GreenSource Cincinnati to be region's LEED demonstration center

A regional resource for environmentally-friendly construction products and services is taking shape at 19 E. Eighth Street in downtown Cincinnati.

Monroe-based Monroe Mechanical, Inc. is investing $1.5 million into GreenSource Cincinnati, a showroom for manufacturers to display green mechanical technologies, water reclamation systems, green roof systems, a green data center, and other sustainable building products.

Renovation of the 9,500-square-foot building, which was built in 1875 and had been vacant for two years, is scheduled for completion this July.

The building's first floor lobby and presentation area will be restored to historical accuracy, and the third floor apartment and patio area will be used for meals, entertainment, and lodging for out-of-town guests.

"A large part of the green building movement is being a good steward of our existing resources, one of those being existing buildings," says Ez Housh, president of Monroe Mechanical.  "We picked this building because it has 'good bones'."

The center will focus on commercial building applications for architects, engineers and developers and hopes to make the building a LEED-certified demonstration center.

Operations manager Will Housh says that Monroe plans to host monthly meetings for groups such as the Building Owners and Managers Association; Institute of Real Estate Management; American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers; and the U.S. Green Building Council.

"Our goal is to become a resource center for the building community," he says.  "It's so important that people be able to see, touch, and understand these products for real-world applications.  Through this service we'll broaden our customer base and extend our offering to existing customers."

Monroe Mechanical, a 54-year-old, family-owned HVAC and mechanical design company, was an early adopter of green technology, having installed more than 700 geothermal units since 1988.

Writer: Kevin LeMaster
Source: Melinda Zemper, Oak Tree Communications, LLC
Photography provided by Oak Tree