Green Building Alliance Offices Receive LEED Platinum Rating, the Highest Possible

Green Building Alliance Offices Receive LEED Platinum Rating, the Highest
Possible

PITTSBURGH, June 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Green Building Alliance's (GBA)
3,850-square-foot office space in the South Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh,
PA, has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED(R))
Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Located in the historic River Walk Corporate Centre, GBA's offices were
designed and constructed in 2008 as a model of resource and material
efficiency, as well as a green building teaching tool and demonstration
project. They serve as an example of how old industrial buildings can be
converted into environmentally friendly spaces, and are the first project in
Western Pennsylvania to receive USGBC's highest rating. GBA is also the first
USGBC chapter or affiliate to achieve LEED certification for its offices.

"The USGBC's vital work toward market transformation would not be possible
without the dedicated grassroots commitment of our regional chapters and
affiliates," said Rick Fedrizzi, USGBC's president, CEO, and founding chair.
"It is extremely gratifying to see such an affiliate -- the Green Building
Alliance -- achieve the exemplary success of LEED Platinum certification for
its offices. This remarkable project will stand as an example and will
greatly benefit the Western Pennsylvania community, while also helping us heal
our planet's environment and economy."

The LEED Green Building Rating System(TM) is the nationally accepted benchmark
for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green
buildings. There are four levels of building certification under the LEED
system: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. GBA's space was awarded 75% of
the total points available under the LEED for Commercial Interiors program.

"I am thrilled to be part of an organization that not only strives to make
this region a beacon of green building best practices, but that also continues
to push the boundaries of what we can accomplish in the green building arena,"
said Holly Childs, GBA's executive director. "It is critical that we continue
to devise ways to build, renovate, operate and maintain buildings in a more
economically, environmentally and socially beneficial manner."

Many of the original building components in GBA's offices were retained,
including leaded glass windows and brick walls. Wood floors in the two
enclosed office spaces were salvaged from the renovation of Vincentian Convent
in Pittsburgh and reused. The HVAC system is a model of high efficiency,
maximizing fresh air flow to contribute to an optimal indoor environment that,
combined with the use of materials that do not off-gas volatile organic
compounds, creates a space that is both comfortable and healthy. GBA's
offices use 22% less energy than conventionally constructed office space, and
all appliances and fixtures have high efficiencies. Forty percent less water
is used as a result of low flow fixtures, including toilets, showers and
faucets.

Nearly all furnishings in the offices are reused, salvaged or refurbished.
New materials employed in the project include a number of products made by
local manufacturers, as well as some made from recycled materials and rapidly
renewable materials such as bamboo. Additionally, 99.9% of construction waste
generated by the project was diverted from a landfill by reusing materials
on-site, recycling and donating items to Construction Junction, which is
Pittsburgh's building material reuse retailer.

"What impressed me most about this project were the team members and their
attitudes," said Michael Kuhn, project executive, vice president, Jendoco
Construction Corporation. "The goal was to create an energy-efficient, highly
sustainable, healthy space, not a 'LEED Platinum' space. It was clear that
our team was not going to chase points where they were inappropriate for the
sake of earning a certain level of certification. Difficult decisions had to
be made regarding systems, budgets, and schedules--just like on all other
projects--but because of the depth of knowledge, experience and creativity
represented on the team, strategies were developed that allowed the project to
be a success. The end result is a great and fitting achievement for the Green
Building Alliance, an organization that has always been a leader in
sustainable building initiatives both regionally and nationally."

In Western Pennsylvania, there are more than 55 LEED-certified projects -- and
another 130 projects that are registered as pursuing LEED certification.

About GBA

Green Building Alliance is a nonprofit organization that advances economic
prosperity and human wellbeing in Western Pennsylvania by driving market
demand for green buildings and green building products across every aspect of
the built environment.

SOURCE Green Building Alliance

Holly Childs, Executive Director, GBA, +1-412-431-0709, hollyc@gbapgh.org