PINE BROOK, NJ–GSH Group, Inc., an international facilities and energy management provider throughout the United States and Europe, announced that One Garret Mountain Plaza in Woodland Park, New Jersey, which is owned by affiliates of Meritage Properties LLC and Mountain Development Corp. and is managed by Mountain Development Corp. has achieved an Energy Star label while being enrolled in GSH Group’s Energy Plus program. GSH improved the operating efficiency of the building by 50% in order to achieve the Energy Star label.

GSH implemented its Energy Plus contract at the facility in February 2007. The partnership program, with no cost or risk to the owners or managers, includes guaranteed energy consumption savings.

GSH invested in energy conservation measures in the facility to achieve energy savings, including regular monitoring and adjustments, and installation of a building management system, variable frequency drives, boilers, duct work and window film. GSH’s program has resulted in savings of approximately 1,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

According to the Energy Star website, Energy Star was created through both the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy to help protect the environment by emphasizing energy efficiency, both in products and practices. Energy Star’s energy management program for businesses has already been used for over 96,000 buildings across the United States, the top of which are awarded the Energy Star by the Environmental Protection Agency.

One Garret Mountain Plaza will be presented with the Energy Star plaque and will be included in Energy Star’s online registry.

Frankie McDonald, head of the Energy Controls Bureau and Vice President at GSH said, “We are proud that our partnership with Mike Donohue and the MDC and Meritage teams proved to be successful! While reduced energy consumption and increased tenant satisfaction are key aspects of the EnergyPlus program, achievement of the Energy Star label at One Garret provides even more validation for our EnergyPlus program.”