This video is the next best thing to an in-person tour of a LEED certified green building project. The Architect does a great job of pointing out characteristics of the design and build that contribute to the overall "intelligence" of the structure - all of which have taken into consideration the hot, sunny and dry Arizona climate.
Showing posts with label LEED. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LEED. Show all posts
Monday, April 29, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
LEED Gold Creates Great Work Environment
This video is a really good resource for any business owner or building owner considering renovation or new construction of a low rise office structure. I like the thinking behind the positioning of employees close to natural light sources for personal enjoyment of their work environment. So many other great concepts covered as well. Enjoy.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Two Bozzuto Developments Achieve LEED® Certification
The Bozzuto Group today announced that it has earned LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for two residential developments in its portfolio. The Fitzgerald, a mixed-use community in Baltimore's Mount Vernon district, has received LEED Silver Certification and Riverwalk at Millennium, an apartment community in suburban Philadelphia, has received LEED Certification.
Both properties were developed by Bozzuto Development Company, built by Bozzuto Construction Company, and are now managed by Bozzuto Management Company.
"As a developer, builder, manager and owner, our goal is to provide living environments that respect the world in which we live just as much as they respect the residents who live within them," said Tom Bozzuto, CEO, The Bozzuto Group. "We are proud to provide communities that include luxurious finishes and amenities while at the same time offering an environmentally friendly lifestyle."
The Fitzgerald is now the largest LEED-certified residential community in the Baltimore area and is home to the city's first public electric-vehicle charging stations. LEED certification was achieved by implementing a number of environmentally-conscious design features, construction tactics, water efficiency technologies and air quality practices. The development -- comprised of 275 luxury apartments, 24,000 square feet of street-level retail and a 1,245 space public parking garage -- sits on 4.6 acres of land owned by the University of Baltimore and is part of a massive redevelopment effort by the University and the surrounding community.
"I am delighted that our midtown Baltimore partners are receiving this recognition," said University of Baltimore President Bob Bogomolny. "Together, we can help create a new Baltimore that places great value in sustainability and the greening of our city. I want to personally congratulate the entire Bozzuto development team for achieving LEED Silver Certification."
Riverwalk at Millennium, a 375-unit apartment community, experienced significant fire damage in the fall of 2008, and as a result, one half of the development required a complete rebuild from the ground up. The new residences meet LEED requirements through the use of sustainable features such as low-emitting paint and carpet and water-efficient landscaping, and through the use of local construction materials, among other energy and water-saving features. A brownfield redevelopment, Riverwalk at Millennium is the first LEED Certified apartment project in Conshohocken, and the largest in the Philadelphia area.
For more information, visit www.FitzgeraldBaltimore.com or www.RiverWalkApts.com.
About The Bozzuto Group
Headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area, The Bozzuto Group is a diversified residential real estate company consisting of six integrated companies -- Acquisitions, Construction, Development, Homebuilding, Land Development and Property Management -- that together provide a broad range of real estate services throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. The company is committed to providing quality housing for individuals of all income levels, producing everything from luxury homes and apartments to affordable housing solutions.
Throughout The Bozzuto Group's more than 23-year history, the company has developed, acquired and built more than 35,000 homes and apartments, and the firm and its principals have been honored with numerous industry awards and accolades, including having been recognized by the NAHB as the nation's premier apartment development company, and twice as management company of the year. For more information, please visit http://www.bozzuto.com.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction Initiatives Dominate the Agenda of Participants in the Construction Materials Industry
Industrial wastes are now being converted into basic building raw materials. Combinations of high-performance material are increasingly utilized as suitable alternatives to conventional raw materials. The environmental aspect, juxtaposed with the possible stringent regulations of various governing councils, has boosted the development of novel materials for building construction applications.
Environmental standards and energy-efficient ratings greatly influence modern design and product selection, ensuring sizeable reductions in maintenance costs, lower carbon emissions, and optimal usage of electricity. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ratings and other related green building scoring systems aim to address these issues and trigger significant environmental improvements.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (technicalinsights.frost.com), Strategic Developments in Construction Materials Industry, finds that several opportunities are available in energy reduction and environmental benefits associated with the advancements in materials technology in the construction materials sector. Specifically, the demand for multi-functional characteristics will be the key to increase sustainability in this domain.
If you are interested in a virtual brochure for this study, please send an email to Sarah Saatzer, Corporate Communications, at sarah.saatzer[.]frost.com, with your full name, company name, job title, telephone number, company email address, company website, city, state and country.
"The need for higher energy efficiency for buildings is a prominent factor spearheading growth in the construction materials industry," notes Technical Insights Industry Analyst Rajaram Vijayan. "It has been observed that the consumer demand for niche buildings is on the upswing due to the energy and environmental benefits associated with them in addition to the various subsidies provided by the government."
Although market prospects look upbeat, there are some challenges curtailing forward momentum. Production costs remain high for a majority of construction materials, such as glass, cement, steel, composites and others due to the high energy requirement and numerous environmental concerns surrounding their manufacturing process. As the construction materials domain is highly cost competitive, manufacturers are engaged in developing multi-functional materials using efficient waste recycle and waste reduction techniques.
Novel designs must offer enhanced durability and aesthetics with reduced maintenance and repair costs to be successful. It is imperative for manufacturers to ratchet down lifecycle costs and provide enhanced performance with good service life. Life cycle assessment (LCA) studies have proven that energy for heating, cooling, transportation, electrical and mechanical work along with water, repair and maintenance are the prime factors responsible for reduced efficiency. Hence, optimum resource management needs to be in place for lower embodied energy of products.
"The cement industry is a high volume production industry utilizing several million tons of alternate fuels and raw materials on an annual basis, thereby accounting for high carbon dioxide emissions," says Vijayan. "Consequently, even slight alterations in the production process will entail large scale measures to reduce the environmental footprint in this industry."
Portland cement clinkers could be replaced with industrial wastes such as carbon dioxide, fly ash and others to create environmental benefits for concrete usage. However, significant research initiatives need to be undertaken to optimize the commercial viability of such substituted products within this volume- and cost-competitive industry. There is a huge potential for application of automated manufacturing processes to reduce the dependence on manual labor and control emissions in conventional production facilities.
Strategic Developments in Construction Materials Industry, a part of the Technical Insights subscription, provides an analysis of the major drivers and challenges involved in the adoption of technologies in the construction materials arena. Further, this research service includes detailed technology analysis and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.
Technical Insights is an international technology analysis business that produces a variety of technical news alerts, newsletters, and research services.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan (frost.com), the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 40 offices on six continents.
Read More on Green Building
Read More on Concrete Executive
Environmental standards and energy-efficient ratings greatly influence modern design and product selection, ensuring sizeable reductions in maintenance costs, lower carbon emissions, and optimal usage of electricity. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ratings and other related green building scoring systems aim to address these issues and trigger significant environmental improvements.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (technicalinsights.frost.com), Strategic Developments in Construction Materials Industry, finds that several opportunities are available in energy reduction and environmental benefits associated with the advancements in materials technology in the construction materials sector. Specifically, the demand for multi-functional characteristics will be the key to increase sustainability in this domain.
If you are interested in a virtual brochure for this study, please send an email to Sarah Saatzer, Corporate Communications, at sarah.saatzer[.]frost.com, with your full name, company name, job title, telephone number, company email address, company website, city, state and country.
"The need for higher energy efficiency for buildings is a prominent factor spearheading growth in the construction materials industry," notes Technical Insights Industry Analyst Rajaram Vijayan. "It has been observed that the consumer demand for niche buildings is on the upswing due to the energy and environmental benefits associated with them in addition to the various subsidies provided by the government."
