Nationals Park Achieves LEED Silver Certification

Nationals Park, the nation's greenest ballpark, is the aboriginal Major League Stadium in the country to accomplish LEED milestone.

Washington, DC -- It's official: Nationals Park is the nation's greenest ballpark. The activity accustomed LEED® Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, authoritative it the aboriginal above amphitheater in the United States to accomplish LEED Certification. LEED is a point-based arrangement area projects acquire credibility for acceptable specific blooming architecture criteria. This activity congenital abundant blooming architecture elements to authorize it for a college akin of certification.

Creating a blooming ballpark was as axiological as any claim if we absitively to commence on this mission to body a new accompaniment of the art amphitheater for the Washington Nationals We are aflame to set the ecology accepted for the blow of the antic apple and we are acutely appreciative of this accomplishment for the District of Columbia. Beginning with Camden Yards 15 years ago, HOK Sport has been accepted for its addition in ballpark design And because the architecture aggregation had to actually coin a new aisle in designing a blooming ballpark, it has accurate its avant-garde means already again. HOK formed carefully with the USGBC to acquisition artistic means to absorb environmentally affable architecture concepts In the end, we were able to actualize a ballpark that not alone preserves our adored environment, but it aswell preserves the history and traditions of baseball in the nation's capital The accomplished architecture aggregation went aloft and above the alarm by accomplishing LEED Silver Certification - it's like we asked them for a home run and we got a admirable slam. By extenuative millions of gallons of water, application able acreage lighting, abacus a blooming roof and accumulation recycling at the ballpark, Nationals Park is a lot greener than just its arena field.

"Creating a blooming ballpark was as axiological as any claim if we absitively to commence on this mission to body a new accompaniment of the art amphitheater for the Washington Nationals," said DC Sports and Entertainment Commission CEO Gregory A. O'Dell. "We are aflame to set the ecology accepted for the blow of the antic apple and we are acutely appreciative of this accomplishment for the District of Columbia."

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a appraisement arrangement that was advised by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to adviser and analyze top achievement barrio that accept beneath of an appulse on the environment, are convalescent for those who use the architecture and are added assisting than their accepted counterparts.

The USGBC originally created the LEED Certification action to advance environmentally amenable architecture in such barrio as offices, schools and hospitals. Design close HOK managed the LEED Certification process.

"Beginning with Camden Yards 15 years ago, HOK Sport has been accepted for its addition in ballpark design," said Joe Spear, HOK Sport principal. "And because the architecture aggregation had to actually coin a new aisle in designing a blooming ballpark, it has accurate its avant-garde means already again."

Set abreast the Anacostia River, the ballpark's website dictated abundant of the access to LEED Certification. The ballpark rests on clay that already was contaminated. That clay was advised and replaced. Also, six massive beach filters active underground will accumulate ballpark washdown water, hot dog wrappers and added bits from communicable the river nearby. The ballpark aswell neighbors a array of accessible busline options, including rail, bike and bus routes.

"HOK formed carefully with the USGBC to acquisition artistic means to absorb environmentally affable architecture concepts," said Susan Klumpp, HOK's activity administrator and LEED affairs manager.

The ballpark accustomed 34 credibility against LEED Certification for such blooming architecture elements as:
 

Using top ability acreage lighting, which will save 21 percent over archetypal acreage lighting. Installing baptize attention accouterments fixtures, which will save 3.6 actor gallons of baptize per year and abate all-embracing baptize burning by 30 percent. Using air-cooled chillers instead of water-cooled chillers will save addition 6 actor gallons of baptize per year. Placing 100 recycling bins for fan use throughout the ballpark. Using recycled abstracts in 20 percent of the ballpark's construction, and recycling 5,500 bags of architecture waste. Planting a 6,300 aboveboard bottom blooming roof aloft a concession/toilet across above larboard acreage to aggregate rain baptize and abbreviate roof calefaction gain. Creating signage about the ballpark highlighting the ballpark's environmentally affable aspects.
"In the end, we were able to actualize a ballpark that not alone preserves our adored environment, but it aswell preserves the history and traditions of baseball in the nation's capital," said Stan Kasten, Team President of the Washington Nationals. "The accomplished architecture aggregation went aloft and above the alarm by accomplishing LEED Silver Certification - it's like we asked them for a home run and we got a admirable slam."

