US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-01-10
Following up on our November 9, 2018 coverage, 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. The building received a $500 million energy efficiency and sustainability upgrade in 2018.

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 Willis Tower,  Energy Efficiency,  US Green Building Council,  LEED Platinum,  

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,  

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

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

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

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  U.S. Green Building Council,  Energy Efficiency,  Green Building,  LEED Certification,  

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

More Low-Carbon Energy News LEED Certification,  U.S. Green Building Council,  Energy Eficiency,  

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

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

USGBC
Date: 2019-11-18
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) reports its LEED ratings system for sustainable building has reached a new milestone with more than 100,000 registered and certified LEED commercial projects with 2.6 million square feet being certified every day. .

"Today millions of us are living, working and learning in LEED-certified buildings around the world. These spaces are using less energy and water, mitigating the environmental burden on their communities, saving money and offering the people who occupy them a better quality of life. This latest milestone demonstrates how the global green building community is delivering on the vision we set forth more than 20 years ago with better buildings and spaces that equal better lives," said USGBC Pres. Mahesh Ramanujam. (Source: USGBC, 17 Nov., 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 Gold,USGBC
Date: 2019-11-11
In Dubai, Empower, the district cooling service is reporting construction is underway on its $76.2 million headquarters in Al Jaddaf.

The 10-story mixed use office and residential building will be constructed to US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Gold Certification standard and is expected to be inaugurated in Q1 of 2021. (Source: Empower, MEP, 10 Nov., 2019) Contact: Empower, www.empower.ae; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  Dubai Empower,  Energy Efficiency LEED Gold,  Energy Efficiency,  

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

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

USGBC
Date: 2019-10-23
In the Golden State, Block D, downtown San Diego's first multi-tenant commercial office building to be constructed in more than a decade, has been certified LEED Platinum by the USGBC. The six-story, 60,000-square-foot mixed-use Makers Quarter building is the first to hold this designation in downtown San Diego. (Source: Connect California, 22 Oct., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

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

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

USGBC,Well Building
Date: 2019-10-16
Castalla (Alicante), Spain-headquartered furniture design and manufacturer Actiu reports it has become the fifth office complex in the world to receive the Well v2 Platinum certification and the first in the world to hold both WELL v2 Platinum and US Green Building Council LEED Platinum.

The WELL v2 Platinum Certification, granted by the Well Building Institute (IWBI) and audited at Actiu by CBRE, accredits, through a rating system for buildings and communities, to what extent these spaces have been built to ensure the health and well-being of its occupants.

This accreditation, together with the one achieved in 2017 when the company's headquarters in Castalla consolidated its LEED Platinum Certification (before that, LEED Gold in 2011) due to its Technology Park's sustainable architecture, has made it the first industry in the world to gain these two international awards. (Source: Actiu, infurma, International Habitat News, Oct., 2019) Contact: Actiu, +34 966 560 670 www.actiu.com/en; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org; International WELL Building Institute, +646.883.5001, +646.607.1058, info@wellcertified.com, www.wellcertified.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-08-12
In Maryland, both the city of Frederick and Frederick County are reporting receipt of LEED Silver certification under the US Green Building Council's LEED for Cities catagory for their commitment to sustainable growth and progress.

The City of Frederick's sustainability plan includes; targeting sustainability, carbon reduction, disaster preparedness, electrical vehicles, stream restoration, historic preservation, composting and recycling initiatives, as well as the watershed master plan and Frederick Community Action Agency services. The city of 65,000 +- residents is also purchasing renewable energy credits and continues to upgrade its lights to LEDs. (Source: City of Frederick, Md., Pr, Com. Property Exec., 10 Aug., 2019) Contact: City of Frederick, www.cityoffrederick.com; USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

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

More Low-Carbon Energy News U.S. Green Building Council,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  

American Water
Date: 2019-08-07
In the Garden State, water and waste utility American Water reports receipt of US Green Building Council LEED is has been awarded LEED Platinum certification for its new corporate headquarters building in Camden, NJ. Notable environmentally friendly and energy efficient building features include:

A water reuse system, providing water for the building toilets and landscaping;

LED lighting through the building and solar shades on the windows to maximize the use of natural light;

High-efficiency glass windows to reduce the heat impact inside the building;

Low-flow toilets, sinks and showers to reduced water usage;

High-efficiency HVAC systems to reduce energy consumption.

