LEADERSHIP IN BUILDING DESIGN
            Green building design is making news. In September the United States hosted the leaders from the Group of 20 nations (G-20) in Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center – a building that received the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the US Green Building Council.
            This building uses “natural light to illuminate much of the floor space. It can turn off the ventilation and let in outside air for about 50 days of the year. Most of the building’s components were built within 500 miles of Pittsburgh. Yet another green feature: a rooftop herb and vegetable garden, which is used by chefs preparing food for events in the facility.” Story by Ron Scherer, The Christian Science Monitor, September 20, 2009.
            The G-20 dignitaries dined at the historic Phipps Conservatory built in 1893 by a business partner of Andre Carnegie at a time when “sustainability” was not the norm. With changes, yet maintaining its historic character, the building today is noted for conservation “with a drought resistant lawn, natural heating and cooling, and the purchase of clean-energy offsets to account for all the power usage.”       
Also in the news, an LEED award was recently presented for the new building at the Freeport location of U.S. Cellular on Route 26 south. Thanks to Eric Petermann, Journal-Standard Managing Editor, for recognizing the U.S. Cellular team for this achievement with an article in the Journal-Standard, October 25, 2009.
            The LEED recognition comes from the US Green Building Council, a 501 c3 non-profit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. In our country and in a number of other countries around the world, LEED certification is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability.
            The LEED rating system offers four certification levels for new construction. Credits for certification come from five categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. LEED standards cover new commercial construction and major renovation projects, interiors projects and existing building operations. Standards are under development to cover commercial ‘core and shell’ construction, new home construction, and neighborhood developments.
            The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) provides tools for building professionals. They encourage adhering to a clear environmental target and a clear and adequate budget. They urge investors to consider the “Life Cycle Value” – how green investments will affect expenses over the entire life of the building. USGBC explains that LEED-certified building industry professionals can best assist in meeting specified environmental goals.
            “Green building” can be explored in depth at www.epa.gov/greenbuilding. The information about Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in this article can be found at www.nrdc.org/buildinggreen/leed.asp. And at www.usgbc.org.

Della Moen, Earth Team Volunteer, NRCS/Stephenson Soil and Water Conservation District, an equal opportunity provider and employer, 10/21/09 for publication on 10/31/09 in the Journal Standard, Freeport, Illinois) Della can be reached at info@stephensonswcd.org