US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-12-11
Edmonds College in Lynnwood, Washington ,reports its recently completed Science, Engineering & Technology building has been awarded US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Gold certification in recognition of the building's energy efficiency and sustainability.

The $41 million building met rigorous standards for sustainability metrics including sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy use and eddiciency, indoor environmental quality and more. Gold LEED is the second highest LEED rating level a building can achieve. (Source: Edmonds College, PR, 10 Dec., 2020) Contact: Edmonds College, www.edmonds.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council news,  Energy Efficiency news,  LEED Certification news,  

Canada Green Building Council
Date: 2020-12-04
In Edmonton, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) is reporting its Productivity and Innovation Centre has achieved LEED Gold certification from the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC).

The building's LEED qualifying features include: green cleaning supplies and housekeeping program; low emissions paint, surfaces and floor coverings; low-flow plumbing fixture that deliver 30 pct reduction in water consumption; 90 pct of construction waste recycled; solar panel arrays; 40 pct reduction in energy costs, and others. (Source: NAIT, PR, Dec., 2020) Contact: NAIT, 780.471.6248, techlife@nait.ca, www.nait.ca; Canada Green Building Council, (866) 941-1184, info@cagbc.org, www.cagbc.org

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sdu, cANADA gREEN bUILDING cOUNCIL
Date: 2020-12-04
In Burnaby, British Columbia, Simon Fraser University (SFU) School of Sustainable Energy Engineering reports it recently completed 220,000 sq-ft Surrey Campus building has earned Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC) LEED Gold certification for sustainable design and operations.

The five-storey building incorporates 330 precast white cement panels with reflective surfaces organized around the light filled atrium and live trees at varying levels. The building incorporates various LEED qualifying energy efficiency features and underground parking, modern wet and dry teaching labs, classrooms, study spaces, faculty offices, meeting rooms and a 400-seat lecture hall. The project was partially funding through the federal government's Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) and matched by the Province of British Columbia. (Source: Simon Fraser University, PR, Construction Business, 1 Dec., 2020) Contact: Simon Fraser University, Larry Waddell, Chief Facilities Officer, www.sdu.ca; Canada Green Building Council, (866) 941-1184, info@cagbc.org, www.cagbc.org

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US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-11-18
The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) has released the architecture firm LMN Architects and Booth Hansen's USGBC LEED Gold certification qualifying design for a new 135,000 sq-ft Computer, Design, Research, and Learning Center.

Construction is slated to get underway in Spring 2021 for completion in Spring, 2023. (Source: University of Illinois-Chicago, School Construction News, 17 Nov., 2020) Contact: University of Illinois-Chicago, 312-996-7000, www.uic.edu; LEED, US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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USGBC, COastal Risk
Date: 2020-11-13
Geospatial modeling, data analytics, and risk assessment technology specialist Coastal Risk Consulting (CRC) reports it is partnering with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to deliver a RiskFootprint™ for buildings, communities and cities that provides a climate risk analysis. The service will integrate with LEED's vulnerability to physical climate risks.

Coastal Risk's automated assessments add to a project's due diligence and risk management. The RiskFootprint Dashboard and property-specific RiskFootprint Reports are an important part of a rigorous underwriting process and research-driven market analysis. The RiskFootprint Dashboard provides customers with a secure web portal, an interactive map of the US, and portfolio spreadsheet scoring for 14 columns of risk. This includes 6 current flood risks, 4 current, natural hazard risks (wind, tornado, earthquake and wildfire), and 4 future (2050) climate change impacts (tidal/sea level rise, extreme heat, extreme rainfall, and risk of drought). Contact: Coastal Risk Consulting, RiskFootprint, Albert Slap, Pres., www.riskfootprint.com; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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USGBC, Vanderbilt University
Date: 2020-11-13
In Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University has been honored with a 2020 Leadership Award from the U.S. Green Building Council for achievements in green building and its commitment to creating a healthy, sustainable future. The university was among 10 companies, projects and individuals across the nation to be spotlighted during the Greenbuild Virtual conference on Nov. 12.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, known as LEED, has become the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of energy efficient, high-performance sustainable buildings.

The Vanderbilt campus has 21 LEED certified buildings, as well as WELL and PETAL projects. WELL is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being, while PETAL is a green business certification program for making organizations sustainable and healthy.

Examples of Vanderbilt's sustainable architecture includes six "green roofs" that cut building energy consumption, urban heat island effects, improve storm water management, increase roof longevity and improve aesthetics, according to the release. (Source: Vanderbilt University News, 13 Nov., 2020) Contact: Vanderbilt University, Mike Perez, Chief Faccilities officer in the Division of Administration, 615-322-7311, www.vanderbilt.edu; WELL Building Institute, +646.883.5001, +646.607.1058, info@wellcertified.com, www.wellcertified.com; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  WELL Building,  Green Building,  

USGBC, Coastal Risk
Date: 2020-11-13
Geospatial modeling, data analytics and risk assessment technology specialist Coastal Risk Consulting (CRC) reports it is partnering with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to deliver a RiskFootprint™ climate risk analysis for buildings, communities and cities. The service will integrate with LEED, Arc and GBCI rating systems to help assess a project's vulnerability to physical climate risks.

