Capital project positions Family Services as leader in environmental stewardship, education
Alliance Magazine News Service 07/23/08
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| Family Services’ new headquarters is the first “green” building constructed in Forsyth County, N.C. The building operates 30 percent more efficiently, but only cost 1 percent more to build. |
Despite foreboding economic headlines, Al Renna is less worried than most.
Even after overseeing a major, $4 million capital project, the president and CEO of Alliance for Children and Families member Family Services, Winston-Salem, N.C., is too busy thinking about how quickly the project will pay for itself to fret about a tumultuous economy.
Family Services’ capital project began four years ago, first with the planning, and then with construction of a new “green” headquarters—the first such building in the county. Overnight, the project made Family Services a leader in environmental stewardship among corporations. It’s a new role for the agency, Renna admits, but one that resonates with Family Services’ mission.
“A nonprofit building a green facility is a no-brainer to me because it reduces the amount of money you need for facility space,” he says. “Every year going forward we’re going to have a lower operating cost, which allows us to put that money into services.”
Family Services’ new headquarters building is designed to operate 30 percent more efficiently than a traditional structure. Financially, that equates to an estimated annual savings of 30 percent on building operating costs. But here’s the part that might surprise people, Renna says: The building cost just 1 percent more than if built traditionally.
Energy conservation is promoted through features that use natural resources to the fullest. For example, overhead lights illuminate only as brightly as needed based on the ever-changing amount of sunlight streaming through individual office windows. If motion or sound isn’t detected, lights will automatically switch off after eight minutes.
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Al Renna (third from left), president and CEO of Family Services, participates in the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the June 4 grand opening of the agency’s new “green” office building. |
That philosophy has proven valuable for Family Services, and not only because of the anticipated financial savings. Because the building is the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building—a certification program with nationally accepted benchmarks for green building—in the county, Family Services’ public profile has increased dramatically.
“It has attracted a tremendous amount of attention,” Renna says. “Now I get a lot of invitations to go speak about the green building at chamber of commerce events and other activities. It really has leveraged my ability to reach audiences that ordinarily I might not have.”
In addition to the agency’s new position as a leader among corporations, the project has thrust the organization into a leading role in environmental education around the region. As one example, Family Services now provides tours of the facility to corporations and governments thinking about similar projects.
Within the building’s walls, staff and clients are also continually educated about conservation. The client waiting room contains information and literature about becoming more environmentally friendly. Supplies within the office, such as in the kitchen, have been replaced with their more environmentally efficient alternatives. For example, more biodegradable products made from corn or potatoes are being used instead of traditional disposable cups and silverware.
“We kind of moved from a family service agency that helps people with problems toward a greater role: a family service agency that also promotes overall health,” Renna says. “To me that is a major leap for Family Services. We’re not just dealing with dysfunction, we’re promoting health. And this capital project is probably the most concrete way that we can express it.”
Both clients and staff have reacted positively to the changes, Renna adds. “The building provides a more relaxing environment for clients awaiting service delivery, and staff say it’s a very comfortable building to work in. That’s going to help us with retention and with recruitment. The desirability of the building plays a big role. They like coming to work in this space.”
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Since 1905, Family Services, Winston-Salem, N.C., has served Forsyth, Davie, and Stokes Counties. Working together with individuals and families, the organization offers a full range of services, including counseling, education, intervention, and advocacy. Family Services is the primary provider of Head Start services to children and families in Forsyth County. It is also the primary provider of domestic violence programs for the county, which includes a shelter for women and their children.
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