OREANDA-NEWS. September 22, 2016. Honeywell’s corporate headquarters in Morris Plains, New Jersey, has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is buildings and communities that will regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generation.

LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings with a certification process designed to inspire innovative projects that are better for the environment and the community. The Green Building Rating SystemTM awards buildings for satisfying performance in six major categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design.

Honeywell’s headquarters achieved the Gold Certification for several design elements and construction practices that were incorporated with environmental sustainability, worker satisfaction, and productivity in mind. For example, the headquarters uses natural daylight as a method of both saving energy and creating a more pleasing work atmosphere. Additionally, its close proximity to public transportation reduces greenhouse gas emissions while creating convenience for employees.

“Through the integrated efforts of the project team, we blended design performance with human performance,” said Melody Gillezeau, Sustainable Design Consultant at Gensler, Honeywell’s architect and sustainability consultant. “Honeywell’s project is an example of pushing beyond the benchmarks of LEED to incorporate additional strategies that strengthen the overall sustainability story and educate employees daily.”

With more than 1,000 rooftop solar panels, the building generates 300kW of electrical capacity, and the parking garage, which is 86% undercover, reduces the heat island effect. The site also boasts water-efficient landscaping that shrinks water consumption and LED lighting that has led to an overall power consumption 35% below energy code requirements.

 

In addition, nearly 97% of the site’s construction waste was diverted from landfills, the build-out materials are composed of over 30% recycled content, and the outside air circulation is 30% above the minimum amount required. The project also supported the local economy and reduced emissions by purchasing more than 25% of materials from regional manufacturers.

In the United States alone, buildings account for almost 40% of national CO2 emissions and out-consume both the industrial and transportation sectors. In comparison, LEED-certified buildings have 34% lower CO2 emissions, consume 25% less energy and 11% less water and have diverted more than 80 million tons of waste from landfills.  LEED certification ensures electricity cost savings, lower carbon emissions and healthier environments for the places we live, work, learn, play and worship.