North Branch Construction received a Building New Hampshire Award at the 3rd annual Building New Hampshire Awards held at the Portsmouth Harbor Events & Conference Center. These awards recognize sustainable efforts in construction and the designers and builders on the forefront of this technology. North Branch was selected for an award in the commercial category in recognition of its Silver LEED and Energy Star certified corporate headquarters located at 76 Old Turnpike Rd. The design of the new headquarters by Udelsman Associates encompasses a wide range of sustainable and energy efficient design and construction concepts and methods. The construction site was chosen and engineered carefully to reduce the environmental impact of the project during and after construction. Some of the many sustainability objectives of the project include: reduction of water usage, reduction of waste through recycling, conservation of resources by using materials with high recycled content, usage of regionally manufactured materials. The design of the new building utilized the existing structure in order to reduce demolition waste and reduce a need for new resources. At the same time, the new building envelope was designed to maximize energy conservation through the use of high-efficiency insulation and fenestration. Energy efficiency was also a leading factor in the design of the building’s HVAC and electrical systems, including sophisticated lighting control systems. These systems not only reduce the company’s energy bill, but also improve the occupants overall well-being. Numerous indoor air quality and occupant comfort measures were introduced, including increased ventilation, improved thermal control, abundance of daylight and views to the outdoors from most occupied spaces. Finally, North Branch established an education program, based on their experience with the new facility, which is being used to promote sustainability and energy efficiency ideas among the North Branch employees, clients and business partners.