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c ata l i n a m e c h a n i c a l profile
tion’s ongoing Campaign for Quality
Construction.
“Our mission is to always exceed our
members’ rising expectations,” MCAA
says. “We accomplish this mission by
responding quickly and creatively to our
members’ needs and challenges, by
striving to increase their return on
investment, by embracing change, and
by capitalizing on new opportunities.”
Being a Star
MCAA also created the Mechanical
Service Contractors of America (MSCA)
to specifically address the needs of serv-
ice contractors.
MSCA monitors its members, and
when a firm demonstrates it offers com-
mercial business and facilities cus-
tomers “unsurpassed support, quality
workmanship and safe and reliable serv-
ice,” MSCA gives it STAR status. There
are currently more than 90 MSCA
STAR-qualified contractors in the
United States.
To recognize its members who have
shown “exceptional commitment to
environmental stewardship,” MCAA
and MSCA created the GreenStar certi-
fication program. Recognized by the
United States Green Building Council
(USGBC), GreenStar is a special certifi-
cation available only to MSCA STAR
contractors that are committed to pro-
moting environmentally conscious
service. To attain GreenStar status, con-
tractors must demonstrate they have
the skills and expertise to deliver ener-
gy-efficient and cost-effective indoor
environmental solutions to meet cus-
tomer needs and ensure tenant health,
safety and satisfaction. MSCA notes it is
the first contractor group to establish
this type of program.
To gain this certification, MSCA
STAR contractors must:
» Employ at least one LEED-accredited
professional;
» Be a member of a local chapter or the
national USBGC;
» Verify that at least 25 percent of their
total employees have participated in
green training or education;
» Offer specific sustainable services
and recommend green products and
equipment;
» Attain LEED certification, of any type,
for their building, or develop an internal
green policy; and
» Have participated as part of a project
team with a LEED-EB or LEED-NC
registered project within the past
three years. x
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