Green Building & Sustainable Design

Sustainable Practices

Bruce Construction LLC subscribes to the many practices that help make a building environmentally conscious. LEED certified buildings are mindful of sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environment quality, and innovation and design process. These are all aspects we greatly consider when constructing or remodeling a project. Bruce Construction utilizes low-impact products and procedures that create a stewardship with the environment and the well-being of its inhabitants.

Eco-Friendly/Green Design

GreenForge

To view before and after images of the GreenForge Project, please visit our photo album.

Bruce Construction served as the general contractor of GreenForge, Westmoreland County's first green rehabilitated commercial building. GreenForge is a previously vacant, 23,000 square foot building along Donohoe Road in Hempfield Township.

In rehabilitating GreenForge, they used sustainable materials, energy conserving technologies, and best management practices for stormwater and landscape design. Features range from densely packed cellulose fiber insulation to an advance geothermal system, which provides both heating and cooling at the same time to different parts of the building in response to the particular needs of the tenants.

GreenForge is also the first building in Westmoreland County to have a green roof - a flat roof planted with literally thousands of living green plants, which reduces stormwater runoff, in addition to other benefits. GreenForge is also distinguished for a ground-breaking stormwater management approach that allowed it to increase the number of parking spaces while decreasing the amount of paved surfaces.

Tenants in the GreenForge building are complimentary of the green building techniques used and the amenities they provide.

Mark Haughey, tenant of GreenForge, was looking for an office space that provided ample natural light for the employees to enjoy. GreenForge provided just that.

"The office provides a very positive environment. Looking outside any window provides a scenic view. We especially enjoy viewing the plants on the green roof, which we know serve as an important part in the energy efficient roof, as well as beauty."

Virginia Stump, another tenant of GreenForge, says "This building has great climate control, resulting in more air movement and higher air quality."

International Society of Aboriculture (ISA)

Bruce Construction is staffed with as well as a proud member of the largest and most influential arboricultural organization in the world. Our relationship with the ISA is an important part in our efforts to support the environment in any way we can while building and constructing. For more information, visit the ISA website.

Naturalstep.org

The Natural Step is a non-profit organization that strives to obtain and create a sustainable society. The Natural Step suggests ways in which business can use sustainability as an opportunity. Economic, social, and environmental systems are all dependent upon each other and The Natural Step helps to drive business strategies from this interdependence. For more information, visit The Natural Step's website.