Although market prospects look upbeat, there are some challenges curtailing forward momentum. Production costs remain high for a majority of construction materials, such as glass, cement, steel, composites and others due to the high energy requirement and numerous environmental concerns surrounding their manufacturing process. As the construction materials domain is highly cost competitive, manufacturers are engaged in developing multi-functional materials using efficient waste recycle and waste reduction techniques.
Novel designs must offer enhanced durability and aesthetics with reduced maintenance and repair costs to be successful. It is imperative for manufacturers to ratchet down lifecycle costs and provide enhanced performance with good service life. Life cycle assessment (LCA) studies have proven that energy for heating, cooling, transportation, electrical and mechanical work along with water, repair and maintenance are the prime factors responsible for reduced efficiency. Hence, optimum resource management needs to be in place for lower embodied energy of products.
"The cement industry is a high volume production industry utilizing several million tons of alternate fuels and raw materials on an annual basis, thereby accounting for high carbon dioxide emissions," says Vijayan. "Consequently, even slight alterations in the production process will entail large scale measures to reduce the environmental footprint in this industry."
Portland cement clinkers could be replaced with industrial wastes such as carbon dioxide, fly ash and others to create environmental benefits for concrete usage. However, significant research initiatives need to be undertaken to optimize the commercial viability of such substituted products within this volume- and cost-competitive industry. There is a huge potential for application of automated manufacturing processes to reduce the dependence on manual labor and control emissions in conventional production facilities.
Strategic Developments in Construction Materials Industry, a part of the Technical Insights subscription, provides an analysis of the major drivers and challenges involved in the adoption of technologies in the construction materials arena. Further, this research service includes detailed technology analysis and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.
Technical Insights is an international technology analysis business that produces a variety of technical news alerts, newsletters, and research services.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan (frost.com), the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 40 offices on six continents.
Read More on Green Building
Read More on Concrete Executive
Mixed Results for City’s ‘Green’ Development
From WSJ.com
When it comes to “green” buildings in New York City, the good news is that the number of buildings with certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council has been steadily rising.
The bad news is a tiny fraction of the thousands of buildings in the city have achieved “leadership in energy and environmental design,” or LEED, status from the council. So far only 161 properties are LEED certified.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Veolia Environmental Services Earns LEED® Certification for Landfill Building in Valdosta, Georgia
Veolia ES Solid Waste today announced that it has been awarded LEED certification (Certified level) by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for a new building at its Veolia Evergreen Landfill, Inc. in Valdosta, Ga. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating SystemTM is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. This is the first LEED certified building constructed in Valdosta, GA.
“As part of our commitment to developing sustainable, environmentally-friendly solutions for the City of Valdosta and Lowndes County, we intentionally pursued LEED certification standards in the development of our new building,” said AJ Rodgers, area manager for Veolia ES Solid Waste Southeast, Inc. “As a result, we expect to see lower operating costs, increased efficiencies and a healthier work environment for our employees.”
The Veolia building was designed to achieve LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use, and also incorporated a variety of other sustainable strategies. Certification was based on a number of green design and construction features, including:
Veolia’s new building will be used as a scale house for weighing all waste streams entering the Evergreen Landfill, and as an on-site administrative office.
LEED certification is an important element of Veolia’s own sustainability strategy. The company recently celebrated the LEED certification of its North American headquarters office in downtown Chicago’s Aon Building. That project was awarded Gold Level LEED certification in June 2010.
About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. Since UGSBC’s founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 17,000 member companies and organizations, a comprehensive family of LEED® green building rating systems, an expansive educational offering, the industry’s popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenbuildexpo.org&esheet=6654715&lan=en-US&anchor=www.greenbuildexpo.org&index=1&md5=23aa7c44e80e57de653c3a8914d3b09f), and a network of 78 local chapters, affiliates, and organizing groups. For more information, visit http://www.usgbc.org/.
About LEED®
The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a feature-oriented rating system that awards buildings points for satisfying specified green building criteria. The six major environmental categories of review include: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation and Design. Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of LEED green building certification are awarded based on the total number of points earned within each LEED category. LEED can be applied to all building types including new construction, commercial interiors, core & shell developments, existing buildings, homes, neighborhood developments, schools and retail facilities.
Incentives for LEED are available at the state and local level and LEED has also been adopted nationwide by federal agencies, state and local governments, and interested private companies. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org/LEED.
About Veolia ES Solid Waste, Inc.
Veolia ES Solid Waste, Inc., part of Veolia Environmental Services North America Corp., is one of the largest solid waste companies in North America, providing a full range of services to commercial, industrial and residential customers in 12 states, the Bahamas, and Canada. Veolia ES Solid Waste, Inc. operates 72 collection facilities and 29 solid waste sanitary landfill facilities in North America. By working in partnership with communities, the company aims to preserve valuable resources and extend landfill capacity by focusing on waste reduction, curbside collection, sorting and the processing and marketing of recyclables.
Veolia Environmental Services North America Corp.
Based in Chicago, Veolia Environmental Services North America Corp. is the leading provider of fully integrated waste, environmental and industrial cleaning solutions to residential, municipal, commercial and industrial customers across the US, Canada and the Caribbean. The company is part of the Veolia Environnement companies in North America, with 30,000 North American employees providing sustainable environmental solutions in water management, waste services, energy management, and passenger transportation.
The Veolia Environmental Services group is one of the largest waste services companies in the world and the only global manager of liquid, solid, non-hazardous and hazardous waste; on-site waste processing; industrial cleaning and process maintenance; and recycling, recovery and disposal for both the public and private sectors. Its parent company, Veolia Environnement (NYSE: VE and Paris Euronext: VIE), is the worldwide reference in environmental services. With more than 315,000 employees in 74 countries, Veolia Environnement recorded annual revenues of over $46 billion in 2010. Visit the company's Web sites at http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.veolia.com%2F&esheet=6654715&lan=en-US&anchor=www.veolia.com&index=4&md5=8e96a5bb52f06dc1692981fe6a017df3 and http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.VeoliaES.com&esheet=6654715&lan=en-US&anchor=www.VeoliaES.com&index=5&md5=8145795d5ae50c0c3ad38a5c5efaa066.
“As part of our commitment to developing sustainable, environmentally-friendly solutions for the City of Valdosta and Lowndes County, we intentionally pursued LEED certification standards in the development of our new building,” said AJ Rodgers, area manager for Veolia ES Solid Waste Southeast, Inc. “As a result, we expect to see lower operating costs, increased efficiencies and a healthier work environment for our employees.”
The Veolia building was designed to achieve LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use, and also incorporated a variety of other sustainable strategies. Certification was based on a number of green design and construction features, including:
- Being 28% more energy efficient than a similar non-LEED design building.
- Operating with 35% more water efficiency than a similar non-LEED design building.
- Diverting 75% of all waste and construction scrap generated by construction to a recycling facility for re-manufacturing or re-use.
- Using 10% of building material that contains post and pre-consumer recycled content.
- Utilizing 44% of all building materials that were extracted and manufactured locally.
Veolia’s new building will be used as a scale house for weighing all waste streams entering the Evergreen Landfill, and as an on-site administrative office.
LEED certification is an important element of Veolia’s own sustainability strategy. The company recently celebrated the LEED certification of its North American headquarters office in downtown Chicago’s Aon Building. That project was awarded Gold Level LEED certification in June 2010.
