Environmental

Mayor Emanuel Announces Receipt of the Highest Level Green Building Certification for the Chicago Center for Green Technology


Platinum LEED Certification Demonstrates City’s On-going Commitment to Buildings that are Energy Efficient, Conserve Resources, and Provide a Healthy Indoor Environment

CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–January 2, 2013.  Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that the Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT) has been awarded a Platinum Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) under the USGBC’s green building rating system for the operation and maintenance of existing buildings.

“The Chicago Center for Green Technology is the City’s first building to receive LEED Certification for New Construction and for Operations and Maintenance,” said Mayor Emanuel.  “This is important because it demonstrates the City of Chicago is committed to not only building green, but also operating our municipal facilities in a manner that is energy efficient, conserves resources, and provides a healthy indoor environment for our employees and the constituents they serve.”

The system, named Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Existing Building Operation and Maintenance and referred to as LEED EBOM, recognizes superior performance in five core categories: sustainable sites; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; and indoor environmental quality.  In addition to these core categories LEED EBOM recognizes innovation in operation and designates certain priorities based on a building’s geographic location.

The Chicago Center for Green Technology was the first municipally-owned building in the nation to receive Platinum Certification under the USGBC’s LEED for New Construction (NC) system.  It’s now the first municipally-owned building in the nation to receive Platinum Certification under LEED EBOM in addition to Platinum Certification under LEED NC.  Located in Chicago at 445 N. Sacramento Avenue, CCGT is the most comprehensive green design resource in the Midwest, offering seminars, tours, and a resource center. 

“Early in my administration I committed to doubling the number of LEED certifications awarded to buildings owned and operated by the City of Chicago by 2015,” said Mayor Emanuel.  “Receiving Platinum Certification for the operations and maintenance of the Chicago Center for Green Technology is another step towards meeting this goal.”

“The City of Chicago continues to be a leader in building green,” said Katie Kaluzny, Interim Executive Director of USGBC’s Illinois Chapter.  “The Illinois Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council is proud to have supported the City of Chicago in achieving Platinum LEED EBOM Certification for the Chicago Center for Green Technology and we look forward to continuing this relationship.”

When Mayor Emanuel made this commitment there were 41 municipally-owned facilities within the City of Chicago with LEED Certifications.  Since that time 11 municipally-owned facilities have been awarded LEED Certifications.  An additional 30 municipally-owned facilities are registered to achieve LEED Certification and the City has begun pursuing LEED EBOM Certification at 20 City Libraries.

Source: cityofchicago,.org


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