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Partner Profile
| Melaver, Inc. | |
|---|---|
| Location | Savannah, GA |
| Goal | Melaver, Inc. pledges to achieve net zero U.S. GHG emissions by 2006 and maintain that level through 2009. |
Environmental Web Site  | |
| Company Description Founded in 1915, Melaver, Inc. is a family-owned company working to become a vertically-integrated, sustainable real estate firm. Melaver develops and manages sustainable properties in Savannah, Atlanta, Augusta, Ga., and Huntsville, Ala. The company strives to have all of its new developments and acquisitions meet the United States Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Melaver has renovated a historic property in downtown Savannah that was awarded LEED-New Construction certification, received a LEED-Commercial Interior certification on their home offices and is constructing what will be one of the first LEED-certified retail centers in the country (completion in early 2006). The company employs 22 team members in two facilities located in Savannah and Atlanta. | |
| Reasons for Joining Climate Leaders Melaver's vision is to become a sustainable real estate company, reflected both in the properties it owns and manages, as well as in its internal business practices. Melaver is committed to positively impacting the communities in which it does business and to minimally affect the environment. Melaver has undertaken a company-wide initiative to measure how its business practices affect the environment and to minimize those effects. Joining Climate Leaders was a natural fit for the company. "Melaver is excited to participate in EPA's Climate Leaders program," says Tommy Linstroth, Head of Sustainable Initiatives at Melaver. "Our participation helps demonstrate our corporate vision of sustainability, and EPA's assistance helps us to quantify and reduce our environmental footprint." According to Linstroth, who leads Melaver's greenhouse gas management efforts, the greatest benefit to Melaver is in EPA's support and technical assistance with calculations, emission factors, and other inventory details. The Climate Leaders reporting process has provided a useful framework for Melaver's greenhouse gas management efforts and has motivated improvements in data tracking, such as a more efficient system of managing business travel data. | |
| Approach to GHG Management Because Melaver is a small property management company, its greenhouse gas emissions primarily come from energy usage in its two facilities and in employee travel and commuting. Therefore, Melaver's goal to achieve net zero emissions will involve several components, including: • Reducing its electricity consumption through efficiency improvements, • Buying renewable energy certificates (RECs) to cover its facilities' electricity use, and • Participating in a tree-planting program to offset its employee commuting and business travel emissions. Educating and involving employees is and will continue to be a central element to implementing the organization's emission reduction strategy. To reduce emissions from employee commuting, Melaver employees have recently begun carpooling. Already, about five percent of the employees carpool at least once per week. Employees are also considering the fuel efficiency of their vehicles and options for alternative transportation. Quarterly progress reports provide feedback to employees and the board of directors of Melaver's progress towards its sustainability goals. | |