American Water's new headquarters is the first and only building in Camden, NJ to be certified LEED Platinum. (Source: American Water, PR, 6 Aug., 2019) Contact: American Water, Susan Story, CEO, www.amwater.com; USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

USGBC,ReNew Power
Date: 2019-05-15
In the Sub-Continent, independent power producer ReNew Power Ltd. reports receipt of US Green Building Council LEED Gold Certification for energy efficiency and sustainable construction at the company's ReNew Hub corporate office in New Delhi.

The ReNew Hub corporate office energy efficiency features include: CFC free refrigerants in the HVAC system; water efficient plumbing features that have cut water consumption by half; waste segregation measures; the use of eco-friendly cleaning materials; and other features.

ReNew Power Limited develops, builds, owns and operates utility scale wind and solar energy projects as well as distributed solar energy projects that generate energy for commercial and industrial customers. (Source: ReNew Power, PR, May, 2019) Contact: ReNew Power Limited, Ms. Vaishali Nigam Sinha, Chief Sustainability Officer, www.renewpower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  LEED Certification,  ReNew Power Ltd,  Renewable Energy,  Energy Efficiency,  

USGBC, Bodega Garzon
Date: 2019-05-15
Bodega Garzon, a 500-acre boutique winery in Uruguay claims to the first sustainable winery outside North America to be awarded US Green Building Council LEED Silver certification.

Throughout the LEED-certification process, the winery reportedly received the highest possible scores in water efficiency and design innovation. The facility uses 100 percent non-potable water for irrigation and implemented original wastewater technologies. The winery also features a green roof with native species, a rainwater harvesting and reuse system; and high-efficiency HVAC with heat recovery for energy efficiency. (Source: Bodega Garzon, Commercial Property Exec, May, 2019)Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

USGBC
Date: 2019-05-13
In Boston, MGM Resorts International reports its MGM Springfield is the world's first gaming resort to win US Green Building Council LEED platinum-level energy efficiency certification for new construction.

MGM Resorts noted the installation of a new 1.13-MW solar array was "a significant enabler" of the LEED platinum rating. The solar canopy is expected to generate more than 1,600 mWh of electricity and reduce the casino's annual carbon footprint by the equivalent of 410 metric tons of CO2. Other LEED qualifying features include: a rainwater collections system that provides all the water used for landscaping on the property; 50 electric vehicle charging stations and more. (Source: MGM, USGBC, MetroWest Daily News, 12 May, 2019) Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

USGBC
Date: 2019-04-24
In the Windy City, the Chicago Aviation Commission reports O'Hare International Airport's South Air Traffic Control Tower has been awarded US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Gold certification for energy efficiency, making among the nation's first air traffic control towers to receive the designation.

O'Hare has six LEED-certified buildings and over 521,000 square feet of green roofs, more than any other airport in the world. The combination of sustainable features has cut the O'Hare control towers energy consumption by 25 pct and water usage by 40 pct compared to a traditional control tower design, according to the Commission. (Source: City of Chicago, Chicago Aviation Commission, Connect Chicago, 23 April, 2019) Chicago Dept. of Aviation, www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/doa.html Commission; USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

USGBC
Date: 2019-04-24
Thanks to continued upgrades to Target Field, the Minnesota Twins have achieved US Green Building Council LEED Gold re-certification for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance. In 2010 Target Field earned LEED Silver for New Construction. Target Field is also the nation’s first sports venue to earn three levels of LEED certification through Arc, the state-of-the art digital platform that uses real-time data to help benchmark, measure and improve sustainability performance.

The ballpark's environmental stewardship efforts include: a custom-designed Rain Water Recycle System; aggressive recycling and waste-to-energy programs that have kept more than 10,870 tons of waste out of local landfills since 2011; a shared initiative with Delaware North Sportservice to partner with Rock and Wrap It UP!, Inc. to donate more than 10 tons of food to local charities each season; LED light fixtures for field and canopy lighting; and the introduction of compostible beverage cups, plates, trays, utensils and straws. The ballparks has also installed the largest "living wall" in the continental U.S. (Source: BallPark Digest, April, 2019)