Coastal Risk's automated assessments add to a project's due diligence and risk management. The RiskFootprint Dashboard and property-specific RiskFootprint Reports are an important part of a rigorous underwriting process and research-driven market analysis.

The RiskFootprint Dashboard provides customers with a secure web portal, an interactive map of the US, and portfolio spreadsheet scoring for 14 columns of risk. This includes 6 current flood risks, 4 current, natural hazard risks (wind, tornado, earthquake and wildfire), and 4 future (2050) climate change impacts (tidal/sea level rise, extreme heat, extreme rainfall, and risk of drought). (Source: COastal Risk Consulting, PR, 13 Nov., 2020) Contact: Coastal Risk Consulting, RiskFootprint, Albert Slap, Pres., www.riskfootprint.com; LEED,US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org;

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Aramark,US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-11-04
Philadelphia-headquartered food services and facilities provider Aramark Corp. is reporting its global headquarters office space in Philadelphia has scored US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Silver certification for sustainable workspace design and construction.

Specific LEED qualifying sustainability highlights include:

Water saving fixtures that reduce water consumption by 35 pct;

Efficient LED lighting that decreases lighting power density to 40 pct below code;

Over 90 pct of all appliances hold Energy Star certifications;

Locally sourced and manufactured materials and certified Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) wood used throughout;

75 pct of waste construction materials were diverted from landfills; and others. (Source: Aramark Corp., PR, Oct., 2020) Contact: Aramark Corp., www.aramark.com; LEED, US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  

US Green Building Council,Energy Efficiency
Date: 2020-10-05
In Alabama, Auburn University reports its Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center has been awarded US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Gold certification. The Center's energy efficiency and sustainability features include:

Reduced construction waste and pollution;

Reinforced use of public transportation, bicycles and fuel-efficient vehicles;

Improved storm water management for Auburn University and the city of Auburn through reduced rainwater surface runoff;

Reduced water and energy usage achieved with the use of high-efficiency fixtures and equipment and innovative building design;

Use of local and/or recyclable materials, and others. (Source: Auburn University, PR, Oct., 2020) Contact: Auburn University, Office of Communications and Marketing, www.auburn.edu; USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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USGBC
Date: 2020-09-11
In Dubai, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Gate Avenue has been awarded US Green Building Council LEED Gold accreditation and Green Building Certification Inc. for energy efficiency and building excellence from integrative design to human health to material use.

DIFC LEED qualifying features included: water conservation fixtures; extensive recycled content -- including concrete, steel and glass; energy efficient lighting; occupancy sensors; CO2 sensors; and others. (Source: Design Middle East, 10 Sept., 2020)

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USGBC
Date: 2020-08-30
In India, Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt reports its SRK House, the 2,25 million sq. ft. crafting unit of one of the largest diamond companies, has been awarded US Green Building Council LEED Platinum certification -- the US GBC’s highest rating for sustainable and environment-friendly building operations .

SRK House scored 86 points out of 100 in LEED certification eligibility eith energy efficiency initiatives that included: addressing the increasing demand of energy due to growth with the ISO 50002 Energy Audit; improved waste management practices; increased use of renewable energy sources; increased recycling; energy benchmarking; regular CIO2 disinfection for the indoor areas ; Natural Cooling through out; low-flow plumbing fixtures for water conservation; rainwater harvesting and other energy conservation and efficiency initiatives and features. (Source: SRK House, PR, Instore Mag., 25 Aug., 2020)

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USGBC
Date: 2020-08-26
In India, Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt reports its 2,25 million sq. ft. SRK House diamond manufacturing unit has scored US Green Building Council LEED Platinum certification for energy efficient, sustainable and environment-friendly building operations.

SRK House scored 86 points out of 100 in LEED certification eligibility with energy efficiency initiatives that included: addressing the increasing demand of energy due to growth with the ISO 50002 Energy Audit; improved waste management practices; increased use of renewable energy; increased recycling; energy benc-hmarking; regular CIO2 disinfection for the indoor areas; natural cooling and lighting; low-flow plumbing fixtures for water conservation; rainwater harvesting and other energy conservation and efficiency initiatives and features. (Source: SRK House, PR, Instore Mag., 25 Aug., 2020) Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org; Shree Ramkrishna Exports, +91 261 404 0544, www.srkexport.com

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US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-08-05
In North Carolina, the City of Greensboro is reporting receipt of US Green Building Council LEED Silver®certification for its sustainability efforts. The City began the process in May 2019 when it was one of 15 US cities to receive a grant to participate in the USGBC LEED for Cities and Communities Program, supported by Bank of America.

Throughout the LEED certification process, the City worked to track and verify performance on a wide variety of sustainability indicators including energy, water, transportation, education, health and more. LEED for Cities provides a consistent rating system and independently verified data analysis, allowing comparison with local, regional and global peer cities.

LEED-certification helps Greensboro advance City Council's goal of becoming a leading city in resilience, sustainability and energy independence, and to meet or exceed the state's commitment to address climate change and transition to clean, renewable energy. (Source: City of Greensboro, City News Release, 5 Aug., 2020) Contact: City of Greensboro , David Parrish, City Manager, www.greensboro-nc.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC news,  LEED Certification news,  Energy Efficiency news,  

Arizona State University
Date: 2020-07-13
In Tempe, Arizona State University (ASU), home of the world's first school of sustainability and the first university-issued sustainability degree, reports its new $120 million Biodesign Institute C R&D center has been awarded Lab Manager magazine's Excellence in Sustainability prize, part of the first annual Lab Design Excellence Awards.

