RENO CONTRACTING SUSTAINS ITS GREEN PATH

The movement to incorporate sustainable materials and green building practices into new construction projects continues to grow, and Reno Contracting, one of Southern California’s premier building contractors, stands at the head of the push to “go green.” They are active members of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) which is a non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable building design and construction. The USGBC goal is to change current building practices and offers certification to those who incorporate green materials and processes into their projects.

San Diego’s Reno Contracting currently has four major projects nearing completion, and all are in line for USGBC’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification—and a fifth, Arena Pharmaceuticals, is in the planning stages to obtain a LEED New Construction certification. The green momentum is changing building and it’s not a fad; city, county and state governments are beginning to mandate that the use of sustainable materials and green construction practices be included in building projects. The public at large—not just “environmentalists”— has begun to realize that our environment is a fragile entity, and what was once thought of as “business as usual” has given way to a new paradigm: we can build responsibly by using materials that come from sustainable sources, while reducing certain costs. For instance, builders can recycle surplus building waste rather than simply truck it to a landfill.

Reno Contracting was established in 1993 and is now the fifth-largest general contractor in San Diego County, with a growing presence in the Inland Empire. Reno’s award-winning commercial office, biotech, healthcare, industrial, retail and tenant improvement projects shape the San Diego community, and they feel responsible for protecting the environment. Ranked among the top 50 Green Contractors nationwide, with seven LEED-Accredited Professionals on staff who work to meet the USGBC’s LEED requirements on their projects, Reno’s team is at the forefront of Southern California’s green initiatives. The emphasis on environmental responsibility at Reno and other firms has brought welcome attention by developers, investors, architects and designers who have signed on to incorporate the green ethic in their plans.

This movement in construction offers more than environmental rewards: project owners are seeing investment returns on a green building within five to seven years and long-term energy savings offer more value to occupants of a LEED-certified building. At Reno, planning for additional green projects has doubled in the past year, with more certified buildings coming into the marketplace.

Reno Project Manager Eric Gradyan, a LEED-Accredited Professional, reports that “Nowadays, developers are coming to the table with the desire to build a green building, and we’re seeing more green projects coming to Reno. We found that all our pre-planning to incorporate LEED-Certification into projects not only helps with the sustainable nature of the structure, but also encourages builders, designers, consultants and owners to think about new construction in the initial stages. It’s a huge benefit for all sustainable projects—having everyone involved working toward green construction at the beginning.”

Reno Contracting continues to explore new materials and construction techniques that have less impact on our environment, as they move forward as a leading advocate for green construction.