Page 33 - Green Builder July-August 2018 Issue
P. 33
Uponor
For this heating and cooling
systems provider, it pays to be
e i le.
Uponor North America is part of Uponor Corporation, a
leading global provider of systems and solutions for hygienic
drinking water delivery, energy-ecient heating and cooling
and reliable infrastructure. Uponor Corporation operates in
30 countries, with a sales network covering more than 100
countries. Uponor North America (https://bit.ly/2zWTZzr) is
headquartered in Apple Valley, Minn.
Hot line. Uponor’s
OLF RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL Learning Center pre-insulated, flexible
in Finland, Minn., was the rst environmental piping was just the
learning center nationally accredited as a thing needed for a
K-12 school. More than 15,000 people all over quick install—and an
W the region stay at the facility for several days improved heating
to immerse themselves in developing the knowledge, skills, COURTESY OF UPONOR NORTH AMERICA system—at Wolf Ridge
Environmental Learning
motivation and commitment to create a quality environment. Center.
In 1996, the team at Wolf Ridge chose an Uponor Ecoex
pre-insulated pipe system to eciently heat various facilities
throughout the 2,000-acre They’re an Eco-Leader because...
campus. The flexible nature “Uponor addresses the key
of the product enables environmental issues of ■ In 2018 alone, Uponor has solidified its role as a thought leader in the mega-trend
Ecoex to bend around trees our time through areas of water and climate change. For example, in April, Uponor sponsored the
and boulders, minimizing 2018 Next Generation Water Summit, with leaders presenting on Uponor’s latest
disturbance to ground cover leadership in innovative intelligent water products to help achieve water conservation and reuse in the arid
and vegetation. ideas and sustainable Southwest. In May, the company hosted a multi-partnered Executive Sustainability
In 2017, Wolf Ridge once solutions to ensure the Summit to explore how Minnesota companies can take a leading role in addressing
again turned to Uponor Eco- well-being of people and issues such as global warming, resource depletion and disruption of the supply chain.
ex to complete a renovation ■ The company also signed a 10-year contract to participate in a pilot program
project. The facility is currently the planet. with Xcel Energy to meet sustainability goals through renewable wind and solar
the rst organization in Minne- Bill Gray, president, resources. Uponor reduced CO2 by 10 percent in 2017 and anticipates a 26
sota pursuing full certication Uponor North America percent reduction in 2018, along with wind and solar energy use increases of 20.5
for Living Building Challenge percent in 2017 and a projected 41 percent in 2018.
(LBC), a program, advocacy tool and philosophy that denes the ■ Uponor also has a new sustainability strategy to develop and differentiate the
most advanced measure of sustainability. Therefore, choosing United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Clean Water and
sustainable products was absolutely essential, according to Wolf Sanitation, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Responsible Consumption and
Ridge Executive Director Pete Smerud. “We referred to LBC’s Production, and Climate Action.
Red List chemical guide when choosing our products for the ■ Uponor North America will focus on becoming Green Office certified by the end of
renovation,” Smerud explains. “The Red List is a list of products 2019. The main focus areas will include energy, employee behaviors, and waste
that are deemed bad for the environment and human health. and recycling. The company also completed its transition to ISO 14001: 2015
environmental management system in June 2018.
PEX pipes are not on that list, but CPVC and PVC pipes are. One
of the greatest things about Uponor is they know their products’ ■ In 2016, Uponor partnered with Belkin International to form the water company
ingredients because they manufacture the products themselves.” Phyn, to help consumers handle water needs and help solve major challenges
facing the global water supply. The company recently unveiled its Phyn Plus smart
Ecoex’s exibility enabled the construction crew to install 300
feet of PEX pipe a day. “I give Uponor Ecoex two thumbs up,” water assistant + shutoff, which notifies homeowners of leaks via an app and can
shut off water in the event of a catastrophic leak. This new device is expected to
Smerud says. “Truly, I have no concerns because it’s performed have a large impact on the 1 trillion gallons of water wasted annually worldwide.
so awlessly for us for years.”
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