Green Building Achievement: LEED Certification

We recently received notification that our Norwood Campus has achieved LEED Certification.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the U.S. Green Building Council’s green certification system for the design, construction, maintenance and operations of sustainable buildings. The benefits of LEED include conserving energy, reducing water consumption, improving air quality, and saving money.

When we began planning our building, our goal was to create a cutting-edge, high performance facility to support our physicians, staff and patients; receiving LEED certification validates our approach while reflecting the thoughtful strategy and hard work that went into creating it.

From the design phase through construction, our building used a variety of green strategies:

•   a solar reflecting membrane covers the roof, reducing heat gain and keeping the building cooler in warmer months;
•   low-flow water faucets and toilet fixtures reduce water use by 32% while the new landscaping and irrigation systems require less water;
•   energy use reductions of nearly 31% by designing efficient systems and simulating energy usage against baseline energy performance numbers;
•   using materials with pre- or postconsumer recycled content wherever possible, totaling more than 30% for the project;
•   for indoor air quality, the selection of low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and finishes as well as low-emitting carpets, wood flooring, and tile.

Site selection also played a significant role in the certification, with our proximity to retail stores, residential neighborhoods and nearby amenities encouraging walking and decreasing vehicular traffic. Fuel efficient cars and carpool vehicles receive priority parking, while bike racks and shower facilities promote biking to work.

Our investment in green building and sustainability reflects our commitment to healthier lives for our staff, patients and community, as well as a better environment through the wise use of resources.

Special thanks to GBBN Architects, our partners throughout the process.