Society for Neuroscience Wins Gold Certification Award from US Green Building Council for New Office Space
For immediate release.
NEWS RELEASE NR-37-06 (11/28/06). For more information, please contact Joe Carey at (202) 962-4000 or joe@sfn.org.
SOCIETY FOR NEUROSCIENCE WINS GOLD CERTIFICATION AWARD FROM US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL FOR NEW OFFICE SPACE
WASHINGTON, DC November 28 - The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) has received gold certification for the environmentally responsible design of its office space in its new headquarters building at 1121 14th St., NW. This is the fourth such designation for a commercial interior in Washington, DC.
The certification for SfN's three floors was awarded by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system. "The Society for Neuroscience is an exemplary demonstration of the vast potential for improving occupant health, comfort, and productivity, as well as improving the bottom line that exists in tenant improvements and interior renovation projects," said S. Richard Fedrizzi, USGBC president, in a letter to SfN.
LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. A point system determines rating levels of certified, silver, gold, and platinum.
"We are very pleased to have received this certification," said Carol Barnes, a past president of SfN who chaired the real estate committee. "One of our key concerns was to be sure to incorporate principles and materials that seek to provide an environmentally sensitive, healthy, and productive workplace."
"Achieving LEED gold certification shows a level of commitment to sustainability that goes well beyond common practices," said Ken Wilson of Envision Design, the Washington, DC, firm that designed the SfN office space.
With this award, SfN joins a community of businesses that are leading the transformation of the built environment. As of mid-November, 83 LEED commercial interior projects nationwide have been certified by the USGBC since the program began in March 2000. Of these, 22 have gold certification, and two have platinum. There are no platinum certifications in the Washington, DC, area.
In November, the Washington, DC Council unanimously supported in its first reading a bill requiring all new District-owned projects to meet a set of green standards within two years, and commercial buildings within five years.
From the conceptual design of the three floors in the 11-story, 84,000-square-foot headquarters building, SfN and Envision worked to develop a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere that would maximize operational efficiency and minimize environmental impacts.
Some of the factors important for SfN's gold rating include:
Building Selection. All parking is below grade, reducing the urban "heat island" effect caused by surface parking. All energy is provided by renewable energy sources.
Water Efficiency. The space uses 22 percent less water than baseline performance requirements for a tenant space.
Energy Use. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems comply with increased energy efficiency requirements. Each solar control zone has separate controls, and interior spaces are separately zoned. Daylight responsive controls have been installed in all occupied spaces within 15 feet of perimeter windows to reduce energy use. All electricity used in the space is generated by wind power.
Materials and Resources. Twenty-two percent of materials are post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials, including carpet, 39 percent; resilient flooring, 40 percent; upholstered wall panels, 50 percent; gypsum board, 33 percent; ceiling tiles, 71 percent; and office furniture, 50 percent. All wood doors, plywood, and wood paneling are sourced from well-managed forests and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Indoor Environmental Quality. Materials with low volatile organic compounds, emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids, were used throughout. They include adhesives and coatings, paints, carpets, and furniture.
The Society for Neuroscience is an organization of more than 36,500 basic scientists and clinicians who study the brain and nervous system. For more information, please contact Joe Carey at joe@sfn.org or 202-962-4000.
