Spotlight On: Perfection Group

Perfection GroupPerfection Group, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a family-owned business and a leader in the design and building of mechanical and environmental systems for industrial, commercial and institutional facilities. It has taken its green initiative to the next level with the creation of Green Building Solutions that focus on energy efficient facility operations.

According to John Albrecht, director of the company’s comprehensive green project in five states, Perfection’s green strategy involves a two-pronged approach: 1) Retro-commissioning (read more about retro-commissioning here www.green.ca.gov/CommissioningGuidelines/default.htm) and efficiency upgrades to existing buildings to maximize energy efficiency and cost savings, and 2) green building design, with the goal of reducing negative impacts on the environment and the building’s occupants.

Perfection’s most prominent new construction project to date is its collaboration with Neyer Properties on the Keystone Parke office campus in the Evanston community of Cincinnati. Upon completion, the campus will consist of three office buildings totaling approximately 460,000 square feet. The first building, Keystone I, is 68,000 square feet and is the first LEED-registered Core and Shell class A office building in the three-state area of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. The building has also received LEED Silver certification.

David T. AgricolaPerfection’s David T. Agricola, Commercial Account Executive and Green Advantage®-commercial certified, led the venture. “It was exciting to be a part of this innovative project. We were able to directly impact the bottom line by lowering energy costs by as much as 20 percent. The energy savings accomplished came from a combined effort from all who partnered on this project.”

Agricola notes, “From early on the team knew the building owner / developer, Neyer Properties, wanted this project to be LEED Certified. The building envelope, lighting selection, HVAC design and a Full DDC Control system that communicates seamlessly between most phases of the mechanical systems helped provide the 20% overall savings in energy cost. In addition, Neyer Properties tenants will enjoy a very comfortable, state-of-the-art, green working environment. ”

Perfection used its in-house LEED Design Build and Installation team, made up of Professional Engineers, Certified Energy Managers, Energy Star Engineers, Green Building Engineers, Certified Sustainable Development Professionals and Dedicated Automation Controls Group.

The team developed efficient strategies for exceptional energy and utility savings. The company maximized building automation, lighting controls, and power monitoring while also employing a water source HVAC system to boost heat recovery.

Specific green building features include:

  1. Design of the building envelope using high efficiency glazing and well-insulated wall cavities.
  2. Use of low-emitting sealants, paints & coatings.
  3. Energy efficient water source heat pumps.
  4. Monitoring of outside air for compliance through the DDC Control system, which monitors, controls and limits temperature ranges.
  5. Outside air brought in through an Energy Recovery Wheel. (Building exhaust air and building pressurization is collected and exhausted through the energy recovery wheel to reclaim the energy before discharging to the outside.)
  6. Control of lighting systems by motion and/or daylight sensors.
  7. Pedestrian friendly campus adjacent to public park.
  8. White reflective roof / structure for parking garage to reduce heat island effect.
  9. Use of native plants to minimize irrigation.
  10. High efficient water fixtures.

Perfection Keystone Parke DrawingThe commitment of Neyer and Perfection to exceptional green building has also resulted in the signing of a 46,500-square foot construction project at the campus for the Greater Cincinnati Regional Center of the American Red Cross, which serves the surrounding 25 counties.

“The Cincinnati Red Cross is at the helm of a 25-county region that includes territory in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, “ said Paula McIntosh, Chief Community Presence Officer, American Red Cross Cincinnati Area Chapter. “The building will be important to providing services and disaster response for the region for many years. Our goal is to achieve LEED-silver certification for the project and we are grateful to be working with a team of people, including Perfection Group, with the commitment, knowledge, and expertise to help us achieve our LEED goals.”

Agricola cites Green Advantage as contributing to the success of the Neyer Keystone Parke building: “My Green Advantage training and certification helped prepare me in the selection of state-of-the-art, energy efficient, yet practical HVAC design, equipment, and controls. Once the selections were complete, having the GA-certification helped me to pass on to our field personnel the Environmental Stewardship Responsibilities we all have as HVAC contractors of the 21st century. System design, equipment selections and responsible field installations combined make up what the Green Advantage Program is all about.”

The Keystone Parke project is an excellent example of Perfection’s ability as a company to bring exceptional services to its clients. The ability to thrive in a competitive market relies on being well ahead of the curve. Dave's green building acumen and his nearly 25 years of service to the company and this industry demonstrate this quality. Perfection is dedicated to providing its employees with all the tools and opportunities needed to keep the company on the course that translates into saving customers considerable amounts of money on energy usage and operational costs.

Founded in 1951 by Ed Albrecht, Perfection Group, Inc. is an industry leader that designs, installs, and services mechanical and environmental systems focusing on energy efficient facility operations for commercial, industrial and institutional customers. Based in Cincinnati, the company has a total of eight offices throughout Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Perfection Group is an Energy Star Partner, LEED accredited, a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, and is North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certified. Learn more at www.perfectiongroup.com