Northborough, Mass. – National Grid today announced that its recently renovated facility in Northborough, Mass. has earned Gold-level LEED commercial interior certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its state-of-the-art “green” design, construction and amenities. The building, which houses approximately 600 employees, is a special purpose facility that serves as a New England operations center for National Grid and houses its customer service operations.
Gold certification recognizes one of the highest levels of green building achievement under the USGBC’s benchmark Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), an independent green building rating system.
LEED Commercial Interior is the energy industry’s leading recognized system for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy, productive places to work; are less costly to operate and maintain over time; and have a reduced environmental footprint. In order to determine the rating for National Grid’s Northborough facility, USGCB measured several important elements such as lighting, energy use, finishes, furniture, and space layout.
Highlights of the building’s green and energy-efficient attributes include:
· Lighting that uses approximately 30 percent less electricity than a typical commercial office building in Mass., saving more than 84,000 kilowatt hours annually – enough to power roughly 13 homes for one year;
· High-efficiency heating and cooling systems with adaptable controls to sense outdoor and indoor temperatures;
· Water conservation measures including dual-flush toilets, automatic sensor faucets and waterless urinals that together are expected to reduce consumption by about 575,000 gallons per year, or more than 48 percent;
· Sustainable materials: about 25 percent of the materials and furnishings are recycled; more than 58 percent of the wood is sourced from sustainably managed forests; more than 74 percent of the furniture used in the project is either reused or refurbished;
· Low-VOC adhesives, sealants, paints and coatings throughout the building; more than 53 percent regionally manufactured materials;
· More than 83 percent of construction waste was recycled;
· More than 86 percent of the appliances and office equipment are Energy Star rated.
“We’re proud to have again received this prestigious recognition as we strive as a company to reduce our carbon footprint and demonstrate our passion and commitment to sustainability and being stewards of the environment,” said Marcy Reed, president of National Grid, Massachusetts. “This achievement illustrates for customers that we take energy efficiency very seriously and we ‘walk the talk’ when it comes to greening our workspace.”
Reed added, “We’re appreciative of the innovation, talent and hard work demonstrated by everyone who helped us earn this award.”
“National Grid has a long history of supporting energy-efficiency projects for their customers and demonstrating innovative green building strategies in their buildings,” said Nathan Gauthier, member, USGBC Board of Directors and energy manager for Jones Lang LaSalle. “The LEED Gold certification of the Northborough facility is further demonstration of their leadership and commitment to environmental sustainability.”
Renovations to National Grid’s 145,000 sq ft, two-story building in Northborough were completed in 2010.
This is the second consecutive year that a National Grid building has received LEED distinction. Last year, the company’s Waltham, Mass. corporate center at Reservoir Woods earned Platinum-level LEED certification – the highest rating — from the USGBC for its green design. As part of its ongoing dedication to serving as an example and supporting green initiatives, National Grid has begun to enlist a number of green friendly practices such as carpooling and a shuttle bus service linked to public transportation, recycling at individual workstations and providing recycled cups and mugs to reduce the use of paper and plastic products.
The following companies worked with National Grid to complete the renovation project and thereby contributed to the achievement of gold-level LEED commercial interior certification:
Jones Lang LaSalle – owner’s representative
Spagnolo Gisness & Associates – architect/interior designer
AHA Engineers – LEED Consultant / Mechanical, Electric, Plumbing, Fire Prevention Engineer
A/Z Corporation – construction manager
