Kimberly Yurchick
Case Western Reserve University - Weatherhead School of Management
Chris Laszlo
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Clean energy
Energy conservation
Energy efficiency
Renewable energy
Melink Corporation located outside of Cincinnati, Ohio was the first net-zero energy building in the state of Ohio. When first designed, the building was originally given the LEED Gold NC (new construction) rating but by making continuous improvements such as the addition of solar panels and utilizing wind power, the company was awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification. Out of 100 possible points in the following categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation in Design, Melink's building achieved more than 80 points, awarding them with platinum status.
The building was designed and oriented to maximize the number of hours or daylight as a natural source of light, maximize solar heating during the winter and minimize cooling the summer. The building uses as much natural lighting as possible with the extensive use of exterior windows and skylights.
Steve Melink is a true innovator and entrepreneur. The idea for a green building came to Steve while attending a Green Building conference in 2004. He saw that energy conservation, energy efficient lighting and renewable energy was the wave of the future. Motivated by his daughter who was diagnosed with asthma at a young age, Steve wanted to build a better future for her and future generations. His ambition is to propel Melink Corporation forward to become "the Apple of the clean energy industry."
Melink is an energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy company.
Steve's dedication to the environment, his employees, and the community can be seen as soon as you enter the company's parking lot. The rows of electric car charging stations and solar panels on the building roof are an indication that he is a champion for the renewable energy industry. He is doing his part to improve the world one building at a time. In addition, to magnify the effect, the company has given tours to Fortune 500 businesses, international companies such as Toyota, and numerous universities with the hope to educate and inspire others to adapt to their energy efficient methods.
Melink Corporation features a long list of benefits:
The company's green initiatives are beneficial to the environment and society. By implementing a recycling program, the company cuts down on the amount of waste it sends to the landfill. Electric or hybrid cars help to reduce pollution in the air and the solar energy does not put a burden on the power grid.
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Steve Melink, President and owner
Any company looking to reduce costs and lessen its impact on the environment needs to look no further than the vision and inspiration of Steve Melink, president and owner of Melink corporation. The company is proof that not only does clean energy work but it can be both beneficial and profitable. Conserving resources, being energy efficient and using renewable energy has become a corporate way of life for Melink.
Steve Melink has consistently set goals for himself and Melink employees – how can they become better and more efficient with their operations? The team continually strives to be the leader in the industry – they went from LEED Gold NC and a 97 Energy Star rating a few years ago to LEED Platinum EB and a 99 Energy Star rating. As of 2011, Melink has a net-zero energy building, meaning they are putting as much energy back on the grid as they are using.