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| Hines' Columbia Square awarded LEED Silver certification The Washington office of Hines, the international real estate firm, announced that Columbia Square in Washington, D.C., has received Silver certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system for Existing Buildings (EB). Columbia Square is a 600,000-square-foot, 13-story office building located in the east end of Washington's central business district. It is owned in partnership with Munich Reinsurance Company (Munich Re), which was a strong proponent of the certification effort. Developed by Hines in 1987 and managed by Hines since, Columbia Square underwent the following sustainability improvements: replacement of all bathroom sink aerators and the conversion of 140 water closets and 40 urinals from the older 3.5 gallons per flush (GPF) fixtures to 1.6 GPF fixtures, resulting in a water savings of approximately 40 percent; and the installation of MERV-13 high-efficiency air filters on the air handling system for improved indoor air quality. Tenants also played a role in the achievement. A "Green Reserve" parking program was instituted for cars that scored 40 or better (out of 100) on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy's "green" scale. This program, when coupled with proximity to excellent alternative transportation modes and tenant support of commuting options, resulted in a 72 percent reduction in single occupancy vehicle use – earning 14 out of 15 certification points. Finally, a Sustainability Stewards program was implemented whereby building management personnel meet routinely with tenant volunteers to help further develop and promote sustainability programs within the building. In addition to its LEED certification, Columbia Square is also ENERGY STAR labeled with a score of 79 out of 100 possible points. The building is 30 percent more energy efficient and annually saves $1.21 in energy costs per square foot when compared to the national average office building. This translates to estimated annual greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to removing 530 passenger vehicles from the road. Columbia Square has earned the ENERGY STAR label eight times since 2000. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy aimed at protecting the environment through the development and use of efficient products and practices. write your comments about the article :: © 2010 Construction News :: home page |