About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. Since UGSBC’s founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 17,000 member companies and organizations, a comprehensive family of LEED® green building rating systems, an expansive educational offering, the industry’s popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenbuildexpo.org&esheet=6654715&lan=en-US&anchor=www.greenbuildexpo.org&index=1&md5=23aa7c44e80e57de653c3a8914d3b09f), and a network of 78 local chapters, affiliates, and organizing groups. For more information, visit http://www.usgbc.org/.
About LEED®
The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a feature-oriented rating system that awards buildings points for satisfying specified green building criteria. The six major environmental categories of review include: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation and Design. Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of LEED green building certification are awarded based on the total number of points earned within each LEED category. LEED can be applied to all building types including new construction, commercial interiors, core & shell developments, existing buildings, homes, neighborhood developments, schools and retail facilities.
Incentives for LEED are available at the state and local level and LEED has also been adopted nationwide by federal agencies, state and local governments, and interested private companies. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org/LEED.
About Veolia ES Solid Waste, Inc.
Veolia ES Solid Waste, Inc., part of Veolia Environmental Services North America Corp., is one of the largest solid waste companies in North America, providing a full range of services to commercial, industrial and residential customers in 12 states, the Bahamas, and Canada. Veolia ES Solid Waste, Inc. operates 72 collection facilities and 29 solid waste sanitary landfill facilities in North America. By working in partnership with communities, the company aims to preserve valuable resources and extend landfill capacity by focusing on waste reduction, curbside collection, sorting and the processing and marketing of recyclables.
Veolia Environmental Services North America Corp.
Based in Chicago, Veolia Environmental Services North America Corp. is the leading provider of fully integrated waste, environmental and industrial cleaning solutions to residential, municipal, commercial and industrial customers across the US, Canada and the Caribbean. The company is part of the Veolia Environnement companies in North America, with 30,000 North American employees providing sustainable environmental solutions in water management, waste services, energy management, and passenger transportation.
The Veolia Environmental Services group is one of the largest waste services companies in the world and the only global manager of liquid, solid, non-hazardous and hazardous waste; on-site waste processing; industrial cleaning and process maintenance; and recycling, recovery and disposal for both the public and private sectors. Its parent company, Veolia Environnement (NYSE: VE and Paris Euronext: VIE), is the worldwide reference in environmental services. With more than 315,000 employees in 74 countries, Veolia Environnement recorded annual revenues of over $46 billion in 2010. Visit the company's Web sites at http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.veolia.com%2F&esheet=6654715&lan=en-US&anchor=www.veolia.com&index=4&md5=8e96a5bb52f06dc1692981fe6a017df3 and http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.VeoliaES.com&esheet=6654715&lan=en-US&anchor=www.VeoliaES.com&index=5&md5=8145795d5ae50c0c3ad38a5c5efaa066.
Modern Skyscraper Housing L.A. LIVE's Hotels and Residences Earns Silver LEED Designation from the U.S. Green Building Council
The award-winning Hotels and Residences at L.A. LIVE have earned the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the AEG development's strategic, sustainable design and green innovation.
This prominent distinction recognizes the landmark L.A. LIVE 54-story high-rise tower, housing The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, and the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE, as an environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy place to live and work. Designed by California-based architecture firm Gensler, the residential tower spans a total two million square feet on 2.5 acres of land and contains more than 1,000 hotel rooms and 224 first-class private residences.
"This innovative building represents what is great about Los Angeles today, and also provides a view of the city's blueprint for tomorrow," said Lance Williams, Executive Director of USGBC-LA, the organization that awarded the residential tower the Silver LEED distinction. "It's the perfect intersection of sophistication and sustainability."
In addition to its convenient proximity to several city transit stations, other strategic features that qualified The Hotels and Residences at L.A. LIVE for the Silver LEED distinction include:
"L.A. LIVE is all about providing the best in entertainment, accommodations and services through its first-class hotel, residences and restaurants," said Timothy J. Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG, developer of L.A. LIVE. "As we have demonstrated with the STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE, AEG is committed to building the most environmentally sustainable venues, an effort further underscored by our newest development earning this prestigious distinction."
The recent completion of The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE achieved developer AEG's original vision for the project and downtown Los Angeles. The Residences have experienced tremendous sales success, with its first residents moved in, and more than 60 percent of its 224 residences in escrow.
The Silver LEED certification represents AEG's ongoing commitment to sustainability as part of the AEG 1EARTH program and adds to L.A. LIVE's myriad awards and accolades received within the past six months by industry leaders. The project's distinctions include the Urban Land Institute's "Global Award for Excellence," Luxury Real Estate's "Best New Community," Americas Lodging Investment Summit's "2010 Development of the Year" award, and most recently, "Building of the Year," by Downtown News.
About The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE
The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE is one of the first luxury-branded residences in Los Angeles, offering exclusive "All-Access Living" in the heart of the exciting new sports and entertainment district L.A. LIVE. Residents enjoy privileged access to five-star lifestyle experiences, including services of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, such as a dedicated residential concierge/doorman, valet parking and VIP status with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel guest relations.
For residents, just an elevator ride away are unparalleled amenities, including a world-class restaurant, residential sky lobby with landscaped terrace, private heated rooftop pool, state-of-the-art spa and fitness center, and exclusive residential lounge, with private board room and media room.
To make a reservation or find out more on living the "all-access life" at L.A. LIVE, please call 213-622-4242, or visit www.allaccessliving.com.
ABOUT L.A. LIVE
L.A. LIVE is a one-of-a-kind sports, entertainment and residential district in downtown immediately adjacent to STAPLES Center and the Convention Center. The campus features NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE, The GRAMMY Museum, Conga Room and Club NOKIA, giving L.A. LIVE more music per square foot than anywhere else in the world. The district offers a rich mix of local, regional and national restaurants including Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill, Rosa Mexicano, The Farm of Beverly Hills, Yard House, Katsuya, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Rock 'N Fish, Trader Vic's, ESPN Zone, Lawry's Carvery, New Zealand Natural Ice Cream and Starbucks. L.A. LIVE also serves as ESPN's West Coast broadcast headquarters. The campus is recognized worldwide for offering an incomparable and unforgettable entertainment experience.
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This prominent distinction recognizes the landmark L.A. LIVE 54-story high-rise tower, housing The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, and the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE, as an environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy place to live and work. Designed by California-based architecture firm Gensler, the residential tower spans a total two million square feet on 2.5 acres of land and contains more than 1,000 hotel rooms and 224 first-class private residences.
"This innovative building represents what is great about Los Angeles today, and also provides a view of the city's blueprint for tomorrow," said Lance Williams, Executive Director of USGBC-LA, the organization that awarded the residential tower the Silver LEED distinction. "It's the perfect intersection of sophistication and sustainability."
In addition to its convenient proximity to several city transit stations, other strategic features that qualified The Hotels and Residences at L.A. LIVE for the Silver LEED distinction include:
- Energy-efficient windows, designed to maximize daylight
- Water-saving plumbing fixtures and filtering of storm water runoff, keeping waterways clean
- Cool roof installation, covered parking and water-efficient rooftop landscaping, reducing heat island effects
- Use of low-volatile organic compound materials to minimize in-air toxins
- Offering a wide range of alternative transportation opportunities, including bicycle support, discounted parking for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles, carpools and vanpools, an employee rideshare program, and extensive public transportation within walking distance
- Use of recycled materials throughout the building, in addition to the major use of recycled steel in the building's overall construction
- Recycling areas on every floor of the tower and at the building's main loading dock
"L.A. LIVE is all about providing the best in entertainment, accommodations and services through its first-class hotel, residences and restaurants," said Timothy J. Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG, developer of L.A. LIVE. "As we have demonstrated with the STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE, AEG is committed to building the most environmentally sustainable venues, an effort further underscored by our newest development earning this prestigious distinction."
