Each time we complete LEED certification on a project, we pat ourselves on the back for the success, lick a few wounds, and start on the conversation that opens up with, “Next time will be different – we will…” So, to spare you some grief on your own LEED projects, or simply to commiserate.
Dept. of Corrections LEED Silver Focuses on Water & Energy
New office space for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in Bakersfield achieved LEED Silver certification this month. The 18,000 SF tenant improvement includes offices for 50 employees, conference space, training areas and other support spaces. A key feature is water conservation: indoor water use was reduced by 37% with ultra low-flow fixtures, and outdoor water use was reduced by 60% through selection of adapted plant species and high-efficiency irrigation. In addition, lighting is 16% more efficient than standard, and mechanical systems and envelope are 20% more efficient, for long-term energy savings and reduced climate impact.
LEED Platinum and Green Awards for… a Rest Area!
When thinking of LEED certification, a roadside rest area is probably not the first project type that comes to mind, but the Philip S. Raine Safety Roadside Rest Area has achieved LEED Platinum, showing that a little project can have a big impact. Located 7 miles south of Tulare, CA on Highway 99, Raine Rest Area received a much needed makeover, with a result that is not only LEED certified, but also beautiful and functional, earning one of the “Awards of Excellence” by the California Transportation Foundation, and just this month earning two awards in the USGBC Central Coast Chapter Green Awards.
Shale Oak Winery Project in the News
LEED Gold-certified Shale Oak winery was featured in the Paso Robles Daily News. The article, “Sustainability in practice at Shale Oak Winery”, by Mira Advani Honeycutt, highlights the sustainable building components, including daylighting, water reclamation, materials conservation and renewable energy.