Leaders of Lansing's
PM Environmental, Inc., (PME) say that Grand Rapids' recognized leadership in green building makes it the perfect location for the firm's new Sustainability and Energy Division.
PME hired Nate Gillette, an architect formerly with
Bazzani Associates Inc. in Grand Rapids, to head up the division, and Bryant LePres, a graduate of
Aquinas College's sustainable business degree program. The division will operate from PME's satellite office at 77 Monroe Center.
"Many of our clients are big banks like
Chase,
Comerica,
Wells Fargo and
PNC, and they're all looking to invest in energy efficient buildings," says Mike Kulka, vice president and co-founder. "Energy efficient buildings are cheaper to operate so therefore they appraise higher. The tenant is willing to pay a higher rental rate because they're paying less for utilities."
PME was already working with dozens of banks doing environmental due diligence on commercial properties and evaluating foreclosed commercial properties for possible contamination issues. The banks came to PME, Kulka says, and asked the company to expand its services to include energy efficiency.
"Our vision is to grow this group nationally with
BB&T and PNC," Kulka says. "We want to be the sustainability and energy efficiency group that assists companies with planning energy efficient buildings and sustainability.
"We are very excited to have Grand Rapids as our base for this effort because of Grand Rapids' recognized leadership in green building," he adds. "That recognition is a marketing point for us."
Source: Mike Kulka, PM Environmental, Inc.
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.