NPCA LEED Gold Certification Fact Sheet
Last Updated: May 16, 2011
NPCA is in the process of obtaining Gold Level LEED certification! This requires 60-79 points out of a maximum of 110 (2nd highest possible to achieve) and falls under the Commercial Interior category.
What is LEED?
- Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design.
- Internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification.
- Aimed at improving performance of:
- Energy savings
- Water efficiency
- CO2 emissions reduction
- Indoor environmental quality (e.g. air)
- Stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
Why LEED?
- Perfect opportunity as NPCA transitioned to its new headquarters office space
- Aligns with NPCA’s mission and our existing work to help the National Park Service become Climate Friendly (http://www.nps.gov/climatefriendlyparks/)
- A recently conducted internal Green Team project recommended LEED certification to help improve our carbon footprint
- Encouraged in NPCA’s most recent strategic plan
Points/Credits Obtained
Sustainable Sites
- Development density and community connectivity (6)
- Immediate access to public transportation (6)
- Bicycle storage and changing rooms (2)
Water Efficiency
- Reduced water usage by 35% (8)
- Installed:
- Low-flow fixtures
- Waterless urinals
Energy & Atmosphere
- Reduced LPD by 25% below standard (3)
- HVAC System has optimized energy performance (5)
- Using Carbon Solutions Group to offset 100% of our electric power for the next 2 years! (6)
Materials & Resources
- Diverting 75% of our construction waste away from landfills! (2)
- Long-term commitment lease (1)
- 20% of materials manufactured regionally (1)
- 20% of material content is recycled (2)
Indoor Environmental Quality
- Low/No VOC Emitting Materials (4):
- Adhesives & Sealants
- Paints & Coatings
- Composite Wood & Agri-fiber Products
- Systems Furniture & Seating
Innovation & Design Process
- Innovation in Design (6):
- Green Education
- Low mercury lights & light replacement
- Sound-masking techniques
- LEED accredited professional
