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Norwalk Company Charged Up as Part of “Green Power” Program

Release Date: 10/28/2008
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – Oct. 28, 2008) - A Norwalk, Conn. company was recognized this week for its voluntary efforts to address climate change by purchasing green power and helping advance the development of the nation’s green power market.

Merritt 7 Venture, an office park with six buildings and 1.4 million square feet of space, won the Green Power Leadership Award, for purchasing more than 21 million kilowatt hours of green power annually.

“This company is doing its part, leading the way among businesses to go green,” said Robert Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “Merritt has made a huge commitment to renewable energy and has encouraged other companies to take these important steps.”

The green power purchased by Merritt is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly 3,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power more than 2,000 average American homes annually. The company’s purchase is enough to supply more than 100 percent of the operation’s total electricity use, placing the company on the EPA’s “100% Purchasers” list.

“We’re so pleased to reinforce our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship by purchasing 100 percent green energy,” said John P. Crosby, chairman and chief executive officer of Albert D. Phelps, Inc., the managing and leasing agency for Merritt 7. “Providing an environmentally sustainable workplace for our tenants is a high priority for us.”

Merritt was also recognized for its energy efficiency. The company’s broad view of energy efficiency has led the company to replace water pumps and lighting fixtures, upgrade elevator mechanical equipment and replace cooling towers. Merritt 7 also installed data metering devices so the landlord could record electricity consumption and control unusual conditions or spikes in use.

Merritt 7 also offers sessions to building tenants to educate them on green buildings and avenues to buy green power products. Home to long-term tenants of many well-known brand names, the company hopes to provide information that will drive change among tenants and beyond, to branch offices across the country.

Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro. Green power sources produce electricity with an environmental profile superior to conventional power technologies and produce no human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Purchases of green power also help accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide.

The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use. The partnership includes more than 1,000 organizations voluntarily purchasing billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and federal governments, and colleges and universities.

The combined commitments of these leading organizations amount to nearly 5 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually, which is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power more than 460,000 average American households each year. EPA also estimates that the combined environmental impact of these leading purchasers will avoid the equivalent amount of CO2 emissions of more than 640,000 vehicles each year.

More information: - EPA Green Power Partnership (epa.gov/greenpower)

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