Texas & LEED® – A Mighty Good Fit

When proud Austin, Texas, passed a resolution that municipal buildings must accomplish a US Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification, the city became the first in the country to embrace green construction.  That was in the year 2000.
Dallas followed in January 2003 with its own commitment to LEED® certification and Green Building Programs.  An October 2007 report entitled “Toward a Sustainable Dallas” is filled with facts, figures and plans for the greening of the city.  The report also provides a healthy endorsement for the LEED® certification and rating system.

In June 2005, Houston joined the green and LEED® construction party.  The city originally authorized the LEED® certifications for new and replacement facilities that occupied a building of 10,000 square feet or more.

Since the original green and LEED® commitments, the cities have come to realize that not only do LEED® certifications make sense; they save taxpayer money and reduce the environmental stress as well as create healthier working spaces for city employees.  The Obama administration has reached the same conclusion and has loaded the stimulus package with green and LEED® certified requirements and incentives.

Austin’s Dell Children’s Medical Center, designed by Karlsberger and construction by the White Construction firm of Austin, opened June 30, 2007 as the newest member of the Seton Family of Hospitals.  The $200 million project set its sights on the US Green Building Council’s highest rating, the revered platinum LEED® certification.  Austin LEED® certification professional Aide Uzgiris remarked.  “It couldn’t be a more appropriate application for LEED® strategies.  Children, especially sick children, are more sensitive than adults to the effects of chemicals.”

The esteemed platinum LEED® certification calls for an 80% compliance score for energy and environmental design and implementation.  Uzgiris elaborated that, “the materials encouraged by LEED® not only tend to be naturally attractive, they reduce the amount of toxic chemicals inside the building, contributing to healthier indoor air.”

Sounds like a perfect design for a children’s hospital or any other hospital or work environment for that matter.  Developers and building owners should consult with LEED® professionals to better understand the many advantages to certification.

Tagged as: Austin, Dallas, efficient, green, Houston, LEED, texas