DNV announced the formal opening of its new 90,000 square-foot eco-friendly building in Katy, Texas that will house many of the global organization’s North American businesses. The new facility is another step in DNV’s increasing presence in U.S. and Canada, with business offerings in energy, healthcare, climate change, food safety, maritime and transportation.
DNV’s new Houston-area headquarters are designed to meet Gold Level LEED certification. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the national standard for green buildings. DNV is in the final phases of LEED certification for both the shell and the interior of the new building.
More than 270 employees occupy the new DNV office in Katy, a suburb of Houston. They will enjoy an open office concept and a health-conscious atmosphere. Amenities like privacy and wellness rooms, an indoor water wall, natural outdoor seating and walking paths go beyond required green building standards.
Sustainability begins with an in-house recycling center that sorts most of the every-day office products used by employees such as plastic, aluminum, cardboard, paper and more. Filtered water systems reduce the use of plastic bottles. Centralized printing and copying areas minimize internal heat while reducing ink and paper waste by using an employee code-protected ‘print on demand’ feature. Ergonomic chairs are made from recycled materials.
From groundbreaking right through move in, more than 90% of disposed building materials were diverted from the landfill to be reused or recycled. Use of low-emitting materials such as paints, varnishes, carpets, sealants and other materials significantly reduces off-gassing typically associated with new construction. Inside the new building, efficient plumbing fixtures reduce water use by more than one third. The air-conditioning system uses non-ozone depleting refrigerants. The building itself is serviced by a green energy provider ensuring that a percentage of non-carbon based renewables – such as wind – supply power.
Many of the materials – including door and window frames, terrazzo countertops and flooring were manufactured regionally in Texas, supporting the local economy and reducing costs and carbon emissions associated with transportation. Many other components were manufactured using recycled materials. These include carpet, countertops and decorative glass in the seven coffee bars produced from recycled crushed glass.
DNV is a global provider of services for managing risk, helping customers to safely and responsibly improve their business performance. DNV is an independent foundation with the purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment. With 9,000 employees in more than 100 countries, DNV is represented in the U.S. with over 700 employees spread over more than 12 offices.
(www.dnv.com)