North Branch Construction's headquarters building earns second U.S. EPA Energy Star

North Branch Construction's. U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Silver-level certified corporate headquarters at 76 Old Turnpike Rd. has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) prestigious Energy Star for (commercial) Building and Plants for the second year in a row. The Energy Star is the national symbol for protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. The North Branch facility is one of only 10 commercial office buildings in the state of New Hampshire to have earned the EPA's Energy Star. According to the EPA's Energy Star analysis, the building uses 32% less energy and generates 32% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than similar buildings across the nation. North Branch improved its energy performance by installing cost-effective, energy efficient systems and managing energy strategically across the entire organization. Energy efficiency was a leading factor in the design of the building's HVAC and electrical systems, including sophisticated lighting control systems, which not only improve the company's energy bill, but also the occupants overall well-being. Numerous indoor air quality and occupant comfort measures were introduced, including increased ventilation, improved thermal control, abundance of daylight and views to the outdoors from most occupied spaces. North Branch also established an education program used to promote sustainability and energy efficiency ideas among the North Branch employees, clients and business partners.