The recent completion of The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE achieved developer AEG's original vision for the project and downtown Los Angeles. The Residences have experienced tremendous sales success, with its first residents moved in, and more than 60 percent of its 224 residences in escrow.
The Silver LEED certification represents AEG's ongoing commitment to sustainability as part of the AEG 1EARTH program and adds to L.A. LIVE's myriad awards and accolades received within the past six months by industry leaders. The project's distinctions include the Urban Land Institute's "Global Award for Excellence," Luxury Real Estate's "Best New Community," Americas Lodging Investment Summit's "2010 Development of the Year" award, and most recently, "Building of the Year," by Downtown News.
About The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE
The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE is one of the first luxury-branded residences in Los Angeles, offering exclusive "All-Access Living" in the heart of the exciting new sports and entertainment district L.A. LIVE. Residents enjoy privileged access to five-star lifestyle experiences, including services of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, such as a dedicated residential concierge/doorman, valet parking and VIP status with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel guest relations.
For residents, just an elevator ride away are unparalleled amenities, including a world-class restaurant, residential sky lobby with landscaped terrace, private heated rooftop pool, state-of-the-art spa and fitness center, and exclusive residential lounge, with private board room and media room.
To make a reservation or find out more on living the "all-access life" at L.A. LIVE, please call 213-622-4242, or visit www.allaccessliving.com.
ABOUT L.A. LIVE
L.A. LIVE is a one-of-a-kind sports, entertainment and residential district in downtown immediately adjacent to STAPLES Center and the Convention Center. The campus features NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE, The GRAMMY Museum, Conga Room and Club NOKIA, giving L.A. LIVE more music per square foot than anywhere else in the world. The district offers a rich mix of local, regional and national restaurants including Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill, Rosa Mexicano, The Farm of Beverly Hills, Yard House, Katsuya, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Rock 'N Fish, Trader Vic's, ESPN Zone, Lawry's Carvery, New Zealand Natural Ice Cream and Starbucks. L.A. LIVE also serves as ESPN's West Coast broadcast headquarters. The campus is recognized worldwide for offering an incomparable and unforgettable entertainment experience.
Visit iGreenBuild.com
Monday, March 21, 2011
U.S. Green Building Council, Orange County Opens Sponsorship and Membership Opportunities to Orange County Organizations and Individuals
The USGBC Orange County Chapter is accepting new sponsors to join their existing slate of high-profile sponsors who support the organization as well as sustainable practices and green building in Orange County .Existing sponsors include a wide range of organizations including the Montage Hotel , Chapman University , the City of Irvine , RBF Consulting , Glumac, ASLA, Dunn Edwards , Fireman’s Fund Insurance , Gensler, LPA, The Campsite, Pella, MWDOC, Southern California Edison , Southern California Gas Company , Pro Repro, CTG, Fuscoe and over one hundred additional companies and organizations.Sponsorships begin at $250 and provide sponsors with a host of benefits.
In addition, membership is now open for individuals to join the organization for a cost of$50.00 per year if your employer is a member of USGBC National or $75.00 per year if you are not affiliated with the national organization.
Upcoming events for USGBC-OC include Live: Energy Monitoring and Management onMarch 24 at 11:45 at Audio Visions in Lake Forest (also a webcast); the Municipal Green Building Conference at the Gas Company in Downey on April 14, 2011 ; and an Existing Building Operation and Maintenance Technical Symposium at the former Taco Bell Headquarters Gold Certified green building on May 25 at 5:30 p.m. The Orange County group will also be sponsoring the greening of the Newport Beach Film Festival , beginning on April 28 th and running through May 7 th.
The USGBC-OC’s mission is to engage all green building stakeholders and be the conduit of change for a more sustainableOrange County .The chapter provides communication, education, resources and advocacy.The group also provides networking opportunities, continuing education for LEED credential programs, leadership opportunities, and a rich knowledge base of sustainable and green practices and programs. Speakers from the within the USGBC organization are available to visit businesses, organizations and agencies to present a number of educational programs and green building/sustainable design information.
In addition, membership is now open for individuals to join the organization for a cost of
Upcoming events for USGBC-OC include Live: Energy Monitoring and Management on
The USGBC-OC’s mission is to engage all green building stakeholders and be the conduit of change for a more sustainable
Thursday, March 17, 2011
LEED Silver for UC Riverside Research Building
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (http://www.ucr.edu/) -- Friday marks the official unveiling of a building at the University of California, Riverside that will not only house the first public medical school in California in more than 40 years but also serve as model for sustainable design.
The three-story, 58,000 square foot School of Medicine Research Building is designed to meet the LEED Silver standards of the U.S. Green Building Council.
The building has cloud cover sensors that activate motorized shades which deploy during peak sun hours to keep the building cool in Riverside's desert climate. With this system, it's estimated that lighting won't be needed 80 percent of the time.
Also, through a process called "night flushing," air is filtered into the building at night to cool the concrete slab the building sits on. The slab remains cool into the day, limiting the need for air conditioning during summer days when triple-digit temperatures are common.
"The building is smart enough to be run by its own weather station," said Don Caskey, campus architect at UC Riverside.The goal is to cut energy use to one-third of a typical lab building, Caskey said.
Within the building, water use is expected to cut 30 percent and outside, through water-efficient landscaping, irrigation use is expected to be cut 50 percent.
The building was designed by SRG Partnerships, Inc. and built by Barnhart Balfour Beatty.
University Of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue University Village 204B, Riverside, CA 92521 United States
This blog post approved by http://www.igreenbuild.com/.
The three-story, 58,000 square foot School of Medicine Research Building is designed to meet the LEED Silver standards of the U.S. Green Building Council.
The building has cloud cover sensors that activate motorized shades which deploy during peak sun hours to keep the building cool in Riverside's desert climate. With this system, it's estimated that lighting won't be needed 80 percent of the time.
Also, through a process called "night flushing," air is filtered into the building at night to cool the concrete slab the building sits on. The slab remains cool into the day, limiting the need for air conditioning during summer days when triple-digit temperatures are common.
"The building is smart enough to be run by its own weather station," said Don Caskey, campus architect at UC Riverside.The goal is to cut energy use to one-third of a typical lab building, Caskey said.
Within the building, water use is expected to cut 30 percent and outside, through water-efficient landscaping, irrigation use is expected to be cut 50 percent.
The building was designed by SRG Partnerships, Inc. and built by Barnhart Balfour Beatty.
University Of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue University Village 204B, Riverside, CA 92521 United States
This blog post approved by http://www.igreenbuild.com/.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
KeyBank Renovated Office Space in Higbee Building Earns Gold LEED® Certification
KeyBank's renovation of three floors in the historic Higbee Building on Public Square has been awarded LEED® Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The project's progressive workspace features a number of sustainability features, from automated lighting and ventilation systems to a design that maintains the building's historic charm.
"This renovation represents KeyBank's commitment to strengthen our community's core in the most environmentally responsible ways possible," said Henry Meyer, KeyCorp CEO. "It enhances one of the most historic buildings in the heart of downtown, it leverages Tower City Center's existing transportation hub and it allows hundreds of our employees to enjoy the growing sense of excitement connected to the area's ongoing economic development.
"We're very proud to have earned this recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council," Meyer said.
KeyBank hired local architects from VOCON to incorporate sustainable technologies and construction practices consistent with a LEED certification. The 221,000-square-foot renovation features a high percentage of recycled building materials, enhanced natural lighting, personal lighting control systems, CO2 sensors, outdoor air monitoring systems and more. (For more features, see project Fact Sheet.)