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

USGBC
Date: 2019-04-17
In Atlanta, the $400 million, 450,000 square-foot Emory University Hospital Tower reports it has been awarded US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Silver certification for energy efficiency. Qualifying elements in the design and construction of the Emory University Hospital Tower include:

Project site located in close proximity to basic services such as restaurants, stores and public transit to encourage building occupants to walk instead of drive;

Low-flow indoor water fixtures reduce water consumption by an estimated 20 PCT;

Energy efficient exterior glazing systems allow for daylight to reach core areas throughout the building;

Energy efficient features that allow for more than 20 percent energy savings;

Over 95 pct of construction waste recycled;

Special focus on indoor environmental quality for improving occupant health and well-being of employees;

Lead- and mercury-free facility -- Recycling program implemented.

Emory University now has 34 LEED certified buildings that equal more than 4 million square feet. (Source: Emory University Hospital, PR, AJC, April, 2019) Contact: Emory University Hospital Tower, (404) 712-2000, www.emoryhealthcare.org; USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

USGBC
Date: 2019-04-10
The Washington, DC-headquartered US Green Building Council (USGBC) reports the availability of its new LEED v4.1 LEED green building program for cities, communities and homes.

The updated rating system is designed to make the decision to implement LEED easier for residential projects and revitalize our approach to the housing market. Through a streamlined and simple approach, LEED credits that have a higher value to home owners and residents are prioritized, such as health and well-being improved comfort, energy and water savings, green and healthy materials. Options have also been added to existing LEED credits that lower both hard and soft costs to achieve certification. And recognizing the unique circumstances of international projects, LEED v4.1 Residential is also now more applicable to international projects.

For the LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities rating systems, LEED v4.1 expands on the earlier performance based approach to deliver a comprehensive framework to support plan, design, operation and performance management phases of both new and existing cities and communities. The rating systems align with all the UN Sustainable Development Goals and incorporate leadership standards and best practices from complementary systems, like the previously integrated STAR Community Rating System, as well as the PEER, TRUE, EDGE and SITES programs. More than 90 cities and communities around the world, representing more than 45 million people, are LEED-certified based on several factors, including water efficiency, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, materials and resources, quality of life, innovation and regional priorities. (Source: USGBC, PR, April, 2019) Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

USGBC
Date: 2019-04-08
As part of its Living Standard initiative, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released a new report titled Standard Issue to better gauge how the public feels about issues at the core of the green building community's mission: sustainability and the environment. The report looks at Americans' views on environmental concerns and how the green building industry can be better positioned as a global solution.

The report found, while three-quarters of respondents said environmental problems are very or somewhat important to them, they do little to address the problems in their own lives, considering it too daunting a task, and do not typically associate green buildings with being part of the solution.

The research suggests there is a gap between the enormity of the problem and how people seek to address it in their daily lives, and the green building community can mobilize and inspire change by connecting messaging to healthy outcomes for human beings. (Source: US GBC, Construction Specifier, 8 April, 2019) Contact: The Living Standard, https://livingstandard.org/about; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Building,  USGBC,  

USGBC
Date: 2019-04-03
In Sacramento, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reports the new 28,100 square-foot Central Health Services building at California State Prison has earned US Green Building Council LEED Gold certification Gold certification for its energy-saving and environmental conservation features that will reduce energy costs by 46 pct. The medical clinic's sustainability features include: clerestory windows for maximum natural light and lower lighting costs; efficient water fixtures that cut indoor water use by 27 pct; recycling or reusing 94 pct of construction waste; low emission adhesives and paints; increased ventilation and high-efficiency filters and fans; and upgrading all systems beyond building code standard for maximum efficiency.

The health facility is the 61st CDCR-owned facility to be LEED-certified and the 10th to be certified at the Gold level. In 2008, CDCR adopted an environmental sustainability program to reduce emissions and its carbon footprint, to conserve water and to generate energy from renewable sources. (Source: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, PR, corrections.com, 2 April, 2019) Contact: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, www.cdcr.ca.gov; USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

Ashok Leyland
Date: 2019-03-29
Chennai, India-based, Hinduja Group's Ashok Leyland, one of the largest commercial vehicle manufacturers in India, reports it has been awarded LEED v4.1 Buildings Operations & Maintenance Platinum certification for its corporate HQ office building. LEED v4.1 is the newest version of the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

Ashok Leyland is the first office in India and fourth in the world to receive LEED v4.1 Platinum certification. (Source: Ashok Leyland, Reality Fact, 27 Mar., 2019) Contact: Ashok Leyland, www.ashokleyland.com/en, US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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US GBC
Date: 2019-03-20
The Four Seasons hospitality chain reports it plans to launch its first property in Tennessee with the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Nashville.