Biodesign Institute C, which is also LEED Platinum certified by the US Green Building Council, is the third building in a set of four ASU scientific complexes focused on bio-inspired research for global impact. The building's sustainability and energy conservation features include: active chilled beams, which permit decoupling of space cooling loads from the required ventilation air; an enhanced run-around loop (ERAL) system in the air handling units; and other energy efficiency features.(Source: ASU, Lab Manager, July, 2020) Contact: ASU Biodesign Institute C, www.cfo.asu.edu/biodesign-c, USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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ACEEE
Date: 2020-06-29
In the Garden State, Maplewood Township (pop. 25,250) reports it is joining thirty communities in five states in taking the Sustainable States Community Energy Challenge.

The challenge offers technical assistance, tools and support to assess clean energy and energy efficiency goals and initiatives, and compares related energy achievements across similarly-sized cities, assess future initiatives, and provide project implementation assistance.

The challenge is a partnership of the Sustainable States Network, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), and five state-level sustainability programs, including Sustainable CT, Green Cities California, Sustainable Maryland, Minnesota GreenStep Cities, and Sustainable Jersey.

Maplewood Township is certified at the silver-level with Sustainable Jersey and has undertaken a number of initiatives to reduce energy use. For example, Maplewood Township: installed public electric vehicle charging stations; implemented an energy aggregation program which reduces costs and increases renewable energy use for residents; completed energy audits of all main buildings; upgraded lighting for energy efficiency in the Municipal Building, the Public Works building and Memorial Library; achieved LEED certification for the police and courts building; replaced old traffic signals with LEDs; participated in a cooperative buying agreement for cheaper and greener energy for buildings and purchased hybrid vehicles when replacing township fleet vehicles. (Source: Maplewood Township, PT, TAPinto.net, July, 2020) Contact: Sustainable States, www.SustainableStates.us Maplewood Township, www.twp.maplewood.nj.us Sustainable States Community Energy Challenge, www.sustainableconnections.org

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Jersey City
Date: 2020-06-12
In the Garden State, Jersey City officials are touting the Sustainability Incentive Program (SIP), a voluntary dual-pronged approach to development designed to reduce pollution while promoting sustainable development.

The first green initiative incentivizes new and existing development to divert storm water from the sewer system by installing green infrastructure, as well as meeting strict energy and water conservation standards provided in US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines. If the building is built to LEED certifications, it will receive a discount on water and sewer connection fees based on that level of LEED accreditation.

The second initiative is the Flood Overlay Zone Program, which will require new developments in FEMA-designated flood hazard zones to incorporate green infrastructure to help control localized flooding and minimize pollution runoff into local waterways. New developments will implement green infrastructure, such as rain gardens, green roofs, bioswales, and permeable pavement, to absorb and filter storm water runoff, which will help avoid combined sewage overflows in which sewage and wastewater overflow and pollute local waterways. (Source: Jersey City, PR, Hudson Reporter, 10 June, 2020) Contact: Jersey City Office of Sustainability, Kate Lawrence, Director(201)-547-4632, www.erseycitynj.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=6189744&pageId=12571658, www.jcmakeitgreen.org; USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Sustainability,  Energy Efficiency,  Green Infrastructure,  USGBC,  

US Green Building Council,Virginia Energy Efficiency Council
Date: 2020-06-01
In the Old Dominion State, Henrico County and the University of Virginia are being lauded by the Virginia Energy Efficiency Council and the US Green Building Council for innovation in their efforts to improve energy efficiency in schools, libraries, university construction and government buildings. The two green-building programs received the council's fifth Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards last month.

The county program included building or renovating 16 government buildings and schools to LEED certification standards since 2011, and the county is pursuing certification of LEED Silver or higher on six current projects. The efforts are credited with reducing energy consumption by approximately 30 pct, according to a release. (Source: Virginia Energy Efficiency Council, Richmond BizSense, June, 2020) Contact: Virginia Energy Efficiency Council, 804-464-8233, www.vaeec.org; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  LEED Certification,  ,  

Virginia Energy Efficiency Council
Date: 2020-05-19
In the Old Dominion State, the Richmond-based Virginia Energy Efficiency Council (VAEEC) reports it has recognized Henrico County and the University of Virginia with its fifth annual Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards.

Henrico County was recognized the construction or renovation of 16 government buildings and schools to LEED certification standards since 2011. The county is also pursuing certification of LEED Silver or higher on six current projects that will cut energy consumption by approximately 30 percent.

The University of Virginia's Delta Force Program was recognized for achieving energy efficiency and for its $17.4 million in energy efficiency projects for a savings of $28.7 million in energy costs and 180,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions since 2009. (Source: VAEEC, NBC12, 17 May, 2020) Contact: VAEEC, Cheslea Mamish, Exec. Dir., 804-464-8233, www.vaeec.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Virginia Energy Efficiency Council,  Energy Efficiency,  USGBC,  LEED Certification,  

Cora Group
Date: 2020-04-29
The Waterloo, Ontario-headquartered Cora Group reports its 104,000 evolv1 building project in Waterloo has achieved Zero Carbon Building Standard Performance certification through the Canada Green Building Council's Zero Carbon Building program. The Waterloo building was previously ZCB-Design certified and is presently awaiting LEED Platinum certification.

