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Iris Window Coverings Outfits State Of Washington's Newest Office Building With Automated Window Shades To Slash Energy Costs


SITUATION

The State of Washington was approved to construct a 375,000 square foot office building (1500 Jefferson) in the state capital of Olympia to house both the state's Department of Information Services (DIS), as well as the state's Department of Personnel, Office of Financial Management, and additional users. This was to be the first major construction on the State Capital Campus in more than two decades – providing a most inviting new entry to the State Capital Campus – and plans insisted upon an environmentally-friendly (“green") structure which met rigid LEED Platinum standards.

APPROACH

Early in the design phase, the developers called upon Iris Window Coverings, the largest window shade dealer in the Pacific Northwest, to assess its window covering needs in meeting LEED standards.

Iris was quick to ascertain that monthly operating expenses was of primary importance to the state in running this building, and that a sizable nugget of this would be energy costs. With this, Iris recommended fully automated window shades tied to the lighting system, noting the intelligence of the system would regulate the opening and closing of the shades, while also adjusting the interior lights according to the amount of ambient light coming in through the windows.

OUTCOME

Iris furnished and installed fully automated window shades throughout the six-story, L-shaped structure, which also includes a three-story west wing. Since the building's ribbon-cutting in July 2011, monthly energy costs have come in far under budget, which the state attributes in large part to these window coverings. Employees have been ecstatic with the perfect balance of natural versus artificial light (thus also boosting productivity), and the state is looking to have Iris perform similar installations in other existing state office buildings.

ABOUT IRIS WINDOW COVERINGS

Iris Window Coverings of Renton, Wash., is the Pacific Northwest's largest window shade dealer, providing the largest selection of quality products, custom products, engineered solutions, installation and repairs, in addition to a host of sustainable solutions.

With offerings ranging from louver systems and rollers shades, to drapery and shutters and everything in between, Iris Window Coverings can provide maximum interior or exterior solutions, and with the ability to motorize or automate most selections.

Iris Window Coverings has also served much of the United States, in addition to Canada and Germany.

Iris Window Coverings' main showroom and corporate offices are located at 505 South 4th Street in Renton, with an additional location in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. For more information, call (800) 533-IRIS (4747) or (425) 793-9398, or visit www.iriswc.com.