In keeping with the industry's increasing trend towards energy efficient buildings and the emergence of sustainable building practices, DEW has embraced the concepts of "green building" and environmentally-friendly structures. We have even been fortunate enough to be involved with some projects that are LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) registered including Northern Power Systems Headquarters in Waitsfield, Vermont and the Michael S. Currier Performing Arts Center for the Putney School in Putney, Vermont. In addition to these two exciting projects, we have worked on other projects that incorporate "green" strategies and processes into the project's design including Controlled Energy Corporation, City of Burlington's Co-Op Market, Sharon Rest Area on I-89, and the Wing Davis Wilks Dormitory Renovation at the University of Vermont.

In 2004, DEW received the Better Buildings by Design 2004 - Innovation of Integrated Design, Project Participant award for our involvement with the Northern Power Systems New Office and Manufacturing Headquarters. This LEED registered project encompassed several innovative approaches to integrate energy efficiency improvements and sustainable building practices into the design of the building covering areas such as sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.

One of the underlying purposes of having a sustainable building is to create a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly facility for the Owner and building occupants. In doing this, a sustainable building provides many environmental, health, safety, community and economic benefits.

Our green buildings efforts certainly "paid" off at Northern Power, where a substantial monetary credit was returned to the Owner for the building's energy performance. Under the LEED category of Energy and Atmosphere, DEW constructed the facility utilizing such effective materials that it facilitated the building in obtaining, at a minimum, a 50% reduction in energy use, resulting in a $22,000 credit back to the Owner.

As a builder, DEW is directly involved in the area of Materials and Resources, especially resource protection - Reduce, Recycle and Reuse. DEW's waste reduction program has been very successful and effective. At the Burlington Onion River CoOp City Market project, DEW was awarded the 2000 Waste Reduction Award by the Chittenden Solid Waste District for outstanding performance to reduce, reuse and recycle at the corporate office and at construction and renovation projects in Chittenden County and throughout Vermont.

DEW is proud of our experience and efforts with the above outlined green building practices. Not only do we appreciate and understand the benefits green building provides to an Owner and the environment, but we are committed to implementing our experience and successful green building practices into our future projects.

The UVM Wing Davis Wilks Project received a LEED Silver Rating.