Bell Electrical Contractors Tackles High-Profile “Green” Projects

Bell Electrical Contractors has been selected as the electrical contractor on record for a number of “green” projects in the St. Louis area, including Washington University’s Danforth Student Center, Solae Company headquarters, the redevelopment of St. Louis Centre, and the John Burroughs Sports and Performing Arts Center. All are LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified projects.

Bell is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, which is the sponsor of the LEED program. The company also has a LEED Accredited Professional on staff who has demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles of the LEED Rating System. LEED certified projects must meet strict standards aimed at improving the environment, including the installation of efficient energy systems, use of recyclable construction materials and use of construction methods which reduce environmental damage at the site.

In addition to taking on “green” projects, Bell incorporates energy-saving concepts and practices into other areas of its business. All of the worn-out florescent light bulbs and exterior lamps collected during the execution of the company’s lighting maintenance contracts are recycled at an approved facility. Bell also participates in Ameren UE’s Pure Power program on the Leader Level. Pure Power is a Green-e Certified®, voluntary program which gives AmerenUE electric customers the opportunity to support wind farms and other renewable energy facilities in the Midwest.

“Sourcing your energy from coal or gas fired turbans is certainly harmful to the environment,” says Charles Pavalec, Bell’s President. “We can never get away from it because wind does subside and the sun does go down. Yet there are a lot of things we can do to help reduce consumption and minimize its effect on the environment. Too many companies want to talk the talk of going “green”. Bell is willing to put forth the effort to walk the walk and lead by example”.

Some of the energy-saving concepts Bell incorporates into its “green” projects include designing lighting systems in a creative way so that the client will use less wattage per square foot, and the use of occupancy sensors. “The architect and the whole team work together to make a green building happen,” says Pavalec. “When purchasing materials, we even factor in the manufacturer’s location to the project so that we can save as much as possible on gas and transportation costs. And, since construction creates a lot of trash, we always make sure to separate  metals from paper and wood products so they can be recycled instead of going into landfills.”

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