News
Four Ancon Construction Employees Complete Certification Processes
Posted: 01/08/2009
GOSHEN, Ind. – Four employees at Ancon Construction Co. in Goshen have recently completed certifications and accreditations. Ancon vice president Gary Wetzel is now a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional, while concrete superintendent Dale Newcomer and concrete foremen William Stephenson and Rod McCollough are certified pervious concrete installers by the Indiana Ready-Mixed Concrete Association. Stephenson and McCollough are also certified flatwork finishers by the American Concrete Institute.
The LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. Its whole-building approach to sustainability includes five key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. As a LEED accredited professional, Wetzel will work with building owners to incorporate and maximize green building opportunities in both new construction and renovation of existing facilities.
Pervious concrete pavement systems is another element used increasingly in green building developments and has recently been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency as a best management practice for storm water management. Its use supports national EPA initiatives such as its Heat Island Reduction and Low Impact Development. It is also recognized in the LEED rating system for control of both water quantity and water quality in storm water design. Benefits of using pervious concrete include reduction of volume and velocity of rainwater runoff, lower surface temperature than asphalt pavement for reduced “heat island” effect, and reduced black ice formation as melting snow drains into the pavement rather than pooling on the surface.
Ancon’s long-standing use of green building technology is evidenced in past projects like the Niles Goodwill Industries’ polished concrete floor, which paid for itself in maintenance savings in 18 months and now saves the store $9,000 per year; Morris 1st Source Scout Center in South Bend, which utilizes passive solar energy techniques and used recycled materials; and Goodwill Industries in Warsaw, whose high-efficiency lighting system saves the store $500 a month in electricity costs.
“We’ve always been committed to sustainable building. These initatives make our buildings better for both the people who use them and the earth it’s built on, and conserving energy is better for all of us in the long run,” Wetzel stated. “With this additional accreditation of our employees, we can offer even more ideas and services to our clients for working green building intiatives into their projects.”
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About Ancon Construction: Ancon Construction was founded in 1975 and is an Accredited Quality Contractor, only the third firm in the state and the first in this region to receive this certification. It was named the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce’s 2007 Business of the Year. Ancon is a design-and-build contractor that offers a full range of services, including planning, site selection and development, rezoning and code compliance, construction, remodeling and maintenance. For more information, call 574-674-9941 or visit www.AnconConstruction.com.
