How Green Are We?

“Green” business is loosely defined as practicing conservation of resources, recycling or reusing items, and using sustainable and environmentally friendly materials to lessen the impact of the business upon the environment.

Big Grins is housed in a LEED platinum rated building and is in the process of commissioning its commercial interior at a LEED gold rating. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)is a standardized but rigorous certification process for documenting exceptionally green buildings.

Big Grins is the first business in Northern Colorado to practice in a Platinum building and the first dental office to practice at the Gold LEED level in Colorado and perhaps the Nation.

Here is an example of Big Grins commitment to sustainable business practices:

• 90+% of appliances are Energy Star top rated appliances, but all office furniture is reclaimed
• Two low maintenance, centralized water purification systems feed to all clinic chairs
• Every window is designed for maximum daylighting and minimizes heat transfer through glazing, positioned outside shades, and inside reflectors
• The entire lighting system is run on a computerized automated dimmer system which dims lights as sunlight is available and senses movement to turn lights on and off
• Throughout the office cork flooring or flaxseed linoleum is used, both renewable resources
• Non VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint is used throughout the office to reduce chemical off gassing
• Banana fiber laminates are used for almost all working surfaces – another renewable resource
• All wood in the office is FSC maple (Forest Stewardship Council), bamboo, or reused wood taken from other job sites. No new wood was used in construction of walls or floors.
• On demand Hot Water heaters power the hydrothermal heating system located beneath a raised floor throughout the entire office. Heat and Air come UP from the “plenum” flooring, not downward
• Solar Panels mounted on the outside window shades help generate electricity with the ability to add more panels as prices lower and new technology becomes available
• Lighting throughout the office uses fluorescent or halogen lights
• A full recycling program is in place to recycle all cans, bottles, plastics, cardboard, and paper products
• The first in Northern Colorado – a Demolizer II reduces hazardous waste into a solid mass that can be eliminated as regular trash. It communicates via fax line to monitor usage rather that utilizing a hazardous waste collection company. Within nine months a recyclable container will allow previous hazard waste to be recycled into park benches or other playground equipment.