The building's sustainability features include: solar panels and a passive solar wall system; an open-loop geothermal system; 40,000-litre rainwater cistern and daylight harvesting; 28 electric vehicle chargers, and others. (Source: The Cora Group, DCN-JOC News Services , 28 April, 2020) Contact: Cora Group, Adrian Conrad, COO, (519) 570-2672, www.coragroup.com; Canada Green Building Council/Zero Carbon Certification, (866) 941-1184, info@cagbc.org, www.cagbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Canada Green Building Council,  LEED Certification,  

America University,USGBC
Date: 2020-04-17
In Washington DC, American University is reporting four buildings on its East Campus have received US Green Building Council (USGBC)LEED Gold certification for their sustainable design and construction. To qualify for LEED Gold status, East Campus incorporated the following elements:

100 pct of the buildings receive their power from green electricity;

97 pct of on-site construction waste was diverted from landfill;

the East Campus buildings are 27 pct more energy-efficient than standard buildings;

21 pct of materials used in its construction was locally sourced;

buildings incorporate 13,000 square feet of green roofs;

computerized thermostats to regulate temperature, providing optimum air quality and thermal comfort;

buildings use sealants, paints, and furniture with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs);

state-of-the-art HVAC systems;

ultra-low-flow faucets, toilets, and urinals use 43 pct less water than standard buildings, and various other energy efficient features and amenities.(Source: American School & University, 14 April, 2020) Contact: America University, www.american.edu; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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CapitaLand
Date: 2020-04-17
Singapore-headquartered CapitaLand reports it has secured a 4-year, S$400 million ($282.65 million) in green loan funding from the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC)to increase its green assets and enhance its global property portfolio by 2030.

According to the company's statement, the green loans will be used for financing or refinancing the development, investment, and acquisition of green buildings that achieve or are expected to achieve either a Green Mark Gold PLUS certification from the Building & Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA) or US Green Building Council LEED Gold certification.

The statement also notes CapitaLand will purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) from the solar energy generated from over 21,000 solar panels installed atop CapitaLand's six industrial properties in Singapore. CapitaLand holds 16 properties in Singapore, China, Belgium, India, and four business parks in India that are fully or partially powered by renewable energy. (Source: CapitaLand, MERCOM India, 16 April, 2020) Contact: CapitaLand Group, Andrew Lim, CFO, www.capitaland.com/international/en.html#menu-lang-main

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  Green Building,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-04-13
In the Golden State, the City Center Bishop Ranch retail center in San Ramon reports receipt of US Green Building Council LEED Platinum certification for energy efficiency. LEED qualifying features, programs and improvements include:

Promoting water efficiency and biodiversity by planting drought-tolerant and native plants throughout the center's landscaping and using reclaimed water for all landscaping.

Installing water-efficient fixtures that allow the center to use 36 pct less water indoors than typical buildings of the same size.

Reducing energy use by 48 pct compared to typical outdoor lifestyle/retail buildings of the same size -- equal to 1,112 metric tpy of greenhouse gas emissions.

Acquiring 25 pct of the building's energy from a solar PV array.

Diverting 98 pct of the center's construction and demolition waste from landfills through recycling or salvaging and using regionally sourced and recycled materials used in construction.

Incorporating zero or low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) finish materials (Source: City Center Bishop Ranch, USGBC, Danville San Ramon News, 12 April, 2020) Contact: City Center Bishop Ranch, www.citycenterbishopranch.com US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  

University of Pittsburgh
Date: 2020-03-25
In the Keystone State, the University of Pittsburgh is reporting its $17-million, 170-bed Livingston Alexander House residence hall in Bradford has earned US Green Building Council LEED Silver certification for green construction practices, water and energy efficiency, high-efficiency HVAC and thermal glass and insulation to reduce the building's energy consumption by 30 pct over standard construction.

The 3-story dormitory also utilizes renewable energy, organic compounds and furnishings made from recycled materials. (Source: University of Pittsburgh, PR, 23 Mar., 2020) Contact: University of Pittsburgh, Rhett Kennedy, Dir. Auxiliary Services, 412-624-4141, www.pitt.edu; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  

Albemarle Corporation
Date: 2020-03-13
North Carolina-based specialty chemicals industry leader Albemarle Corporation is reporting receipt of US Green Building Council LEED Gold certification for its headquarters 141,000 square-foot expansion project in Charlotte.

The USGBC recognized the company for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in the following categories: water efficiency, energy use and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, location and transportation. (Source: Albermarle Corp., Mar., 2020) Contact: Albemarle Corporation , Luke Kissam, CEO, 225-388-7402, www.albemarle.com; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Albemarle Corporation,  USGBC,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  

USGBC
Date: 2020-03-09
In Illinois, the Kane County Dept. of Resource Management reports the county is one of 20 agencies nationwide -- and the only one in Illinois -- awarded a US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED for Cities and Communities program grant to tackle larger-scale energy efficiency and sustainability objectives with help from regional partners.

