Remains Lighting Receives Building Brooklyn Award In The Industrial Category For Environmental Leadership

Online, July 27, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Remains Lighting has received the Building Brooklyn Award (BBA) from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce in recognition of the environmentally sustainable renovation of its factory in Bushwick.

The BBA honors recently completed construction and renovation projects that enrich Brooklyn's neighborhoods and economy.

The renovation of the Remains Lighting 25,000 square foot, four-story factory, incorporated many sustainable design features such as water conservation and rainwater harvesting, energy efficiency and solar power production, material use and waste-stream reduction, and the planting of a green roof and fruit and vegetable gardens. The project is a continuation of the traditional manufacturing use in the 70-year history of the facility.

Owner David Calligeros says "Building our new factory in Brooklyn opened the door for us to pursue a whole range of sustainability initiatives we had percolating for years. But, because so much of what defines true sustainability happens behind the scenes, in the manufacturing process, we had to look at this project from many angles in addition to the building itself; from the power we make, to the packing we use, to the food we eat. The kind of investments we made don't show up on a traditional balance sheet, but they do have a long and positive payback. We make beautiful lights, maybe the best ones, but the defining characteristic of Remains is that we make them in as sustainable environment as is possible."

Improvements to the building include a 16.5 KW photovoltaic array, which provides approximately one-third of the energy used in the facility, and a new roof with a high Solar Reflective Index.
Energy-saving devices include a system of ceiling fans and awnings to cool the building in lieu of a traditional HVAC system. A photocell controlled lighting system continuously adjusts the lighting to complement the illumination level provided by daylight. Energy demand in the manufacturing process is reduced through the use of motors with variable frequency drives (VFDs) on large machining centers.

Throughout the building, toilets were replaced with low-flow, dual flush models, and sinks were equipped with motion sensors. Three salvaged tanks were installed to capture rainwater for irrigation, but also prevent storm water runoff into the City sewers. "Closed loop" plating and patina systems with no discharges to municipal water sources were designed and implemented for the company's manufacturing process, providing both pollution control and eliminating material wastage.

A green roof provides additional insulation, storm water control, and air quality improvement, and a large vegetable garden was created in the parking lot. Recycled and reused materials were used throughout the building and in the furnishings.

The Remains Lighting factory is in the process of LEED certification.