Every step we take towards Net Zero equals a better future for our children. Consumers can certainly make meaningful changes, but it’s up to companies, large and small, to truly help reshape the future of the planet. Because every building has the power to change the world.
For over 30 years, Melink has been executing clean energy solutions for clients worldwide, lowering carbon emissions while increasing building values and raising company profitability. Just like we’ve done with our own Net Zero campus. We are passionate about helping create a dramatically more sustainable world. We’re committed to solving tomorrow today.
Melink by the numbers
|
250+
Unique Customers
|
150K
Sites
Serviced |
40K
Hoods
Controlled |
A more sustainable future is what fuels us.
By continuing to challenge the conventions of traditional energy technologies, Melink has become a global leader in energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions for commercial buildings. We offer five services and products that promote reduced carbon emissions and healthy buildings to support your sustainability goals.
We walk the talk
(and drive it, too).
We practice the clean energy practices we preach.
- Our corporate headquarters is LEED Platinum and Net Zero
- Our HQ2 building is one of the greenest buildings in the world
- Our technician vehicle fleet consists of all hybrid and electric cars
- Our parking lot features solar array canopies and vehicle charging stations
A history of living in the future
The Melink Timeline
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1987
Steve Melink founded Melink Corp and its first business unit – Melink T&B – providing HVAC test and balance services to restaurant chains. Wendy’s, Golden Corral, Brinker and Darden are some of its first customers.
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1990
Steve discovered the need for a controls system to save energy in kitchen hoods. Many were unprepared for this type of technology. When Melink invented the first demand control kitchen ventilation system, eventually known as Intelli-Hood, our team fought to make the technology code compliant. They succeed! Today, DCKV is required by many local and national codes. Not only was it a good idea at the time, now it’s a requirement!
The second business unit in Melink Corporation, REM1 (Restaurant Exhaust Modulator), was established. REM1 is now known as Intelli-Hood.
Melink received first grant from The Department of Energy for DCKV.
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1991
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 96 (primary code used to regulate commercial kitchen ventilation) amends its code in ways that effectively legitimize DCKV primarily thanks to Steve Melink’s efforts. From visiting with NFPA committee members, receiving endorsements, and installing more systems, he created perception and awareness that technology was going to pass the code standard process up unless it took action. And they did.
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1996
The Melink team moves into its first office building – a little white house in a residential neighborhood of Cincinnati. Melink T&B goes national to deliver consistency and coverage for customers, making it the first national TAB provider.
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2000
Upon being awarded new patents in multiple countries, this was the year of the Intelli-Hood upgrade. Our team made significant technology enhancements and REM-1 was now called Intelli-Hood. The product has more features, a user-friendly interface, and an easier and faster installation. Performance reliability increased, allowing scalability for Melink. Kitchen hoods in restaurants, schools, supermarkets, and hospitals were about to get a lot smarter!
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2001
Intelli-Hood moved to a warehouse separate from T&B, to accommodate growth for T&B and Intelli-Hood.
Intelli-Hood goes international, expanding to the UK and increasing Canadian market share.
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2004
A green building conference sparked Steve Melink’s inspiration to lead the sustainable building movement. He started by issuing hybrid cars for traveling employees.
The 2nd generation of Intelli-Hood was launched, including remote access capabilities and more intellectual property.
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2006
Melink moves into its new LEED Gold headquarters in Cincinnati, with a dedication service attended by the United States Green Building Council president and the governor of Ohio. This new building gave Melink Corp more space for the growing business, lowered its carbon footprint, and established the firm as a leader in sustainable buildings.
(LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings.)
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2007
Melink Corp awarded 2007 Award of the Year by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
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2008
Prompted by fascination from the public, Melink ventures into renewable energy by establishing a third business unit called Renewable Solutions which would eventually be named Melink Solar.
Melink Corp award 2008 Ohio Business of the Year by Green Energy Ohio
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2009
The first project by Melink Solar is completed in Dayton, Ohio.
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2010
Melink Solar gains momentum installing a major project for the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Melink Corp achieved an even higher status of LEED Platinum in 2010. Based on our research at the time, we were one of only 25 buildings in the world to achieve EB Platinum.
For the first time, in 2010, Melink Corp achieved an Energy Star rating of 99.
(The Energy Star program, run by the Environmental Protection Agency, has developed energy performance rating systems for several commercial and institutional building types and manufacturing facilities. These ratings, on a scale of 1 to 100, provide a means for benchmarking the energy efficiency of specific buildings.)
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2011
Melink HQ became Net-Zero Energy along with Energy Star 99 rated and LEED Platinum certified. The progressive integration of conservation, efficiency and renewable technologies made it one of the greenest buildings in the world.
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2012
Melink Corp awarded 2012 Product of the Year by International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition
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2013
2013 marked the 3rd generation launch of Intelli-Hood. Made to be more modular, scalable and improved remote access.
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2014
Melink earned the first Great Rated honors by the Great Place to Work Institute.
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2015
After experiencing the benefits of our geothermal HVAC system, Melink started a fourth business unit – Melink Geo – to mainstream technology.
Steve Melink was honored with the 2015 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Ohio Valley award in manufacturing solutions.
Melink Corp was awarded the 2015 Exceptional Energy Savings Award by the Urban Green Council
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2016
Melink was certified as a Great Place to Work® based on an independent survey conducted by the Great Place to Work Institute.
The patent for Manifest was granted. Manifest was launched as a packaged smart pump and control system for commercial geothermal heating and cooling.
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2017
Melink Solar & Geo received first grant from The Department of Energy with a goal to reduce first cost of geothermal heating and cooling systems.
Melink Corporation expanded their services beyond TAB to include total building commissioning.
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2018
Steve Melink decided to both exit the business and ensure those who help build the company will benefit the most, choosing for Melink Corporation become an ESOP. In 2018, Melink Corporation became an employee-owned company, with shares distributed under an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Due to this, our values remain: mission, culture, and brand. Every day, we come to work for each other, embracing the opportunity to grow our share price and further our mission.
Melink breaks ground on HQ2.
The first customer install of Manifest took place in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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2019
Melink launches PositiV, a standalone system that monitors your building’s pressure and remotely tracks building health.
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2020
Melink opened HQ2, a 35,000sq/ft Net Zero Energy test lab powered by a 60W solar canopy. The building utilizes several patent-pending technologies and control strategies to reduce energy usage, demonstrating the potential of different Net Zero strategies. Melink has been using this facility to develop and verify the performance of new energy-saving technologies that will be soon available in the marketplace.
Melink University, an internal educational program for employees focused on growth and professional development launched.
Since 2015, TAB business has doubled.
Melink Solar & Geo, Inc., awarded grant funding by the United States Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). This funding enabled Melink to accelerate the research and development of its next-generation Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System, which stored energy using thermal batteries.
What’s Next?
We will continue developing energy solutions for a brighter tomorrow for our customers, our families, and future generations.