Groundbreaking for the 236 room, US Green Building Council LEED Gold for new construction certification standard complex is slated for April, 2019. (Source: Four Seasons, Hospitality Design, 19 Mar., 2019) Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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Energy Efficiency
Date: 2019-03-08
In the Empire State, the Village of Lake Placid Board of Trustees is reporting the formation of a Climate Smart Community Task Force -- a state Department of Environmental Conservation program where municipalities and organizations can earn certification levels based on actions that reduce the effects of climate change and are energy efficient.

The program is similar to the US Green Building Council LEED certification program in which Lake Placid participates. Presently, 250 New York ommunities registered in the Climate Smart program. (Source: Village of Lake Placid, Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Mar., 2019)Contact: NY Climate Smart Community Task Force, www.dec.ny.gov/energy/53013.html; Village of Lake Placid, www.lakeplacid.com

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United States Green Building Council
Date: 2019-03-04
The city of Annapolis, Maryland reports its new water treatment plant is one of nine buildings in Maryland to be nominated as a finalist for a 2019 United States Green Building Council (USGBC), Maryland Chapter Wintergreen Award. The water treatment facility is the largest construction project ever undertaken by the City and its first capital project to receive US Green Building Council LEED Silver Certification.

The water treatment plant green energy infrastructure work includes: three bio-retention facilities;, a permeable paver parking lot; re-circulators for water efficiency and separation for waste water streams; variable frequency drive pumps for maximum energy effic iency; and a data-driven efficiency system to reduce chemical usage. The facility also includes environmental innovations like a low-impact design, a nationally registered Monarch Butterfly Way Station, bike racks and parking for energy efficient cars. (Source: Eye on Annapolis, 3 Mar., 2019) Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

USGBC,CEMEX USA
Date: 2019-03-01
CEMEX USA is reporting its headquarters building in Houston has been awarded US Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED gold certification.

The more than 240 000 square-foot of space utilized 20 pct recycled materials and other features to achieve the LEED gold certification. The building accomplished a 52 pct power reduction and all electric equipment meets EPA ENERGY STAR® certification. Water consumption has been reduced by one third with the use of "low-flow" efficient fixtures and nine out of ten work areas receive natural sunlight. (Source: CEMEX, World Cement, 28 Feb., 2019) Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-03-01
Birmingham, Alabama-based university housing and facilities developer Capstone Development Partners LLC reports University of Massachusetts in Boston residence and dining hall have been awarded US Green Building Council LEED Gold Certification after exceeding their initial LEED Silver target.

The sustainable strategies and project attributes that helped the project achieve LEED Gold certification include:

The location of the project site on land that is considered a brownfield redevelopment;

A 34 pct water savings was achieved by using low-flow showers, faucets, toilets and urinals;

An energy cost savings of 26.8 pct was achieved through the implementation of a high performance building envelope, energy recovery units, hot water efficiency and 100 pct LED lighting; and

The selection of cool roofing and hardscape materials to reduce the heat island effect.

Capstone Development Partners has partnered with over 60 public and private colleges and universities and delivered more than 44,000 beds of student housing nationwide. (Source: Capstone Dev. Partners, PRWEB, 28 Feb., 2019) Contact: Capstone Dev. Partners, Jeff Jones, Principal, www.capdevpartners.com: USGBC,USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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U.S. Green Building Council
Date: 2019-02-27
The Indiana University Bloomington is reporting receipt of three LEED Gold certifications for buildings in the past few months, bringing the campus total to nine. The School of Public and Environmental Affairs addition, Ray E. Cramer Marching Hundred Hall and Hodge Hall all received gold certification in late 2018 and early 2019, reaffirming the university's commitment to ensuring all new construction receives a minimum LEED Gold certification or higher, as laid out in the IU Bicentennial Strategic Plan.

