Press Release
C.D. Smith builds new zero carbon cornboard facility
FOND DU LAC, Wis. – C.D. Smith Construction, Inc. (C.D. Smith), a full-service construction management firm, is building a carbon negative manufacturing facility for Corn Board Manufacturing, Inc. The facility, which will be located in Sac County, Iowa, will convert corn stover biomass – leaves, stalks and husks – into an environmentally-friendly engineered pressed board called CornBoard™. An example of upcycling a product that would otherwise be at the end of its useful life, CornBoard™ will be used to make pallets.
“The leading-edge nature of this project appeals to us,” C.D. Smith’s President and CEO, Justin Smith says. “Our involvement speaks to our desire to be on the forefront of innovation and an industry leader in environmentally sustainable construction. We’re excited to be part of this transformational effort.”
Corn fields show great potential as a renewable forest. Corn stover is plentiful and available after every harvest each year. If 20% of the available corn stover in Iowa was pressed into 4’x8’-half inch thick boards, it would cover 251,212 football fields or 332,182 acres.
“We’re looking at the big picture,” shares Corn Board Manufacturing, Inc.’s CEO, Lane Segerstrom. “The time has come for business to adapt and deliver life’s essentials in a nature-positive way. This project is a collaborative effort between like-minded organizations who are striving to do the right thing for our environment and our communities. Bringing quality jobs and economic development to Rural America through this carbon negative plant is extremely exciting.”
C.D. Smith is committed to enhancing the environmental, economic, and societal well-being of communities through sustainable construction practices. “We believe in the value of sustainable construction and went above and beyond for our own building,” Smith says. C.D. Smith’s corporate office, located in Fond du Lac, Wis. was the first project in Wisconsin to achieve LEED Gold® certification in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED v4 Building Design and Construction New Construction rating system.
C.D. Smith is partnering with McMahon Associates, Inc., a full-service professional engineering and architectural firm.
To learn more about C.D. Smith and its many projects and services, including the new Corn Board Manufacturing Inc. facility, visit www.cdsmith.com.
Our commitment to holistically enhancing the current and future environmental, economic and societal well-being of the communities in which we live, work and play in begins with education. We have a team devoted to understanding the difference between green building and a sustainable built environment. Our team will help you weigh the financial and business impacts of building green, through a sustainable approach, to make the most informed decisions. Join us in our commitment to
We are proud of the sustainable design and construction that went into our new headquarters. Key sustainable features include:
Atop of our new headquarters sits a 94kW ballasted, solar photovoltaic system. The system features five SolarEdge Technologies Inc. inverters and (294) REC Group 320w modules. It is projected to offset an estimated up to 39.1% of our electric energy consumption. That’s saving over 93 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere each year!
Floor to ceiling, energy-efficient windows throughout the C.D. Smtih headquarters optimize daylight to reduce energy consumption by offsetting the amount of electricity lightly needed to properly light spaces in the building.
Tracking and metering of systems allow for decreased operating costs, enhanced system performance, energy savings, increased comfort and overall increased control of building infrastructure.
Reusable cups are located in cafes. Recycling Stations are located throughout the building along with bottle filling stations. Office employees are making a valiant effort to go paperless.
As a part of our green initiatives, C.D. Smith is practicing sustainable landscaping. Native planting takes two to three years to develop and requires maintenance for the plants to successfully establish. Maintenance may include mowing, weed management, and prescribed burning. The land surrounding the building will look different throughout the season and every year.
Mercedes Tucker
920.924.2900
mtucker@cdsmith.com
Corporate Headquarters
125 Camelot Drive
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
Milwaukee Office
8325 W. Tower Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53223
Madison Office
316 West Washington Avenue
Suite 900
Madison, WI 53703
La Crosse Office
333 Front Street North
Suite 701
La Crosse, WI 54601
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