"Environmentally Speaking" - A Gannett Fleming E-newsletter

 

Inside this article:
» Ratings » Impact » Quality 
» Branding » Future 

 

 

 

"The LEED™ process encourages the greening of community-level systems with individual buildings . . .
a high-performance green building is a cost-effective, energy-efficient building. . .   

- U.S. Green Building Council

 
 

  

Note: This article was published in Summer, 2003. 

Sustainability and the
LEED™ Certification Process

Did You Know?
Sustainable design is being applied to water treatment plants.  Features may include water and wastewater efficiency, renewable energy strategies, indoor air quality, process innovations and utilization of recycled materials.  

Sustainable design is based on an integrated approach for an entire assignment.  In other words, all project team members are involved early and throughout design and construction.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) supports and enhances this concept.  Its sustainability goals establish globally recognized green standards.

 

 

 

 

 

LEED™ Rating System1
LEED™ certification involves the following steps:
New Construction Existing Buildings
1. Identify green building options 1. Identify green building options
2. Select the LEED™ system 2. Become a LEED™ partner
3. Register for certification 3. Meet green design criteria
4. Apply for certification 4. Institute green building operation (certification)
5. Sustain certification (re-
certification) 		5. Sustain operation 
(re-
certification)
1 U.S. Green Building Council 
LEED™ Operational Manual

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LEED™ Ratings

Project Fact:
The Northampton Borough Municipal Authority (NBMA) 8 MGD Water Treatment Plant in Pennsylvania is the country's first LEED™-registered water treatment facility design.

« The LEED™ rating system brings a “level of green” to a building project.  The more steps accomplished, the greater the environmental benefit that the building provides.

LEED™ Impact

LEED™-certified projects also allow owners to benefit from integrated systems while lowering standard operating costs.  Using a sustainable design approach based on the life cycle of a building makes it possible to recover any additional first-cost savings.

Cost Savings . . .
Potential use of triple pane glass windows at the NBMA Plant would have higher initial costs, but a normal perimeter heating system would not be required.  This eliminates a system and lowers first construction costs.

LEED™-certified buildings, for example, have the potential for lower first construction costs.  The integrated LEED™ approach allows some systems to be minimized, or even removed, based on the inclusion of other elements. 

Quality Assurance 

The LEED™ certification process additionally provides third party validation of sustainable design.  This verifies that a building has utilized the claimed sustainable design features.  The owner is guaranteed that LEED™ benefits are reliable for the life of the building - as long as the systems are properly maintained.

Branding

Education . . .
The NBMA plant is being designed so that the local schools can conduct educational tours.  As a LEED™-certified building, these tours can introduce the sustainable design features to young students.

A LEED™- certified building signifies environmental leadership and stewardship.  It is both a certification standard and a design guideline for sustainable architecture, construction and operation.  

Becoming more and more recognizable, LEED™ spans numerous markets and building categories.  It not only projects a better community image, but is a distinct benefit in its own right.

Future

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"In just three years, 3% of all new U.S. construction projects have registered for LEED™ certification."

- U.S. Green Building Council
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The LEED™ certification process makes sound business “cents."  Often generating its own revenue from ongoing projects, it helps lay the foundation for an environmentally-conscious future.