About HOK Sport
HOK Sport is one of the world's arch architecture firms - and the alone close in the apple committed alone to the architecture of antic venues. As designers of some of the world's a lot of identifiable sports and ball buildings, HOK Sport continues to ascertain a architecture blazon which has played an accretion role in establishing the architectural bolt of avant-garde cities. Their architects are the world's finest and a lot of experienced, cartoon from the accumulated ability of added than 825 projects with architecture amount beyond $20 billion. HOK Sport's applicant account is assorted and comprehensive; it includes 24 Major League Baseball franchises, 30 NFL franchises, 80 able and borough amphitheatre clients, 40 soccer and rugby teams and 120 colleges and universities. The close has accustomed added than 200 architecture awards, including three civic architecture awards from the American Institute of Architects. With offices in Brisbane, Australia; London, England; Beijing, China; Nashville, Tennessee; Knoxville, Tennessee; Denver, Colorado; and Kansas City, Missouri, their ability is worldwide.
www.hoksport.com
www.hoksport.com/sustainable

Eco-Friendly Dealerships Taking Leadership Role in Environmental Construction

Toyota of Rockwall (Texas) is the aboriginal dealership in the country to accept LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold acceptance from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Torrance, Calif. -- Once a allegorical ambition of environmentalists, auto dealerships are now arena a arch role in the development of barrio and accessories allegorical leading-edge ecology architecture standards.
   
Toyota of Rockwall (Texas) is the aboriginal dealership in the country to accept LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold acceptance from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Rockwall joins Pat Lobb Toyota (McKinney, Texas), which beforehand accustomed a Silver acceptance as the aboriginal dealership to be LEED certified. But they won’t be the last.

The USGBC letters that 48 percent of the nation’s activity is acclimated by buildings, including 70 percent of the nation’s electric use. In accession to added fuel-efficient vehicles, automakers accept apparent addition way to abode the nation’s activity botheration is to body added able dealerships absorption on acceptable architecture processes.

Dealers are acquainted the advantages and opportunities presented by architecture green We apprehend there will be six LEED certified Toyota dealerships by this summer. We’ve aswell been alive with added auto companies on the dynamics of architecture a LEED dealership and they are alpha to body accessories for LEED certification. Once we absitively to do a blooming dealership, we absitively to amplitude the envelope and go for the Gold We achievement to play a administration role in architecture ecology acquaintance in the association and be a abode area acceptance appear to apprentice about the environment. We capital to accommodate dealers with the befalling and advance to accompany LEED acceptance if architecture or afterlight their facilities There’s even an Image II affairs that provides dealers with a ‘turn-key’ LEED certified dealership. The banker can abide to focus on affairs cars while the new dealership is accepting constructed. “Dealers are acquainted the advantages and opportunities presented by architecture green,” says Michael Bevan, Corporate Manager, Retail Market Development at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “Research shows that consumers are acceptable added acquainted of businesses in their association that are demography a administration role in acclamation ecology issues. It aswell makes acceptable business faculty to dealers who can re-coup their investment and alpha acumen accumulation in 5 years or less.

“We apprehend there will be six LEED certified Toyota dealerships by this summer. We’ve aswell been alive with added auto companies on the dynamics of architecture a LEED dealership and they are alpha to body accessories for LEED certification.”

The USGBC is a non-profit alignment committed to accretion acceptable architecture practices. It provides assorted levels of LEED acceptance based on evaluations in such areas as acceptable website development, baptize savings, activity efficiency, abstracts alternative and calm ecology quality.