Contributing solutions like public transportation access, use of open spaces, water use reduction, efficient mechanical systems, installation of LED lighting, diversion of construction waste from landfills and recycling programs earn LEED certification points. (Source: Inside IU Bloomington, Feb., 2019) Contact: IU Bloominton, (812) 855-4848, www.indiana.edu; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News U.S. Green Building Council,  Energy Efficiency ,  

Snohomish County Public Utility District
Date: 2019-02-25
In Everett, Washington, the Snohomish County Council reports it has unanimously approved transitioning to 100 pct "clean, renewable" energy for government operations by 2045. To that end, the Council has committed to reducing energy consumption through retrofits, upgrades to LED lighting, improved energy efficiency and the installation of solar panels with energy storage capacity on county buildings. The PUB will also develop a clean energy plan and adopting a construction policy that will require all new county facilities be built to US Green Building Council LEED gold energy efficiency standards. The PUD resolution also calls for establishing a fund to pay for energy conservation retrofits and upgrades.

To tackle the county's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, the transportation sector according to the resolution, the county plans to develop a policy to build a "green" vehicle fleet.

The move was proposed and supported by the Snohomish County chapter of The Climate Reality Project, Sierra Club, 350 Everett and the statewide group Environment Washington.

Snohomish County is the fifth government in Washington state to set a goal of 100 pctclean energy, after Edmonds, Whatcom County, Bellingham and Spokane, according to Environment Washington. (Source: Snohomish County Public Utility District, HeraldNet, Everett, Washington, 23 Feb., 2019) Contact: Snohomish County Public Utility District, www.snopud.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Snomish PUD,  Renewable Energy,  Energy Efficiency,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-02-22
In Sacramento, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reports the new 28,100 square-foot Central Health Services building at California State Prison has earned US Green Building Council LEED Gold certification Gold certification for its energy-saving and environmental conservation features that will reduce energy costs by 46 pct. The medical clinic's sustainability features include:

clerestory windows that allow more natural light into the building to reduce electrical lighting needs and energy costs;

efficient water fixtures that cut indoor water use by 27 pct;

recycling or reusing 94 pct of construction waste, nearly eliminating use of landfills;

use of adhesives, coatings and paint with low levels of smog-forming organic compounds;

increased ventilation and high-efficiency filters to increase the flow of fresh air;

upgrading all systems beyond standards required by building codes to maximize efficiency of the systems.

The health facility is the 61st CDCR-owned facility to be LEED-certified and the 10th to be certified at the Gold level. In 2008, CDCR adopted an environmental sustainability program to reduce emissions and its carbon footprint, to conserve water and to generate energy from renewable sources. (Source: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, PR, corrections.com, 21 Feb, 2019) Contact: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, www.cdcr.ca.gov; USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-02-15
In Boulder, the University of Colorado is reporting its recently opened Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE) has been awarded US Green Building Council LEED Gold certification

The latest recognition brings to 27 the total number of CU Boulder buildings with LEED certification either for new construction or major renovations.

CASE building LEED qualifying features include: electrochromic glass that self-dims as sun exposure increases, minimizing heat gain and glare; strategic building layout to maximize campus green space; LED lighting throughout; low-flow plumbing features; 67 pct of construction waste diverted from landfills; HVAC and envelope designed to provide a comfortable thermal environment, and others. (Source: University of Colorado, PR, Feb., 2019)Contact: USGBC, 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: 2019-02-15
According to the US Green Building Council's latest national listing, India is ranked third with more than 899 LEED-certified projects totaling more than 24.81 million gross square meters of space. The leading LEED nations are Mainland China, Canada, India, Brazil, ,Republic of Korea, Turkey, Germany, Mexico, Taiwan and Sapin, in that order.

The list ranks countries and regions in terms of cumulative LEED-certified gross square meters as of December 31, 2018 and represents 7,797 certified projects totaling more than 210 million gross square meters of space.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the world's most widely used green building program with 96,275 registered and certified projects in more than 167 countries and territories. (Source: US Green Building Council, Various Media, Moneycontrol, Feb., 2019) Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

USGBC
Date: 2019-02-11
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has officially revealed the Top 10 states for LEED certification. The states that led the country in LEED standards constructed over 468 million square feet of green building space for a population of 128 million people.

Illinois led the pack of the top 10 LEED states with 172 projects that adhered to LEED standards. Massachusetts came in second followed by Washington, New York, Texas, Colorado, Hawaii, Virginia, California and Maryland.

