LEED CERTIFICATION

LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

Administered by:  USGBC – United States Green Building Council, a nonprofit, private organization formed in 1993 by environment designers and builders in Washington, DC.

LEED:  The USGBC started its LEED program in 1995 in order to define “green building.” (A green building program already operating in Canada and Europe served as the model for LEED.)

The LEED program has become a nationally recognized leader, helping to guide decision-making, and acknowledging efforts toward sustainable design made by developers, architects, engineers, manufacturers, governments, universities, utility companies, etc. who are trying to make a paradigm shift in the building industry. Major national organizations have endorsed LEED.

Context:  The building industry is a major consumer, abuser, and polluter of the environment. Buildings use one third of our total energy and two thirds of our electricity.

Purpose:  To promote sustainable, “green” building design, and ecological approaches to site planning and land development.

Sustainable Design and Building Features of the new
BriarPatch Co-op/Litton Retail Center Building

The first privately developed LEED-certified building project in Nevada County.

• Sustainable Site:
• The building location is an “infill” site within Grass Valley, with utilities already developed.
• A bus stop will be developed at the project site to reduce traffic.
• Bike racks will be provided to encourage non-vehicle transportation.
• Storm water management on site: retention pond to prevent any erosion in the downstream drainages.
• Directional lights and light shields will be used to eliminate light pollution to the night sky.
• Water Efficiency:
• Native plant landscaping will require 50% less watering than typical landscaping.
• Electronic sensor faucets will reduce water consumption in the market.
• Energy & Atmosphere:
• Natural light from windows and skylights
• High efficiency lighting fixtures and use of light surfaces for reflectivity
• High levels of insulation
• High efficiency space heating and cooling system that recovers excess heat from the food freezer and refrigeration cases
• Photovoltaic panels for electrical generation
• Solar energy for hot water distribution
• Timers and sensors to reduce electrical use during daytime hours
  
• Materials & Resources:
• Construction Waste: divert 75% to recycling
• Recycled content materials, a total of 10% of materials in building will be composed of “post-consumer” recycled content: Marmoleum® flooring and countertops, Lees Carpet minimum 20% post-consumer recycled content backing, IceStone™ recycled/reconstituted glass product countertops, Medite II 100% pre-consumer recycled wood fiber countertops
• Local and regional materials, 50%: Medite® II from Oregon
• Renewable materials, 5% minimum: sustainably harvested wood cabinetry, Medite® II, 100% pre-consumer recycled wood fiber countertops, Lees Carpet backing
• Sustainable wood-based materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (see fsc.org), 50%: FSC certified wood cabinetry
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Low-emitting finish materials: paints, carpet, adhesives, and sealants
• Monitoring systems for heating, ventilating, air conditioning (HVAC) system
• “Daylighting:” using natural light to reduce electric lighting (see daylighting.org)
• Innovation & Building Design:
• Educational displays
• Recycling program