To accomplish Gold acceptance status, Toyota of Rockwall fabricated all-encompassing use of recycled and energy-saving materials. For instance, four baptize cisterns able of captivation 63,500 gallons of rainwater and air conditioning abstract are acclimated for mural irrigation. The mural itself consists of built-in plants, copse and grasses that are aridity and disease-resistant. The roof is fabricated of abstracts that reflect 90 percent of the sun’s calefaction energy.

“Once we absitively to do a blooming dealership, we absitively to amplitude the envelope and go for the Gold,” said Steve Jackson, buyer of Toyota of Rockwall. “We achievement to play a administration role in architecture ecology acquaintance in the association and be a abode area acceptance appear to apprentice about the environment.”

Both certified Toyota dealerships were complete as allotment of the company’s Eco-Image USA II action that aswell puts an accent on the environment. Under the program, panels acclimated on the building’s exoteric are fabricated up of 90 percent recycled aluminum. The characteristic aperture aperture uses non-lead bottle and shades the exhibit from absolute sunlight. LED lighting is acclimated rather than beaming and beaming lights to added abate activity use. Toyota aswell is acceptable dealers with acid bend blooming options, including altered ability sources such as solar, wind and geothermal.

“We capital to accommodate dealers with the befalling and advance to accompany LEED acceptance if architecture or afterlight their facilities,” Bevan said. “There’s even an Image II affairs that provides dealers with a ‘turn-key’ LEED certified dealership. The banker can abide to focus on affairs cars while the new dealership is accepting constructed.”

About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, administration and chump account arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets articles and casework through a arrangement of added than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota anon employs over 36,000 humans in the U.S. and awash added than 2.6 actor cars in 2007. For added advice about our company, amuse appointment http://www.toyota.com/, http://www.lexus.com/ and http://www.scion.com/.

CONTACT:   
Toyota Media Relations   
Sona Iliffe-Moon
(323) 360-1463
(310) 468-5297

Open for Public Comment: The U.S. Green Building Council’s Proposed Improvements to the LEED Green Building Rating System

“LEED 2009” focuses on activity and carbon achievement of buildings, cellophane “weightings” and bounded LEED credits

(Vocus/PRWEB ) May 19, 2008 -- Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) opened the aboriginal accessible animadversion aeon on LEED 2009, the next change of the LEED blooming architecture acceptance system. LEED 2009 represents a about-face of the absolute LEED appraisement systems for bartering buildings, accumulated with a alternation of above abstruse advancements focused on convalescent activity efficiency, abbreviation carbon emissions, and acclamation added ecology and animal bloom outcomes.

“Continuing to seek the appropriate antithesis amid abstruse advance and bazaar transformation was a active force abaft the LEED 2009 work,” explained Scot Horst, Chairman of the advance LEED Steering Committee, which leads the abstruse development of the LEED appraisement system. “The ‘big ideas’ we’ve proposed cover cellophane weightings of LEED credits so the highest-priority credits accomplish the a lot of points, a new apparatus for accumulation bioregional credits, and a added active framework that supports accelerated acknowledgment to arising ecology and animal bloom issues.”

Continuing to seek the appropriate antithesis amid abstruse advance and bazaar transformation was a active force abaft the LEED 2009 work The ‘big ideas’ we’ve proposed cover cellophane weightings of LEED credits so the highest-priority credits accomplish the a lot of points, a new apparatus for accumulation bioregional credits, and a added active framework that supports accelerated acknowledgment to arising ecology and animal bloom issues. When it was alien in 2000, the LEED Green Building Rating System helped to atom a anarchy that is alteration the way we body and accomplish our offices, schools, hospitals and homes LEED 2009 resets the bar for blooming architecture administration because the coercion of our mission has challenged the industry to move faster and ability further. The LEED Green Building Rating System was developed by USGBC to drive bazaar transformation in the architecture industry by defining a accord metric for administration in blooming architecture that forms a base for connected improvement. The change of LEED is based on technical, accurate and market-based advancements.

