28 ways to make a LEED platinum building

The ASHRAE headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia in the US
[More Images]

The ASHRAE headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia in the US has been awarded a LEED Platinum rating, the highest certification available. MEP Middle East takes a closer look at the project as a landmark case study in green building.

As an innovator in energy-efficient technology, ASHRAE felt its headquarters should serve as a showcase of sustainability. “The resulting design truly reflects that sentiment, as well as how ASHRAE standards and guidelines can be put into practice to result in a high-performance building,” said ASHRAE president Gordon Holness.

“While our first objective was to provide a healthy, comfortable and productive environment for our staff, we also wanted to set an example of what can be done to renovate existing buildings. Given that 75% to 80% of all existing buildings will still be around in 2030, our greatest opportunity for a sustainable future is through the upgrade and retrofit of these buildings,” said Holness.

Built in 1965, the building was known as the Wausau Building until 1981, when ASHRAE purchased it and moved its headquarters from New York to Atlanta. It was renovated extensively in 1981, with another major interior renovation taking place from 1991 to 1992. Changes here included reconfiguration of interior space for additional office space. The decision to commit to a comprehensive revamp was taken by the board of directors on 25 January 2006.

ASHRAE aimed to earn 55 LEED points out of a potential total of 69 under LEED NC 2.2. It ultimately earned 54 LEED points (37 design and 17 construction). This meant a coveted Platinum rating. Below is a full listing of the building’s features and how they relate to the LEED requirements:

1 Site selection: It was a greyfield site, which eliminated the impact on environmentally-sensitive areas such as prime farmland, flood zone, endangered species habitat, wetlands, etc.

2 Development density and community connectivity: The site was within a half mile radius of three residential zones and at least ten basic services.

3 Alternative transportation, public transportation access, parking capacity: The site is within a quarter mile of two public bus lines. On-site bike storage and a shower and changing room were provided. Ten per cent of the parking spaces in preferred locations was allocated to carpool and low-emitting/fuel-efficient vehicles.

Story continues below

Advertisement

FEATURED COMMENT GreenCollarEconomy.com is the only site your business needs when your business is going green. If you are researching ho   1 Comments Read more comments »

5 Stormwater management: The amount of site run-off was reduced by 31%. The run-off rate was reduced by 30% through increased vegetated open space, green roofs and a stormwater detention system. In addition, a bio-retention system treats 90% of the annual rainfall volume to remove 80% of the total suspended solids.

6 Heat island effect: Polycon Manufacturing Inc. installed a SlurryKote material with a solar reflectance index of 32 over more than 50% of the asphalt parking lot to minimise the heat-island effect. A white reflective roof membrane with a solar reflectance index of 78 was installed to minimise the heat-island effect.

7 Light pollution reduction: Light trespass/sky glow from the building and site was minimised. Nighttime visibility was improved through glare reduction and reduced development impact on nocturnal environments through the careful selection of interior and exterior light fixtures.

8 Water-efficient landscaping: The landscaping has been updated and the need for landscaping irrigation eliminated.

9 Innovative wastewater technologies: The estimated water consumption a year for bathrooms was reduced from 133 100 gallons/year to 63 500 gallons/year (a 52.3% reduction) by utilising low-flow fixtures.

10 Water-use reduction: The estimated overall annual water consumption per year was reduced from 253 021 gallons/year to 135 921 gallons/year (a 46.3% reduction) by utilising low-flow fixtures. When compared with the old building’s water usage, the savings are even greater, with an estimated 79% reduction in annual water consumption.