Merritt 7 Corporate Park, Norwalk, Connecticut

Merritt 7 Corporate Park has made a firm commitment toward environmental stewardship. Through numerous efforts, Merritt 7 strives to be environmentally conscious, promote, and maximize sustainability. Through a collaborative effort between Albert D. Phelps, Inc. and ING Clarion Partners, Merritt 7 has made a firm commitment toward environmental stewardship, and has taken numerous actions over a several year period to make the complex more sustainable and energy efficient.

Building 401 Merritt 7 has achieved LEED^® EB certification as established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). By achieving LEED green building certification, 401 Merritt 7 is the first existing commercial office building in the state of Connecticut to become LEED certified under the USGBC’s existing building rating system, and joins a select group of sustainable and innovative buildings nationwide.

Complete List of Green Initiatives Adopted by Merritt 7 Corporate Park:

Waste Reduction & Integrated Occupant Recycling Program; Merritt 7 averages a recycling rate of over 50% of the total waste stream. Waste audits are performed annually to ensure compliance and to determine ways to increase recycling rates.
Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Program; all construction work is performed in a manner to assure a healthy working environment for building occupants. This Plan is based on the recommended Design Approaches of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Contractors Association (SMACNA) IAQ Guideline for Occupied Buildings under Construction.
Green Site and Building Exterior Management Program; addresses exterior maintenance equipment, animal and vegetation pest control, landscape waste, irrigation management, fertilizer use, snow removal, building exterior cleaning and paints & sealants used on building exterior.
Best practices equipment preventative maintenance program
Car Pooling & Telecommuting policy; Ct Nu-Rides performs occupant awareness programs for all tenants, reserved parking spaces available for plan participants.
Indoor Air Quality Program; adoption of an Indoor Air Quality Management Program based upon the US EPA Building Air Quality Action Plan (June 1998)
Construction, demolition and renovation waste management program; for any building retrofit, renovation or modification that occurs on site contractors strive for a minimum of 50% diversion of construction, demolition and land clearing waste from landfill or incineration disposal.
Indoor chemical and pollutant source control program; Merritt 7 Corporate Park uses air filters with a MERV rating of 13 or higher.
Low mercury containing light bulb policy; an organizational policy specifying that all purchases of mercury-containing light bulbs are made in such a way that the average mercury content of the light bulbs is less than 80 picograms/lumen hour.
Green Cleaning Policy; implemented procedures and products that contribute to healthy surroundings for building occupants and cleaning staff , and minimizes the impact of cleaning operations on the environment.
Integrated pest management program; The systematic coordination of property management functions that , Identifies specific sites of pest infestation, suppresses pest populations with short term techniques and reduces the causes of infestation with long term techniques.
Low environmental impact cleaning equipment policy; Merritt 7 is committed to reducing exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particle contaminants, which adversely impact air quality, health, building finishes, building systems and the environment.
Sustainable cleaning products and materials policy; Merritt 7 is committed to reducing the impacts of cleaning products, disposable janitorial paper products and trash bags. It is the intent to achieve 100% purchase of Sustainable Cleaning Products and Materials by year 2014.

Awards & Certifications

Each of the six buildings within Merritt 7 is registered with the USGBC for LEED-EB Certification. Ownership is currently replacing various plumbing fixtures an effort to reduce water consumption.
Merritt 7 became the first office park in the state of Connecticut to earn the EPA’s Energy Star Award in recognition of energy efficiency in 2008. The property received Energy Star recognition again in 2009. This signifies that Merritt 7’s energy performance rates in the top 10% of facilities nationwide.
Merritt 7 was honored with the Southwest Connecticut Summer Energy Savers Award which acknowledged a number of significant conservation actions taken, including the installation of energy savings fixtures throughout the parking garages.
Merritt 7 was recognized by Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell and Joseph F. Marie, commissioner, Connecticut Department of Transportation with an award for the outstanding support of the “Tri-State Five Million Mile Rideshare Challenge” a program which encouraged companies and commuters to rideshare and reduce five million miles of driving in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.
Merritt 7 received the Environmental Stewardship Award from the Northeast Energy Efficiency Council – Connecticut chapter (NEEC-CT) and Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) for its energy conservation efforts. Merritt 7 also works closely with CL&P on various energy saving projects to further reduce cost and consumption.

Merritt 7's Green Initiatives in the News

4/20/2009 - Merritt 7 Earns EPA Energy Star^® For Superior Energy Efficiency. Full Story
5/13/2008 - Merritt 7 Wins EPA's Energy Star^®. Read the Globe St. Article
4/14/2008 - Merritt 7 Gets SW CT Summer Energy Saver Award. Full Story
2/14/2008 - Merritt 7 Ranks as one of the Greenest. Full Story
12/12/2007 - Merritt 7 Earns EPA Energy Star^® Award. Full Story
10/15/2007 - Merritt 7 Wins NEEC-CT Award. Full Story