LEED-EB Gold Certification

We are proud to announce that our company's sustainable operating and building maintenance practices have earned an Existing Building (EB) Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™. Vernier Software & Technology is committed to providing an exceptional workplace for our employees, so when we began recent renovations on our current facility, the pursuit of a LEEB-EB Gold certification was a natural progression to quantify our accomplishments, learn how to further enhance our building's operations and maintenance, and inspire others to adopt sustainable practices.

Here are a few of our actions to achieve the gold certification:

• Replaced the roofing system with upgraded insulation and a high-albedo roof membrane.
• Exchanged 20-year-old equipment for five new high-efficiency roof-top HVAC units.
• Installed 68 photovoltaic panels for an annual predicted energy production of 14,267 kWh.
• Retrofitted dual-flush toilets and low-flow fixtures for a water-reduction of over 30%.
• Began purchasing wind-turbine-generated power through a local utility.
• Reduced our energy consumption to an estimated EPA Energy Star rating of 86.
• Conducted a waste stream audit to identify and boost our recycling efforts.
• Implemented a sustainable janitorial program to eliminate harmful chemical contaminants.
• Provided an exercise room and gym for weekly yoga classes, weight training, and basketball.
• Encouraged alternative transportation to our workplace with free passes for public transportation, bicycle parking with lockers and on-site showers, and free use of a shared-car for employees who use public transportation.

All of our customers who attend a workshop at our office are invited to tour our sustainable building and see our official LEED-EB Gold plaque. Even if you are just in the neighborhood, you are welcome to stop by and see what we have accomplished.

For more information about our certification, visit www.vernier.com/leed

For more information on the LEED certification process, visit the USGBC at www.usgbc.org

For EPA Energy Star information, visit www.energystar.gov

Vernier Partners with the Green Chemistry Education Network

Green Chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. The incorporation to green chemistry principles into chemistry curriculum has fueled a fundamentally new approach to the teaching of chemistry that incorporates inherent safety and environmental responsibility within scientific practice and the curriculum. Vernier is collaborating with green chemistry educators to facilitate the development of new laboratory exercises that incorporate Vernier's data-collection technology.

A key to sustaining the development of new educational materials is to actively involve educators from across the country in developing these materials. This community-based approach not only enhances the capabilities of the members through the exchange of knowledge and experience, but also provides unique opportunities for innovation and rapid change. As a result, we see a growing number of high school, community college and university faculty who have adopted the curriculum and are now interested in contributing to the development of new educational materials.

Members of this community have joined to form the Green Chemistry Education Network (GCEdNet). Today the network includes 20 faculty members from six states who are working together to facilitate the development of new educational materials in the area of green chemistry by creating regional networks of "ambassador sites" focused on collaborative curriculum development. The goal of the GCEdNet is to coordinate curriculum development efforts at high schools, community colleges, and universities. If you are interested in participating in Vernier's collaboration with the GCEdNet, contact Nadine Fattaleh at Clark College (WA) at NFattaleh@clark.edu

For more information about green chemistry, visit the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute and to access a database of green chemistry education materials visit GEMs at http://greenchem.uoregon.edu/gems.html