“When it was alien in 2000, the LEED Green Building Rating System helped to atom a anarchy that is alteration the way we body and accomplish our offices, schools, hospitals and homes,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC. “LEED 2009 resets the bar for blooming architecture administration because the coercion of our mission has challenged the industry to move faster and ability further.”

LEED 2009 is the artefact of bags of hours of advance time and the abysmal ability abundantly accustomed by assembly from every bend of the architecture industry who serve on the USGBC affiliate committees and baby-sit the development of LEED. LEED 2009, accompanying with an broadcast third-party acceptance affairs and cogent enhancements to LEED Online, accomplish up a multi-faceted action referred to as LEED Version 3.0.

Detailed advice about specific proposed abstruse changes to the appraisement arrangement can be begin in the amount of accomplishments abstracts that accompany the accessible animadversion forms on USGBC’s Web site. Further advice about the amplification of the acceptance action and improvements to LEED Online as able-bodied as approaching abstruse improvements, including the affiliation of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) into LEED, will be accessible in backward summer.

Media Webinar
A media webinar will be captivated on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 11 AM – 12 PM EST. Scot Horst, Chair of the LEED Steering Committee will present the proposed changes to the LEED system, outline the accessible animadversion action and acknowledgment any questions.

About the Public Comment Period
The accessible animadversion aeon is a analytical allotment of the accord action by which LEED is developed. During accessible comment, all stakeholders are arrive to analysis all proposed improvements and action abstruse or market-oriented perspectives through USGBC’s Web website on the slate of changes represented by LEED 2009. All accessible comments are advised by the USGBC advance committees that baby-sit the LEED appraisement system. USGBC will acknowledge to all comments and column the comments and responses (without commenter names or organizations) to the USGBC Web site. If changes to the LEED arrangement are fabricated as a aftereffect of comments, a 15-day additional accessible animadversion aeon will be undertaken. The consistent abstract will be beatific to all USGBC affiliate organizations for acclamation above-mentioned to release.

The accessible animadversion aeon will be accessible for 30 days, from May 19 through June 22, 2008, at 5 PM Pacific Time.

Webinar Info
Topic: LEED v3
Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Time: 11:00 am, Eastern Daylight Time (GMT -04:00, New York )
Meeting Number: 754 983 783
Meeting Password: newLEED

To accompany the online meeting:
1. Go to https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/j.php?ED=96826402&UID=0
2. Enter your name and email address.
3. Enter the affair password: newLEED
4. Click "Join".
5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

To accompany the teleconference only:
Call-in toll-free amount (US/Canada): 866-469-3239
Call-in assessment amount (US/Canada): 1-650-429-3300
Toll-free dialing restrictions: http://www.webex.com/pdf/tollfree_restrictions.pdf

For assistance:
1. Go to https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/mc
2. Click "Assistance".
3. Click "Support".

Prior to the meeting, analysis for affinity of affluent media players for Universal Communications Format (UCF) afore you accompany the session. UCF allows you to appearance multimedia during the session. To analysis now, bang the afterward link: https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/systemdiagnosis.php

About USGBC
The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit associates alignment whose eyes is a acceptable complete ambiance aural a generation. Its associates includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and added nonprofit organizations. Since USGBC’s founding in 1993, the Council has developed to added than 15,000 affiliate companies and organizations, a absolute ancestors of LEED® blooming architecture appraisement systems, an all-embracing educational offering, the industry’s accepted Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org), and a arrangement of 74 bounded chapters, affiliates, and acclimation groups. For added information, appointment www.usgbc.org.

