Environmental Dynamics Inc. works toward a green future

Environmental Dynamics Inc. opened as the first “green” office in Boynton Beach on Dec. 8 at 100 NE Sixth St. in the Marina Village and was fully operational in late January.
For the past handful of months, the green architecture firm has been working with businesses in central and southern Florida.
The mission of EDI, founded by Stace McGee in 1998, is to design sustainable businesses that will last from one generation to the next and impact the environment the least, McGee said.
One of the Florida businesses EDI has worked with in the past year is First Green Bank, located in Central Florida.
According to the bank, it is the first of its kind to promote positive environmental and social responsibility while operating as a traditional bank providing service to investors and clients.
Some of the aspects that make the bank green include self-recycling and employees driving efficient cars to work.
Wayne Segal, Boynton Beach spokesman, said the opening of EDI was part of an initiative to attract more “green” businesses to Boynton Beach.
Segal said heating, cooling and powering of office space were responsible for almost 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the country, and account for more than 70 percent of annual United States electricity usage.
In its new Boynton Beach office, EDI has incorporated design, construction and operational practices that will significantly reduce negative impacts on the environment and company employees, Segal said.
Mayor Jerry Taylor recognized EDI for being the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified office in the city.
To be LEED-certified, a business must lower operating costs and increased asset value, reduce waste sent to landfills, conserve energy, conserve water, make the business healthier for occupants, reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and demonstrate an owner's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
The qualifications to be certified go along with the fact that “green” businesses operate in ways that solve, rather than cause, both environmental and social problems.
As part of the plan, Boynton Beach is trying to identify opportunities where a demand for a “green” business exists and use an economic incentive program to attract these types of businesses to the city.
McGee said he was very impressed by the enthusiasm of Taylor and the Boynton staff to go and develop a “green” city.
McGee wants to take things a step further from sustainable business that impact the environment the least to designing regenerative architecture in the future.
With regenerative architecture, the designs will help to reverse negative environmental effects.
“I think they [Boynton Beach] want to make it part of a long-term goal to be more efficient and even save money by helping the environment,” McGee said.
McGee said he has not seen other green businesses enter the area as of yet but that he is optimistic more will join soon.