Several of the top 2018 LEED states -- Illinois, Maryland, New York, Colorado, Virginia, California and Maryland -- were also in the top 10 in 2017.(Source: US Green Building Council, Feb., 2018) Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

USGBC
Date: 2019-02-04
In Atlanta. the 2-million-square-foot, 2017-vintage Mercedes Benz Stadium arena reports it was the first U.S. professional sports stadium to achieve US Green Building Council Platinum LEED certification.

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium LEED qualifying features include: 82,500 square feet of LED lighting, which lasts 10 times longer than standard lighting and reduces energy use by up to 60 pct;

4,000 onsite solar panels can generate 1.6 million kWh , sufficient power for 10 Atlanta Falcons games;

an advanced storm water management system that can store over 2 million gallons of water to reduce flooding risk to surrounding areas;

48 EV charging stations, and others.

The NFL recently announced a membership with the Green Sports Alliance, an organization aimed at encouraging green and renewable practices at sporting events. (Source: USGBC, Greenroofs, 3 Feb., 2019) Contact: Green Sports Alliance, www.greensportsalliance.org; USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

Energy Efficiency,Renewable Energy
Date: 2019-02-04
In New Hampshire, the city of Concord Energy and Environment Committee reports the release of the first draft of its renewable energy and energy efficiency plan calling for the city to source 100 pct of it energy from renewables by the year 2030.

Highlights of the draft plan include: Energy efficiency -- "the cheapest unit of energy is the one you don't use" -- is the guiding principle behind the plans for energy efficiency in the Capital City of 43,000 +- residents. As a whole, Concord consumes 390 million kWh of energy each year. To bring that figure down, the plan calls for the city and its community to cut consumption by encouraging and incentivizing weatherization. The plan also encourages the city to prioritize energy conservation efforts, like switching the streetlights to LED and having all city buildings US Green Building Council LEED certified or meet LEED standards without going through the certification process. (Source: City of Concord, Concord Monitor, 2 Feb., 2019) Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org; City of Concord, Tom Aspell, City Manager, 603-225-8570, www.concordnh.gov/288/City-Manager

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Renewable Energy,  

USGBC
Date: 2019-01-24
Los Angeles-based Kilroy Realty Corp (KRC)is reporting the US Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded its 350 Mission Street property TRUE Zero Waste Certification at the gold level. The 455,340 square feet property is the largest single commercial property in the world to achieve TRUE Zero Waste certification and is also the first commercial building in San Francisco to do so. The property is currently LEED Platinum, ENERGY STAR and Fitwel certified.

All About Waste provided consulting services related to the project and representatives from the Green Building Certification Institute did the onsite performance verification. (Source: Kilroy Realty, PR, 22 Jan, 2019) Contact: Kilroy Realty, Sara Neff, VP Sustainability, (310) 481-8449, sneff@kilroyrealty.com, www.kilroyrealty.com; USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  LEED Certification,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-01-24
The Chubb Building in Hamilton is the first in Bermuda to be twice recertified as Leed Gold by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The building first received Leed Gold certification under the Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance rating system in 2011.

In 2017, the building was recertified when Chubb became one of the first companies in North America to use the Leed Dynamic Plaque to manage the building's energy efficiency and environmental performance.

The Leed Dynamic Plaque calculates and displays the building's performance across five categories: energy, water, waste, transportation and human experience. Other green initiatives that contributed to the re-certification include: energy-efficient LED lights, electric car charging stations, a trash audit and waste recycling program and others. Chubb notes that since 2011 it has cut the Bermuda building's energy consumption 28 pct.

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurer. (Source: Chubb, PR, Royal Gazette, 22 Jan., 2019) Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org; Chubb, Colin Brown, Bermuda VP facilities and Leed project manager, 441-295-5200, https://www.chubb.com/bm-en/contact.../chubb-bermuda-international-contacts.aspx

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

USGBC
Date: 2019-01-21
In the Aloha State, the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas Ka'anapali resort hotel reports that with receipt of the US Green Building Council's LEED GOLD certification for new construction it is now "officially one of the most eco-friendly resort properties on Maui."

The LEED rating system was specifically designed by the U.S. Green Building Council to guide the development of more sustainable buildings. (Source: Westin Nanea Ocean Villas Ka'anapali, Maui Times, 18 Jan., 2019)Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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