Interior Design News

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PepsiCo earns LEED gold

PLANO, Tex.—PepsiCo's Frito-Lay Topeka, Kan., facility became the state's first manufacturing site, and the nation's second food manufacturing site, to be awarded LEED® Existing Building (EB) Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), as verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). The facility’s accomplishments are:

• Energy reduction: The Topeka facility has reduced its natural gas consumption by 39% per pound of product and its electricity use by 27% per pound of product since 1999 by installing new technologies such as high-efficiency oven burners and new lighting systems with sensors to turn off lights when rooms are not in use.
• Water reduction: The facility cut its water consumption by nearly 52% per pound of product since 1999 by implementing new operations and sanitation practices, and piloting a company-wide initiative to reduce water used in its corn cooking and transfer process.
• Recycling: Less than 1% of the facility's solid waste goes to landfill. The site achieved this milestone through many initiatives including an employee-led recycling program, reusing cardboard shipping boxes multiple times, and allocating waste product for use in animal feed.

For more information, see www.pepsico.com

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Students compete to design green

WASHINGTON, D.C.—For two weeks, teams of college and university students from across the United States and the world will compete to design, build, and operate the most affordable, attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house.

Hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the competition will highlight affordable homes that combine energy-efficient construction and appliances with renewable energy systems that are available today.  The competition also supports the Administration’s goal of creating a clean energy economy, while saving American families and businesses money and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

For more information, see www.doe.gov

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South African embassy earns LEED certification

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) announced that the U.S. Green Building Council has granted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification for the New Consulate Compound in Johannesburg, South Africa and the New Embassy Compound in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.

Johannesburg and Brazzaville join Sofia, Bulgaria and Panama City, Panama as the four United States diplomatic missions with LEED® certification. These four missions are the only LEED® certified structures in their respective countries.

For more information, see www.state.gov

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Senagalese embassy compound goes green

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of State’s Bureaus of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) and Administration announced the award of a $138 million contract to build a New Embassy Compound (NEC) in Dakar, Senegal.

The NEC, to be constructed by B.L. Harbert, International of Birmingham, Alabama, will incorporate sustainable design and the embassy is planned to qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification. Included in the project will be solar collectors for electricity generation and hot water. Water-conserving plumbing fixtures will yield an average 35% reduction in potable water consumption. Irrigation water needs will be achieved by using native and drought-tolerant plants, along with efficient irrigation technologies. The facility will include heat recovery chillers and daylight harvesting systems to reduce electrical demands.

 For  more information, see www.state.gov

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GW residence hall goes green

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The George Washington University’s newest residence hall just received the gold star of green buildings. South Hall has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for its design and construction, making it the first university or college building in the District of Columbia to receive this rating for new construction and is one of only four buildings in the city. South Hall offers bike storage and fuel efficient vehicle parking and recycling facilities on each floor of the ten-story building. Prior to occupancy, rigorous air quality testing was completed. Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints were used throughout the building to reduce odor and irritation for indoor air contaminants.

Highly insulated wall systems, energy efficient windows with double pane, low-e glass and an Energy Star white roof improves energy performance of the building by 24.5% over the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards for residential buildings. GW has also purchased Renewable Wind Energy Credits for 70 % of the electricity used in the building for the first two years.

For more information, see www.gwu.edu

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