LEED Platinum Tour

Media contact: Nick Hartrich, Green Building and Smart Growth Program Manager,
nick@sconnect.org, (360) 647-7093 x107
         
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         
October 15, 2010 – Bellingham, WA
Event: LEED Platinum Tour
When: Wed. November 10, 3:00-5:00pm
Where: Skagit Valley College, Mount Vernon

BELLINGHAM, WA –Skagit Valley College will host a behind the scenes tour of the Laura Angst Hall, the first higher education building in Washington state to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification.

Presented by Sustainable Connections and the Northwest AIA, the tour will feature Skagit Valley College Facilities staff that has owned and operated the building for a year to provide insight on what has been working for the occupants and the owner. 

The design team led by Schreiber Starling & Lane Architects and YGH Architecture of Portland took a multi-faceted approach to effective energy reduction strategies.

“Educational institutions striving to achieve one of the highest levels of green building is one of the smartest investments they can make, said Nick Hartrich, Green Building & Smart Growth Manager for Sustainable Connections. “By reducing the buildings overall energy use by 72%, the paybacks for the College will be monumental.” 

In accomplishing this performance the building incorporates sustainable strategies that result in 48% reduction in potable water use for sanitation and 68 % reduction in irrigation. The design also features sunscreens to control sunlight and the photovoltaic array on the roof that generates up to 34,000 kilowatt hours a year providing up to 5% of building electrical use.

Keith Schreiber, of Schreiber Starling & Lane Architects said that early decisions regarding site, systems, and materials went a long way in achieving LEED Certification without going to the bleeding edge of technology or beyond the limits of their budget.

LEED continuing education credit and AIA credit available. 

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Many thanks to our Green Building and Smart Growth 2010 sponsors:
City of Bellingham, Russell Family Foundation, Puget Sound Energy, Whatcom County, 2020 Engineering, Blossom Management Corporation, Sanitary Service Company, Aiki Homes, Port of Bellingham