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Founded in 1987 by Steve Melink as an HVAC testing and balancing firm, Melink Corporation provided chain owners and operators a national, certified, and independent T&B service that was also professional and cost-effective. Steve was uniquely qualified to look at the HVAC units and building as an integrated system and thereby ensure optimal safety, health, comfort, and energy efficiency for his customers.
During the course of his test and balance work, Steve recognized the inherent waste of conventional constant-volume kitchen ventilation systems. He observed that the exhaust and make-up air fans were designed to operate at full speed all day long – even though most of the time the kitchens were operating at less than full capacity and often times with no cooking at all. To combat this wasted energy, Steve developed a commercial kitchen ventilation control system called Intelli-Hood® which varies the fan speeds based on the actual cooking load using temperature and optic sensors. Intelli-Hood became a second business as more and more customers saw the opportunity to realize significant energy savings.
To distinguish itself from other companies in its industry, Melink developed a national network of service technicians. The company hired and trained technicians across the country to ensure it could provide responsive and cost-effective service anywhere in the U.S. for both its test and balance and controls businesses. A database of reports for its customers to access 24/7 was developed allowing them to compare facilities more easily, and to provide them with one place where they could store and maintain records for years.
In 2004, Steve attended a green building conference which dramatically shaped his corporate lifestyle and vision for the company. He learned about the USGBC LEED rating system and encountered thousands of architects, engineers, manufacturers, contractors, and building owners intent on changing the building industry for the purpose of sustainability ... and in effect changing the world! This experience inspired him to design and construct the first LEED Gold NC office building in Ohio for Melink's new headquarters and truly walk the talk on energy efficiency. His goal was to show other companies how easy it really was to conserve energy and reduce building operation costs.
The result was people from around the country asked to tour the Melink headquarters to learn more about how to go green and the cost and benefits of doing so. Steve then began Melink's third business unit, Melink Solar, which focused on the design, installation, maintenance, monitoring and financing of large-scale solar photo-voltaic (PV) systems, the Ingrid® pre-engineered solar PV system, and a distributor of premier solar components including Abound solar modules.
Since then Melink has continued to push the envelope in energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy at its headquarters, using the building and corporate campus as a laboratory called "Melink Lab." We test numerous types of renewable energy and incorporate conservation and energy efficiency into our work lives (read about our Green Features). In 2010, Melink earned the LEED Platinum EB certification as well as an Energy Star 99 rating. In 2011, it became one of the first existing buildings to go net zero energy.
Steve speaks at many functions encouraging other companies to conserve energy, become more energy efficient and use renewable energy to help them develop their own sustainable corporate lifestyle. Visit Tell Us Your Story and let us know how your company is becoming more energy efficient!