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Other World Computing (OWC®) http://www.macsales.com, a leading zero emissions PC and Mac® technology company, announced today its corporate campus was awarded LEED® Platinum Certification by the Green Building Certification Institute, the highest achievable level of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. Out of more than 14,000 LEED projects engaged worldwide since the program's 1998 inception, OWC is one of less than three hundred to achieve the Platinum standard. With this recognition, OWC also became the first privately owned light manufacturing/assembly firm in Illinois to obtain LEED Platinum status.

"OWC was founded with a core mission of providing customers the resources needed to maximize their technology investment. Similarly, our new headquarters utilizes leading edge technologies to maximize our own use of natural resources and provide the highest level of operational efficiency," said Larry O'Connor, CEO, Other World Computing."Our conserving for a greener tomorrow ensures our continued ability to be competitive in serving our customers and now is a 'triple win' with our LEED Platinum certification."

International Recognition for Green Building Efforts
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council in 1998, LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system that provides building owners and operators a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions. Accreditation is administered by the GBCI through third-party verification across six major areas: sustainability of the site; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; indoor environmental quality; and innovation and design process. The intended outcome of the LEED program is to create buildings that are economically profitable, environmentally friendly, and healthy productive places to work.

"Buildings are a prime example of how human systems integrate with natural systems," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "The Other World Computing project efficiently uses our natural resources and makes an immediate, positive impact on our planet, which will tremendously benefit future generations to come."

Responsibly Built & Operated
Some of the OWC campus features that helped earn LEED Platinum certification include:
• Geo-thermal ground-coupled heat pump system
• Fiber optic rooftop light-harvesting technology
• High insulation value glass windows and exterior sunshade technology for reduced cooling costs
• High insulation value materials throughout the building for reduced energy use
• "Smart" sensors to detect and adjust energy in unused rooms
• Permeable parking surfaces for environmentally friendly run-off water handling
• Bio Swales landscaping for water conservation
• Use of native plants and prairie grasses for water conservation
• Waterless urinals and dual-mode toilets for water conservation
• High-efficiency hand driers in washrooms for energy/paper savings
• High-efficiency drinking water filtration system to eliminate need for delivered water
• Company-wide recycling with near zero waste generation
• Facilities for employees to commute to work by bicycle
• Low-impact cleaning products

Powered By The Wind
One of OWC’s most visible LEED features is its 194' tall Vestas V39-500 kW wind turbine. Projected to generate an estimated 1,250,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, the turbine can provide up to more than double the current energy requirements of all OWC operations, including its internet operations datacenter which includes OWC.net and FasterMac.net ISP and webhosting services. Excess energy produced by the OWC wind turbine will be sold back to the local power provider, thus making OWC a net supplier of sustainable energy to the McHenry County, IL region.

"It is refreshing working with an owner who has the foresight to establish rigorous environmental goals and the determination to reach those goals, even despite higher costs and other obstacles," said Sandy Glenn, Harris Architects, LEED Accredited Project Coordinator for the OWC project. "OWC's LEED Platinum facility provides a healthy working environment for employees, creates energy for the local community, and represents a first-class example of environmental leadership for others to follow."

To view a virtual tour of the OWC Platinum LEED campus, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/gree...