About LEED®
The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a feature-oriented appraisement arrangement that awards barrio credibility for acceptable defined blooming architecture criteria. The six above ecology categories of analysis include: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation and Design. Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of LEED blooming architecture acceptance are awarded based on the absolute amount of credibility becoming aural anniversary LEED category. LEED can be activated to all architecture types including new construction, bartering interiors, amount & carapace developments, absolute buildings, homes, adjacency developments, schools and retail facilities. LEED for Healthcare is currently beneath development and is accepted to be appear in aboriginal 2008.

Incentives for LEED are accessible at the accompaniment and bounded akin and LEED has aswell been adopted civic by federal agencies, accompaniment and bounded governments, and absorbed clandestine companies. For added information, appointment www.usgbc.org/LEED.    

Callison Design is First to Receive Sustainable Retail Certification

New LEED Pilot Programs Have Far-Reaching Impact on National Retailers

(Vocus/PRWEB ) June 23, 2008 -- Callison, the amount one retail architecture close in the world, partnered with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), to advance two groundbreaking acceptable models advised for retailers: LEED for Retail and LEED Portfolio, aswell referred to as LEED Volume.

Up until now retailers accept been apathetic to accept acceptable practices. For the aboriginal time, civic retailers can body to LEED standards above their portfolio of food after accepting to go through the acceptance action for anniversary alone site This after-effects in an efficient, automated action for architecture acceptable on a large-scale, appropriately extenuative time, money and manpower for retailers that ambition to go green. The complete ambiance has a abstruse appulse on our accustomed environment, economy, bloom and productivity Green barrio crop amazing allowances - they use beneath energy, use beneath baptize and beneath resources, they aswell accept beneath of an appulse on the ambiance and are convalescent places for their occupants. In an aberrant effort, Callison led architectural development for both pilots accompanying to advance a ancestor for Wachovia’s bounded banking centers, allowance to authorize the accoutrement and guidelines for the LEED for Retail appraisement system. The Wachovia ancestor accustomed the aboriginal LEED Silver Commercial Interiors (CI) and Portfolio acceptance beneath the new system.

The LEED Portfolio pilot allows retailers and added aggregate builders to accredit all consecutive projects already an antecedent ancestor has met the accustomed criteria. The pilots are conducted through a rigorous, multi-step action advised to accumulate feedback, draft, analysis and ultimately certificate point modifications and/or addition acquiescence paths in new appliance guides.

“Up until now retailers accept been apathetic to accept acceptable practices. For the aboriginal time, civic retailers can body to LEED standards above their portfolio of food after accepting to go through the acceptance action for anniversary alone site,” says Chris Hamilton, Principal at Callison. “This after-effects in an efficient, automated action for architecture acceptable on a large-scale, appropriately extenuative time, money and manpower for retailers that ambition to go green.”

"The complete ambiance has a abstruse appulse on our accustomed environment, economy, bloom and productivity," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "Green barrio crop amazing allowances - they use beneath energy, use beneath baptize and beneath resources, they aswell accept beneath of an appulse on the ambiance and are convalescent places for their occupants."

For Wachovia, the new acceptance action will acquiesce the case to accessible added than 300 branches in accordance with LEED for retail standards by 2010.

Callison has added than 30 actor sf of acceptable projects worldwide, of which added than nine actor are LEED registered projects. Callison believes acceptable architecture is a acute business strategy. Through bargain life-cycle costs and added ROI and casting recognition, acute business strategies ammunition acceptable design.

Callison, the amount one retail architecture close in the apple (World Architecture, 2003-2008), affairs and designs retail, hospitality, mixed-use, residential, accumulated and healthcare projects worldwide. With offices in Seattle, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Shanghai, London and Mexico City, Callison is one of the better architectural architecture firms based in the United States with added than 800 able staff. Clients cover Nordstrom, Microsoft, AT&T, Harrods, FedEx, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Boeing, HP, Intrawest, Nike, Guess, Franciscan Health System, Seibu Department Stores of Japan, and General Growth Properties. www.callison.com.

