Our Foundation has a long-standing commitment to supporting the conservation and sustainability of natural systems. In keeping with the goals of our conservation work and our values, the new building at 343 Second Street is being constructed as a Net Zero Energy building that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ Platinum rating standards.
Before beginning the construction phase, the Foundation engaged in a careful deconstruction process to recycle a majority of the materials used in the original construction of the current building site. By recycling old building materials, we can contribute to efforts to reduce waste in our landfills and promote sustainable building practices.
As a Net Zero Energy project, the new building is expected to reduce energy demand by 50 percent and have remaining energy use offset through on-site power generation.
The LEED system is a third-party certification program that encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and is the accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.
This building is one part of our broader commitment to increasing the sustainability of our operations and minimizing our impact on the environment and local community. The following illustration provides a graphic overview of the Foundation’s contribution to greenhouse gas (carbon) emissions, and summarizes our goals and strategies to reduce our carbon footprint.
(Image credit: EHDD Architecture)