The LEED for Cities and Communities program offers participants access to a performance platform, educational tools and professional liaison to support LEED certification, according to the USGBC website.

The grant program, which also receives support from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, allows county leaders to measure how their sustainability efforts fare both internally and globally. The program provides an award package to communities that have shown commitment in addressing climate change, resilience and social equity.

Each recipient receives an annual silver membership to the Green Building Council; registration and certification review fees in the LEED Cities and Communities program; access to the Arc platform that encourages improvement and benchmarking; and the availability of online educational resources, project management tools and monthly conference calls. (Source: US BC, Daily Herald, 7 Mar., 2020) Contact: Kane County Resource Management, Jessica Mino, Management Coordinator, 630-208-8665, minojessica@co.kane.il.us​, www.county ofkane.org; USGBC LEED for Cities and Communities Program, www.usgbc.org/leed/rating-systems/leed-for-cities, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-01-29
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced its list of Top 10 States for LEED green building. The list ranks states based on the number of LEED certified sq. ft. per person. LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world with more than 100,000 projects engaged. This year's top states are home to more than 105 million people, including more than 80,000 LEED green building professionals with the skills to support the sustainable transformation of buildings.

The top LEED state is Colorado, followed by Illinois, Mass., New York, Hawaii, Maryland , Virginia, Minnesota, Oregon and California in that order. (Source: US Green Building Council, Jan., 2020)Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  Energy Efficiency,  LEED Certification ,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-01-06
In the Bay State, the Boston-based U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is claiming the LEED energy efficiency certification of more more the 100,000 commercial projects.

The widely recognized LEED green building rating system, which is available for virtually all building and interior space types, provides a framework for highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. Certification signifies a building has gone above and beyond to ensure it is designed, constructed, operated and performing to the highest level of sustainability. (Source: US Green Buildings Council, Green Buildings, NEREJ, Dec., 2019)Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  

Rutgers University,USGBC
Date: 2019-12-23
In the Garden State, Piscataway-based Rutgers University reports its 106,000 sq-ft Richard Weeks Hall of Engineering -- Busch campus, was recently awarded LEED™ Gold Certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

The Richard Weeks Hall energy efficiency features include: energy cost savings of 29 pct through solar orientation and superior envelop design; mechanical systems include active chilled beams; ventilation with 100 pct outdoor air with energy recovery; occupancy controled LED lighting; a 38 pct reduction of potable water use; diversion of 97 pct of construction waste from landfills, and other energy efficiency and sustainability features. (Source: Rutgers University, School Construction News, 18 Dec., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Rutgers University,  LEED Certification,  USGBC,  Energy Efficiency,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-12-20
In the Windy City, Equity Office, the U.S. office arm of private-equity giant Blackstone Group, reports its 1974-vintage, 110-story Willis Tower -- fka the Sears Tower – has became the largest building in the U.S. to reach the US Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum certification for energy efficiency.

As previously reported , the building scored LEED Gold in 2018. In moving up to Platinum, building efficiency was improved via upgrades to heating and cooling systems, hot water generators, lighting, plumbing and an ongoing major overhaul of the elevator systems which make more than 46,000 trips daily and serve about 5.8 million people every year. (Source: USGBC, Star Tribune, 19 Dec., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  Energy Efficiency,  LEED Certification,  

ACEEE
Date: 2019-12-16
A recent CommercialCafe study ranking the top 50 U.S. cities on CO2 emissions reductions, air quality improvements, improvements in air quality, the number of US GReen Building Council LEED certifications, growth in environmentally focused occupations, ratings given by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and other related factors has rated top ten 10 U.S. cities making the most progress toward sustainability. According to the study , Washington, D.C. leads followed by New York City, Denver, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle, Baltimore, Atlanta and Portland, Oregon, in that order. (Source: CommercialCafe, KATU News, 14 Dec., 2019) Contact: CommercialCafe, www.commercialcafe.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,  ACEEE,  Energy Efficiency,  

Canada Green Building Council
Date: 2019-12-11
The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) is reporting Canadian LEED v4 project registrations have surpassed the 1,000 mark and more than 4,350 LEED certifications overall, making Canada a leader in LEED certifications.

Of Canadian LEED v4 projects, almost half are commercial and institutional new construction, with Ontario leading the way regionally with 27 per cent of projects, followed by British Columbia at 17 per cent and Alberta at 15 per cent. The CaGBC reached another milestone Nov. 27 with the first 10 certifications under the Zero Carbon Building Standard. To date, 20 projects are registered. (Source: Canada Green Building Council, Daily Commercial News, 9 Dec., 2019) Contact: Canada Green Building Council, Peter Whitred, Senior Manager, Green Building Programs, Thomas Mueller, Pres. and CEO, (866) 941-1184, info@cagbc.org, www.cagbc.org

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RenewAire,USGBC
Date: 2019-12-04
Waunakee, Wisconsin-based RenewAire reports its 111,000-square-foot, 35 year-old HVAC manufacturing plant has achieved LEED Gold certification in the “Optimize Energy Performance” category in. received 60 out of a possible 110 points for its efforts. Of the 60 points awarded, RenewAire received 14 in the. The ERVs and DOAS processes, which reduce cooling/heating loads and result in smaller chillers and boilers and less refrigerants, earned two points in the refrigerant management category. Other energy performance credits came from LED lighting, which cut lighting costs by 50 pct compared to industrial/office space lighting.

