Architectural drawing of new elementary school for Kalamazoo Public Schools, which will be LEED-Certified.

GREEN IS GAINING!

The environment is a hot topic these days. But CSM Group is more than talk. It has not only developed strong expertise in green building projects, but it has also adopted a variety of environmentally responsible processes in the way it runs its own business.

CSM Group is the construction manager for several current significant green initiatives. A new elementary school for the Kalamazoo Public Schools will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified, and is aiming for Gold LEED status. It will utilize a long list of energy-saving and environmentally friendly elements, including the control and utilization of rainwater runoff, the maximized use of natural lighting, enhanced air quality, and more.

Another CSM Group project, the Bronson Advanced Radiology Services building, will be the first LEED-Certified medical building in Kalamazoo. And a number of other CSM Group projects are incorporating green features—not merely because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it’s the smart thing.

Benefits for the environment and the owner.

According to Mark Roys, Group Vice President at CSM Group and a LEED Accredited Professional, CSM Group has been proactive on the issue for very good reason.

“A growing number of building owners are highly educated in green concepts, and demand the best return on their investment. They’re not only socially and environmentally conscious, but they can see the payback on sustainable endeavors,” Roys said.

In response, architects are responding with features like lowflush toilets, passive solar panels, and high-efficiency HVAC systems that provide economic benefits as well as environmental ones. The use of carpeting, paint, and other materials that reduce toxins emitted into the air help protect the health of every employee.

That green roof looks a bit unusual, to be sure. But it helps insulate the building, and captures rainfall that would otherwise create a runoff issue that would have to be addressed in other ways. Using “gray water” to add moisture to lawns and gardens helps dispose of that water and reduces the amount of fresh water that would be otherwise required to perform that function.

In recent years, the concept of green building has evolved from “making a statement” to “making good sense.”

The construction industry is taking notice.

As owners and architects have embraced the concepts of green building, the construction industry has moved quickly to not only respond, but to get “ahead of the curve.”

New software has been developed to simplify communication during a building project while reducing paper usage, shipping, and transportation. Suppliers of wood products, roofing, and other materials are being asked more frequently to include options that include the maximum amount of post-consumer recycled waste.

In November, 20,000 building professionals converged on Chicago for Greenbuild 2007, a conference highlighting the best practices and latest advances in environmentally friendly construction. Jarrod Wilson, Director of IT Services for CSM Group—one of the company’s representatives at the conference— sees that as a great sign.

“It’s encouraging to see them respond so strongly. And it should be good for their business, too—‘green’ can be a big differentiator for a company, now and in the foreseeable future. There’s a great deal of interest in it,” he said.

At CSM Group, it’s easy being green.

Environmental responsibility has become “part of the DNA” of CSM Group. The company is proud to have five LEED Accredited Professionals on staff. Eight more are currently in classes to achieve that status, with an ultimate goal of 20. Green projects couldn’t be in better hands.

But the company also shows its commitment to the environment in its daily processes. All tissues and cleaning supplies are chosen carefully, both for their recyclability and percentage of post-consumer recycled content. The IT Field Engineer drives his 600-700 miles per week in a hybrid truck.

Perhaps the biggest source of pride is Plan-It CSM, the company’s digital plan room. Construction documentation traditionally uses a lot of paper. But with Plan-It CSM subcontractors can review plans on line before submitting a bid. Wilson says that has reduced printing by a minimum of 20%, and has also resulted in fewer physical trips to the office and eliminated the need to ship plans, both of which have reduced vehicle emissions in the process.

“It means less time, less shipping, less printing,” Wilson adds. “And owners benefit, too, because they have to cover those printing costs!”

Plan-It CSM has other advantages, too, including security. Many owners and organizations are sensitive about details of their facilities, and the online capability means fewer hard copies of building layouts in circulation. The site is passwordprotected for preliminary access, with another password controlling access to each individual project site.

All things considered, CSM Group provides a great environment to work in—and great people to work with—if you care about the larger environment you live in.