled glass countertops in the restrooms), and building materials used were from local origins.

Indoor environmental quality was another concern in the planning of the building. Outdoor air delivery monitoring using carbon dioxide sensors and variable frequency drives were installed to maintain ventilation. The flow of ventilation was also increased by 30 percent above minimum rates. During construction, low VOC-emitting materials (paints, sealants, and so forth) were used.

To continue Eaton’s commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment, green educational outreach is provided via tours of the green building and green day employee activities. A green housekeeping program has also been established for the building. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has set the benchmarks for building green to save valuable resources as well as protect a company’s bottom line. Eaton’s philosophy of “Live it, Build it” goes hand-in-hand with this objective.

To tour a green building and learn more about earning LEED credits, click here.

To learn more about LEED certification and green building, click here.