by jbs062809 a3 — July 1, 2009—Green Building Alliance’s (GBA) 3,850-square-foot office space in the South Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). GBA’s space was awarded 75 percent of the total points available under the LEED for Commercial Interiors program.
GBA’s offices were designed and constructed in 2008 as a model of resource and material efficiency, as well as a green building teaching tool and demonstration project. They serve as an example of how old industrial buildings can be converted into environmentally friendly spaces, and are the first project in Western Pennsylvania to receive USGBC’s highest rating. GBA is also the first USGBC chapter or affiliate to achieve LEED certification for its offices.
Many of the original building components in GBA’s offices were retained, including leaded glass windows and brick walls. The HVAC system is a model of high efficiency, maximizing fresh air flow to contribute to an optimal indoor environment that, combined with the use of materials that do not off-gas volatile organic compounds, creates a space that is both comfortable and healthy, says GBA.
GBA’s offices reportedly use 22 percent less energy than conventionally constructed office space, and all appliances and fixtures have high efficiencies. Forty percent less water is used as a result of low flow fixtures, including toilets, showers and faucets.
Nearly all furnishings in the offices are reused, salvaged, or refurbished. New materials employed in the project include a number of products made by local manufacturers, as well as some made from recycled materials and rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo.
