WASHINGTON, DC — The first buildings ever to be certified for sustainable design and construction by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) were announced recently at its fourth annual Federal Govern-ment Summit.

Eleven buildings from across the United States and one from overseas were recognized for achieving LEED™ certification.

LEED, which stands for Leader-ship in Energy and Environmental Design, is a comprehensive rating system that provides direction and definition for sustainable design and construction.

Diverse Environments

“These first 12, which were certified through the standards set by the LEED pilot program, are only the beginning,” said Christine Ervin, president and ceo of the USGBC. “They represent a diverse group of building types and prove that any building can be sustainably designed and built.

“They also reflect the diversity of the USGBC itself, though one not need be a council member to register for LEED certification.”

More than a tool for prescribing standards, LEED is a system that offers educational guidance and supportive services, as well as concise statements of requirements.

It is a whole-building, integrated approach that encourages design teams to work closely together tackling common problems and developing common solutions.

Similarities Too

Though each of the buildings had diverse features that helped them achieve certification, there were several common aspects in all of the projects, according to Steve Keppler, LEED program manager.

“Each was characterized by highly cooperative design and construction teams working out solutions together. Each had a level of innovation for applying sustainable technologies or practices.

“All the projects exercised good environmental vision with sound economic results, such as construction cost savings, energy and resource efficiencies, or lower anticipated operating costs,” said Keppler.

Herman Miller, Inc., designer and marketer of office systems, products, and services, was honored with a LEED Pioneer Award at the presentations. The USGBC recognized the company’s contributions to the program, which include support from its earliest stages of development, and for employing the LEED system in the building program for the Herman Miller corporate headquarters.

The USGBC is a nonprofit, consensus-based coalition representing the entire building industry. For more information on LEED and the USGBC, call 301-315-6656.

Sidebar: The Terrific Twelve Are ...

• The Bachelor Enlisted Quarters, Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL

• Brengel Technology Center, Johnson Controls, Inc., Milwaukee, WI

• The Donald Bren School of Engineering Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA

• Energy Resource Center, Southern California Gas Co., a Sempra Energy Co., Downey, CA

• Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Duquesne, PA

• Kandalama Hotel, Aitken Spence Hotels, Ltd., Dambulla, Sri Lanka

• KSBA Architects Office Building, Pittsburgh, PA

• Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise, Monsanto Co., St. Louis, MO

• Oquirrh Park Speed Skating Oval, Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games 2002, Salt Lake City, UT

• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Southcentral Regional Headquarters, Harrisburg, PA

• Phillip Merrill Environmental Center Headquarters, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Annapolis, MD

• Sundeck Restaurant, Aspen Skiing Co., Aspen, CO

Links

• U.S. Green Building Council