RenewAire has previously received two Green Globes and a LEED Silver certification for its former headquarters, a 32,000-square-foot Madison-based indoor soccer stadium it retrofitted in 2005 for its manufacturing headquarters. (Source: RenewAire, PR, HVAC, Dec., 2019) Contact: RenewAire, Chuck Gates, CEO, (800) 627-4499, www.renewaire.com; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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U.S. Green Building Council
Date: 2019-11-27
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is touting LEED Positive -- a new vision statement and LEED development roadmap that will lay the foundation for a future of LEED and guide USGBC in transitioning LEED from strategies that reduce the harm done by buildings to strategies that cause no harm and begin the process of healing and repair.

LEED Positive will encourage development that allows buildings to become a vehicle for environmental restoration and repair. The vision is composed of several parts that will work together to guide the development of the LEED rating system, including:

Proposed LEED Positive targets for energy and carbon reduction that will require new construction to go further and push existing buildings with high energy usage to substantially increase their efficiency efforts;

Define LEED Positive targets for other LEED credit categories that make up the holistic LEED rating system;

Continue investment in LEED v4.1 to accelerate the implementation and adoption of LEED for both new and existing buildings; and

Support category level performance certificates through the Arc platform to provide existing buildings with a pathway to LEED certification. (Source: US Green Building Council, Floor Daily 26 Nov., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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U.S. Green Building Council
Date: 2019-11-22
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is reporting the launch of "Insight", a new data-driven tool that highlights building project design features that can lead to better performance.

Insight is available as a feature of the Arc platform and provides information on the design attributes of LEED certified buildings within a specified geographic region. Using the tool, project teams can compare and rank potential sustainability strategies to see how they stack up against the performance of other buildings.

Insight leverages the depth of the existing LEED data to aid designers and builders in adopting smart, practical and achievable sustainability strategies.

Insight can be leveraged by LEED and green building teams to improve the design -- and eventually performance -- of their buildings by encouraging the implementation of best practices during the design and construction stage. Insight helps green building and LEED project teams identify practices that could improve building performance and eliminate those that pose a risk to their long-term investment. (Source: USGBC, Milehigh CRE, 20 Nov., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-11-20
The University of Illinois - Urbana is reporting receipt of its 21st US Green Building Council LEED Platinum certification for its recently completed $98 million Electrical and Computer Engineering Building. The UI campus claims 4 Platinum, 10 Gold and 7 Silver certified buildings.

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Building was cited for: sustainable site development; construction and waste management; water savings; energy efficiency; materials selection; a $3 million rooftop solar array with 950 panels; stormwater storage system; passive heating and cooling features; and various other energy efficient features. (Source: University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette, 18 Nov., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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Royal Canadian Navy
Date: 2019-11-18
Montreal-based international engineering and construction firm reports The Royal Canadian Navy's new 12-story Tribute Tower housing facility at CFB Stadacona in Halifax has been awarded Canadian Green Building Council LEED Silver certification.

The $65 million construction contract was awarded to a Design Build Joint Venture partnership of SNC-Lavalin Construction and Aecon Atlantic in 2013 but was constructed by Pomerleau. Architecture and LEED consulting services were provided by A49 of Halifax.

Additionally, SNC-Lavalin collaborated with Texas-based Protection Engineering Consultants to design Tribute Tower in accordance with the United States Unified Facility Criteria (UFC) 4-023-03 standard, making it the first Canadian structure built to this standard. (Source: SNC Lavalin, Daily Commercial News, Contact: SNC Lavalin, www.snclavalin.com; United States Unified Facility Criteria, www.iccsafe.org

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CBRE
Date: 2019-11-08
According to the 2019 National Green Building Adoption Index published by CBRE Group Inc., Maastricht University and the University of Guelph, Chicago is the nation's leader in energy-efficient office buildings for the third year in a row. The city added a near 2 pct gain over 2018, outranking San Francisco, Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Los Angeles.

The index analyzed green-certified office space across America's 30 largest office markets and found the highest in the index's history at 42.2 pct -- up from 41.9 pct from 2018. According to the report, 71.1 pct of Chicago's office buildings are market-certified green and hold either an EPA ENERGY STAR® label, USGBC LEED certification, or both.

(Source: CBRE, Lawndale News, 7 Nov., 2019) Contact: CBRE, National Green Building Adoption Index www.cbre.com/about/corporate-responsibility/pillars/environmental-sustainability/green building adoption index; CBRE, Corpcomm@cbre.com, www.cbre.com

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Minnesota Twins , USGBC
Date: 2019-11-01
In the baseball world, the Minnesota Twins are reporting receipt of US Green Building Council LEED Silver certification for sustainability. The certification was in recognition of the team organization's contributions to green building and sustainability in the sports industry.

