Tennessee utility earns first LEED-EB pilot credit after energy efficiency retrofit

USGBC awarded a LEED-certified plaque to the headquarters building of Chattanooga's electric utility, EPB, in June. It is the first building in the world to earn LEED certification using a new pilot credit for satisfying an energy pre-requisite in the LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M Rating System. To earn the credit, the utility demonstrated an energy improvement of 20% over a 12-month period, as compared to a three-year baseline.
July 1, 2013
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USGBC awarded a LEED-certified plaque to the headquarters building of Chattanooga's electric utility, EPB, in June. It is the first building in the world to earn LEED certification using a new pilot credit for satisfying an energy pre-requisite in the LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M Rating System. To earn the credit, the utility demonstrated an energy improvement of 20% over a 12-month period, as compared to a three-year baseline.

The company programmed most computers to auto-power off after 30 minutes of inactivity, optimized its air handling units' performance, and installed lighting sensors throughout the building. To understand the importance of this pilot credit, imagine two buildings of the same size and usage profiles: one has an ENERGY STAR score of 15, which improves to 55; the other starts at 80 and ends up at 95. Despite the higher score of the first building, the planet is far better off because of what the first building did, says Rick Fedrizzi, president and CEO of the USGBC. Because we have millions of those kinds of commercial buildings in the United States, this is a game-changing approach, says Fedrizzi.

(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rick-fedrizzi/existing-buildings-to-live-for_b_3506650.html?utm_hp_ref=green)

  

About the Author

Drew Ballensky

Drew Ballensky is general manager of Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.’s central U.S. facility in Iowa and company spokesman for Duro-Last’s cool roofing, sustainability and architectural education programs. He is past-president of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association and chairman of CFFA’s Vinyl Roofing Division. Drew earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from the University of Northern Iowa and master’s degree in business administration from Florida State University. Drew has over 29 years experience in business and industry in various engineering and managerial capacities. He has worked in the U.S. and Canadian operations for a major international manufacturer of pre-engineered steel buildings, was a financial analyst with a major athletic apparel manufacturer and was an owner of a general contracting company.
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