Partners Bernie Pisczek, Paul Nutcher and Mark Schulz have purchased the physical assets, intellectual property, client files and related equipment of Bertram & Bertram Inc./PRB Design Studio Inc. of Florida to form Green Apple Group LLC, which will focus on green initiatives within the construction industry. The three principals, all former PRB employees, will develop marketing strategies and branding for green or sustainable building products and services.
 
The original company was founded in 1978 by Paul Bertram, who was instrumental in the early stages of the green-building movement, launched in the late 1980s. Now retired, he has maintained many active roles in sustainable product development over the years, including participation with the Construction Specifications Institute, the U.S. Green Building Council, Green Globes and ASTM International.

While working for PRB, Pisczek and Schulz developed the LEAD DOG GQ (Green Quotient) software program, the industrys first tool for objectively assessing the environmental attributes of building products. Green Apple is currently developing a new program to analyze a products life-cycle costing.
 
"The green initiatives in the building industry are no longer fads or trends. This represents a direction that is permanent and quite necessary in order to preserve the future of our planet," Pisczek explained. "Green Apple Group will strive to be a major player in assisting manufacturers to understand and market their products within a framework of sustainability.

For more information, visit www.greenappleconsult.com.