Contacts:
Autumn Conrad, Communications Specialist
Office: 206.623.4646
autumn.conrad @ callison.com

Vanessa Gallant, Communications Mgr.
Office: 206.613.4921
vanessa.gallant @ callison.com

Building Knowledge Inc. Selected by U.S. Green Building Council to Serve Minnesota Green Home Construction Market

Minneapolis based Building Knowledge Inc. has been called by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to serve the Minnesota bazaar as a LEED for Homes Provider. LEED for Homes acceptance provides third-party affirmation to homebuyers that their home complies with accurate abstruse requirements for activity and baptize efficiency, calm air quality, non-toxic materials, and ecology performance. Building Knowledge Inc. (BKI) is a arch developer of civic programs, educational, training, and business abstracts on homebuilding best practices and has accomplished and consulted with bags of builders and residential architecture professionals.

Minneapolis, MN -- Minneapolis based Building Knowledge Inc. has been called by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to serve the bounded bazaar as a LEED for Homes Provider. LEED for Homes is civic third-party acceptance arrangement for activity efficient, healthy, blooming homes. LEED for Homes Providers are called by USGBC based on their approved acquaintance and ability in blooming homebuilding as able-bodied as their charge to their bounded community. Providers are amenable for confined as a ability for builders and for administering able blooming home raters who complete the onsite reviews appropriate for acceptance beneath LEED.

"We accept a affection for allowance humans and companies advance the above of homes - homes that are durable, comfortable, safe, and healthy, and that are bigger for the ambiance and the economy," said Ed VonThoma, President of Building Knowledge Inc. "Building Knowledge provides technical, business and analysis abutment casework to builders alternating with third-party analysis services, including both on-site reviews and achievement testing all-important for LEED certification."

LEED for Homes acceptance provides third-party affirmation to homebuyers that their home complies with accurate abstruse requirements for activity and baptize efficiency, calm air quality, non-toxic materials, and ecology performance. Typical blooming home appearance cover top ability heating and cooling systems and windows; controllable paints and adhesives; recycled and renewable architecture materials; and drought-resistant agriculture that does not crave irrigation.

We accept a affection for allowance humans and companies advance the above of homes - homes that are durable, comfortable, safe, and healthy, and that are bigger for the ambiance and the economy Building Knowledge provides technical, business and analysis abutment casework to builders alternating with third-party analysis services, including both on-site reviews and achievement testing all-important for LEED certification. Building Knowledge Inc. (BKI) is an industry-leading abreast captivated aggregation of architecture experts and educators, whose mission is to accommodate account and solutions to advance the above of homes. Our aggregation consists of some of the industry's arch experts in: Green building; Building science; Designing, architecture and affairs top achievement homes; and Mechanical and systems engineering. We're appreciative to say that some of the industry's best architecture experts and educators plan with BKI. It's our team's acquaintance that allows us to advice our audience to body bigger homes, and bigger businesses.

Group 70 Office Space Certified Leed Platinum

Group 70 International has auspiciously adapted the additional attic of Honolulu Chinatown's 102-year-old McCandless Building into an archetype of the accomplished akin of sustainability. The firm's additional attic autogenous advance project, which includes several of its agents offices, accepted areas and afresh opened acceptable architecture center, has accustomed the Platinum akin of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Commercial Interiors (CI) acceptance from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Group 70 International's additional attic appointment LEED acceptance demonstrates amazing blooming architecture leadership The coercion of USGBC's mission has challenged the industry to move faster and ability added than anytime before, and Group 70 serves as a prime archetype with just how abundant we can accomplish. Group 70's additional attic advance demonstrates that you can accomplish LEED Platinum acceptance in a celebrated architecture amplitude at an affordable price

Honolulu (Vocus/PRWEB ) August 21, 2009 -- Group 70 International has auspiciously adapted the additional attic of Honolulu Chinatown's 102-year-old McCandless Building into an archetype of the accomplished akin of sustainability. The firm's additional attic autogenous advance project, which includes several of its agents offices, accepted areas and afresh opened acceptable architecture center, has accustomed the Platinum akin of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Commercial Interiors (CI) acceptance from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Group 70's 2nd attic autogenous advance activity includes its new acceptable architecture center.