The Twins were the first professional sports franchise to earn LEED Silver for both new construction and operations and maintenance, receiving those distinctions in 2010 and 2011, respectively, following the opening of Target Field and the team's first two seasons in their home ballpark. The Twins earned LEED Gold for facility operations and maintenance in 2017 and was recertified in 2019. (Source: Minnesota Twins, Ballpark Digest, Oct., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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Teknion,USGBC
Date: 2019-10-18
In the Big Apple, furniture design firm Teknion Corp. is reporting its 15,514 square foot New York City showroom located at 641 Avenue of the Americas has achieved WELL Gold certification from The International WELL Building Institute and LEED Platinum Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The New York property is Teknion's fourth to achieve WELL certification, and its second showroom this year. The New York showroom is also Teknion’s twelfth LEED certified showroom. (Source: Teknion, Woodworking Network, 16 Oct., 2019) Contact: Teknion, www.teknion.com; International WELL Building Institute, 646.883.5001, 646.607.1058, info@wellcertified.com, www.wellcertified.com; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-10-09
In the nation's capital, the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) reports it has been named as the US Green Building Council's first world-wide LEED Platinum for Communities certification recipient.

The 43-square block Golden Triangle currently hosts 63 LEED-certified buildings -- representing 42 pct of the total built area in the BID. (Source: Golden Triangle Business Improvement District, citybizlist, 7 Oct., 2019) Contact: Golden Triangle Business Improvement District, Leona Agouridis, Executive Director, (202) 463.3400, feedback@goldentriangledc.com, www.goldentriangledc.com; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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Canada Green Building Council
Date: 2019-09-25
The Canada Green Building Council reports it has awarded LEED Platinum certification (Existing Building) to the Sun Life Building in Montreal. The Sun Life Building is the first century-old building in North America to obtain triple Platinum certification in environmental performance and digital connectivity, having already earned BOMA BEST Platinum certification from BOMA Canada and WIRED Platinum certification from WiredScore.

The 1 million sq-ft, 1914-vintage Sun Life building scored higher than the level required for Platinum certification in the LEED system which measures a building's performance and efficiency in five sectors related to human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. (Source: Canada Green Building Council, Cdn Consulting Engineer, 24 Sept., 2019)contact: Canada Green Building Council, Thomas Mueller, Pres. and CEO, (866) 941-1184, info@cagbc.org, www.cagbc.org

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USGBC
Date: 2019-08-30
August 29, 2019 Portland’s Moda Center is the first arena to receive LEED O+M (v4.1) Platinum Certification, a major milestone in the greening of sports. The facility is part of a 30-acre sports and entertainment district on the east bank of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. It includes the 19,393-seat Moda Center and 12,888-seat Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter’s Chris McGowan says, “We are very proud to be the first existing professional sports arena to receive LEED Platinum certification. Nine years ago, we were the first existing arena to achieve LEED Gold status, and we continue to innovate and develop our sustainable processes and procedures to provide a healthy, sustainable arena for our community.” The green effort includes turning food waste into soil used throughout the Rose Quarter campus, contributing to the one million pounds of material diverted from landfills annually. After every event, crews sort through every bag of waste and put materials into appropriate streams. (Source: ConnectCRE, 28 Aug., 2019)

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US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-08-21
Coral Gables and West Palm Beach, FL: (August 19, 2019) In the Sunshine State, the Miami Business School, located on the University of Miami Coral Cables campus, is reporting receipt of US Green Building Council LEED Gold Certification for Existing Building Operations & Maintenance (EBOM). The project is the first LEED v4.1 OM higher-education building in the State.

Energy deficiency and sustainable design features of the 163,885 square foot facility include:

the building is 30 pct more energy efficient than the national average of university college buildings;

more than 90 pct LED lighting, in-room air quality sensors, audio/visual and tele-presence technology, and automatic window shading;

an average of 60 pct of the waste generated is recycled and/or reused;

a comprehensive carbon-footprint assessment of student and faculty transportation was completed to help meet transportation needs;

indoor air-quality testing was conducted to quantify levels of formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and other harmful chemicals. (Source: Miami Business School, University of Miami, Florida Trends, 19 Aug., 2019)Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org; Miami Business School, University of Miami, 305-284-4643, www.bus.miami.edu

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Bank of America, US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-08-19
In Houston, the 35-story, 775,000-RSF AA class Bank of America office building in downtown Houston reports it has been awarded US Green Building Council LEED Version 4 (V4) Platinum for Core and Shell -- the US GBC's highest level of green building certification.

The Bank of America Tower's energy efficiency and environmental features include: daylight harvesting technology; a 40 pct parking reduction; tenant metering; EV charging stations; a rainwater-collecting facade system; a green roof and others. (Source: US Green Building Council, Bank of America, new kerala, 18 Aug., 2019)Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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Bank of America
Date: 2019-08-19
Bank of America Tower Earns Nation's 1st LEED V4 Platinum for Core and Shell HOUSTON: The recently named Bank of America Tower, formerly Capitol Tower, was just certified LEED Version 4 (V4) Platinum for Core and Shell by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). V4 is the most stringent LEED version to date and Platinum is the highest level of green building certification offered by the USGBC. Bank of America Tower's LEED V4 Platinum for Core and Shell designation is the first in the United States and the highest scoring in the world. Environmental features include daylight harvesting technology, a 40 percent parking reduction, tenant metering, alternative vehicle charging stations, and a rainwater-collecting facade system. Bank of America Tower is a 35-story, 775,000-RSF AA class office building in downtown Houston. A key feature is the triple-height lobby / public indoor plaza that contains an expansive chef-driven food court, a social stair for gathering and watching live performances, and connects five existing below-grade tunnel connections from adjacent buildings. Atop the 1,360-car parking garage, a 12th-floor landscaped roof garden provides a convenient natural respite for tenants and features native plantings that help manage stormwater runoff. (Source: Bank of America, new kerala, 18 Aug., 2019)

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U.S. Green Building Council
Date: 2019-08-09
In its recently released LEED in Motion: Residential report, the US Green Building Council (USGBC) notes that green, LEED-certified homes have grown 19 pct since 2017 and are at an all-time high with nearly 500,000 single family, multifamily and affordable housing LEED-certified units globally -- with more than 400,000 units in the U.S. with California leading the pack with 40,000 LEED certified residential units, followed by Texas with more than 24,500.