"KeyBank's decision to create a workspace that is LEED Gold Certified places the company among the industry leaders in sustainable renovation," said Michelle Thomas, a LEED-accredited professional and project manager with VOCON in Cleveland. "KeyBank embraced an innovative interior layout that allows all employees to share in the natural light that flows through work areas."
The Green Building Council's LEED certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier environment.
KeyBank's Higbee project joins a growing number of LEED certified projects in Northeast Ohio. The local chapter of the USGBC recognizes 62 certified projects in the region, including a Gold certification Forest City Enterprises earned for its restoration of the Higbee Building's core and shell. Key's technology and operations center on Tiedeman Road earlier received LEED certification.
The project's LEED certification aspects complement the modern workspace KeyBank created. The space provides standard offices as well as work areas where staff can temporarily touch down, plug in and meet in small groups. The renovated floors include "huddle rooms" and casual meeting areas with flat-screen TVs for online access and presentations.
"KeyBank is pleased to join a growing number of sustainable building and restoration efforts in Northeast Ohio," Meyer said. "We are committed to the ongoing improvement of Northeast Ohio's economy and quality of life."
Cleveland-based KeyCorp is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $92 billion. Key companies provide investment management, retail and commercial banking, consumer finance, and investment banking products and services to individuals and companies throughout the United States and, for certain businesses, internationally. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/.
KeyBank’s renovation of three floors in the historic Higbee Building in downtown Cleveland earned LEED Gold certification. Here are some of the sustainability highlights the U.S. Green Building Council recognized:
"This renovation represents KeyBank's commitment to strengthen our community's core in the most environmentally responsible ways possible," said Henry Meyer, KeyCorp CEO. "It enhances one of the most historic buildings in the heart of downtown, it leverages Tower City Center's existing transportation hub and it allows hundreds of our employees to enjoy the growing sense of excitement connected to the area's ongoing economic development.
"We're very proud to have earned this recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council," Meyer said.
KeyBank hired local architects from VOCON to incorporate sustainable technologies and construction practices consistent with a LEED certification. The 221,000-square-foot renovation features a high percentage of recycled building materials, enhanced natural lighting, personal lighting control systems, CO2 sensors, outdoor air monitoring systems and more. (For more features, see project Fact Sheet.)
"KeyBank's decision to create a workspace that is LEED Gold Certified places the company among the industry leaders in sustainable renovation," said Michelle Thomas, a LEED-accredited professional and project manager with VOCON in Cleveland. "KeyBank embraced an innovative interior layout that allows all employees to share in the natural light that flows through work areas."
The Green Building Council's LEED certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier environment.
KeyBank's Higbee project joins a growing number of LEED certified projects in Northeast Ohio. The local chapter of the USGBC recognizes 62 certified projects in the region, including a Gold certification Forest City Enterprises earned for its restoration of the Higbee Building's core and shell. Key's technology and operations center on Tiedeman Road earlier received LEED certification.
The project's LEED certification aspects complement the modern workspace KeyBank created. The space provides standard offices as well as work areas where staff can temporarily touch down, plug in and meet in small groups. The renovated floors include "huddle rooms" and casual meeting areas with flat-screen TVs for online access and presentations.
"KeyBank is pleased to join a growing number of sustainable building and restoration efforts in Northeast Ohio," Meyer said. "We are committed to the ongoing improvement of Northeast Ohio's economy and quality of life."
Cleveland-based KeyCorp is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $92 billion. Key companies provide investment management, retail and commercial banking, consumer finance, and investment banking products and services to individuals and companies throughout the United States and, for certain businesses, internationally. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/.
Fact Sheet | |
KeyBank Higbee Building LEED Certification | |
- Systems and design reduces overall artificial light utilization.
- Controls in all regularly occupied workspaces within 15 feet of perimeter windows automatically reduce lighting use during daylight hours.
- Lighting systems give a majority of occupants the ability to control task lighting at their work stations, reducing the need for overall, ambient lighting.
- The project team recycled more than 95% of on-site generated construction waste and diverted it from landfills.
- A significant portion of the building materials used was manufactured from recycled items.
- A significant portion of the building materials used was manufactured within 500 miles of the project.
- Ventilation system includes CO2 sensors and outdoor air monitoring systems.
- Workers flushed the HVAC system prior to occupancy to remove contaminants resulting from the construction process.
- The project team utilized paints, adhesives, sealants, carpet, wood and other materials that have no volatile organic compounds, thus reducing indoor air contaminants.
- Work-area thermostats allow for localized control, reducing heating and cooling demand in common areas
- An automated power management system powers down audiovisual systems when not in use.
Wellmark Building Receives LEED® Platinum Environmental Rating
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s corporate office in Des Moines has received LEED® Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which makes it the only LEED Platinum certified office building of its size in the world.
“Achieving LEED Platinum is a tremendous accomplishment for both Wellmark and the entire state of Iowa. Companies like Wellmark that achieve LEED certification prove that there is good reason to build to this level of energy efficiency,” says Iowa Governor Terry E. Branstad. “Wellmark’s headquarters is a comfortable and efficient building, and a welcome addition to the landscape. LEED certified buildings represent a significant economic development opportunity for Iowa workers and companies.”
“At a time when health care costs continue to rise, which results in higher premiums for our members, it is a business imperative to continue to manage and reduce administrative expenses. Our building was designed from the start to lower administrative costs, be environmentally responsible, promote wellness, and improve productivity,” says John D. Forsyth, Wellmark’s Chairman and CEO. “Even more important, moving from five buildings, where we rented space, to this building, is a long-term investment that will save money for our members in the future.”
Building will pay for itself in 10 years through administrative savings
Wellmark set a goal to reduce administrative expenses by five percent on an ongoing basis, as a direct result of efficiencies gained by moving to this building.
“Cost and paybacks were heavily weighted in every decision concerning Wellmark’s building,” says Dave Southwell, Wellmark Chief Financial Officer. “Without convincing calculations to back them up, this building would not have been built. We expect the building will pay for itself in approximately 10 years. We’ve already realized $10 million in savings, which is halfway to our five percent goal.”
Estimated Environmental savings include:
LEED Platinum certification is a community-wide effort that required multiple groups to unite toward a common goal. Wellmark’s positive working relationships with the state, the city, and the construction team played a major role in the building’s success. Receiving Platinum certification is a tribute to over 1100 construction trade workers, contractors and architects who made it a reality.
“Wellmark’s headquarters is a great example of how businesses and the city can work together to create a win for the entire community,” says Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie. “We’re pleased Wellmark chose to stay in downtown Des Moines, and thrilled their facility has achieved the highest environmental standards.
“The Central Iowa Building and Construction Trade Council – comprised of 19 affiliated trade unions representing over 5000 skilled tradesman throughout Central Iowa – appreciated the opportunity to showcase our craftsmanship in this landmark facility,” says Robert Gilmore, Secretary Treasurer of the Council. “This project put food on the table for many local families in a rough economy, and we hope it’s just the beginning of a green revolution in Iowa construction.”
What does it mean to be “LEED certified?”
To gauge just how "green" organizations' buildings are, USGBC established the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) green building certification program, which provides a third-party tool for validating a construction project’s green features, while also verifying that a structure is operating as efficiently as possible based on its design.
LEED designation works on a point system where projects earn points for satisfying specific green building criteria that fall into one of six categories:
“Achieving LEED Platinum is a tremendous accomplishment for both Wellmark and the entire state of Iowa. Companies like Wellmark that achieve LEED certification prove that there is good reason to build to this level of energy efficiency,” says Iowa Governor Terry E. Branstad. “Wellmark’s headquarters is a comfortable and efficient building, and a welcome addition to the landscape. LEED certified buildings represent a significant economic development opportunity for Iowa workers and companies.”
