Gateway West Sustainable I: Brookfield, WI

Prairie Companion

As a developer of commercial building controls and automation systems, Environmental Systems Inc. wanted its new headquarters near Milwaukee, Wis., to showcase the potential energy and cost savings that can be achieved through high performance design and efficient operations. The building has saved more than $82,000 in building operation and energy costs, and avoided 550 tons of CO2 production during its first 27 months of operation. Except for the photovoltaic system, all of the sustainable systems and designs offer a predicted payback of eight years or less. The building’s native prairie landscaping, a low-maintenance exterior and sustainable materials all help reduce the double-LEED Platinum project’s environmental impact. A high performance envelope and mechanical systems with heat recovery contribute to the annual EUI of 41.8 kBtu/ft2.