Completion Date: June 2004

Owner: TTJK, LLC

Architect: Larson & Associates

Construction: TDJ Construction

Building Size: 48,500 square feet


The decision by ERSystems to go green for its new two-story headquarters was inspired by the company’s product line. ERSystems was established in 1993 and has made a name for itself by manufacturing cool-roof systems—white roof coatings that reflect the sun, cool the building, and save on energy costs. “For us, it makes sense to back up what we sell,” says Tim Leonard, ERSystems’s CEO.

The headquarters’ rooftop functions as a research and development lab for experiments with various roof coatings and green roof plant spacing. Green roofs are partially or completely covered with vegetation and offer savings in heating and cooling costs, insulating properties, and aesthetic appeal.

The building is used as both offices and manufacturing plant. Instrumentation measures roof surface and HVAC air intake temperatures, and the data is monitored via the Internet.

However, ERSystems chose not to pursue LEED certification for its headquarters. “This was a LEED-registered project, but we opted not spend the certification cost,” Leonard says. “We reinvested the certification cost back into the building for renewable energy instead of obtaining a plaque that says we use renewable energy.”

LEED certification expenses can be substantial, depending on what certification level you seek. Before construction even begins,  $450 to $600 is needed to register a project. So whether or not a project ultimately obtains LEED certification, it is registered in the LEED database.

Certification can be obtained on several levels, up to gold-level certification. The Green Building Council tracks the project on line through various reviews. Fees can climb as high as $22,500, depending on the size of the building and the type of rating requested. “We designed the building for a [LEED for New Construction] certification of 29 points,” says Leonard, which is the base certification level for this project type.

The ERSystems facility employs technologies to generate renewable energy. A 2-kilowatt output solar array includes a solar awning on the front of the building. “If you drove by, you’d think it was a regular awning,” Leonard says. Nine small wind turbines totaling 5.4 kilowatts output operate in plain sight and are attached to the building parapet. An additional 4.8-kilowatt solar array is on the roof.

Even the parking lot got the green treatment. “When you drive into the parking lot, you step out of your car onto crushed granite, which is unusual for a building,” Leonard notes. The permeable material, and hence the air above it, stays approximately 40 degrees cooler than asphalt. And “this system captures water and holds 10,000 gallons of water, which percolates to an aquifer,” Leonard says. “It’s the same with the 5,000-square-foot green roof that absorbs roof rain.” That water is captured in two tanks that are located in the manufacturing facility and used to irrigate the landscaping. “Last year, we saved 500,000 gallons of water,” Leonard notes.

And if rainwater hits the part of the pavement that isn’t permeable, specially placed speed bumps will channel the water to one of three high-capacity bioswales. Bioswales are lined shallow gullies built into the landscape that filter pollutants and silt from water and also replenish the aquifer.

Natural prairie vegetation covers two acres of the 5.5-acre site, looking terrific and further preventing runoff. In addition to its other advantages, the outdoor setting is appealing, and employees have taken to eating outside, weather permitting. “The grounds are very pleasant, with a few acres of prairie restoration, some picnic tables, and bioswales with grass,” Leonard says.

Constructions costs were less than 3 percent over those for a conventional building. But will the company really save on energy costs? Oh yes, Leonard affirms: “The combined white and green roof will allow the building to save up to 20 percent in electrical costs compared to a standard building with a black roof.”