EDIS

EDiS’ GreenSense Program

There is no one approach to sustainable building.

That’s why we provide our clients with a flexible set of options. They decide if they want a full LEED certification, a design that incorporates green strategies or simply smarter construction methods that balance good business and environmental
common sense.

EDiS' GreenSense Program played an important role in our work on the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge and the DuPont Environmental Education Center.  Click here to download an article written in the News Journal about the project.  

Also, be sure to browse this page to learn more about how GreenSense can work for you.

 

 

WORC - An EDiS "Green" Development

EDiS Company is a partner in the Wilmington Organic Recycling Center (WORC) project which broke ground in June 2009.  This $20 million facility is being constructed adjacent to the Port of Wilmington.  WORC will provide “the first high-volume, consistently viable, and logistically feasible opportunity to divert food waste for the purpose of recycling in the Mid-Atlantic marketplace,” according to waste reduction and recycling expert Judy Ward of Advanced Enviro Systems.

The facility is supported by an 18,000 sf Butler Building supplied by EDiS Building Systems and uses Gore™ Cover System technology to convert up to 160,000 tons of source separated food discards and yard wastes into high-value, nutrient-rich compost and organic soil products. The facility will not only greatly reduce the burden on local landfills, it will also produce a minimum savings of 30% over other disposal options.  By diverting organic waste away from landfills then composting it, WORC will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent to removing 8,600 cars from the area roads.

Partners involved in WORC, signed a "Community Benefits Agreement," which says the company will make a good-faith effort to hire small minority-owned contractors during the construction phase and employ a work force of up to 20 percent local residents when the facility is up and running.

Question 1: In the US, people typically spend how much of their time indoors?  

Answer: A: 90%

Because people spend so much of their time indoors, the same concern for the external environment should be transferred to the internal environment.  Our Interiors Division is specially trained to install the selected materials with regard to the impact on nearby occupants.  This Division is also trained on the proper installation necessary for green products.


It is exciting to work with clients who recognize the benefits of installing environmentally friendly products in their workplaces.  They appreciate the benefits these products afford to their employees as well as to the global environment. EDiS Interiors knows how to install these “relatively new” products without damage to their unique properties.
Martha White, LEEDAP, Project Manager EDiS Interiors Division.


Question 2: How much spending is projected in green building in 2010?  

Answer: D: $60 Billion

If you thought being Green was just a passing trend, think again. With so much focus on sustainable practices, you need to be sure your money is well spent. EDiS has a wide experience in sustainable estimating that will help keep your project “green” and within budget.  Whether it is as complicated as Life Cycle Cost Analysis or as simple as material selection, we can help.


Question 3: Sustainable material availability and quality have never been higher.

Answer: A: True

The days of compromising on quality or availability are gone. The array of available eco-friendly materials swells each month. We can help you sift through the new options presented by the designers and identify the ones that balance need and budget. Butler Building Systems have been used to help fulfill LEED certified project requirements throughout North America in many LEED categories.  For example, a high percentage of Butler components contain recycled scrap materials.  By salvaging unused steel from consumer and industrial users, Butler creates an ecologically attractive way to complete building designs.  Also, EDiS clients benefit from having the Butler Annville, Pennsylvania fabrications plant located only 90 miles from Wilmington, which helps satisfy the regional materials credit requirement. 


The great thing about steel is it’s the ultimate sustainable product.  By partnering with Butler we are able to help our clients satisfy LEED credits by using a product that is only 90 miles away.
Michael Freda, P.E., LEEDAP, Vice President/Director of Operations EDiS Building Systems, Inc.


Question 4: Green has a positive impact on the following:

Answer: E: All of the above (Potential rents, property value increases, ROI, and occupancy rates)

Simply put, what’s good for the planet is good for business. Contact EDiS and we can help you discover how adding shades of green to your development will yield more successful results.   As an example, we are helping our clients evaluate the cost of LEED Certification so that they understand payback periods in addition to the intrinsic value of a greener, healthier, and more productive workplace.  From geothermal systems to green roofs and from solar energy to recycled materials, we can help you select the appropriate investments for your development.

What Is GreenSense?

The GreenSense Objective:

Provide guidance, information and knowledge regarding sustainable design and construction to our clients so they can make strategic decisions at the beginning of the project that will guide them, their designers and trade contractors as the project becomes a reality.

At EDiS our clients are as diverse as our project portfolio.

Therefore, EDiS does not dictate a singular approach to sustainability that provides our clients with a rigid framework. We expect the goals and objectives of each of our clients to be unique to them and their situation.

We will assist in obtaining those goals whether that is a simple jobsite recycling plan or a complete LEED Certified Platinum project. We understand that in today’s environment of high fuel costs, tight budgets and public scrutiny the end goal is often a balancing act and lands somewhere between these two choices. That is why we have created a process that thrives on flexibility but still obtains the goal of sustainability.

At EDiS we have over a dozen LEED & Green Advantage Certified professionals to assist in the design, bidding and construction phases of the your projects. Meet EDiS' Green Team!

Dover “Anchor” Public Library - LEED Certified Silver

We can provide the following services to help evaluate and implement sustainability in our projects:

Pre-Construction

  • Design Charrette participation and/or facilitation
  • Sustainable estimating
  • Scenario analysis, life cycle analysis.  “What if we add Geothermal; What are the up front costs and what are the paybacks in lower fuel costs?”
  • Green product knowledge
  • Extensive contractor database with experience in installing Green products
  • Trade contractor & sub-contractor education/training

Construction

  • Jobsite Recycling Program
  • Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Program
  • LEED point submissions
  • Energy Audits
  • Pre-occupancy training so the systems are used as designed 

Simple Ideas for Going "Green"

Global Warming - What Can We do?

  • Change five light bulbs in our house. Replace the conventional bulbs in our five most frequently used light fixtures with bulbs that have the ENERGY STAR label and we will help the environment while saving money on energy bills.  If every home in America replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR light, we would prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of 800,000 cars!
  • Look for ENERGY STAR labeled products.  When buying new lighting, home electronics, heating and cooling equipment and appliances look for ENERGY STAR qualified products.  They may cost more initially, but they all operate more efficiently, saving energy usage and cost over the life of the product.
  • Heat and cool smartly.  We should clean or replace air filters regularly and have our heating and cooling equipment serviced annually by a licensed contractor.  We will increase our comfort at home and will use less energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  When it is time to replace our old equipment, we should choose a high efficiency model and make sure it is properly sized and installed.
  • Seal up our homes with better insulation and ductwork.  Close up any visible cracks and gaps in our houses, install adequate insulation, check that ducts are sealed and choose ENERGY STAR qualified windows when replacing old windows.  Increase comfort and save energy at the same time.
  • Reduce, reuse and recycle.  Recycle newspapers, beverage containers, paper and other goods.  Use products in containers that can be repaired or reused.  Buy products made from recycled materials.  These efforts help to conserve energy and reduce pollution and greenhouse gases from resource extraction, manufacturing and disposal.