Programs

Emerson Network Power (includes photos)

Photos of this event - click here

It was on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) that members and guests of the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter touring Emerson Network Power’s new Learning Center in Westerville found gold—LEED Certified Gold, the second highest designation granted by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The 70,000-square-foot training center at 530 Westar Blvd., Westerville, opened last September for Emerson employees, customers, and partners, and provides hands-on data center infrastructure support training for more than 1,000 students a year.

It is also the suburban community’s first LEED certified building.

Those fortunate enough to make the tour were escorted through the facility by Mark Cousino, manager of technical training, and Doug Vidler, director of corporate training and development.

When the building was opened, Frank Bibens, president of Emerson‘s Liebert services business said:

“Those who utilize the facility will be trained on the latest technical innovations, operations, and maintenance techniques for the company’s Liebert power and cooling equipment. This is an ideal learning environment where knowledge sharing, innovation, and technology advancement are embraced.”

Emerson, which acquired the Liebert Corp. in 1987, formed Emerson Network Power in 2000 to bring together its divisions that provide solutions for network and computer protection.

A main feature of the Westerville facility is an 11,000-square-foot equipment laboratory that houses Emerson Network Power equipment. Through design innovation, the laboratory runs at a 75 percent reduction in power consumption, achievable because the Learning Center is a teaching facility that is not supporting critical systems.

In addition to the equipment laboratory and classrooms, the building includes the Customer Resolution Center, a state-of-the-art call center which enables the Liebert services business to support customers who require the highest level of service response for their critical systems.

The building, located on five acres, has a number of environmentally-friendly construction and design elements that enabled it to receive the Gold LEED designation. These include:

• A 35.7 percent annual water savings with the use of low flow water fixtures.
• Recycling and diverting over 75 percent of construction waste from landfills.
• Automatic lighting controls throughout the building to reduce electricity waste by turning off the lights when a room is not in use.
• Using more than 20 percent of construction materials that were processed/manufactured regionally, saving transportation fuel.
• Using sustainably grown wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and low emitting materials that limit adverse health effects on workers and visitors.
• Drought tolerant plants purposely chosen to reduce the amount of water needed for landscape maintenance.
• Capture of rainwater in the on-site pond which supplies 100 percent non-potable water for landscape irrigation.
• Twenty-two spaces for bicycles, and facilities for riders to change and shower to encourage associates to bike to work.
• Preferred parking spaces to reward associates for using low-emitting, fuel-efficient vehicles and to encourage carpooling.
• An east/west building layout that increases the amount of sunlight utilized by building occupants. Ninety-six percent of the work spaces have access to daylight and outside views for more natural light in the building.
• White roof materials that reflect the sun to help reduce the amount of energy needed to cool the building.