Building will pay for itself in 10 years through administrative savings
Wellmark set a goal to reduce administrative expenses by five percent on an ongoing basis, as a direct result of efficiencies gained by moving to this building.
“Cost and paybacks were heavily weighted in every decision concerning Wellmark’s building,” says Dave Southwell, Wellmark Chief Financial Officer. “Without convincing calculations to back them up, this building would not have been built. We expect the building will pay for itself in approximately 10 years. We’ve already realized $10 million in savings, which is halfway to our five percent goal.”
Estimated Environmental savings include:
- ELECTRICAL:
- Over 20 percent savings in energy costs per year
- Maximum daylight harvesting reduces need for artificial lighting and minimizes heat gain from lights
- The ventilation system provides fresh air without an increase in energy use
- WATER:
- 55 percent reduction in overall water use, saving 2.4 million gallons of drinkable water or enough to fill a bathtub 67,000 times
- Recycled rainwater collection in the underground cistern used for irrigation of landscaping and toilet flushing
- RECYCLE / MATERIALS:
- Moved two existing buildings from construction site to new location
- Nearly 2.5 million pounds of construction waste was recycled and kept out of the landfill
- Products such as carpet, chairs and furniture are made from recycled materials, or from elements that are recyclable
- 40 percent less copy and fax machines. Saving 800 boxes of paper (an entire truckload), 200 toner cartridges and $200,000 per year
LEED Platinum certification is a community-wide effort that required multiple groups to unite toward a common goal. Wellmark’s positive working relationships with the state, the city, and the construction team played a major role in the building’s success. Receiving Platinum certification is a tribute to over 1100 construction trade workers, contractors and architects who made it a reality.
“Wellmark’s headquarters is a great example of how businesses and the city can work together to create a win for the entire community,” says Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie. “We’re pleased Wellmark chose to stay in downtown Des Moines, and thrilled their facility has achieved the highest environmental standards.
“The Central Iowa Building and Construction Trade Council – comprised of 19 affiliated trade unions representing over 5000 skilled tradesman throughout Central Iowa – appreciated the opportunity to showcase our craftsmanship in this landmark facility,” says Robert Gilmore, Secretary Treasurer of the Council. “This project put food on the table for many local families in a rough economy, and we hope it’s just the beginning of a green revolution in Iowa construction.”
What does it mean to be “LEED certified?”
To gauge just how "green" organizations' buildings are, USGBC established the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) green building certification program, which provides a third-party tool for validating a construction project’s green features, while also verifying that a structure is operating as efficiently as possible based on its design.
LEED designation works on a point system where projects earn points for satisfying specific green building criteria that fall into one of six categories:
- Sustainable sites
- Water efficiency
- Energy and atmosphere
- Materials and resources
- Indoor environmental quality
- Innovation in Design
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
List of Top 10 States for LEED Green Buildings Released
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) today released its 2010 list of top 10 states for LEED-certified commercial and institutional green buildings per capita, based on the U.S. 2010 Census information. The District of Columbia leads the nation, with 25 square feet of LEED-certified space per person in 2010, with Nevada being the leading state, with 10.92 square feet per person in 2010.
Other top states include New Mexico and New Hampshire and Oregon with more than 6 and 4 square feet of LEED-certified space per person, respectively.
“Using per capita, versus the more traditional numbers of projects, or pure square footage, is a reminder to all of us that the people who live and work, learn and play in buildings should be what we care about most,” said USGBC SVP of LEED, Scot Horst. “2010 was a difficult year for most of the building industry, but in many areas, the hunger for sustainable development kept the markets moving.”
The top LEED states per capita, including the District of Columbia:
- District of Columbia: 25.15 sf
- Nevada: 10.92 sf
- New Mexico: 6.35 sf
- New Hampshire: 4.49 sf
- Oregon: 4.07 sf
- South Carolina: 3.19 sf
- Washington: 3.16 sf
- Illinois: 3.09 sf
- Arkansas: 2.9 sf
- Colorado: 2.85 sf
- Minnesota: 2.77 sf
USGBC’s LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings. Over 40,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising over 7.9 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 117 countries. In addition, nearly 10,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with nearly 45,000 more homes registered.
Notable newly certified projects in 2010 include the Frito Lay manufacturing site in Jonesboro, Ark.; the Wells Fargo Center in Denver, Colo.; the two International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters buildings in downtown Washington, D.C, which earned LEED Gold for the operations and maintenance of an existing building ; Parc Huron multi-use residential property in Chicago, Ill.; the Edina Crosstown Medical Building in Edina, Minn.; Barcelona Elementary School in Albuquerque, N.M.; Centennial Hills Library in Las Vegas, Nev.; The Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg, Ore.; KPMG: Greenville in S.C.; and multiple fire stations and the Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza in Seattle, Wash.Of the projects represented on the list, the most-common project type was commercial office and the most-common owner type was for-profit organization. The cities most represented in the list were Chicago and Washington, D.C.
For the full list of LEED-certified projects visit: https://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=8784 ###
U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.
With a community comprising 79 local affiliates, 16,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 162,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads a diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.
Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.
LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings. Over 40,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising over 7.9 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 117 countries. In addition, nearly 10,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with nearly 45,000 more homes registered.
By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Procter & Gamble Pledges to Pursue LEED Certification for All New Sites Globally
Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) today announces its commitment to pursue LEED certification for all new sites. P&G's Taicang plant in China – which is breaking ground today – is the first P&G manufacturing site to pursue LEED certification, with several additional new P&G sites currently working toward the same distinction globally.
"Pursuing LEED certification for all new sites including offices, innovation centers, and our manufacturing and distribution centers is the next evolution in our facility eco-design process that will ensure excellence in sustainable design," said Keith Harrison, P&G global product supply officer. "Having all of our new sites LEED certified will help us make progress toward our long-term sustainability vision which includes powering our plants with 100% renewable energy and zero manufacturing waste to landfill."
Established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
"LEED certified green buildings contribute to saving energy, water and money," said Doug Gatlin, Vice President, U.S. Green Building Council. "P&G pursuing LEED certification represents a firm commitment to improving our environment for future generations."
The Taicang plant, the first P&G site to register for LEED certification, features notable environmental aspects such as:
- Water: Maximizing beneficial water re-use while minimizing water consumption through efforts such as recovering steam condensate for domestic water needs and harvesting rainwater to replenish on-site landscaping water.
- Energy :Features an outdoor lighting system powered by a combination of solar energy and use of high efficiency mechanical equipment.
- Waste: Operational design to maximize waste recycling and ultimately achieve zero waste to landfill.
All new P&G sites, including those in the U.S., that are currently in design phase or early construction are working toward achieving LEED certification. In countries where equivalent programs are available, P&G is also committing to meet all local certification standards. This effort amplifies P&G's approach to ensure holistic end-to-end sustainability considerations, including P&G's environmental supplier scorecard.
About Procter & Gamble
Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®. The P&G community includes approximately 127,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands. For more information on P&G's commitment to sustainability, visit: www.pg.com/sustainability.
Monday, November 29, 2010
New LEED Program Allows for Certification of Multiple Buildings
Brad Pease had a master’s degree in architecture and a specialty in designing energy-efficient buildings when executives at PNC Bank came to him with a daunting assignment.
They wanted to build 100 branches in the next several years. They wanted each building to be just like the others, assembled from a standard kit of parts.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Johnson Controls Awarded LEED Platinum Certification for Sustainability Improvements at Corporate Campus
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) has been awarded LEED® Platinum certification -- the highest such recognition -- by the U.S. Green Building Council, for its efforts to make its Glendale corporate campus a model of energy efficiency and sustainability. This represents the largest concentration of LEED Platinum buildings -- four -- on one site ever awarded.
