More About LEED
RK Mechanical’s industry leadership is demonstrated by the fact that we’re the first mechanical contractor in Colorado to become a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and a member on the growing list of LEED® Certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) construction-related companies. We’re intent on setting the standard for mechanical contracting that uses, and advances, sustainable construction practices.
The USGBC is a standards-setting nonprofit that includes leaders from every sector of the building industry. Members are dedicated to designing and building facilities and communities that are environmentally responsible, efficient and healthy places to live and work. The USGBC provides guidelines for developing sustainable building procedures based on well-founded scientific principles, emphasizing state-of-the-art strategies for design, construction and operation.
To communicate standards and effectively evaluate the design, construction and operation of green buildings, USGBC developed the LEED® Green Building Rating System™, an internationally recognized green building certification program. The points-based evaluation system rates buildings in the areas of Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation and Design Process. Buildings are qualified and certified, based on the number of points awarded, as LEED® Certified: Silver, Gold or Platinum.
The market trend of sustainable building continues to gain momentum as studies increasingly show the long term negative effects that pollution, traffic, inefficient energy systems and waste have on both the environment as well as individuals.
Research suggests that building occupants tend to be more efficient, productive, happy and healthy when functioning in a “green” space. The sustainable building trend continues to gain momentum as builders strive to combat the negative effects that pollution, traffic, inefficient energy systems and waste have on both the environment as well as individuals. RK Mechanical recognizes the impact of these effects and strives to develop the most efficient and cost effective mechanical system for each building.
With over 50 LEED® Certified professionals on staff (over 25% of the management team) and over 50 successfully completed LEED® certified projects, RK Mechanical has the expertise and experience necessary to effectively design and construct sustainable mechanical building systems. The knowledge and understanding that we bring to each project guides clients, architects, engineers and other subcontractors in maximizing the overall building performance.
A great example is 1800 Larimer located in downtown Denver, Colorado. The LEED® Platinum-certified office building is one of the only multi-tenant CBD office buildings in the country to earn the prestigious accreditation—and the only one west of the Mississippi River. 1800 Larimer utilizes an under-floor air distribution system, demand controlled ventilation system, MERV 13 air filtration, high efficiency boiler and chiller systems, waterless urinals and low flow water fixtures. These features result in a 30 to 40% water savings compared to the average office building as well as significantly improved air quality.
RK Mechanical is a leader at evaluating projects and helping general contractors design and build LEED® certified buildings. This is an advantage for any construction company that seeks to expand its portfolio of LEED® certified projects.
As sustainable mechanical systems and building practices continue to evolve, you can count on RK Mechanical to help LEED the way.