​                                                                                                       SUBSCRIBE                   PREVIOUS ISSUES​

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​​​​A Look at LEED and the NIH​​​

​​Green buildings and the implementation of sustainability principles into building design and operation are a crucial aspect of reducing emissions at the NIH. Further, under mandate from Executive Order 14057, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability, the NIH is required to pursue the goal of achieving net-zero emissions at buildings, campuses and installations by FY 2045, including a 50% reduction in emissions by FY 2032 from FY 2008.

An element that can help achieve this goal is the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings​, released by the Council on Environmental Quality in 2020. Within these principles are the Third-Party Building Certification Systems to qualify for federal standards, which includes reaching Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver ranking. But what exactly does this mean for green buildings at the NIH? The answer depends on the project.

LEED has six project categories: Building Design and Construction (BD+C), Interior Design and Construction (ID+C), Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M), Neighborhood Development (ND), Homes, and Cities.¹ NIH is focused on the first three categories, with a particular interest in the first. BD+C includes both new buildings and major renovations to existing buildings.

Using LEED version 4.1, the most recent version available, there are 113 total credits a project can receive during its development life cycle. Certain actions, such as installing bike facilities or intentionally avoiding sensitive land, are worth 1 credit each. Other actions, such as complete optimization of energy systems, can earn up to 18 credits each.² A final ranking is given to a project depending on how many total credits it was able to amass. The lowest ranking, Certified, is reached when a project amasses at least 40 credits.

The second ranking, Silver, is reached when a project earns at least 50 credits. An example of this is the Building 3 Renovations Project in Bethesda.³ Credits were earned in this project due to its various sustainable features, including water conservation systems, efficient lighting and commitments to a construction waste recycling rate of 75% or higher. The building also utilizes a highly efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.⁴

The penultimate ranking, Gold, is reached at the 60 credits level. Both projects at the NIH which have achieved this level, the Building 10 F Wing Renovations and PNRC 2 in Bethesda, have many of the same credits and features listed in our Silver-ranked project.^3​ This is because the current green buildings development strategy at the NIH is to complete and earn the simplest and most straightforward credits first, then build up from that foundation.

Green features unique to the Building 10 F Wing Renovations make clever use of automatic systems linked to sensors. Its exhaust air system sensors are used to monitor heat usage for recovery and reuse, while its occupancy sensors observe activity in certain areas and automatically power down lighting. The facility even uses carbon dioxide sensors to help control air flow amounts in conference areas.⁵

PNRC 2 on the other hand is specialized by its heavy focus on energy efficiency, as it makes use of LED lighting, Energy-Star rated equipment and solar energy.⁶ For efficient heating and cooling, it uses chilled beams for its space cooling. This feature is not only an efficient means of cooling but is more energy efficient as well.⁷

The final and highest ranking, Platinum, is reserved for projects that gain 80 or more credits. The NIH Net-Zero Energy (NZE) Warehouse in Research Triangle Park, which achieved this rank, has been lauded as the greatest green building accomplishment in NIH history.⁸ It even received the U.S. Department of Energy Federal Energy and Water Management Award, a prestigious honor amongst federal agencies.⁹ 

In its first year of occupancy, it generated 38% more energy than it used. Alongside many of the construction and resource-efficiency initiatives present in the Silver- and Gold-Ranked projects, the NZE Warehouse integrates concept systems and behavioral influences into its design. These reach beyond normal building green features and promote employee education, shuttle services and even wildlife habitat protection.¹⁰

As the NIH continues to progress in its commitment towards green buildings, expect more examples of LEED-certified buildings and projects.

​Spotlight                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

NIH Green Buildings with Pete Baxter ​​William “Pete” Baxter is the Head Coordinator for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) projects at the NIH. He has held certification as a LEED AP (Accredited Professional) since 2008, using his expertise to supervise green construction efforts and renovation projects.​​ ​ LEA​RN MORE​​​​

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​Using Green Building Features​ ​ ​Even with green infrastructure, the core of sustainable buildings lies in the behavior of its occupants! Green building features must be properly utilized to maximize their effect on sustainability. Here are a few simple things you can do to improve your building's sustainability! ​​ ​​LEARN MORE​​​​

NEMS Training                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Did you know? ​The Net-Zero Energy Warehouse sometimes generates more energy than it consumes, thus surpassing even the net-zero energy goal! To learn more about green buildings, please visit the NEMS T​raining webpage to view a short (20 minute) NIH environmental awareness training video.