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Phoenix — Feb. 26, 2015 — Green Ideas Sustainability Consultants has completed LEED Gold certification for Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Building #730 in Albuquerque, N.M. Green Ideas was able to expedite the certification process, once the project was completed, using its LEED Proven Provider status with the Green Building Certification Institute.
The project demonstrates the power of a balanced design approach and an integrated project team. Combining an energy efficient building envelope with HVAC systems and gas-fired water heaters that will save SNL more than 40 percent on energy and operating costs.
"The project team for Building #730 was integrated from the beginning," said Green Ideas President Charlie Popeck. "Their professional approach to design made the process incredibly efficient and resulted in a building that is easier and more cost-effective to operate throughout its entire life cycle."
The three-story, 22,196-square-foot state-of-the-art building, which will be used as an office for SNL employees, was designed by SMPC Architects. It includes an LED lighting system coordinated with occupant overrides to save energy while increasing employee productivity. The system will provide lighting and temperature controls and monitoring of outside air to give occupants control of their micro-environments.
The project team used low-flow fixtures to reduce water use within the building by more than 20 percent. The project also integrates several water-efficiency elements into the exterior design, resulting in an 82 percent reduction in potable water use for irrigation purposes. This is incredibly significant considering the Southwest desert location of the building.
Summit Construction of Albuquerque, the general contractor for the project, implemented sustainable construction strategies throughout the construction phase, including erosion and sedimentation control, an indoor air quality management plan, and a construction waste management plan resulting in 91 percent of the waste being diverted from landfills.
The project team also used a green janitorial program, the purchase of additional green power, and the installation of low-VOC-emitting furniture to further enhance the indoor environment and gain LEED credits in the Innovation in Design category.
Green Ideas is an industry leader specializing in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Consulting including charrette facilitation, programming assistance, and certification services. Established in 2002, Green Ideas is a full-service sustainability consulting firm offering corporate sustainability planning, educational programs, product evaluation and marketing services, energy management, and world-class green building consulting services. Its clients are building owners, architects, engineers, contractors, utilities, and green-product manufacturers as well as corporate entities wishing to establish business advantages through sustainable practices.
