by Shane Henson — June 11, 2014—Building owners seeking to ensure their parking garages are just as sustainability built as their facilities may receive the knowledge and tools they need through the Green Parking Council’s (GPC) recently launched Green Garage Certification program.
According to the GPC, the program is the parking industry equivalent of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification, and recognizes and inspires high standards in sustainable parking facility design, technology, operations, and management. A consensus-driven program, it was developed over several years and honed by external reviewers and a beta phase, which included more than 40 facilities in the United States and Canada.
“Green Garage Certification provides both a roadmap and assessment tool for real estate owners, developers, planners, architects, tenants, parking operators, and others to strive toward a more environmentally and economically sustainable future,” says GPC Executive Director Paul Wessel.
Benefits of the Green Garage Certification program include:
- Increased energy efficiency and performance
- Reduced environmental impact
- Efficiency in parking space management
- Integrated sustainable mobility services and technologies
- Diversity of mobility options
- Stronger community relationships
“Green Garage Certification applies an holistic approach to garage performance and sustainability, evaluating facilities based on their achievement toward a menu of standards developed by experts from a range of related fields,” added John Schmid, chair of the GPC board of directors. “This program demonstrates the parking industry’s commitment to a greener future.”
Those wanting more information can download the free Green Garage Certification Program Guide. This tool contains information about application procedures and program requirements, and includes a breakdown of criteria by certification level. The Green Garage Certification Standard, a 195-page book that defines the performance measures and documentation requirements of the program, is also available for purchase on the Green Garage Certification program Web page.