LEED-certified homes use an average of 20 to 30 pct less energy than a traditional home, with some home owners reporting up to 60 percent savings. (Source: US Green Building Council, PR, Boston Real Estate Times, Aug., 2019) Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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Canada Green Building Council
Date: 2019-07-22
Brampton, Ontario-headquartered digital imaging specialist Canon Canada Inc reports it has been awarded the Canada Green Building Council’s LEED®, Gold certification for New Construction and Major Renovations 2009 certification for its corporate headquarters. . Canon Canada collaborated with Colliers Project Leaders and architects Moriyama & Teshima to construct the building which features:

Energy reduction and efficiency is built-in to the building's lighting and cooling/heating systems, with LED lighting that helps to save approximately 70 to 80% of energy (compared with traditional 60W incandescent lights) and building systems are set to shut off after hours to help reduce energy.

Natural light and solar-adaptive shading help to maximize daylight in the office while minimizing glare and solar heat, simultaneously aiding in the regulation of lighting and temperature.

Rooftop greywater collection system helps save 20%of the building's annual domestic city water usage (the equivalent of 4.5 million bottles of water); the water is reused for flushing and irrigation.

Energy-saving office technologies like Canon's own multifunction devices and display projectors automatically power down to minimize energy consumption in all meeting and copier rooms.

A sophisticated kitchen digestion system helps divert and reduce organic waste from landfills.

Encouraging employees to reduce carbon emissions by offering premium parking for green vehicles, employees that carpool as well as sheltered bicycle parking.

Employees and the surrounding residential community enjoy an expansive community green space, including a pond and recreational path, 6,000 drought-resistant shrubs and 200 drought-resistant trees to promote the area's wildlife biodiversity.

Phasing out the sale single-use plastic water bottles and plastic straws has begun at the headquarters and at all Canon Canada's 13 office locations across the country by the end of 2019. (Source: Cannon Canada, CNW, 22 July, 2019) Contact: Canon Canada, www.cannon.ca ; Canada Green Building Council, Thomas Mueller, President and CEO (CaGBC) and GBCI Canada

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Vanderbilt,US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-07-03
Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Tennessee reports its engineering and science building and Eskind Biomedical Library have been awarded US Green Building Council LEED Gold certification for environmental initiatives and energy efficiency. Twenty other buildings on the Vanderbilt campus are LEED certified.

The university with 12,600 students is launching a comprehensive plan aimed at reducing its environmental footprint, sourcing 100 pct of its power needs from renewable energy, and achieving carbon neutrality by the year 2050. (Source: Vanderbilt University, CleanLink, 2 July, 2019) Contact: Vanderbilt University, (615) 322-7311, www.vanderbilt.edu; USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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Alexandria, Green Building
Date: 2019-06-28
In the Old Dominion State, the Alexandria city council reports approval of an update to the city's 2009 Green Building Policy requiring new developments to have a 20 pct reduction in energy consumption, 29 pct reduction in water use and 3 pct cut in green gas emissions, compared to developments abiding by the 2009 standards.

The policy update features:: increased minimum certification for projects requiring a development site plan or development special use permit; priority performance points for certification; and enhanced public development standards. The first refers to the certification levels outlined in different third-party rating systems for green building standards. The city sets specific benchmark requirements for three systems -- US Green Building Council LEED, Green Globes and EarthCraft.

The new policy sets higher standards for public development than private development, although requirements for both types increased from those outlined in the 2009 policy. Public developments must now meet LEED Gold standards while private developments must meet LEED Silver stands. Projects not using the LEED system will need to meet the equivalent in Green Globes, EarthCraft or another third-party rating system. The new standards come into force in March, 2020. (Source: Alexandria City Council. Alexandria Times, 27 June, 2019) Contact: Alexandria City Council, (703) 746-4500, /www.alexandriava.gov/Council

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US Green Building Counci, LEED Certification
Date: 2019-05-17
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-headquartered consumer goods giant Unilever North America reports it headquarters building has been awarded US Green Building Council LEED Platinum certification sustainable buildings. he project was also recognized by the New Jersey Business & Industry Associate New Good Neighbor Award in support of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 pct while doubling its business.

The HQ building design incorporates smart technologies by EDGE that record data and automate the building's features and functions, including Internet of Things (IoT) systems enabling the building to learn from occupants' behaviors and remember their preferences. (Source: Unilever, PR May, 2019) Contact: Unilever, Catherine Reynolds MediaRelations.USA@unilever.com, (201) 894-7760, www.unileverusa.com; USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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