It is the aboriginal LEED Platinum CI activity in Hawai'i.

"Group 70 International's additional attic appointment LEED acceptance demonstrates amazing blooming architecture leadership," said Rick Fedrizzi, USGBC president, CEO and founding chair. "The coercion of USGBC's mission has challenged the industry to move faster and ability added than anytime before, and Group 70 serves as a prime archetype with just how abundant we can accomplish."

"Group 70's additional attic advance demonstrates that you can accomplish LEED Platinum acceptance in a celebrated architecture amplitude at an affordable price," said Charles Kaneshiro, AIA, arch at Group 70. "As a baton in acceptable development, it is important for Group 70 to convenance what we preach. Our acceptable architecture centermost helps us to brainwash audience and leaders in the association about sustainability in a actual sense, accouterment a area to see and blow a array of acceptable development articles and technologies accessible today. By accomplishing LEED Platinum acceptance for our additional floor, we are demonstrating that the accomplished accepted is possible, all at a aggressive price. This counters a accepted delusion that it costs added to do a advance application acceptable and blooming concepts."

The advance of the 5,700-square-foot additional attic amplitude took about seven months, completed at a amount of $84 per aboveboard foot. By comparison, acceptable autogenous renovations can amount about $200 per aboveboard foot. Environmentally acquainted design, accurate planning and actual alternative are just a few of the aspects that factored into chargeless Platinum certification.

Historic barrio generally actualize their own obstacles for affair avant-garde LEED standards. For example, reusing absolute abstracts is a challenge. Still, Group 70 was able to reclaim 60 percent of absolute materials, including portions of the walls, exoteric windows, flooring, lights and the air-conditioning system. The close bargain electrical and baptize acceptance by retrofitting accessories and replacing 90 percent of the appointment accessories with Energy Star versions. The close aswell acclimated abounding articles fabricated from recycled or rapidly renewable materials, such as recycled agreeable carpet, carpeting tiles and appointment chairs, and abstracts fabricated from reeds and bamboo.

Group 70's acceptable architecture center, opened in January, is a absolute ability centermost and showroom, accouterment audience and baddest association groups with absolute acceptance to acceptable technologies, a aggregation of ecology articles that are now available, and the ability of the firm's 33 LEED Accredited Professionals.

Group 70's added called LEED certified and registered projects include:
 

Hawai'i Baptist Academy Middle School -- LEED Gold New Construction (NC) Version 2.1 Group 70 Interior Design Studio -- LEED Silver CI Pilot Program Halau Ho'olako Community Resource Center (Kanu O Ka 'Aina) -- Registered beneath LEED NC Kauai Community Federal Credit Union -- Registered beneath LEED NC Waikoloa Kings' Land Clubhouse - Registered beneath LEED NC University of Hawai'i Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education -- Registered beneath LEED NC/Labs 21 Honolulu Waldorf School - Registered beneath LEED CI University of Hawai'i Translational Science Laboratory - Registered beneath LEED CI
The USGBC's LEED affairs is the a lot of accustomed acceptance affairs for acceptable building. LEED is a performance-based affairs that awards development and architecture accompanying projects four levels of accomplished acceptance barnacle on activity ability and acceptable architecture practices. Based on the amount of credits accomplished for anniversary chic of the program, the activity is again awarded a akin of acceptance alignment from Certified, Silver, Gold and (the accomplished level) Platinum.

Founded in 1971 in Honolulu, Group 70 International, Inc. is an award-winning close specializing in acceptable development, architecture, planning and ecology services, autogenous architecture and assets management. Group 70 is accepted for avant-garde designs and cultural and ecology acuteness in association accord building. For added information, appointment group70int.com.

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