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www.wbjournal.com Worcester Business Journal Business Profiles 2016 19 S ustainability has become more than just a buzzword for many Americans. In fact, sus- tainability is the philosophy by which a newly formed local company operates. Five young and enthusiastic individuals comprise the recently created Sustainable Comfort, Inc. (SCI), whose mission is to assist in constructing and renovating multifamily buildings into healthy, sustain- able, energy-efficient housing. Based in downtown Worcester, SCI brings its years of experience as a multifamily verification and consulting team at a national firm to the local community. SCI spe- cializes in LEED for Homes, ENERGY Star Homes, Enterprise Green Communities, Passive House, HERS Rating, State Incentive Programs and Code Compliance. The firm also helps to manage property and develop multifamily buildings. President Albert LaValley says, "After working for a national company, we wanted to become more involved in the local building environ- ment. Our focus is on green construction and consulting for multifamily housing in Worcester." In 2015, the company completed projects in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. "We have been fortunate enough to see many of our projects get an award or recognition," says LaValley. "We concentrate on always delivering a quality product." One of SCI's crowning jewels is the Tilley Lofts project in Watervliet, New York. This 80,000 square foot former ladder factory sat vacant for ten years; however, its loca- tion and rich history intrigued developers who imagined replacing the decrepit structure with an aesthetically and environmentally appealing energy-efficient apartment complex. But, the project presented some seemingly overwhelming challenges. Preserving the building's integrity – high ceilings, exposed wooden columns and large windows – while developing a property that would qualify for LEED certification, energy efficiency incen- tives and historic building tax credits, required the skills and know-how of a company familiar with such chal- lenges. With SCI's help, the developers were able to convert the old factory into a net-zero energy, LEED Platinum rated apartment complex, considered one of the coun- try's most energy-efficient residential developments. "We coached the contracting teams as to what energy efficient paths to take," says LaValley. "The challenge was to balance the requirements for a historic building and meet the energy requirements. We helped to design the energy-efficient goals of the project. We'd love to dupli- cate this project in Worcester." While SCI is driven to foster a sustainable housing market, the company is also determined to create an innovative work environment. "We focus on work-life balance and offer a generous living wage with a good 401K and benefits. We try to have an ad hoc lunch once a week," says LaValley. "We want to set a new standard by incorporating flexibility into work schedules." To opti- mize efficiency, whether working in the office or from home, SCI uses the latest technology. Although SCI has played a major role in numerous energy-efficient redevelopment and construction proj- ects in several states, the company has hopes of develop- ing its own multifamily housing complex locally. "The city is primed for growth. We'd like to build the first Passive House in Worcester," says LaValley. To date, Sustainable Comfort has certified more than 3,000 units for various programs and secured $2.5+ mil- lion in incentives for its clients. The company handles 25 projects each year and that number is growing. "We are convinced that through better construction practices and management, we can help architects, con- tractors and residents achieve healthier, sustainable, energy efficient housing," says LaValley. n Sustainable Comfort, Inc.: Focused on health, energy, and the environment W O R C E S T E R , M A Sustainable Comfort, Inc. Address: 146 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Worcester, MA 01608 Phone: 508-713-6680 Fax: 508-713-6680 Website: www.greenrater.com Product or Service: Green Building & Energy Efficiency Consulting Services, Property Management and Development Number of Employees: 6 Head of Company: Albert LaValley, President Year Founded: 2014 (Left to right) Albert LaValley, Andrea French, James Moriarty, Benjamin Rivest P H O T O S / E D D C O T E