Monday, April 23, 2012
For Release
IMMEDIATE
Contact: MTA Press Office
(212) 878-7440
First Metro-North Facility Achieves LEED Silver Certification
Office Building in North White Plains Attains Efficiency Landmark
For the first time, a Metro-North Railroad facility has achieved LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its 525 North Broadway office building in North White Plains.
LEED* certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building is energy-efficient and uses sustainable technologies and non-toxic materials for the long-term health of humans and the planet.
The building at 525 features low-flow water fixtures, high-efficiency lighting and HVAC equipment, extensive use of daylight, Energy Star-rated appliances, recycled and local materials, and provides preferred parking for low-emitting vehicles.
“At the most fundamental level Metro-North - and all mass transit - is good for the environment,” said Metro-North President Howard Permut. “Our decision to seek LEED certification for this building is a natural extension of our mission. We are most gratified that our commitment to sustainability has been recognized.”
The building recently was purchased and renovated by Metro-North to allow the railroad to reduce its operating budget by moving about 200 people in several departments out of expensive rental property in midtown Manhattan to the benefit of the White Plains economy.
It is Metro-North’s first LEED structure and it goes beyond basic LEED Certification requirements to meet the higher level of Silver.
The building gets LEED points for its location in close proximity to the train station, bus lines, and community services such as restaurants, shopping, post office, banks, etc. reducing the need for an automobile
Water use has been reduced by 34% due to installation of low-flow sinks, toilets and urinals.
High efficiency lighting, motion controls, increased use of daylight and computerized Building Management Systems have led to a 35% energy savings for lights.
Seventy-nine percent of all the equipment purchased for the building from copiers to refrigerators is Energy-Star rated.
Nearly 300 tons of construction debris (72% of the total waste stream) was diverted from landfills through recycling or reuse.
Ongoing operation of the facility includes recycling of glass, plastic, metal and paper through a number of dedicated bins located throughout the facility. Recycled glass was selected for the kitchen counter tops and the carpet tiles used throughout have a high-recycled content.
Of course the office is a smoke-free facility, but the indoor environmental quality also is improved by increased fresh air ventilation through the HVAC system, low-emitting materials used for the paint and carpets, and increased personal control of lighting and thermal comfort.
LEED-certified facilities generate benefits for workers in addition to their long-term utility cost savings. Studies have shown that employees who work in green buildings take fewer sick days than those who work in conventional buildings. Employee productivity also typically increases in green buildings.
People are coming to expect the tangible benefits of green buildings such as the greater use of daylight, cleaner indoor air quality, the use of green cleaning products, etc. just as they came to expect central air conditioning in the 1950’s and ‘60’s.
*What is LEED?
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was developed in the year 2000 by the U.S. Green Building Council, an industry-wide organization of experts that sets widely accepted standards for building practices. LEED certification is an internationally recognized mark of excellence that provides building owners and operators with guidelines for implementing practical, measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building, home or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
For more information about the Silver certification, link to LEED page on the USGBC website.
###
2