SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

Crow & Bulman Engineering was advocating sustainable principles before there was a Green Building Council (see INNOVATION tab). Our knowledge of energy dynamics, from source to use, has always been a major factor in our designs. After completing design on the first commercial LEED office building in South Carolina in 2003, many more LEED projects have followed. With the mechanical systems of buildings typically accounting for 40% +/- of the LEED points, history and experience is critical in the building design.  Crow & Bulman Engineering has energy modeling certifications from both ASHRAE (BEMP) and Association of Energy Engineers (BESA). 

• QS/1 Corporate Headquarters, Spartanburg, S.C., 2003 (LEED Silver)
• Mary Black Foundation, Spartanburg, S.C., 2003 (LEED Gold)
• Integral Solutions Headquarters, Spartanburg, S.C., 2005 (LEED Certified)
• Hubbell Corporation Headquarters, Greenville, S.C., 2005 (LEED Certified)
• Wofford College Environmental Studies Center, Spartanburg, S.C., 2009 (LEED Platinum)
• University of South Carolina Upstate Business School, Spartanburg S.C. 2009 (LEED Certified)
• Spartanburg Day School Athletic Complex, Spartanburg, S.C., 2010 (LEED Certified)
• Spartanburg Day School, New High School Building, Spartanburg, S.C., 2010 (LEED Certified)
• Spartanburg Day School HVAC Renovation: new geothermal HVAC system to replace the original 1960’s equipment, 2010. (LEED Gold)
• Monarch Elementary School, Greenville, SC, 2012 (LEED Certified)
• Spartanburg Community College Downtown Campus, Spartanburg, SC (LEED Silver)

In addition to LEED certified buildings, Crow and Bulman Engineering is the mechanical designer for several Green Globe Certified buildings:  Drayton Mills Elementary School (2018, 1GG); Spartanburg High School (2019, 2GG); Wofford Chandler Center for Environmental Studies (2020, 3GG). 

Energy use is our passion, and it is reflected in the utility bills of all of our clients, not just in LEED designs. The S.C. Energy Office compiles and publishes energy operating cost statistics for public school districts throughout the state. In their Eleventh Annual Report for fiscal year 2002, they list schools in order of most cost efficient. It is noteworthy that of the top eleven school districts in the state of South Carolina, Crow & Bulman Engineering is the primary mechanical engineering design firm for four of these districts (out of 68 districts reporting).

The central energy plant engineering and renovations at Spartanburg Community College contributed to the college becoming the standard for energy efficiency. The S.C. Energy Office records of state-wide campus energy use, had SCC’s energy usage ranked #1 in the state (for non-resident colleges, 2009).