"We care for the environment and are dedicated to reduce our impact to a sustainable level" reads Van Melle's mission statement on the wall just inside the entrance to this candy factory's offices. (They make Mentos and Air Head candies. Airheads only at this plant). With this guiding philosophy from the company's international headquarters in Holland, Van Melle USA has begun to implement energy efficiency and alternate energy projects which are radical in comparison with other Greater Cincinnati businesses. Even before it decided in 1995 to expand its office space, Van Melle hired Control Solutions of Lebanon, Ohio, to do energy audits of its existing all-electric facilities and to implement prudent energy-saving strategies. One finding was that Van Melle could save 25% on its heating and cooling bills by installing a geothermal system. The installed 200-ton geothermal system in place today is coupled to a large pond on the property. One of the largest closed-loop pond- based systems in the US, it provides 70% of the current expanded building's heating and cooling energy.
Before beginning Van Melle's renovation and addition design, Humpert Wolnitzek Architects (HWA) of Covington studied how to optimize efficiency, incorporate renewable energy and maximize recycled content. HWA's design not only included efficient artificial lighting, but also aggressive daylighting with windows, roof "monitors" and "light-scoops" to bring natural light into the heart of the building . Used as awnings over south- facing windows, PV panels provide 3.8 kW of grid-intertied electricity and shade to block the summer sunbeams. Entropy Ltd. of Cincinnati installed the PVs and a solar water-heating system too. Inside the building, recycled-content carpet was used for many floor coverings. Many purchased furniture items were made from sustainably harvested lumber.