Hundreds of wireless controllers and sensors communicating throughout buildings on the 33-acre site feed information to the company's Metasys® building management system which provides continuous monitoring of energy consumed per square foot. Variances can be detected and the systems adjusted automatically or with hand-held devices from any location via the Internet. Numerous other Johnson Controls energy efficiency technologies are in use as well.
"As a company that's been in the energy efficiency business for 125 years, we believe it was important to set an example and demonstrate the benefits of incorporating the latest green technologies, including many of our own, into a multi-building campus setting," said Stephen A. Roell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Johnson Controls. "We're delighted that the U.S. Green Building Council has recognized our efforts with its highest award of LEED Platinum certification. Hopefully, it will encourage others to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of their properties, be it for one building or several."
The company's energy usage has been reduced by 21 percent, despite the recent doubling of space by adding 160,000 square feet. Greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced, annually, by more than 827,000 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent due to the on-site solar electricity generation. Water usage has been reduced by 595,000 gallons annually by collecting and recycling rain water and the addition of low-flow fixtures.
Each employee has desktop control of workspace temperature, lighting, airflow volume, and can introduce white noise to mask sound. The environmental systems turn off in a workspace when an employee is gone for more than 10 minutes, reducing air conditioning and electrical loads.
"We have made significant strides in improving the working environment for our employees at the Corporate and Power Solutions headquarters," said Roell. "Not only are our employees more comfortable, but our engagement scores have improved as well. We believe that the working environment is a major contributing factor to employee engagement."
"Since its pioneering LEED Silver certification of the Brengel Technology Center in 2001, Johnson Controls has demonstrated unparalleled green building leadership," said Rick Fedrizzi, President and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council. "The Johnson Controls corporate campus takes this commitment to a new level and sets an example for other organizations considering the implementation of sustainability initiatives in their facilities."
"As a USGBC member, Johnson Controls has been instrumental from very early on in helping develop the LEED rating system," said Rob Watson, Chairman, CEO & Chief Scientist of the EcoTech International Group. "I'm very impressed with the project's Platinum achievement, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the broad range of sustainable technologies and practices the company used that can be implemented by its customers worldwide. Their commitment to ongoing performance measurement, verification and optimization will ensure that the campus will continue to perform at an optimal level for many years to come."
The company expects to recoup its spend on making the campus energy-efficient within eight years, using the savings realized. The project is attracting wide-spread attention with more than 6,000 interested visitors from around the world who have toured the campus over the last few years.
Additional energy efficiency features at the Johnson Controls Corporate headquarters include:
- A geo-thermal heat pump--linked to 272 wells, each 300 feet deep--uses moderate subsurface temperatures and mass to improve the efficiency of heating and cooling.
- 31,115 square-foot ground-mounted solar photovoltaic array and 14,335 square-foot of solar film on the roof produces electricity and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Solar thermal water heating technology is in place as well.
- Skylights and increased window area reduce use of energy for lighting.
- Window shades adjust automatically to the path of the sun.
- Lighting controls include ballasts that are intelligent, addressable and controllable for reducing artificial lighting and harvesting natural daylight.
- 3-acre parking lot resurfaced with permeable paving blocks allowing rainwater and snowmelt to be collected and retained on-site.
- Rooftop rain water collection, filtering and storage for use in flushing water closets and urinals.
For a video, photos and additional details about the sustainability efforts on Johnson Controls corporate campus visit http://johnsoncontrols.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=112&cat=127
About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in over 150 countries. Our 130,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. To learn more, visit www.johnsoncontrols.com.
About U.S. Green Building Council
The USGBC community is transforming the way we build, design and operate our buildings for healthier places that save precious resources for people to live, work, learn and play in. UGSBC is helping create buildings and communities that regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generation. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Council is the driving force of the green building industry, which is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product by 2013. USGBC leads a diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials, concerned citizens, teachers and students. The USGBC community comprises 80 local chapters, 17,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 150,000 individuals who have earned LEED Professional Credentials. Visit www.usgbc.org for more information.
SOURCE Johnson Controls, Inc.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Modular Building and the USGBC’s LEED ™ Version 3.0 2009 Building Rating System
The Modular Building Institute (MBI) has commissioned a report that provides the overview of how the commercial modular construction industry’s current practices can benefit from an awareness of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) Building Rating System. It covers LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations, applied to commercial construction, and LEED for Schools. It is a best attempt to align the modular building industry with the Prerequisite and Credit requirements imbedded in LEED V 3.0 2009.
The report was compiled by Robert Kobet, AIA, LEED-AP. The paper highlights areas where modular construction processes, in particular, have an advantage over site-build construction for LEED ratings. Below is a summary of the report’s overall conclusions concerning modular construction and sustainability as it relates to the LEED prerequisite and credit categories, as well as the new category for LEED 2009, Regional Priority.
Sustainable Sites
Proper siting or placement of modular units can contribute to improved day lighting, natural ventilation, better storm water management, more efficient site lighting and a host of other sustainable design and development improvements that contribute to a more energy, material and resource efficient project. This category also rewards construction techniques that limit site disturbance and keep disturbed areas to within the areas immediately adjacent to the building footprint.
Water Efficiency
Water conservation and the LEED Water Efficiency credits are gaining in priority and application as the awareness of the importance of water and, in some cases, growing shortages emerge. Water conservation is one of the hallmarks of high performance green buildings and one area where modular construction can enjoy the same benefits as conventional construction.
Energy and Atmosphere
Increasing energy costs and growing concern about energy availability and security are sure to keep the interest in energy conservation and renewable or alternative energy sources in the forefront of the high performance green building movement. Modular construction has a number of potential advantages — it uses structural insulated panels (SIPS) that can produce relatively high R-values, steel and aluminum stud frame construction can produce energy-efficient units and high-performance windows contribute to the pursuit of high-performance building envelopes.
Materials and Resources
Modular construction by nature is material and resource efficient. One of the great economies of modular construction is the ability to assemble repetitive units in controlled conditions. Another is to minimize material waste associated with conventional construction due to weather intrusion and construction site theft. Whole modular units — largely finished prior to arriving at the construction site — can significantly limit construction waste generated at the site and contribute directly to construction site waste management.
Indoor Environmental Quality
Superior indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is one of the most desirable and important attributes of high performance. At this time, the modular industry can provide both environmentally conscious buildings and eco-friendly building materials because it has control over both. This is evidenced by the creative and inspirational responses produced by manufacturers who have participated in green building design challenges.
Innovation and Design Process and LEED
Perhaps the best feature of the LEED building rating system is the invitation to be innovative. Modular construction capitalizes on the ability to move product in controlled manufacturing conditions, tight inventory control and project schedules. It is inherently waste conscious and can have minimum site impact if delivered carefully and strategically with respect to site constraints. Modular units purchased within 500 miles of the construction site offer other LEED point opportunities.
Regional Priority
The Regional Priority Credits category is new to LEED 2009. The Regional Bonus Credit Category contains four possible Regional Specific Environmental Priority credits. A database of the credits is available on the USGBC Web site, www.usgbc.org. It is recognized that modular building components and finished modular building units can be a part of any LEED design and construction effort, and as such, regional priority credits can also be obtained. The evolution of LEED is a reflection of the changing market forces. There is every opportunity for the modular building industry to identify with and achieve the value added in energy, material and resource efficient qualities and attributes of high performance buildings. At the same time the modular building industry offers the best strategies for construction waste management, material efficiencies and superior air quality.
