Washington Gas earns LEED Gold certification

Washington Gas, Springfield, Virginia, announced that its new Northwest Station Fleet Facility in Rockville, Maryland, earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

From the outset, Washington Gas worked to verify and document that the building and all of its systems and assemblies were planned, designed, installed, tested, operated and maintained to meet LEED requirements. In addition, the facility exceeded the requirement of 13 percent renewable power with an almost 50 kilowatt solar system that provides 20 percent of the facility’s consumed power, and implemented energy optimization, storm water management and indoor air quality systems. All of these steps ensure that the facility lowers energy usage and costs, reduces its impact on the environment and provides a safe, comfortable and healthy work environment.

Washington Gas implemented several other key initiatives to earn LEED Gold status, including:

• access to public transportation;
• 20 percent recycled or salvaged materials and 20 percent regional content used in construction;
• 75 percent of construction waste recycled or salvaged;
• water efficient landscaping; and
• indoor air quality efforts including low-emitting materials in paints, coatings and floorings.

“Our team received immeasurable support to achieve this goal. Without support from end users and those with area expertise within the company, a facility of this caliber could not have been achieved,” says Melissa Adams, chief corporate social responsibility officer, WGL. “Washington Gas not only delivers energy solutions to homes and businesses, we also ensure our own buildings and facilities are as energy efficient as possible.”