The U.S. Green Building Council developed the LEED rating system to reward designs that reduce environmental impact throughout a range of categories including water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and transportation. Silver certified buildings have reached a designated number of goals toward reducing environmental impacts in these categories.
Architecture firm Mekus Tanager designed Milestone’s new space with a focus on sustainability. The first step in sustainability was to rehabilitate a building with unique design features and great natural light. The updated interior of the building includes natural lighting for 95 percent of regularly occupied seated spaces and ENERGY STAR ratings for 95 percent of the equipment in the building. The building’s design also encourages cross-team interaction and collaboration toward new product innovation.
Other examples of sustainable design solutions that Milestone employs in the new headquarters include:
- 30 percent reduction in water usage with the implementation of low flow fixtures
- 5 percent reduction in energy consumption from lighting fixtures
- 15.5 percent of construction materials were made of recycled content
- 89.5 percent of the construction waste was diverted from the landfill and recycled
- Use of outside air to cool the building’s data center without using additional energy due to Minnesota’s low ambient temperature
- Nearby walking/jogging paths, bicycle storage and shower facilities to encourage alternative ways for employees to commute to work
- Location near four major highways as well as the proposed Southwest Light Rail Transit line
Although LEED-oriented construction calls for a higher initial investment, the reduced long-term operational costs of running a building with efficient electrical and mechanical systems offset the price over time.
More on Milestone’s commitment to environmental responsibility can be found at http://www.milestone.com/sustainability.html