Access the MBI Report
Sustainable Sites
Proper siting or placement of modular units can contribute to improved day lighting, natural ventilation, better storm water management, more efficient site lighting and a host of other sustainable design and development improvements that contribute to a more energy, material and resource efficient project. This category also rewards construction techniques that limit site disturbance and keep disturbed areas to within the areas immediately adjacent to the building footprint.
Water Efficiency
Water conservation and the LEED Water Efficiency credits are gaining in priority and application as the awareness of the importance of water and, in some cases, growing shortages emerge. Water conservation is one of the hallmarks of high performance green buildings and one area where modular construction can enjoy the same benefits as conventional construction.
Energy and Atmosphere
Increasing energy costs and growing concern about energy availability and security are sure to keep the interest in energy conservation and renewable or alternative energy sources in the forefront of the high performance green building movement. Modular construction has a number of potential advantages — it uses structural insulated panels (SIPS) that can produce relatively high R-values, steel and aluminum stud frame construction can produce energy-efficient units and high-performance windows contribute to the pursuit of high-performance building envelopes.
Materials and Resources
Modular construction by nature is material and resource efficient. One of the great economies of modular construction is the ability to assemble repetitive units in controlled conditions. Another is to minimize material waste associated with conventional construction due to weather intrusion and construction site theft. Whole modular units — largely finished prior to arriving at the construction site — can significantly limit construction waste generated at the site and contribute directly to construction site waste management.
Indoor Environmental Quality
Superior indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is one of the most desirable and important attributes of high performance. At this time, the modular industry can provide both environmentally conscious buildings and eco-friendly building materials because it has control over both. This is evidenced by the creative and inspirational responses produced by manufacturers who have participated in green building design challenges.
Innovation and Design Process and LEED
Perhaps the best feature of the LEED building rating system is the invitation to be innovative. Modular construction capitalizes on the ability to move product in controlled manufacturing conditions, tight inventory control and project schedules. It is inherently waste conscious and can have minimum site impact if delivered carefully and strategically with respect to site constraints. Modular units purchased within 500 miles of the construction site offer other LEED point opportunities.
Regional Priority
The Regional Priority Credits category is new to LEED 2009. The Regional Bonus Credit Category contains four possible Regional Specific Environmental Priority credits. A database of the credits is available on the USGBC Web site, www.usgbc.org. It is recognized that modular building components and finished modular building units can be a part of any LEED design and construction effort, and as such, regional priority credits can also be obtained. The evolution of LEED is a reflection of the changing market forces. There is every opportunity for the modular building industry to identify with and achieve the value added in energy, material and resource efficient qualities and attributes of high performance buildings. At the same time the modular building industry offers the best strategies for construction waste management, material efficiencies and superior air quality.
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Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Environmental Nature Center Grand "Green" Opening in Newport Beach
Irvine-based LPA, Inc. Announces the Design of a new
LEED Platinum Facility – the First in Orange County
Irvine and Newport Beach, CA – June 3, 2008 – The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) in Newport Beach takes center stage this spring, with the opening of their highly anticipated building and learning center.
Designed by the seasoned sustainability experts at LPA, Inc., the ENC is on track to become the first LEED Platinum building in Orange County, pending approval from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The sustainable strategies implemented by LPA will potentially save the ENC over $20,000 on an annual basis.
Set within the suburbs of Orange County, the ENC provides hands on education with nature and demonstrates indigenous California vegetation and habitats. The new facility will add an additional educational tool that will showcase smart green design.
“The sustainable elements that make up this learning center will demonstrate to students and visitors that green design is the wave of the future,” said Bo Glover, Executive Director of the ENC. “LPA understood that we were in need of a building to complement our commitment to natural science education.”
The 9,000-square-foot facility is located on a 3.5-acre site at 1601 16th Street in Newport Beach, CA. It provides 16,000 students the opportunity to study local ecology in 15 on-site, native Southern California plant communities.
LPA, Inc., one of the largest architectural, planning, landscape, engineer and interior design firms in California, developed the facility for the ENC together with Griffin Structures, Inc., which provided program management. By using a holistic, integrated design approach, where architects and engineers work together from the beginning of a project through its completion, LPA was able to offer a cohesive vision for a building that was unified and sustainable from the ground up.
“We integrated sustainability into every aspect of this building,” comments Rick D’Amato, design principle at LPA, Inc.“The learning center educates visitors about the benefits of environmentally-conscious design through the application of new technologies. These include powering the building from renewable resources such as solar panels and maintaining the health of the ENC staff and visitors through the implementation of green design strategies which provide a healthier indoor environment.”
Other sustainable features at the ENC include:
· Bicycle storage and shower facilities
· Drought tolerant, indigenous landscape
· Fixtures that promote water conservation – such as waterless urinals and low-flow faucets
· Efficient storm water management
· Photovoltaic roof panels which convert light into power and provide for 100 percent of the building’s power needs
· Natural ventilation – no heating or air conditioning is needed in the building
· Daylight harvesting
· An aggressive Sustainable Education program
· Green housekeeping
· Dimming systems and occupancy sensors
· Heat island reduction
· Extensive use of recycled and recyclable materials:
o Insulation made of recycled blue jeans
o Natural linoleum for countertops (100% organic and recyclable)
o Composite wood for exterior skin (made from saw dust and natural resin)
o Pressed organic materials for millwork and shelving units
o Natural concrete
o Carpet tiles with high recycled content
o Recycled fabrics/finishes for furnishings and work stations
LPA’s principal in charge of the project is Jim Wirick, with Rick D’Amato serving as design principal and Dave Duff as project manager. Lake Forest, CA-based Culp & Tanner served as the structural engineer. Griffin Structures served as the program manager, with Gentosi Builders acting as the general contractor.
The Grand Green Opening for the ENC is invite only. To be included on the Media Entrance List, please RSVP to Rochelle Veturis at (949) 701-4148 or e-mail rveturis@LPAinc.com.
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About the Environmental Nature Center
For over 30 years, the Environmental Nature Center (ENC), a non-profit 501 (c)-3 public benefit corporation, has been serving over 16,000 local students. The ENC is recognized as a leader in science and social science education, providing opportunities for increasing the community’s knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the natural world. For additional information, visit www.ENcenter.org.
About LPA, Inc.
With offices in Irvine and Roseville, CA, LPA, Inc. is one of the largest multi-disciplinary organizations in California, providing professional services in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, land planning, urban development and interior design. Since its establishment in 1965, LPA has been known for its design solutions and strong project management skills. With over 60 percent of its staff holding LEED® accreditations, the firm and its principals have been repeatedly recognized for their leadership in providing innovative solutions in all aspects of the built environment. LPA has also received more than 300 awards for design excellence.
A leading firm with the largest number of LEED-certified projects in the state, LPA has designed a wide variety of sustainable facilities, including K-12 schools, higher education buildings, office buildings, corporate campuses, libraries and police stations. Prominent clients include Blizzard Entertainment, the Cities of Anaheim, Mission Viejo and Orange, the Coastline Community College District, Disney, Dioceses of Orange, E*Trade Financial, Ford, Surfrider Foundation, The Irvine Company, Toyota, Verizon Wireless, United States Dept. of Defense, University of California (Davis, Irvine, and Los Angeles), Urban Decay, Volcom and Wal-Mart. For additional information about LPA, visit www.LPAinc.com.
About Griffin Structures, Inc.
Griffin Structures, Inc. provides program management, owner representation, construction management, and program management “at risk.” For more information about Griffin Structures, call (949) 497-9000 or visit http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?519891x1363x227247.
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