MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2016

Since 2011, the city has built seven LEED certified facilities, including one LEED silver and two LEED gold new schools, a LEED silver new fire station, the LEED gold Justice Center renovation, and the LEED certified Bon Secours Redskins Training Center.

The city is in the process of multiple LEED projects, including three LEED schools, a LEED Pre-K facility, and the Main Street Station shed renovation.

The LEED rating system was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the foremost project for buildings, homes and communities designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.

The USGBC developed the LEED certification process to enhance environmental awareness among architects and building contractors, and to encourage the design and construction of energy-efficient, water-conserving buildings that use sustainable or green resources and materials.

The LEED certification process uses a point system to determine the environmental merits of a building, with different rating systems for homes, commercial buildings, interior renovations, schools, neighborhood developments, and other construction projects.

For most projects, there are four levels of LEED certification, depending on points earned: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The new Justice Center is one of three gold awards received by the city. The city mandated the facility be built to silver standards, but during the construction process, the joint venture of Tompkins/Ballard/Davis and HOK Architects found ways to meet additional standards. The project received maximum points for site selection, density and community connectivity, Brownfield redevelopment, public transportation access, bicycle storage and changing rooms, low-emissions and fuel efficient vehicles, restored habitat, maximized open space, water efficient landscaping, water use reduction, enhanced refrigerant management, construction waste management, regional materials, construction management plans, and low-emitting materials,