LEED, Don't Follow
Practical Applications recently hosted a TCH course at the Genzyme Center building in Cambridge, MA.
At 350,000 square feet, Genzyme Center is the largest platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building in the United States.
The nationally-recognized LEED program is run by the US Green Building Council, a non-profit organization whose members are from the building industry.
Buildings designed according to LEED specifications are awarded gold, silver, or platinum status based on a points system.
Buildings are awarded points based on the following:
- Sustainable sites - 14
- Water efficiency - 5
- Energy and Atmosphere - 17
- Materials and resources - 13
- Indoor environmental quality - 15
- Innovative design - 5
There are currently no tax breaks for adhering to LEED standards. However, LEED-certified buildings are eligible for grants. In addition, companies who adopt LEED building standards can achieve a reduction in operating costs.
For example, companies within the high cost Massachusetts Water Resource Authority service area may see savings within one year of installing a graywater system.
Genzyme Center’s water conservation measures reduced potable water usage by 32%, and the building’s green design, supported by integrated systems, reduced projected overall energy costs by 42%, according to Lou Capozzi from Genzyme Corporation.
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