As of Monday, May 14, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Gwinnett Daily Post
Staff Photo: Brendan Sullivan The Gwinnett County Senior Services Center on Swanson Drive in Lawrenceville.
LAWRENCEVILLE -- Gwinnett County went for the silver, but on Monday came away with gold certification.
The county's Senior Services Center and Operations Center at the Yellow River Water Reclamation Facility were awarded LEED Gold certifications, the county said in a news release. The LEED program is criteria for operation and performance of green buildings.
The Yellow River center won all possible points for water efficiency and design innovation, said Ron Peters, Water Resources deputy director. Peters added that the building reduces indoor water by more than 62 percent compared to a typical building.
Peters also boasted that the facility recycled 990 tons of concrete, metal, wood and gypsum -- more than 92 percent of its construction waste.
The Senior Services Center, a one-story facility on 6.4 acres, matches seniors' needs with resources, assistance, counseling and care management.
"We're extremely proud to get this recognition. We actually designed both projects to meet silver certification requirements, but are very pleased to achieve Gold status," Chairwoman Charlotte Nash said in a news release. "By using less water and energy with minimal environmental effects, we're saving money for Gwinnett families and businesses and contributing to a healthier environment for everyone."
More like this story
- $245 million sewage plant upgrades nearly complete ( August 17, 2012 )
- GMC's Strickland Heart Center earns LEED certification ( August 22, 2012 )
- Pipeline, sewage plant projects to be paid for with bonds ( February 12, 2008 )
- GWINNETT GAB: GGC library earns LEED gold certification ( February 23, 2011 )
- GOODNEWS: Teacher honored for gifted coaching ( June 1, 2012 )
Comments
kevin 1 year ago
Wow, our taxpayer money got us a plaque for the wall!!!
Mack711 1 year ago
The article does not say how much was spent to get this plaque on some ones wall. That plaque and $1.00 may get you a cup of Coffee at the Waffle house.
cyclist 1 year ago
Our taxpayer money is being saved in the long run, would you rather have a less efficient building that will cost more to operate in the long run? That aside, if we don't conserve more of our resources and protect the environmet we might not be around to pay taxes much longer.
CD 1 year ago
@ cyclist: keep to the side of the road.
cyclist 1 year ago
CD, I follow the law and ride on the road. Now if only drivers would follow the law and give me three feet... Anyway, cycling instead of driving is another way to save money being green :P
kevin 1 year ago
the world isn't going anywhere until the good Lord says it is.
Reason 1 year ago
As our raw materials are being sold off to China by the shipload, there may come a time when we may have to repurpose what we have already consumed here. Like it or not, this may very well be the future standard of construction down the road for just about everything.
jack 1 year ago
Generally, LEED construction costs are not much higher than non-LEED. The payoff is in the energy savings, which can be as much as 25-30%. Even allowing for the fact that the County likely overpaid (don't they always?), this is probably one of the more efficient uses of taxpayer dollars that we'll ever see.
BuzzG 1 year ago
Who the heck is LEED and why should any one care what they think? Is this another case of government patting itself on the back? Is this one more BOC PR stunt in an election year?
sst 1 year ago
LEED is a certification of design and energy efficiency that is awarded per an independent 3rd party. The standards are put together by committees under the US Green Building Counsel which is a non-profit organization dedicated to seeing a sustainable future by promoting cost efficient and energy saving "green" buildings.
Mack711 1 year ago
Thanks sst for the explanation. Mr. Farner should have put this in the article so that all would have known what exactly this program is.
CD 1 year ago
We could just pump FGF's hot air across a turbine and power 95% of the county. This would create 93485674239867498 jobs.
Dubbin 1 year ago
Brilliant. Satire at its finest.
R 1 year ago
If we use FGF’s “Science” standards, we could INCREASE the turbine’s efficiency and power 125 percent of the county. After all, it’s just SO uninformed and NIMBY to limit oneself to 100 percent.
CD 1 year ago
I stand corrected and in awe at the might of FGF. Apologies to the Gluttonous Heathens for not realizing their true potential. Since they can produce so much power, I believe that we should pay them before the turbine is constructed and operational.
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