Burbank Water and Power reports that their Service Center and Warehouse facility, located on BWP’s EcoCampus, has been awarded the Platinum level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the U.S. Green Building Council. Platinum is the highest level possible and BWP’s EcoCampus has three buildings either constructed or under construction to Platinum level standards. Of the 50 or so LEED Platinum buildings in California, three will exist on the BWP campus.
“Buildings have life spans that far exceed our careers. BWP is committed to ensuring that the structures we create today are built with environmental respect. The silver lining is that in doing so, we are also building in long-term cost-effectiveness,” says Ron Davis, BWP General Manager.
LEED projects receive credits for actions taken to mitigate the building’s environmental impact. The credit categories seek to encourage environmental building design and efficient performance throughout the life of the structure:
- Sustainable sites credits encourage strategies that minimize the impact on ecosystems and water resources.
- Water efficiency credits promote smarter use of water, inside and out, to reduce potable water consumption.
- Energy & atmosphere credits promote better building energy performance through innovative strategies.
- Materials & resources credits encourage using sustainable building materials and reducing waste.
- Indoor environmental quality credits promote better indoor air quality and access to daylight and views.
If enough LEED credits are received, the project is awarded one of four LEED levels: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. BWP is thrilled to have been able to hit this high standard!
LEED, a voluntary program that provides third-party verification of green buildings, has been successfully established in 135 countries. The goal of the program is to transform the way built environments are designed, constructed, and operated with the entire lifecycle of a building kept firmly in mind.
According to the U.S. Green Building Council, participation in LEED “demonstrates leadership, innovation, environmental stewardship and social responsibility.”
