Enigin Update - Raising Energy Efficiency Standards in Government Buildings
THE U.S. General Services Administration is raising energy efficiency standards of all of its new federal building construction projects, it announced yesterday.
The GSA is the U.S. federal government's workplace solutions provider and they have now decreed that projects must achieve LEED Gold certification, the second-highest rating from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.
Formerly, federal building projects were required to be certified at least to the LEED Silver level, the third-highest rating.
With a portfolio of more than 361 million square feet of space in 9,600 federally owned and leased facilities, GSA's goal is to provide sustainable, healthier, more productive workspaces for the federal workforce, while being a responsible asset manager using taxpayer's dollars wisely.
Robert Peck, commissioner of GSA's Public Buildings Service, said that better-performing government buildings can have a substantial environmental impact.
"Sustainable, better-performing federal buildings can significantly contribute to reducing the government's environmental footprint," said Robert A. Peck, GSA's Commissioner of Public Buildings. "This new requirement is just one of the many ways we're greening the federal real estate inventory to help deliver on President Obama's commitment to increase sustainability and energy efficiency across government."
Enigin Distributors across many countries are helping national and local governments to become energy efficient and reduce utility bills.
Whether in existing buildings or new builds Enigin provide a range of cutting edge technology to help organisations save energy, reduce emissions and save money.
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED system awards points for incorporating sustainable practices into building designs. The more sustainable features of a building, the more points it receives.
The highest rating is LEED Platinum.
For projects funded before fiscal 2010, LEED Gold standards will be incorporated wherever possible.
New leased GSA spaces still require only LEED Silver certification.
Picture of US GSA Building by cliff1066™
