Dec 12 2014
Today, the Endocrine Society was awarded Gold LEED Certification for their new headquarters at 2055 L Street by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices and is recognized across the globe as the premier mark of achievement in green building.
To receive LEED certification, building projects must satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. When the Society first made plans to move their headquarters to DC, the organization’s leadership identified LEED certification as a primary target.
Architects reviewed the Society’s own statement on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and weeded out construction materials that contained materials disruptive to reproductive and other endocrine systems. Every effort was made, when known and reported, to avoid products with harmful ingredients, and in the case of paints, adhesives, some carpet materials, and others, the research available at the time was able to steer and inform the design team’s specifications in new directions.
“Our members have shown that endocrine-disrupting chemicals pose a real threat to public health,” said Endocrine Society Chief Executive Officer Barbara Byrd Keenan. “So, when we planned the construction of the new headquarters with an eye to LEED certification, we also were very mindful to avoid materials shown to contain EDCs.”
The Society also earned points for choosing a location in an urban area with access to community amenities and public transportation, plentiful natural light, acoustical comfort using sound-absorptive materials, and prioritized use of low-VOC paints and adhesives, Greenguard certified furniture, CRI Green Label Plus carpeting, and other low-emission materials.
Source: http://www.endocrine.org/